Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/4505
18 SNOWEST DECEMBER 2009 cooled sled segment has melted into the past like a spring thaw. Those smaller sleds have gradually gotten bigger— engine size wise at least—and the 600cc mountain segment is the new economy class. Sort of. There are two models still around for 2010—the Polaris Trail RMK and Yamaha Phazer MTX—with smaller engine displacements than the 600s. So technically, you could consider those the economy and/or beginner class of sleds and rightfully so. However, the snowmobile indus- try has warmed up to the idea and it's generally accepted these days that the 600 mountain segment is the economy/ beginner class. Part of that is due to, we think, the horsepower levels offered by the 600s compared to the Trail RMK and Phazer. Generally speaking, the horsepower average in the 600 is about 120 compared to the Phazer MTX at 80 hp and the Trail RMK at about 60 hp. This gradual acceptance as the begin- ner's class could also be due to the fact there just aren't many options left (only the Trail RMK and Phazer MTX as men- tioned) when it comes to those who want Are they A good deAl or not? ECoNoMIC StAte oF the MoUntAIn 600 CLASS By lAne lIndStroM ECoNoMIC The M6 is in the middle of the 600 pack when it comes to the price of a sled. It's not the most or least expensive. The M6's price tag shows a $200 bump in price compared to the 2009 model. I It wasn't too many years ago that fan- cooled sleds and then the liquid-cooled 500cc machines were the economy class of mountain snowmobiles. They were a relative bargain com- pared to other mountain sleds and they were fairly inexpensive to maintain. Those machines weren't intimidating and they seemed to have the right horse- power for those looking to get a foot in the door of this winter sport that hard core snowmobilers were raving about. All those features also made those sleds a favorite among snowmobile rental outfits. For a myriad of reasons even we don't fully understand, the 500cc and fan-