I am either the coolest, most awesome Dad ever, or the stupidest man alive.....
Since I got my SXR, I've had 2 of my 3 kids out for a few rides with me, and so far they have absolutely loved it. My shoulders burn, I'm exhausted and crippled up after 30-50 miles, but they loved it. The two girls are already WAY pushing it for riding 2 up on a single rider machine. The boy.....well, he's got 50 lbs on me, so I wouldn't even try to ride with him on the back. I remember snowmobiling was some of my best memories as a kid, so I've been keeping my eyes open for a machine for them to fight over. Something cheap, reliable, and good for them to learn on. Something rough enough so if they nailed something I wouldn't have a brain hemorrhage, but nice enough where still looks cool, and it isn't embarrassing to own. Tricky part is the kids are between 12-16 and I can only afford something cheap.
Ideally, if I could, I would get them my sled, but with less power. THAT would be perfect. A 500 or 600 SX, SXR, or XTC would be great. Problem is, they still want a mint for those. Closing in on double for what I laid out for my SXR. and I'm not gonna pay a lot for this muffler!!!
Went and looked at a couple strutted Phazers. Meh....No guts, and too tippy. Awful lot to ask of a machine for my boy. Exciters? Yea there's motor, but still tippy and no real brake and they are thirsty. Strutted XTs? STILL expensive. As much as I hated to admit it, for what I could spend, a Yamaha that fit my criteria in my price range was pretty much out.
Then I remembered the old Polaris wedges handled fairly decent and started researching old XLTs. Zeroed in on the 94 580s. Piston ported, low, wide, ok suspension, hydraulic brake, didn't have the crank problems the 95 & 96 did. Moderate power, and decent on gas with the small carbs. Unmodded they should last quite a while, and easy to rebuild if I need to.
Found one for $550 that sat for over a year, was a bit neglected, but brought it home with me. Figured I better get it, as cheap, halfway decent sleds have gone SUPER QUICK this year.
Spent half a day getting it running well then took it for a ride. Aw, man....vibrates like hell from 20-ish mph on up, and oh no....no speedo. That would explain the vibration. So much so, it could almost pass for a Harley at midrange.Well..... Guess we know what to do.
Spent most of the day Thursday in body man mode. Straightening, the front bumper. Polishing, and buffing, and waxing, buffing some more, and painting the vents, and touch up and general detailing. Wanted it to be at least pretty for when the kids got home from school. At least that worked out. Looks like a totally different machine now.
Tore it apart Friday and got into into the driveshaft and chaincase bearings yesterday. I swear, this machine is held together with carriage bolts!!! Then, as I just about got from tearing apart to putting back together mode, Damnit!!! Busted the $80 brake sensor when I was starting to put it back together. Enough for one night. Buttoned up the chaincase and called it quits for the evening.
Tore back in today, and put the exhaust, and the clutch side bearing, and speedo stuff back together, and started in on the skid before I put that back in. Wanted to get it all put back together today, but I must have been getting a bit punchy after a day full of snags,(I won't even go int them) and cut one of the slides wrong and am stuck until I can pick up another slide. Put on the new Scott ATV grips (just like the soft Yamaha grips)and bar ends and called it quits.
So, since I had all this extra time on my hands, I started adding up what I all spent after the initial purchase. That number is already about $375. With assorted powders, potions, soaps and lotions. Parts, supplies, and a couple tools I needed. (Broke 2 snap ring pliers). That's not counting the time and fuel for 5 trips to the dealer, and at least 3 to the aftermarket outfit. Probably a dozen trips to NAPA, and close to that many to the hardware store for odds and ends. It's going to be closer to $400+ when I'm done. All I'm waiting on is a new speedo cable.....(why not right?)and then there's that damn slide I effed up.
I could have spent more to start with, and maybe gotten something that they could have just rode. Or.....if I would have spent a grand on something to start out with, I could have stuck in another $400-$500.
On the bright side, I'll know the thing should be good when I'm done.
So.....I'm either the coolest, most awesome Dad ever, or the stupidest man alive.....
Kinda got that nice guys finish last feeling, or a bit of the angry Ontario snowmobiler thing going on right now. This is cutting into my last few days of riding time.
