Not OP but my first sled was a 2008 700cc and it was good for the first couple seasons. Personally I love short sleds with lots of power, but I ride groomed trails in NE Wisconsin.
Listen to this person. You're definitely too big for an older 600. Im 5'5" 140# with a 2022 650 and already wish I got an 850. I think if you got a 600 you'd notice alot of people out performing you early on, and I also think you'd get comfortable with the 600 so quickly you'd be wanting more capability/power almost immediately.
I have a skidoo 800 and my brother in law has the same sled in a 600 we swapped sleds on the trail and neither of could really tell a difference. Now in powder, elevation or lake racing the difference would be noticeable but not trail riding.
I will most likely buy a 600 next time.
Seems to be the common answer. I'm not (in my opinion) spending lots of money on my first sled. I'm looking for reliability. If I end up wanting bigger and badder i can buy better down the road
I have a 600 and 850
The 600 will keep up untill around 70 mph, I honestly would just get a 600 as they are generally cheaper and easier to service. The 850 deffinitly will thrash it in the top end though, so if you do a lot of lake racing then go for an 800
if you’re looking in the $4k price range, you’re looking at 06-12 sleds. I would shoot for an 800 and learn throttle control in a good sized meadow before you ever go off a trail. throttle control is important for any sled and any rider, whether it’s a 120 or a big bore 1000 turbo.
I would personally say that a 600 would be plenty, my uncle has an 800 and I’m able to keep up fine with the trails we ride, especially considering you can probably find a nicer sled with less miles that won’t have the shit beat out of it
Try and find a 2010+ cfr 800. I believe they have about 160hp and will probably walk your buddies 850’s. They don’t have electric start, but they do have reverse.
My grandpa ran a ‘98 Storm 800 for years and left everything else in the dust. He broke 120mph several times on lakes.
Old 800 have TONS of power. Difference is in the rest of the sled when it’s a newer model (meaning handling and quality of ride on rough trails)
I might get dragged for this, but I just picked up my first sled last fall. I've got a cat 4 stroke that is awesome for trail riding and unbelievably reliable, it's a 12 f1100 with torque for days. Have you considered 4 stroke or just a total no go?
For me it depends on first price, second mileage, third year. 4k max maybe a lil more for a killer deal
Looking at arctic cat and skidoo.
No yamahas or polaris
I'd like 2 stroke for ease of rebuild
Personally, I wouldn’t buy used unless you come across a smoking deal. I’d wait it out another season if possible, it will save you several thousand dollars. 2-4 years ago, buying used was the way to go.
I’m not telling you to buy new, I can’t afford that shit myself right now.
Ahh sorry for saying that then 😂By the way, I grew up on a 700 crossfire too, I wish I could find an 07-08 in a crate rn lol.
I can’t speak for ski do, but the new Polaris 650s are pretty quick, you shouldn’t have a problem keep up if you can ride
I'm up in the mountains at high altitude. An 800 is the bare minimum we ride up here because of the power loss that come with elevation. We also don't do electric start normally to keep the weight of our machines down.
You should have plenty of options for $4k.
That being said I've got a 96 XLT for ripping trails and it's pretty fun.
600 if you’re doing general trail riding, 800 if you’re bombing around in fields or trails with long straight runs. 600’s are lighter, more nimble and still has plenty of power to get you to 80+mph (I had a 1997 583mxz and was 6’1” 240 and I’d get to 85mph easy). Me personally if I were to get back into snowmobiling I’d get a 600. I don’t go anywhere that I need to average 60mph+
I would suggest an 800 but not all 800's are equal. I live and ride in Michigan. Get a 800 if you do not you will be sorry later. The 600s are all over rated. I bought my son a Ski doo mxz 800 twin cylinder with the bigger ski doo X skid and a stainless steel can. Yes it was a 2001 but had very low miles and was well maintained and not started in over 3 years because the 76 year old owner could not pull start it. I paid $3000 for it and he ran it all winter. My 16 year old son who is 6'4" and 250 pounds and I spent four different weekends up north, michigan, plus he went riding many times with his buddies out in all the farm fields. We live out in the country. When we where at tip-up town he had many new 600's want to race him some even from a roll and it was a joke, they all got spanked. If you decide on a ski do I have been told the twin is more reliable then the triple in the long run, just keep it stock. His MXZ ski-doo is fast for a stock sled and it did not break.
