I have a 550 XP that doesn't do well in the powder. Not sure if it's lack of power, track, skis or all the above. I know mine isn't a free style, just letting you know about my 550.

 

I have a 550 XP that doesn't do well in the powder. Not sure if it's lack of power, track, skis or all the above. I know mine isn't a free style, just letting you know about my 550.

Thanks!
The Freestyle appeals to me becasue its light (410 lbs.) Not sure IF that makes a difference?
I just wonder how much of a difference flotation skis would make....

 

My main riding partner has had a new one since 2007. He loves it, light great off trail, big track 136/16 1.25 but weird front end that is twitchy and is fragile. We have replaced all front end supports once and looking at it we may have to do it again. He runs pilot 5.7s and can hit mid 80s on right trail. Engine work is a pain because all shields have to be off to remove or install engine. It is very light and we have rejetted pto side to prevent it from running lean. At 230lbs all muscle I have seen him do some crazy stuff on that little machine. He says he will never get rid of it. The only thing he would want more is more upper end. We breathe down his neck on 800s and 1200s. In the woods he is tough to stay with. I hope this helps , good luck with your search.

 

I have 07 and 09 Backcountrys and I love them (except for the crummy gas mileage.)

The front end is a little fragile but that's the price you pay for lightweight and inexpensive. The single A-arms are not the problem, it is the support structure. It is not all that fragile but if you hit something hard you can tweak it or actually break parts. I have had to fix mine twice. If you are riding on-trail you won't have a problem. I don't find the handling to be that bad but no doubt it is not as precise as a high performance double A-arm design. On the other hand is is not as heavy either.

If your son is light then the short track 550 would probably be pretty good in the loose snow. The cheap large Camoplast blow-mold skis are light and provide good flotation. The work well in deep snow and are just fine on the trail at reasonable speeds. The problem is that the plastic is soft so they wear out quickly if you ride on lots of bare dirt. I switched to PIlot 6.9s. I tried the Pilot DS but I found they have a little less flotation than the old blow-molds or the 6.9s. I switched them to my 09 Tundra which is a lot lighter and they work fine.

The fact that the 550F is a mild-mannered motor with a relative smooth power curve really helps because you can finesse yourself through the deep snow instead of immediately spinning due to massive power of the 600 or other high performance motors. The 550F is plenty fast enough on the trail and I can count on one hand the number of times I wished I had more power - essentially only a few times encountering long stretches of deep slush on the lakes.

The Backcountry suspension and track are the same as used on the Renegades of the same vintage. If you can find a wrecked Renegade or Backcountry (usually massive front end damage) with a good track and suspension cheap it would not be that much of a deal to swap to the long track. You'd need a tunnel extension but probably that could be fabricated easy enough unless you found a wrecked Backcountry then it is just a matter of riveting it on.

 

I looked for one for my son and gave up on the freestyle as there are not many and the price is always very high (read ridiculous). Found you could be a newer XP with a 550F cheaper. Better parts availability as well.

 

I have 07 and 09 Backcountrys and I love them (except for the crummy gas mileage.)

The front end is a little fragile but that's the price you pay for lightweight and inexpensive. The single A-arms are not the problem, it is the support structure. It is not all that fragile but if you hit something hard you can tweak it or actually break parts. I have had to fix mine twice. If you are riding on-trail you won't have a problem. I don't find the handling to be that bad but no doubt it is not as precise as a high performance double A-arm design. On the other hand is is not as heavy either.

If your son is light then the short track 550 would probably be pretty good in the loose snow. The cheap large Camoplast blow-mold skis are light and provide good flotation. The work well in deep snow and are just fine on the trail at reasonable speeds. The problem is that the plastic is soft so they wear out quickly if you ride on lots of bare dirt. I switched to PIlot 6.9s. I tried the Pilot DS but I found they have a little less flotation than the old blow-molds or the 6.9s. I switched them to my 09 Tundra which is a lot lighter and they work fine.