The things we do for our kids.....
Since I got my SXR, I've had 2 of my 3 kids out for a few rides with me, and so far they have absolutely loved it. My shoulders burn, I'm exhausted and crippled up after 30-50 miles, but they loved it. The two girls are already WAY pushing it for riding 2 up on a single rider machine. The boy.....well, he's got 50 lbs on me, so I wouldn't even try to ride with him on the back. I remember snowmobiling was some of my best memories as a kid, so I've been keeping my eyes open for a machine for them to fight over. Something cheap, reliable, and good for them to learn on. Something rough enough so if they nailed something I wouldn't have a brain hemorrhage, but nice enough where still looks cool, and it isn't embarrassing to own. Tricky part is the kids are between 12-16 and I can only afford something cheap.
Ideally, if I could, I would get them my sled, but with less power. THAT would be perfect. A 500 or 600 SX, SXR, or XTC would be great. Problem is, they still want a mint for those. Closing in on double for what I laid out for my SXR. and I'm not gonna pay a lot for this muffler!!!
Went and looked at a couple strutted Phazers. Meh....No guts, and too tippy. Awful lot to ask of a machine for my boy. Exciters? Yea there's motor, but still tippy and no real brake and they are thirsty. Strutted XTs? STILL expensive. As much as I hated to admit it, for what I could spend, a Yamaha that fit my criteria in my price range was pretty much out.
Then I remembered the old Polaris wedges handled fairly decent and started researching old XLTs. Zeroed in on the 94 580s. Piston ported, low, wide, ok suspension, hydraulic brake, didn't have the crank problems the 95 & 96 did. Moderate power, and decent on gas with the small carbs. Unmodded they should last quite a while, and easy to rebuild if I need to.
Found one for $550 that sat for over a year, was a bit neglected, but brought it home with me. Figured I better get it, as cheap, halfway decent sleds have gone SUPER QUICK this year.
Spent half a day getting it running well then took it for a ride. Aw, man....vibrates like hell from 20-ish mph on up, and oh no....no speedo. That would explain the vibration. So much so, it could almost pass for a Harley at midrange.Well..... Guess we know what to do.
Spent most of the day Thursday in body man mode. Straightening, the front bumper. Polishing, and buffing, and waxing, buffing some more, and painting the vents, and touch up and general detailing. Wanted it to be at least pretty for when the kids got home from school. At least that worked out. Looks like a totally different machine now.
Tore it apart Friday and got into into the driveshaft and chaincase bearings yesterday. I swear, this machine is held together with carriage bolts!!! Then, as I just about got from tearing apart to putting back together mode, Damnit!!! Busted the $80 brake sensor when I was starting to put it back together. Enough for one night. Buttoned up the chaincase and called it quits for the evening.
Tore back in today, and put the exhaust, and the clutch side bearing, and speedo stuff back together, and started in on the skid before I put that back in. Wanted to get it all put back together today, but I must have been getting a bit punchy after a day full of snags,(I won't even go int them) and cut one of the slides wrong and am stuck until I can pick up another slide. Put on the new Scott ATV grips (just like the soft Yamaha grips)and bar ends and called it quits.
So, since I had all this extra time on my hands, I started adding up what I all spent after the initial purchase. That number is already about $375. With assorted powders, potions, soaps and lotions. Parts, supplies, and a couple tools I needed. (Broke 2 snap ring pliers). That's not counting the time and fuel for 5 trips to the dealer, and at least 3 to the aftermarket outfit. Probably a dozen trips to NAPA, and close to that many to the hardware store for odds and ends. It's going to be closer to $400+ when I'm done. All I'm waiting on is a new speedo cable.....(why not right?)and then there's that damn slide I effed up.
I could have spent more to start with, and maybe gotten something that they could have just rode. Or.....if I would have spent a grand on something to start out with, I could have stuck in another $400-$500.
On the bright side, I'll know the thing should be good when I'm done.
So.....I'm either the coolest, most awesome Dad ever, or the stupidest man alive.....
Kinda got that nice guys finish last feeling, or a bit of the angry Ontario snowmobiler thing going on right now. This is cutting into my last few days of riding time.
The things we do for our kids.....