Let's be honest - sled pricing is becoming a rich man's sport. I'm looking to gauge peoples interests in what they really want in a sled. I may send a link to the manufacturers back to this thread if we get enough positive feedback, we'll see what is said first. I don't want a b!tch session or your opinions on who has the best pricing, let's make this productive. I see sledding as a dying sport if only the elite can afford it. With the price of fuel and accomodations, the distant future is uncertain for sledding. I would love for my grandkids to be able to sled, in very much the same way I do now, but I fear that may not be. I think sledders would have more public favour if more people sledded and the only way to do that is to get pricing in line with average family recreation. Public favour is what will keep our riding areas open.
I would like to see the manufacturers offer sleds in a base model - with appropriate pricing for upgrades. I'm not a fancy guy, I don't need $400 worth of decals and logos, or $1000 super fancy shocks, or $1000 electric start. Honestly, even though they are standard now on all sleds, I don't even care about handwarmers or 4 beam halogen headlights. Give me two bulbs and I'm good to go, I spend very minimal time riding in the dark. I usually strip my decals anyway so I don't care about the "flashy" look.
Can the manufacturers not offer a stock sled with no decals and no options for a basement price to get more people into the sport and keep it economical for those still trying to enjoy our sport on a moderate budget? If those that want to upgrade every part and piece can afford to do so, by all means let them. It would just mean having a few more options.
As an example - I would love to see the new E-tec 800 in a stripped version of the XP, available for somewhere south of $12,000. I did the Ski Doo online sled build for the Summit Everest, my price comes in at $13,699 for a 163" 800R (not even the E-tec). The price increases to $14,200 if I want the E-tec, and it only comes in a 154", unless you spring ordered which bumps the price to a whopping $15,200. I'd love to buy an E-tec in the XP chassis on a 163" chassis, with standard shocks and no decals for less than $12,000.
Honestly I'm a mountain rider. Most of my riding is deep powder and hills.
Apart from the odd bumpy trail, I'm not snowcrossing. Give me a good set of gas shocks and I'll be happy, I don't need a race package. The base model Summit SP comes with a handling package and trick shocks, which are nice but again, base model price is $13,400 and it only comes in the 154". Arctic Cat and Polaris are the same - AC comes with the Fox Zero Pro's on the standard model 162" M8.
Unfortunately I hear it more and more where people are not purchasing new sleds, the price is just to high. Some others getting out of the sport completely as it's hard to justify spending $14,000 on a sled, riding it for 4 months and then watching it depreciate. I know its a sport and sometimes you have to be willing to pay to play, but sometimes you have to take a step back and look at things as well. Sure sleds are lighter these days, and I'm saying there shouldn't be an increase in price over 10 yrs ago, but some of that came from engineering, not from exotic materials on the sled like titanium. Let's hear from you guys.
I would like to see the manufacturers offer sleds in a base model - with appropriate pricing for upgrades. I'm not a fancy guy, I don't need $400 worth of decals and logos, or $1000 super fancy shocks, or $1000 electric start. Honestly, even though they are standard now on all sleds, I don't even care about handwarmers or 4 beam halogen headlights. Give me two bulbs and I'm good to go, I spend very minimal time riding in the dark. I usually strip my decals anyway so I don't care about the "flashy" look.
Can the manufacturers not offer a stock sled with no decals and no options for a basement price to get more people into the sport and keep it economical for those still trying to enjoy our sport on a moderate budget? If those that want to upgrade every part and piece can afford to do so, by all means let them. It would just mean having a few more options.
As an example - I would love to see the new E-tec 800 in a stripped version of the XP, available for somewhere south of $12,000. I did the Ski Doo online sled build for the Summit Everest, my price comes in at $13,699 for a 163" 800R (not even the E-tec). The price increases to $14,200 if I want the E-tec, and it only comes in a 154", unless you spring ordered which bumps the price to a whopping $15,200. I'd love to buy an E-tec in the XP chassis on a 163" chassis, with standard shocks and no decals for less than $12,000.
Honestly I'm a mountain rider. Most of my riding is deep powder and hills.
Apart from the odd bumpy trail, I'm not snowcrossing. Give me a good set of gas shocks and I'll be happy, I don't need a race package. The base model Summit SP comes with a handling package and trick shocks, which are nice but again, base model price is $13,400 and it only comes in the 154". Arctic Cat and Polaris are the same - AC comes with the Fox Zero Pro's on the standard model 162" M8.
Unfortunately I hear it more and more where people are not purchasing new sleds, the price is just to high. Some others getting out of the sport completely as it's hard to justify spending $14,000 on a sled, riding it for 4 months and then watching it depreciate. I know its a sport and sometimes you have to be willing to pay to play, but sometimes you have to take a step back and look at things as well. Sure sleds are lighter these days, and I'm saying there shouldn't be an increase in price over 10 yrs ago, but some of that came from engineering, not from exotic materials on the sled like titanium. Let's hear from you guys.