The fact that the 550F is a mild-mannered motor with a relative smooth power curve really helps because you can finesse yourself through the deep snow instead of immediately spinning due to massive power of the 600 or other high performance motors. The 550F is plenty fast enough on the trail and I can count on one hand the number of times I wished I had more power - essentially only a few times encountering long stretches of deep slush on the lakes.

The Backcountry suspension and track are the same as used on the Renegades of the same vintage. If you can find a wrecked Renegade or Backcountry (usually massive front end damage) with a good track and suspension cheap it would not be that much of a deal to swap to the long track. You'd need a tunnel extension but probably that could be fabricated easy enough unless you found a wrecked Backcountry then it is just a matter of riveting it on.

Great Advice!! Ty!!
He's all skin and bones so his lightweight (like you said) will help. lol....
I doubt we put 300 mile on it all year. Just want something for him to tinker around on.... The best time to ride where I am is BEFORE all the maniacs come out. I like riding when everyone is "inside" waiting for the trails to be groomed.

Going to your 550F point, I've owned every sled on planet earth and although the more powerful sleds have privileges, I LOVE tinkering around on my 2016 Tundra. Its Light, Comfortable & Reliable and Fun... I DO on occasion wish it was faster particularly when I'm riding the trails with my buddies and their 800's BUT, They just don't make a sled that does "everything".... and I choose my slow Tundra OVER ANY sled.
I know its hard to imagine BUT I can afford any sled on the market and STILL choose my Tundra!!
Thanks for your help and Happy New Year!!

 

Hello!

I've been on the lookout for a 2007/08 Ski Doo 550F Freestyle "Backcountry" and can't find one for the life of me.
There is one for sale on Craigslist locally from me BUT the guy wants $6500 (He's out of his mind)!

So, I'm wondering IF I could get some decent flotation with a (121") 550F Freestyle (plenty of them around for sale) IF I add some wider ski's OR skins? I'm not up for adding track extensions and all that jazz.

You're lucky to have these sleds available on the cheap , they have been , and still are to some , HIGHLY sought after especially for young riders . As stated elsewhere , steering can be finicky and my choice would be to opt for a ski upgrade rather than skins to make it a little more manageable for a novice rider but certainly would have no qualms about skins if it was a machine i would be operating . These sleds are very capable in loose powder and are essentially the short track Tundra of the RF era , in my estimation this platform is a great fit for the type of riding that you describe .

 

..., they have been , and still are to some , HIGHLY sought after especially for young riders . ...

You'd think Bombardier or some other manufacturer would take notice of the continued demand and make a 2017 version but apparently they figure they can't jack the price up enough to make it profitable.

I think the closest you could come to a Freestyle Backcountry in a recent model now is a 550F Tundra Sport. I checked one out at a dealer the other day and it seems as light as my Backcountry although the specs say it is about 30 pounds heavier. On the plus side you get a full belly pan for less drag, and presumably the front end is at least a little stronger.

 

I've found my 2012 550 TNT to be very capable in the powder. It has the 1.25" track (which is more of a "trail track", but it is better than a 1" or .88" track) and I have to adjust the limiter and suspension to get it just right, but it is possible.

I'd think you could find a 550 at a decent price and invest money into the track. I bet if I put a 1.5" track on my TNT it would be awesome in the deeper snow of the eastern seaboard. As you said, we don't get tons of deep snow except up in the hills from time to time.

Do some searches for making sleds more capable in the deep snow! A couple of quickies: let out limiter strap, adjust center shock, and adjust front springs to fine tune. To invest a little money add a 1.5" or 1.75" track and wider skis or ski skins and you'll have a fine powder busting sled!

Or...you may find a Summit Sport on Craigslist in Maine or New Hampshire. I've seen a few of them over the past year.

 

Limiter strap broke on mine. I didn't bother to replace it.