Youth sled

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scott_l

Member
Ok I know this question will have many different opinions and I am ok with that speak up and toss your $0.02 out.

My 7 year old is riding a cat 120 right now, he has physically out grown it. At first I was thinking to find one of the older Yamaha Sno scoots as they are a bit larger but they only have a 80cc motor. So then I thought about a older Yamaha exciter as the chassis are smaller then many newer sleds. I also like the idea of a fan cooled motor as he frequently rides on the lake (past week not a lot of fresh or lose snow to keep liquid sled cool). Ideally I would love to get him a new Cat ZR 200 but I can’t justify the money. Really $4,500 for a kids sled. I will not be getting him a 440 or anything similar as he still has lots of learning to go and he is not a large kid.

Thoughts, what have you done, any one have anything they are looking to sell

Thanks
 
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renegade

Active member
Heres my progression. 120, indy lite 340, mxz 500 fan, mxz 500 liquid. I have three boys so I could pass them down. After two years of trail riding and they were fourteen I bought them older revs. It's worked well so far. I actually made money on the 120 and Indy lite. The 120 sold and paid for a 500 fan with money in my pocket.
 
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bogiewheel

Member
At some point, I would be buying an old Bravo 250 or other 300 cc 70s to 80s vintage sled for a youngster. You can find some around if you look and the best part is, take care of it and you'll sell it for what you have in it when the child is ready to move into a larger machine. Just helped a 10 yr old with a JD Spitfire. Great match, $300.
 
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katden4

Active member
Lots of great choices without spending much. I think all the brands have good old low HP snowmobiles like what your looking for. To me it would be what dealer is close that provide parts when needed. Cat had the 340 Puma that would be a good choice if you were going to stay with Cat. Yamaha, Polaris, Ski doo, they all had models that would work great and not break the bank. All way less money than new, and if they don't get smashed, they hold their value pretty well. The only things I would look for to keep the young ones happy are heated grips, and maybe electric start. Just my .02
 
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1fujifilm

Well-known member
scott_l said:
Ok I know this question will have many different opinions and I am ok with that speak up and toss your $0.02 out.

My 7 year old is riding a cat 120 right now, he has physically out grown it. At first I was thinking to find one of the older Yamaha Sno scoots as they are a bit larger but they only have a 80cc motor. So then I thought about a older Yamaha exciter as the chassis are smaller then many newer sleds. I also like the idea of a fan cooled motor as he frequently rides on the lake (past week not a lot of fresh or lose snow to keep liquid sled cool). Ideally I would love to get him a new Cat ZR 200 but I can’t justify the money. Really $4,500 for a kids sled. I will not be getting him a 440 or anything similar as he still has lots of learning to go and he is not a large kid.

Thoughts, what have you done, any one have anything they are looking to sell

Thanks
Click to expand...

See thread..
http://forum.johndee.com/vbulletin/...and-Riot-X-demo-rides-at-M-amp-M-Power-Sports

Bear
 
W

wirev

New member
While I am not a polaris fan, I was looking for the same for my grandkids. Though the 2002-2003 [I think] Polaris Lite was a good start up from a 120. There have been some nice ones around.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
I put my 7 year old “stepson” on a 99 Polaris sport 440 fan this winter. He came off a 120. Other than it being a little harder to turn than he expected it he handled it just fine. He can’t get over 30 in the field behind the house so the power is really a non issue (I got it over 60 on a little run to the gas station in town with it). The front half the sled is a full size gen II and the rear half is indy lite. Kind of a unique model Polaris made. I think if you go too small (old school 340) he will out grow it faster than you think. I would jump up to something he can still ride at 10-12 years old and let him grow into it. I started on a 93 indy trail at 7 years old.
 
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Tracker

New member
Scott I have a 340 enticer III deluxe with electric start I want to sell...PM me if interested and I can send you pics
 
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jonesin

Well-known member
my 11 yr old son jumped from kitty cat to my old indy 500 prob 4 years ago
he usually only rides with me at the farm or across fields to grandmas so i can pull it out if i have to
he wasnt a throttle jockey at first but now he rode the 03 f7 and doesnt want to ride the 500 any more!
 
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tsg

Member
Polaris EVO, although I understand that the cost and potential short term "cost" usage is a concern.

With my 2 older kids, I tried a number of the "older" machines as they progressed up in age.....Both started on Ski Doo 120's, then moved up to a 340 Indy, 380 Rev, 550 fan, then 600 liquids, etc.... Both progressed well, but always mentioned hard throttle pull on the fan sleds, sore throttle thumbs, and the size and weight of the larger sleds limited their riding, in that they wanted to ride them more aggressively but were hesitant. Those kids are now 23 and 26, and have always been aggressive and athletic.

