I started my daughter on a 2002 MXZ 500 Fan when she was about 14, mint I might add with about 2200km on it, lol. Seemed perfect, it was also handy for me to take out if the snow was crusty.

 

Indy Lite two up

 

You won't get a tundra 2 for 1k... or a bravo

Maybe an older Citation 250 short track or a beat up Indy lite 340.. but they will need at least $500 worth of work.

If it's for sale at this time of year at a decent price, it will need work or has an underlying issue that will cause down time soon after you buy it.

 

Maybe an older Citation 250 short track or a beat up Indy lite 340.. but they will need at least $500 worth of work.

If it's for sale at this time of year at a decent price, it will need work or has an underlying issue that will cause down time soon after you buy it.

You must have downloaded the wrong Facebook app, plenty of good sleds for sale under $1000 that claim no work needed (I’ve bought a couple myself and had no issues. That doesn’t mean there isn’t junk out there, but give it a good look over and test ride. $1000 can buy you a good sled, just not rev chassis.

I’ve found in my area the cheap fans actually sell quicker than cheap liquids because there’s just higher demand and less supply. My 380 sold almost immediately. If they can handle a liquid cooled, you have many more options

 

A 380 will be able to pull any sled, the only issue I have had in the past was going up steep inclines the track I had was a 3/4" track and I did not have enough traction to pull the sled up and would start spinning at some point, so I needed to gain more momentum.

So recommendation would be a fan in the 380 or 550.

 

Another vote for a 380. I have a 380 Legend for our kids and it’s perfect for screwing around especially.

 

Any half-way decent 380 is at least $2,000 CAD here in Michigan.

 

Fan sleds are good for beginners obviously, but if your kids are pretty responsible they should be able to handle a liquid cooled, then you don’t need to worry about them out growing the power. Just need to teach them about keeping it cool. When I was about 14, I wanted more power than a 500 liquid but everybody is different

 

Just put a hose clamp between the throttle and grip. Then you can meter the power as they can handle it.

 

My 11yo is on a 15 summit 600 etec 146, my 9yo rides a 20 summit 600 sport. Full size sleds but they do fine on them. Driver makes them safe, not the sled size.

 

So true.... No matter the size of sled, their mind controls the thumb....

 

my kids have a 550f, only downside is it smokes a lot and its quite loud. those fan sleds will literally run forever as long as fuel doesn't gunk up the carbs as its harder and harder to get ethanol free gas.

i want to try and pick up an old 80s sled and its fun to just own one. My dads first sled was a citation 4500 but they are harder to find and i want one with a CDI.

 

my kids have a 550f, only downside is it smokes a lot and its quite loud. those fan sleds will literally run forever as long as fuel doesn't gunk up the carbs as its harder and harder to get ethanol free gas.

i want to try and pick up an old 80s sled and its fun to just own one. My dads first sled was a citation 4500 but they are harder to find and i want one with a CDI.

I have a 1988 safari 377 it uses CDI and they could be found with a 503 also. But I suggest a mid 90's to early 2000's with 380 or 503 or even a 550 they have better suspension overall.

 

My kids came up through sleds every single step of the way: Kitty Kats, 120's, souped up 120's, and the new 200 SnoScoots. We debated going to the Neos but ended up with RF chassis sleds. I would highly recommend you look at these (Freestyle, Legend, Tundra, and Expedition?). They are about 2/3rd size with engine options from a 300 fan on up. My 10 year old son is on his sisters old Freestyle 550F as she has moved up to a Legend Trail V800. They are small enough that the kids can control them but are still a real, capable sled. I've quit grabbing my 1200 Grand Touring for daily stuff on the property and grab one of those as they are so much more maneuverable.

You're not going to find them for 1K (I saw that after typing everything above) but perhaps 2k.

 

Thanks for the input, I found a nice citation short track but thinking it may be too light for pulling a full size sled home. The Indy Lite Deluxe seems to fit the bill or a 380cc-500cc fanner. I could get a safari 377. I would really like to find a Yamaha Enticer 2 LT but they are hard to come by, I think that would be perfect. I still have time. I can teach them to drive mine with me sitting behind them but its kind of scary when the machine has 135hp, they don't have throttle control yet. I have had to swipe their hand off the throttle in a field a few times already because they don't realize how fast they can hit something with a powerful machine.

 

Problem with 80's sled is you don't have enough track lug height, the safari was 5/8", go for late 90's or newer at least you get above 1" lugs, when pulling the traction is more important that engine HP, like I said with a 380 I pulled larger sleds on the trail but I had 3/4" track and needed to gain speed on steep hills that is why I recommend at least 1" track.

 

Chassis size and throttle response are both huge factors for getting kids on sleds. I teach snowmobile safety (just taught it this weekend and my 13 year old daughter was a junior instructor!) and the number of kids that are talking about getting dad's old F7 or Apex because he upgraded is terrifying.

If the sled is too big, they aren't going to able to properly handle it. They'll end up over throttling an underpowered sled and an overpowered sled will be even worse. Either way, they're in a tree or buried. I always kept my kids on a too small sled about half a season longer than I should have because, in my opinion, that is when they really learn to use their body weight. You look out the window and all of a sudden the 8 year old on the 120 is laying it into the turns and shifting his body weight the make the track bite more or less to take that turn faster. That's when the next size up comes out of the garage.

I think you're one the right track with the Indy Lites or Safari. Before I discovered the RF's I was basically thinking through the sleds that I don't want to fold myself onto anymore. If I couldn't imagine sitting on one, it might be about the right for a kid.

Take a look around for a Freestyle 300F. They never had a great following and don't have the automatic value boost of a Tundra or Expedition. You aren't going to find many, but I've seen them down in the $1K-$1.5K range. It will also get them that rider forward positioning and may keep them on the same sled a bit longer so you aren't doing this again in the next year or two.

 

The Boys are 10 and 12, The freestyle would be a perfect match. I had not considered this model. I will be riding with them but later when they get licensed I may let them go for a boot on their own. This sled would only be for a few years until they can handle a bit more power and then I would get them something a bit bigger.

 

Just something to keep in mind since a freestyle is probably out of budget and hard to find.. the older s2000 and ZX sleds are easier to find for your target price, you can also find them with a slow fan, not 300 but 380 or 550 are both starter engines. Many more options means you can probably find something low mileage. Most freestyles are pretty rough because they started as a kids machine and had a dedicated snocross class when they were new

 

I found a 1999 Polaris Indy Trail Sport 440 fan long track with 2 up seat and backrest. Sled was kept in enclosed trailer and looks to be in 8/10 condition. I will message and see what the mileage is. He wants $1600 which seems reasonable. The reason I don't want to spend a lot of money is simply because we don't hardly get any snow here in Collingwood. I have time to wrench on them, I figure the kids will beat the sled up while they learn to some degree. I could add some slack to the throttle so the clutches don't shift all the way out or gear it down a bit If I need to.

 

Those Freestyles are a pricy, people usually want $4,000-$5,000 CAD for them in my area. Are they fun to ride? They are ugly for sure.

 

Oof, those are more spendy. They're in the $2500+ range here, with 300s less than that. I really like them. Narrow, nimble and tight turning radius, perfect for the woods. Plus, the whole headlight and console assembly comes off with 2 straps and one plug, way easier to service than any of the newer style sleds I've touched.

Yes, they do have a different style. I like them, but I also like 3rd Gen Camaros, so my taste is suspect to begin with.

 

3rd gen Camaro's look sweet.