I recently purchased my first snowmobile. It is a 97 Polaris Indy 700 in great condition with 3900 miles. I got it for $300. Is that a good deal? What kind of accessories or gear do you recommend? I have never owned one before. Thanks in advance for your help. I primarly bought it for ice fishing and a little bit of trail riding.

Forced....

You will only know if it is a good deal 3 years from now. The initial purchase price is great. There's a huge difference between the suspension of a 97 sled and even a 2000 sled. Any first snowmobile is great. Get liability insurance so you don't ruin someone else's life.

Learn how to "summerize" your sled (condition gas, fog, lube, disconnect battery, etc.)

if you're going to trail ride and ice fish, I'd recommend a GPS or an H20C mount with a 12v adapter.

remember ice is not uniform and with a sled at 40 MPH you can get on dangerous ice faster than you can stop.

All snowmobiles (including a 97) can out run its lights.

I screwed sheet metal screws on the top edge of the foot rest rail - this helps tremendously with traction with any type of boot.

Double down and buy a good helmet. I blew $200 learning the wrong lesson when i could have bought a good front - opening helmet for $250. Ski-doo makes a great helmet.

Good luck.

Good tips there by Don. I would also highly reccomend a heated helmet sheild. They plug into the sled and always keep the sheild clear. On 'normal' sheilds, your breath creates frost and it is pain in the you know what. Heated sheilds make riding way more enjoyable and SAFER. I believe they cost about $120.00 but well worth it.

Also, try to avoid riding on overcast "snow blind" days unless you are very familiar with the terrain. What may look like smooth even ground could be a 7 foot vertical drift that you don't see until you are 15 feet in the air. (I found out the hard way with a broken wrist) Ouch! You can get tinted sheilds that help this condition but may be a hinderance in other conditions.

Watch out for big ice blocks on the lakes as well. Most spear fisherman (like me) put their ice blocks back down the holes when they move their houses and mark them with long branches from the shore but there are a few that just pick up and move leaving the ice blocks sitting there. You do not want to hit them on a snowmobile.

That is a great price. If it runs well you are in great shape. Even if you just get a few years then trade sell or part out - -you did very well.

I have an 03 700

the wife has a 05 700

and we love them.

Good job.

Hitman

hitman forgot to tell you that his sled sat in the shop most of last season broken down Did you ever get that air bubble out of the coolant?

All good advice here, especially the helmet. Invest in a good helmet. Probably the most important piece of equipment beside the sled itself. If you can't see out of the visor due to fogging, you are screwed. An accident waiting to happen. Go to a dealer and try on a bunch; they all seem to fit different for the same size. Then hit up Dennis Kirk or Shadetree and order it online or mail order. It will usually be much cheaper.

Thanks for the advice. I did insure it right away. I will definetly spend the money on a good helmet and will look into the electronic defogging device. Any recommendations for a trailer. I don't have one yet. I am thinking a two place is a must with my Frabil.

a two place is good to trailer the sled and the portable. That's what I've got. Keeps from having to heave the heavy portable up into the back of the truck.