09 M8 162 vs 09 dragon 800 163

[IceCap]

I would like to know of some real life comparisons between these two sleds.
I want to know which one gets the highmark in the steep and deep ( no drag racing results) only deep three foot fresh snow results.

Also only comparisons to equally setup sleds.
totally stock against stock?
Piped against piped?
Pump gas turbo against pump gas turbo running same boost?

I know that the M8 has 140 hp advertised and the Dragon has 154 hp advertised.
Also I have heard that the skid in the M8 is better than the Dragon skid?
I also heard the powder claw track is better than the Dragon track?
I am undecided between these sleds.
Thanks for your input.

 

[Trenchmaster]

I would say flip a coin on which one has better performance, the Cat guy's will say M8 the Polaris guy's will say Dragon. To me the biggest difference between the two is the ergonomics ( have ridden both ) the Dragon is way better if your even a little on the tall side. The seat and bars are way lower on the Cat's unless you get the snopro with the boss seat, and cool adjustable handle bars.

 

[Silber]

Stock for stock, I like the 09 M8 better, They are just amazing machines, it has to be the new track, And im a Polaris guy. Iam going to put the powerclaw on my Tdragon.

 

[05snopro440]

I've seen a couple world dyno tests on the Polaris 800 this year, and they brought the power down to about 146, Polaris confirms this and says it was to increase longevity of the motor.

As far as ergo's of both, I like the height of the seat on the Polaris and this was one of the reasons I was going to snowcheck a Polaris but after putting some time on my M the seat height doesn't bother me. As far as bar height, a $30 3-inch riser fixed the bar height on my 08 just fine.

I had my money down to get an 09 Polaris in the fall and changed my mind mostly due to a dealer (I hadn't had any seat time on an RMK or M at that point). Now, I'm really glad that dealer pissed me off since I absolutely love my M and haven't had any issues so far. I could even suggest trying a leftover M1000, and I never thought myself I would buy a 1000 but I won't go back to the 8 now!

 

[IceCap]

I have been a polaris guy for years, my riding group is made up of mostly Doos and Poos and a few yamahas. I am not trying to bash but the doos have never impressed me in all riding conditions.
I have only heard that the 09 M8 162 is reliable and has good handling I just need to know if the can really hill climb like a well setup D8.
I ride with a slp piped ported 08 D8 163 and not much can highmark this machine.
I don't want to purchase a 09 M8 162 and find out that it doesn't do any better than the XPs we ride with.

 

[msled162]

I love my Cats, I believe you would be happy with either. The powder claw is by far the best track in the deep.

 

[bholm87]

i ride an 07 race gas tm8 and love it i will do the same thing next year just on the newer chassis, that being said i also ride with a well setup 09 d8 and a couple xp's, none of which are turboed. i think that when setup right the d8 is hands down better all around in the hills than the xp but haven't been able to compare it with a stock m8, i haven't seen much of anything highmark it besides the turbos in our group. the xp's run well but don't highmark it and i think are by far more difficult to ride in the technical situations, just my opinion. i like the cat chassis personally but if i did something different it would be the d8, the xp is just too awkward and feels like you're walking a tight rope when riding on its side, not bashing just what i find when riding the different setups.

 

[mtn_extreme]

Last year I had a stock 07 m8 and my riding partner had a new stock d8. Now I like the cat but here is why. I am about 60 lbs heavier than the d8 owner and he couldn't highmark me but was always right there. When we would trade machines I couldn't highmark him and he would get me by at least 2 or 3 sled lengths. The highmarks in my opinion are close. Here is what would get the cat vote. The stability when climbing was definitly more flat-footed with the cat and you didn't get thrown around from bumps and trenches like the polaris that seems much more rolly polly. With as easy to bounce around as the dragon is, you would expect it to shine in the technical climbs but actually found this even harder because your weight transfers were so much more pronounced so it ended up being overkill and hard to catch up to. The cat still came up easy and was easy to flip around but just stabilized the position quicker. Don't get me wrong, the poo can go everywhere the cat can go but at the end of the day your going to feel more whooped. The d8 owner also agrees that it is almost to easy to roll over and wished it was a little more stable as well.

