'04 700 or 800??

[killswitharrows]

Looking at possibly getting into sledding. I dabbled in it a few years ago and rode a Arctic Cat 600 that was bored with a streached track. Did not get to ride it much. Divorced that wife and sold that sled.

Now thinking that I might want to get back into it. This all after I crashed my father-in-laws 03' 340 Classic into a culvert!

Looking at a 2004 700 or 800 both w/ 151" track. What are your thoughts? In Wyoming so it would be a mnt sled.

Thanks!

 

[harrysmith500]

how fat are you? If you are over 190 pounds get the 800. The 700 will be bullet proof but if your fat like me you'll need the bigger bore.
If you do go 800, be sure to get torque arm and push arm and ride it hard!!!!!

 

[killswitharrows]

Well I am 5'9" and between 183-188 lbs. Just depends if I have pooped or not!

 

[MARV1]

I'd go 700 then SLP pipe/can and clutching, AATAC.

 

[DaFuzz]

I weigh an athletic 270 and ride an 03 700 RMK 151". I ride with several Edge RMK 800s (151 & 153) that are close to stock and I have no trouble keeping up or sometimes beating those 800s with my somewhat modified 700. I also have the added bonus of a pull and go sled withouth the crank issues and headaches of the 800s. Go 700 and make the right mods and you won't regret your choice. I'd take my 700 over an 800 any day!

 

[SD Coyote]

I weigh an athletic 270 and ride an 03 700 RMK 151". I ride with several Edge RMK 800s (151 & 153) that are close to stock and I have no trouble keeping up or sometimes beating those 800s with my somewhat modified 700. I also have the added bonus of a pull and go sled withouth the crank issues and headaches of the 800s. Go 700 and make the right mods and you won't regret your choice. I'd take my 700 over an 800 any day!

I agree, on the 700. Some 700s will out run an 800 both being stock, and on level ground. The 800 will usually out pull the 700, up the hill. Like mentioned, a few mods, including aggressive gearing, will easily make up the diff of the 6' 8" skinny 270# rider. The 7s are pretty bullet proof!!

 

[harrysmith500]

Let us know what you get!
Long live my 800 edge. 4000 flawless miles.

 

[boxster7614]

If you can find a nice 700 I would go with that. I have had both sleds, the biggest difference in power is on the botom end. the 800 seems to have a little more torque on the bottom end but once that throttle is opened up and you get your reves up it would be hard to tell any difference in power between the two, maybe on a dyno but seat of the pants you cant tell. But the botom end torque of the 800 is where you notice it. but not enough to really care about. I would take the realiability of the 700 over the 800. plus peace of mind when you ride, you don't have to ask yourself is this going to be the day I loose a crank on my 800?

 

[Bossman]

700/800

We have seen stock 800 RMK's go 7500 miles on the original crank, but that is very rare. 3000 miles is the more the norm. Those motors in stock form make peak power at about 7800-7900 RPM and live a long time there. If it has an aftermarket pipe and clutched to rev above 8000 RPM and/or reshimmed drive clutch, causing clutch imbalance issues, we would say stay away from it.
The 700 with an SLP airbox kit, VF3 reeds and Team roller clutch will easily run with a a stock 800 and is more fun to ride because it is crisper and revs quicker. Clutch it to run 7900-8100 RPMs at altitude and it will live a long time. Beyond 8100, the power falls off quickly with the stock exhaust. Stock to stock, there is less than 5 hp difference in these two engines.

 

[Leardriver]

According to the magazine reviews, the 800 has 50% more power at 6000 rpm, which is trail cruising speed. 700's run great, but don't kid yourself about them being able to keep up with an 800 on the hills with equally capable riders.

700's last a lot longer. 800's cost a dollar a mile to operate. At 2,000 to 2,500 miles on the engines, that's how many dollars it takes to repair the failed cranks that Polaris stuck us with. They are a lot of fun, though.

 

[boxster7614]

Go ahead and change my response, my crank just broke on my 700! No aftermarket pto ends for the 700 so maybe the 800 is the way to go at least you can get parts for the 800 when it breaks

 

[1Mike900]

Not even Indy Dan has a crank end? Mike

 

[jameslynch03]

It's not the fauilty cranks that Polaris stuck us with . It's the fact that people don't properly maintain, and balance there clutches and give there sleds prorper warm up time.

 

[boxster7614]

I'm not sure I agree with that last comment, this sled had Tri-city motor plate , SLP torque arm and push arm, clutch balanced and I am a obsessed about letting my sleds warm up. Had around 2000 miles on motor and it still broke.