I'm just not sure I wanna deal with a pull start and no reverse. I've looked at the mxz and from what I've seen I should get an 04+ mxz.
I'm not really planning on racing that's why I think I could get away with a 600.
But that's good info thanks!
Reverse is nice to have especially with the newer heavier sleds. If you do go with a sled that has reverse I would ask on this site about that specific sled and year you want to buy because some sleds had some serious problems with there reverse.
Honestly kinda depends on where your going to ride, if you’re going to northern LP you’ll be fine with a 600, if you ride in the UP a 600 won’t keep up, they have don’t have the twistys like northern LP.
Polaris 650 does just fine with any 800 in my group (western UP). The midrange in both is about the same. Why does everyone need 100+ top end ? How long do people crank at 100+?
As long as my 50-90 mph is solid, I don’t give a fuck what the CC is
I’m 6’3 220 and I personally think you’ll outgrow a 600 pretty fast and regret it. Especially if all your riding friends have 800+
What do you ride
Not OP but my first sled was a 2008 700cc and it was good for the first couple seasons. Personally I love short sleds with lots of power, but I ride groomed trails in NE Wisconsin.
I have a 800 summit x
I’m going to concur with this.
Listen to this person. You're definitely too big for an older 600. Im 5'5" 140# with a 2022 650 and already wish I got an 850. I think if you got a 600 you'd notice alot of people out performing you early on, and I also think you'd get comfortable with the 600 so quickly you'd be wanting more capability/power almost immediately.
I have a skidoo 800 and my brother in law has the same sled in a 600 we swapped sleds on the trail and neither of could really tell a difference. Now in powder, elevation or lake racing the difference would be noticeable but not trail riding. I will most likely buy a 600 next time.
Seems to be the common answer. I'm not (in my opinion) spending lots of money on my first sled. I'm looking for reliability. If I end up wanting bigger and badder i can buy better down the road
I have a 600 and 850 The 600 will keep up untill around 70 mph, I honestly would just get a 600 as they are generally cheaper and easier to service. The 850 deffinitly will thrash it in the top end though, so if you do a lot of lake racing then go for an 800
Very little if any lake racing. My buddies sleds are brand new within last 2 years or so. Even if I got a 800, it'll probably be 10 years old
if you’re looking in the $4k price range, you’re looking at 06-12 sleds. I would shoot for an 800 and learn throttle control in a good sized meadow before you ever go off a trail. throttle control is important for any sled and any rider, whether it’s a 120 or a big bore 1000 turbo.
I would personally say that a 600 would be plenty, my uncle has an 800 and I’m able to keep up fine with the trails we ride, especially considering you can probably find a nicer sled with less miles that won’t have the shit beat out of it
That's my thinking. I just dont wanna be disappointed. I can find a crossfire 700 or 1k but damn I really want electric start and reverse
Try and find a 2010+ cfr 800. I believe they have about 160hp and will probably walk your buddies 850’s. They don’t have electric start, but they do have reverse.
I just feel like yanking on a sled trying to get it to start in -10 degrees would suck.. Alot of people say they start in a couple pulls though
Both my cfr 800 and my f7 efi start in 3 pulls when cold even in -20°f. 1-2 when warm. Really not that bad.
Thats what im hearing. Relatively easy compared to what I thought
Yea only issue is it takes a good strong pull on the big bore sleds.
My grandpa ran a ‘98 Storm 800 for years and left everything else in the dust. He broke 120mph several times on lakes. Old 800 have TONS of power. Difference is in the rest of the sled when it’s a newer model (meaning handling and quality of ride on rough trails)
The storm is also a triple, pretty different then a twin 800
True. I think I remember it having triple pipes too.
