The Perfect Sled by Chuck Maas, AMDS Sales Supervisor
All photos by Chuck Maas Are you one of those snowmachiners whose riding style just isn't accommodated by any stock sled? You like the trail capability of an MXZ, but the short track doesn't hack it in deep stuff, and there's no good place to carry a survival kit or extra gas. On the other hand, a Summit is great in powder, but is less than kind on the trail getting there.
Or, perhaps you just appreciate carefully selected top quality components that produce a very high level of performance combined with a silky ride…in a sled that does just about everything well. Can't be done you say? Check out my "Fast Summit Touring 600."
These were my objectives. Put together a machine that handles deep powder well, but also smooths out the bumps; has plenty of power, but is easy on gas; and is highly responsive to driver inputs, but is easy to ride and kind to the body. To meet these objectives I started with a 1999 Summit 600. The stock sled has a great engine, is a very competent powder machine, and is a solid platform on which to build. To it I added the following:
 | 40" Front Widening Kit with Comet Shocks - gives considerably more stability and much higher trail performance without significantly detracting from powder carving ability.
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| Simmons Skis - as good as it gets. The sled tracks like it's on rails!
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| M-10 Rear Suspension by Fast, Inc. - superb! Expensive, but still the best. With Ohlin shocks it soaks up bumps like none other, and does powder extremely well too.
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| V-Force Delta 2 Reeds - even crisper response from the Series 3 engine, and a few extra horsepower to boot.
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| Bombardier Roller Clutch - a bolt-in right out of the MX Zx that makes for nice quick backshifts.
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| Softer Clutch Spring - lowers engagement speed for smoother operation over a wide range of conditions. Plenty of torque on the bottom without coming in like a sledgehammer.
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| Electric Temperature Gauge - makes monitoring the engine easy.
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| Two-Stage Throttle Assembly - much easier and controllable throttle pull for more enjoyable long rides.
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| MX Zx Racing Grips - just feel right to me. They're comfortable and the grippy texture really works. (Interesting that these are also stock on Wide Track Skandics. Go figure.)
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| 1" Handlebar Risers - makes the bars fit me perfectly.
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| Short Brake Lever - easier, more convenient brake operation for better overall control.
| | Mirrors - when I'm out in front it's nice to know if the others in the group are still back there without having to crank my head around. Comfort and safety in one package.
| | "Heel Clickers" by Super Torquer Systems. I couldn't help myself! The promise of a 20-25% track horsepower gain at mid-speeds sounded too good to be true. It isn't. This setup works! At 40-45 MPH I can lift the front end at will. This is a fairly aggressive mod, but it helps make this machine perform well into the 700 category. For a more thorough discussion of what Heel Clickers do, see www.sledgear.com. AMDS has them, and we can install them for you. |
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Simmons Skis, Comet Shocks, Widening Kit
M-10 Suspension with Ohlin Shocks
Two-Stage Throttle
Short Brake Grip
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How does it all work? Fabulously! The best boondocking sled I can imagine, and one that fits my riding style to a tee. And the beauty of it is the whole project was done right here at AMDS. Any one of the modifications is an improvement in and of itself, but the sum total is a superbly integrated package. So far it's the only one I know of, but if you like what you see we can build one for you too.
Check out Chuck's latest project... The Perfect Sled II