Will I be able to keep up?

S

styxx_78

New member
Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
2
Hi guys and gals,
I am researching my first sled purchase and would like to know what you guys think.
My neighbour and I are planning on each buying oursleves a sled for next season. Neither of us are very experienced riders but we would both like to get a sled we can grow into.
He is looking at newer Ski-Doo's(MX-Z 700/800), and seem I to be leaning toward a 2001-2002 SRX/SXR 700. I dont feel like spending thousands more when I feel I can get just as much enjoyment out of a sled for half the price. If i feel that I really end up enjoying the sport, then maybe the year after I may invest in a newer/bigger/badder toy.
My concern is, if he gets somthing like a 2005-2006 MX-Z 800, will I be able to keep up? We will be doing most of our riding in the Eastern Ontario region on their trail systems. I realise that the SRX 700 was one of the fastest sleds around, but will and older sled like that cause me problems that I can avoid by buying a newer one? Or is the reliability of those 2001-2002 considered to be good?

I don't want him to be waiting for me to catch up, or have to tow me home in case of mechanical failure.
I'm not mechanically inclined (yet), but it seems that the newer sleds (APEX) engine is almost inaccessible while on the trail.

Here is what I am looking for in case any of you know someone parting with one at the end oft his season for a reasonable price.
2001 SRX 700
2001 SX 700R
2002 SRX 700


Thanks,
styxx
 
I ride with a buddy that has a 2000 SRX700 and a buddy with an 05 MXZ 800 Adrenaline. On the drag stip they are about equal... in the trails the guy with the SRX is the fastest. Granted he's a little better rider, but he has his SRX set up well. While he (and I) carve corners the Doo is doing his best not to push thru the corners.

As for reliability, you can't be a Yammy!!
 
First off, if you guys are just jumping into the sport try taking baby steps with a couple of 440's or 500's,Seriously the Srx is a very dangerous toy when not handled properly. You can reach 100mph on a straight away within seconds and if you dont judge the corner right or someone else is coming the other way, well you get the picture. Im not kidding either these 700s and 800s are fassst. All I can say is be carefull, get used to the sled first. It also does not matter the size of the engine when riding trails. The srx can fly through the tightest winding trails like a mistle and if you are both novice riders than it shouldnt matter.
 
YAMAHIZAL700 said:
First off, if you guys are just jumping into the sport try taking baby steps with a couple of 440's or 500's,Seriously the Srx is a very dangerous toy when not handled properly. You can reach 100mph on a straight away within seconds and if you dont judge the corner right or someone else is coming the other way, well you get the picture. Im not kidding either these 700s and 800s are fassst. All I can say is be carefull, get used to the sled first. It also does not matter the size of the engine when riding trails. The srx can fly through the tightest winding trails like a mistle and if you are both novice riders than it shouldnt matter.
Click to expand...

I agree with Y7.........who cares if you can keep up just go and have fun and be safe for you and the people around you!!!!!!!
 
I also agree with Yamahizal. I have an sx 600. And my first season riding in over 10 years had an accident. I may have been going faster on a faster sled and could of been seriously hurt or hurt someone else. Buy a smaller displacement sled to gain some experience, then upgrade. I plan on upgrading in two years to something with a better suspension.

Go with a yamaha for reliability and durability.

YS
 
yea u wanna stary off with like a 500 or so. also depending on ur trail conditions some places u dont need mroe teh a 440 or a 500. around here a good set up 440 can take any 700 or 800 in the trails with teh right rider. a kid i know taht always needs to ahve the best of every thing( cause he was picked on there all of school for being just a dork) just bought a 2004 Mach Z 1000, he weights about 135 maybe 140lbs and is liek 6'2" the trails around her i have a 700sxr and rearly go WOT. i strted out on a 500 for 4 years befor i crashed it and had to upgrade but by taht point i was riding my brotehr sxr700 on and off and felt i could handle somthing a little biger. but any way u always need experience in teh trails befor u decide to go faster ive gotten cocky in tehr trails and have paid for it in tons or trailing aroms and radios rods and one trip to the ER and a few months of serios neck pain. and the first time u jump on a sled and feel u can go fast is the first time ur gonna crash. ive had 3 buddies that have gotten into it after me and every one of them first few rides were flying to keep up untill tehy had that first acident or close call and thast cause tehy were riding beyond thier limits cause there sleds alowed them too.
 
i jumped from a phazer to a srx at the age of 15 but throguh out my life i always drove my fathers v-max-4's,sx's & so fourth but the srx was by far the fastest out of the bunch.my first sled was a exciter2 sx.but once i got the srx there was no looking back.great all around sled.very reliable.a few things break here & there but i have never been stranded & i have beat quite a few of those revs your speaking of.but they beat me in a powdery field.they get better traction on the loose stuff but other than that you shouldnt have a problem.
 
start off on a smaller sled, for your sake and those around. you wouldnt buy a literbike to learn how to ride a motorcycle, why start on a moster sled (that is driven on ice and snow, and in the worst conditions safety wise) that could get you or others hurt or worse. just my thought on it, take it or leave it
 
The 2001 700 SX-R was a fine trail sled. Real punchy in the midrange, very reliable, good on fuel and handled quite well. This would be more than enough for a good starter sled. If your buddy wants that style Doo, I would go for the MXZ700 over the 800. They had some problems with those early 800 twins.
 
I started on a 2002 VMax. I think that was a poor move on my part. Half way into the season I wanted more and there I sit with a new sled with 3 more years of warranty... 2004 I bought a viper. That is the sled I should have started with. The Viper may be a lot faster than the VMax. But it is up to me how fast I ride, not the sled... The Viper by far outhandles the VMax. Now I am wanting the Viper more powerful. It isn't enough, doesn't do the things I want it to do.... So now again I am stuck with do I buy a bigger faster sled or spend thousands to modify my Viper to make it the sled I want....

Geez, what a spendy sport...

BTW, still got the VMax, have put near 4000 miles on it and ZERO problems. Only maintenance, lube and plugs. I think the drive belt has been replaced once.
 
honestly, that is when the used market becomes great. get a $2000 sled that has a smaller engine and is in good shape. by buying what wasa cheap sled when it was new a few years old, you can get something that is in great shape for low initial cost. after the first year or so you can decide you want more sled and you dont have a lot tied up in an expensive first sled
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top