this is not what will beat what BUT what are the basic differances between the two sleds ??
besides the obvious between the two what would be the power differance I woul;d imagine the F7 is faster and would take the bumps alot nicer ??

here is the story, I am the owner of a 2003 F7 snopro with a 1.5 track with alot of add ons and I am selling it and was aproached by a guy with a 2002 zrt 600 for a partial trade although I am not really that interested in it The idea of having one last tripple intrigues me I would mainly ride trails with the ZRT and was wondering if you fellow ZRT owners could give me some insight on the sled as I have no info on this sled here a couple questions

at what milage do they need rebuilding ??

what are the hot spots to look for (problems )

what should compression be ??

is it still, the tripples need alot of tinkering with or they blow up

and what kind of performance can I expect with a ZRT 600

I am 6foot 1 and 220lbs ride fairly aggresive and was going to get out of sledding for a season or 2 but if he wants to trade me his sled and some $$$ I would concider staying in it for now and have some start up $$ for summer toys

any and all insight will be appreciated thanks Mike (fastzilla)

I don't own a ZRT, but I almost bought one, and still wished I had. I think they are one of the best sleds cat ever built, I seen several get the crap pounded out of them and the owners had very little trouble. Can't really understand why they stopped building them. Power wise probably in between F5-F6, quit a difference from what your use to. I would guess gas milage around 14-15, don't know about hot spots, just going by what some of buddies do. All in all I would say pretty decent sled, but I will let the real ZRT owners decide that.

Fuel mileage will be 10-11 after re-jetting and a needle clip reposition. Can't comment on stock clutching, but most likely needs redone if its anything like stock ZRT clutching of the past.
Should get 6000 miles on the top-end before needing a refresh.
I added the stiffer skid springs for my weight, and the ride quality is absolutely fantastic.
Compression?,,, don't know,, most likely 125 psi.
Performance wise,,, it will keep 700 cc sleds honest (but not the F7), as it runs very well for only 600 cc.,,, and the '02 ZRT600 looks GOOD ! snap

I have a 99 and a 96 ZRT 600 both have been very reliable sleds. The 99 has over 6K on it and my 99 is around 5K for miles. I have reclutched my 99 and it runs preaty good. As for problems I have not had any problems that have left me stranded. Over all I think the ZRT600's were great sleds. My 99 will run against my brothers F7 to about 50 ish on the trail. The F7 has more top end. HP on the 96 was around 125 and the 99 was around 120. I have no enigne mods done to my sleds. Fuel is around 10 - 12 mpg depending on how hard you work the happy handle. As for trail and over all they are great sleds. The 2001 and 2002's have the 12 gallon fuel tank so 100+ miles is real easy.

I would look at Jetting and Clutching for that one... I have never run Compression tests on my sleds, plan on doing so shortly.. Good luck.

p.s I have found that the ZRT is more stable in the trail than the F7.

You can't not like the 02 600 zrt. The updated steering linkage and wide boards make it as trailable as any zr. 4000 miles virtually trouble free sledding. Needed
jetting and clutching for fantastic improvment over box stock. Still it can't take
my well set up valved 01 600 zr out of the hole, but the smooth tripple rocks up to top end, no compare! Likes to eat buddy's viper. The stock finger track is useless
on hard pack and powder. Rip saw next year for sure. 100 miles to tank easy.
Thats my infomercial. I just really enjoy this sled. :beer2:

What do you mean by an updated steering linkage. I've got an 01ZRT600 and was just wondering what you ment by this. Is it really an update or are you saying it's much better than the earlier models (which I'll agree to)? As far as performance wise, mine is all stock from the factory other than gutted airbox and a 1.5" track. I ride with a 01zr600, F7, F5snopro, S5 (2)96ZRT600, skidon't mxz583, and a 800efi mountain cat. Out of all these sleds, the only one I have a problem with, and I'm sure others here have too, is that damn F7. My father-in-laws. I can honestly stay ahead of him by a sled length from launch till about 70, he then creaps up along side of me and does not get a sled length on me till 85 then he's gone. His has never been touched since set up. I think my 1.5 gives an excellent launch on the hardpacked. The others don't have a chance. On the trail, we are always together, well except for the mountain cat, He's a very large rider, 6'-4 400lbs. The ride is nice, turns when I want it to, and always makes the trip home. My opinion (if you haven't allready guessed) is, it's a pretty damn nice sled. :div20:

Sorry my bad bad. New design, not update.

Holdbeerwatch:
No problem with clearance with 1.5" lugs ? Change drivers? Hot rails on pack? I was thinking of 1.25" ripsaw for mostly north ont. trail riding. Seems to hook up
well on yamaha's with that stock track.
Thanks lastzrt.

I have and 03F7 and my brother in law has an 02 ZRT6. Comparsion is done with both sleds being stock as they left the dealer only changes would be suspension setup. The F7 is lighter by far and steers much better in the twisties. The zrt stays flat in the corners where as the F7 will go through the turn with 1 ski up. With this you would think the zrt would be faster but it is not. I was on the zrt and I couldn't keep up with my brother in law on my F7 and he is not what I would call an aggressive rider. Standing drag both sleds unstudded, take off would be the same but as soon as the F7 hooked up it was gone no matter who was on it. Even on top the F7 is still ahead from a 90mph roll not by a whole bunch. As far as MPG F7 is better if I was putting in 3.5gal zrt was putting 4.5gal. The zrt is a nice sled as you can sit back and drive it. Needs better clutching over stock and some carb adj like snap says. The zrt is very reliable and I'd say do the switch if ya want, it is a step down but not that much.

No issues with the 1.5". I had my dealer put it on the day I bought the sled. He said no problem, they had just got done putting a 1.6 on a02ZRT600 without changing drivers. He said that was max. In deep stuff, it's amazing for a 121". Very loud on the hard pack. Sound's like a truck with huge mudders on it. I've put
1330 miles on my sled with this track riding from powder to mud with out needing to replace my hyfax. I also run my track a little loose. Just remember to cool the rails by huggin the trail edge where the snow is once in a while and you shouldn't have a problem. I did that with all my sleds without the 1.5 anyway's. I never changed the way I rode, Just changed where I now can go. Alot of people here say they like the ripsaw, But I don't have any personal experience with one so it'll be hard for me to say which is better. My brother-out-law has a 1.25 (not a ripsaw) on his 01ZR600 and he said his was just as loud as mine, but not nearly the same fun factor when it got deep.

thanks guys the reviews are as I expected I love my F7 but other projects are in the works If this guy is serious I will do the partial trade if not its for sale outright for 4500 with many upgrades its in the classifides section thanks

We have a 2001 zrt and has been a great sled, with 6" carbides and 96 picks, handles very well as good if not better than a F7, like its on rails, performace it screams should beat a F6, have yet to line them up but so far has taken out a 140hp mod sled, and every 600 its lined up against, a 700 or two also, no real problems.

zrt....800?!?!?

I have a 99 ZRT6 and my brothers wife has a 00 ZR600 my 99 will smoke it all day long from a roll from dig any time. On top it will keep pulling. Now I had a ZRT800 with M10 and it could not go by the F7 of my brothers. Granted at the time my 800 was tired and had some miles on it.. But the F7 runs and runs well. So going back to a ZRT6 from the F7 is a step back but one you could live with. As stated the ZRT6 tends to stay flater in the trail, the F7 wants to lift the ski's in the corners..

It runs real strong for a 600 was the point i wsa trying to get accross, stock for stock has run vs. zr 600s, rev 600 hos everything except a F6. So will have to wait and line it up to see what the out come there is.