My third child is now 13 years old. Now 5'5, about 130 so not small at all and very athletic. He too started on a 120, then bought him a 380 REV fan when he was 9-10 to tool around the lake and get comfortable on a larger sled. 380 REV throttle was heavy, tough to ride at a decent pace, and larger 550/600 cc sleds to big and potentially too fast. So I bought him a 2019 EVO. Best decision ever, despite the $ 5k price tag.

Easy, longer throttle lever, lightweight, good handling, and a mid sized chassis with current amenities, that work great. Last year and this year he rode it really well and it really made him a controlled, aggressive and confident rider, which is great. Despite the sled only topping out at 50, he kept up pretty well, except on the grades which was expected. Recently asked him if he wanted a new, bigger, higher CC sled this year, or if he wanted me to put the EVO upgrade kit on (not worth it to me or him), and he said no, keep it the same for next year, as he really likes riding the EVO aggressively and throwing it around. He knows he cannot keep up with his brother, sister, or dad, but not sure he really cares, because he likes riding hard, is confident on the EVO, and we ride a ton of Northern Wisconsin twisty trails.

Although i know he can handle a larger, higher displacement sled, glad he knows his comfort zone and I am really impressed with the EVO and think this is a great confidence and riding builder. I am not sure this took off like Polaris thought it would or maybe it should have, because of the price, but resale value remains good, as I was offered $ 3800 and $4k in trade at 2 different dealers recently. I also had an increasing number of people ask about the sled, my impressions, capabilities, etc... while riding this year. Wish it was available when he was younger, as I think this is a sled you can ride from 9 years old to about 15, maybe longer, depending on size and what you want to do.

All my kids are WI certified in boating, ATV, and snowmobiling and ride waverunners, ATV's, and a dirtbikes, so they know how to ride and are aggressive. My youngest has always been around my older kids vehicles, watched what they do and how they ride, and that is more reason I think the EVO works, as he is satisfied with it and really enjoys it. And FYI, all my other sleds are Ski Doo's, so not a brand thing!
 
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JayG

New member
When the grand kids came of age, we had great luck with an old school, Darth Vader, Phazer. Found a nice one with electric start. Light weight, and good handling. They both did well on it, and I got my money back at the end. ��
 
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dmsrx

Member
I have a pair of "brand new" 1985 Excell 3's. One has 219 miles on it, one has 259 miles on it. People I bought them from kids rode them 1 year, my grandkids rode them a couple times. Just sitting in barn. I've got 650.00 in each of them. So 650.00 each or 1300.00 for the pair. Electric start fan cooled 340 twin.
 
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scott_l

Member
dmsrx said:
I have a pair of "brand new" 1985 Excell 3's. One has 219 miles on it, one has 259 miles on it. People I bought them from kids rode them 1 year, my grandkids rode them a couple times. Just sitting in barn. I've got 650.00 in each of them. So 650.00 each or 1300.00 for the pair. Electric start fan cooled 340 twin.
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Wow those sleds will be a score for someone, thanks for the info but not worth a 9.5hr (each way) drive for me. My kids are up at grandma and grandpas on spring break last week and school closed this week because of this virus, they have been riding there sleds almost every day. Wife says the youngest is on his 5th gallon of gas (original kitty cat).....and I only sent two things of oil ��

Thank you all for the info and suggestions, keeping my eye and ears open for that next sled.
 
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600_RMK_144

Active member
Just sold my son's Indy Lite 340 Deluxe (with E-Start!!!) last week. Put 1500 miles on the sled and sold it for exactly the same price I paid for it three years ago. He is turning 14 tomorrow, but small for his age. He handled the 340 very well and I felt it was the perfect size for him. I did have a hose clamp around the throttle side hand grip as a throttle block. Worked great. My biggest advice is E-Start. Young kids just don't have the body mass in most cases to effectively pull them over. It was a life saver IMO.

I'm in a similar boat now on what to move him up to next. Preferably it would be a 550 fan, but I'm not too excited to mess with the carbs, jetting, etc. So, I might move him straight to a 600 to avoid the carbs. Then there is track length. My back says hold out for a 144" but I'd likely settle for a 136" if the right deal comes along. I have been eyeing the EVO RMK (144") as mentioned above, but again a 550 (carb), so tuff decision. Really hoping a nice clean 600 with a 144" will show up eventually, but they are harder to come by.

Good news is you have plenty of time to figure it out! Good luck!!!!
 
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dmsrx

Member
scott_l said:
Wow those sleds will be a score for someone, thanks for the info but not worth a 9.5hr (each way) drive for me. My kids are up at grandma and grandpas on spring break last week and school closed this week because of this virus, they have been riding there sleds almost every day. Wife says the youngest is on his 5th gallon of gas (original kitty cat).....and I only sent two things of oil ��

Thank you all for the info and suggestions, keeping my eye and ears open for that next sled.
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No worries. It's a bit of a drive but would make a nice weekend trip!

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bogiewheel said:
dmsrx, could I please get pics of those sleds? 920-390-0739
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I can.
 
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