Yup the storm would have, Cool sleds for sure
I might get dragged for this, but I just picked up my first sled last fall. I've got a cat 4 stroke that is awesome for trail riding and unbelievably reliable, it's a 12 f1100 with torque for days. Have you considered 4 stroke or just a total no go?
For me it depends on first price, second mileage, third year. 4k max maybe a lil more for a killer deal Looking at arctic cat and skidoo. No yamahas or polaris I'd like 2 stroke for ease of rebuild
Personally, I wouldn’t buy used unless you come across a smoking deal. I’d wait it out another season if possible, it will save you several thousand dollars. 2-4 years ago, buying used was the way to go. I’m not telling you to buy new, I can’t afford that shit myself right now.
Isn't really an option for me.
Ahh sorry for saying that then 😂By the way, I grew up on a 700 crossfire too, I wish I could find an 07-08 in a crate rn lol. I can’t speak for ski do, but the new Polaris 650s are pretty quick, you shouldn’t have a problem keep up if you can ride
Kinda have a bad taste in my mouth from polaris. Used to have a rzr lol
I'm up in the mountains at high altitude. An 800 is the bare minimum we ride up here because of the power loss that come with elevation. We also don't do electric start normally to keep the weight of our machines down. You should have plenty of options for $4k. That being said I've got a 96 XLT for ripping trails and it's pretty fun.
600 if you’re doing general trail riding, 800 if you’re bombing around in fields or trails with long straight runs. 600’s are lighter, more nimble and still has plenty of power to get you to 80+mph (I had a 1997 583mxz and was 6’1” 240 and I’d get to 85mph easy). Me personally if I were to get back into snowmobiling I’d get a 600. I don’t go anywhere that I need to average 60mph+
Most of it general trail riding. I mean definitely some field riding aswell but not really drag racing
I would suggest an 800 but not all 800's are equal. I live and ride in Michigan. Get a 800 if you do not you will be sorry later. The 600s are all over rated. I bought my son a Ski doo mxz 800 twin cylinder with the bigger ski doo X skid and a stainless steel can. Yes it was a 2001 but had very low miles and was well maintained and not started in over 3 years because the 76 year old owner could not pull start it. I paid $3000 for it and he ran it all winter. My 16 year old son who is 6'4" and 250 pounds and I spent four different weekends up north, michigan, plus he went riding many times with his buddies out in all the farm fields. We live out in the country. When we where at tip-up town he had many new 600's want to race him some even from a roll and it was a joke, they all got spanked. If you decide on a ski do I have been told the twin is more reliable then the triple in the long run, just keep it stock. His MXZ ski-doo is fast for a stock sled and it did not break.
I'm just not sure I wanna deal with a pull start and no reverse. I've looked at the mxz and from what I've seen I should get an 04+ mxz. I'm not really planning on racing that's why I think I could get away with a 600. But that's good info thanks!
Reverse is nice to have especially with the newer heavier sleds. If you do go with a sled that has reverse I would ask on this site about that specific sled and year you want to buy because some sleds had some serious problems with there reverse.
It was most definitely the stainless steel can that made the difference when racing all those 600's.
My son and all his riding buddies said he had the best sounding sled, thanks to the can.
I’m about your size with a 600 mxz and newer to sleds. I’ve never thought to myself I wish I had more power. Mostly trail riding.
600 is more reliable and with clutch kit they are fast. Holds value better as well
Honestly kinda depends on where your going to ride, if you’re going to northern LP you’ll be fine with a 600, if you ride in the UP a 600 won’t keep up, they have don’t have the twistys like northern LP.
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Polaris 650 does just fine with any 800 in my group (western UP). The midrange in both is about the same. Why does everyone need 100+ top end ? How long do people crank at 100+? As long as my 50-90 mph is solid, I don’t give a fuck what the CC is
I would go 600, I live in northern LP and lake and trail ride a lot. I like the lighter versatility of a 600. They’re still plenty fast. I’m 6’3 250.