Want to buy 500ss for my wife - the only concern I have is will she be too cold on that thing. It doesn't seem to offer much protection, what's your experience been?

Ya its colder than my apex,but i went with the midheight shield,and side flares,its better,but still can be cold when riding very fast rr beds at 2 degrees above with wind.

It chilly but not as bad as it is cracked up to be. Get the mid hieght and you will be fine

Its cold, with the short windshield the wind gets ya right in the face, with good clothes its OK. For your wife id get a taller winshield, you can change it in 20 seconds if you wanna switch back and forth on colder days.

I think the 500ss comes with a mid height winshield. Looks higher than the TNT in the pictures. Also saw the "flares" in a picture. Those should help as well. I don't think she'll be riding when it gets below zero...LOL

My first ride was at 5 F. On the x, with the low windshield, there is no body protection from the wind, none. Although, it was actually warmer for my knees than it was on my REV(6'4", so they stick up a bit). The hand guards work fine for keeping most of the wind off but I did get a little wind up the jacket sleeves. I bought the medium windshield and the side deflectors for the cold rides. I think most of the "cold" talk is coming from the x package and TNT with the low windshield.

I put on the ultra low windshield, and handguards...hands are fine, but the windshield does absolutely nothing. If you're looking for wind protection, go with the taller, mid height.

Mid hieght windshield protection is good, better than my Polaris at blocking wind, also if the sleds for your wife the GSX 500SS version would be nice, I believe it includes the knee flares added to the body panel stock which blocks alot of leg/waist wind.

I have a mid height windshield and rode the up last week when it was -15f and I didn't get cold.

I found it cold on the hands last weekend when it was -16 deg celsius (3 deg F). I put on mitts and my thumb was still cold. I have handlebars muffs in the tunnel bag for the next time.

Came with the hand guards and changed to the mid height, not bad rode at approx 10 f. Best sled to date!

Werd... All of the snowmobile mags this year say it is warmer than the rev

Its plenty warm if you have at least the mid height windshield

You think so Beast? I rode Boblers XP800 for a bit last week in Quebec, and was pretty surprised at how well it blocked the wind. He has the mid shield, and not sure if they were stock or not, but some little spoiler things on the hood right over the knees, on each side of the hood. My impression was that I thought it would be a windy ride, but was immediately impressed at how quiet and out of the wind I felt. It was about 10 degrees.

I am still trying to figure out if its the sled or my new klim suit,i have all new gortex and you have to layer to stay warm,this might be some of it, but i do sit up a little higher than on my apex,and yes i have the midheight w/side shields,but i dont have the bottom reflectors for your legs,so how did you like the xp's power,mine comes on hard till 100 than backshifts and throws itself in a lower gear ratio,and can never catch back up,now this is on snow,have not been on ice yet,but have a cudney kit on its way.

I have the X...it's cold if it's cold out...big surprise right...anyway, How easy is it to change b/t the Mid Heigth windshield and the short one the x comes with and also to add the side guards for your knees like in your pic? Thanks.

The windshield scres on with a new trim ring and you have to drill a few 3/4 holes in the cowling to snap in the flare extensions, I also added the knww wind dck.eflectors. Good lu

How cold is it. I rode in northern Maine this weekend and have frost bite on my face! Dam I love this sled.

Dam
Thats looks like the border trail , its 1 of my favorites

it looks good!