I also think the cat will take better to mods.

Dealer is a major factor as well, if your poo dealer is a piece then by all means get the cat.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Last year I had a stock 07 m8 and my riding partner had a new stock d8. Now I like the cat but here is why. I am about 60 lbs heavier than the d8 owner and he couldn't highmark me but was always right there. When we would trade machines I couldn't highmark him and he would get me by at least 2 or 3 sled lengths. The highmarks in my opinion are close. Here is what would get the cat vote. The stability when climbing was definitly more flat-footed with the cat and you didn't get thrown around from bumps and trenches like the polaris that seems much more rolly polly. With so easy to bounce arround as the dragon is you would expect it to shine in the technical climds but actually found this even harder because your weight transfers were so much more pronounced that it ended up being overkill and hard to catch up to. The cat still came up easy and was easy to flip arround but just stabilized the position quicker. Don't get me wrong, the poo can go everywhere the cat can go but at the end of the day your going to feel more whooped. The d8 owner also agrees that it is almost to easy to roll over and wished it was a little more stable as well.

I also think the cat will take better to mods.

Dealer is a major factor as well, if your poo dealer is a piece then by all means get the cat.

try having him stiffen the shock pressures...really smooths the raw chassis out and makes it a dream to ride....

 

[0neoldfart]

It will come down to the rider...

Stock to stock, or modded to modded - it boils down to rider ability. Both sleds are extremely close - the D8 has more ponies, but is a bit heavier, too. The D8 is a nicer ride on the trail to the alpine in my humble opinion, but I prefer the M chassis in the powder, especially when doing technical stuff. Can't comment on the XP - don't have enough seat time on it. Both the D8 and M8 will outperform 04 - 07 Revs in the handling department - hence why I sold my REVs after some seat time on the M8 and M1000.

 

[Ricks 32]

Both are REALLY good. I like the feel of both sleds. In stock form, I like the D8. I've rode both with the SLP setup. The M8 responses much better with the SLP mod's and it worked better in the deep snow when compared to a D8 with the SLP mod's.

I feel they both work well in the deep snow. The M8 does work better on a sidehill. Go with the best dealer...

 

[curt1800]

i own a 09 xp summit 154 and a 07 m1000 i have buddies with stock m8s and d8s i have had plenty of seat time on all of them i prefer the xp but thats what i really got used to they are all great sleds but i would ride a m8 over a d8 any day
i have never been himarked by a cat or a polaris the new track on the cat is great but i dont think it is as versatile as the challenger

 

[BlackCat21]

I have a cousin with a stock 09 M8. The M8 absolutly dominates my ported and piped M7. I rode yesterday with a guide at Togwotee, he had a piped 09 RMK Assault w/ easy ride suspension to lighten the sled. He tried all day to find a hill where he could go an i couldn't. He couldn't do it. I would certainly change the seat on the M8 though that is where the Polaris has the AC beat. As for the XP's i've seen onthe hill, not close to either the Poo or AC. For those that say they have never been marked by the poo or ac, i'd like to see who your riding with.

 

[minecat]

i have ridden both the M8 and D8 and i believe that the M8 is the best stock out of box sled i have ridden to date but with a little clutching and suspension work the tables are turned IMO i own the D8 and was not happy with it until i did some suspension work and clutched it properly now i am copletely happy with it but would not hesitate to purchase a M8 lie said above it really comes down to the dealer and who is going to treat you best before and after purchase just my 02 worth

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I have a cousin with a stock 09 M8. The M8 absolutly dominates my ported and piped M7. I rode yesterday with a guide at Togwotee, he had a piped 09 RMK Assault w/ easy ride suspension to lighten the sled. He tried all day to find a hill where he could go an i couldn't. He couldn't do it. I would certainly change the seat on the M8 though that is where the Polaris has the AC beat. As for the XP's i've seen onthe hill, not close to either the Poo or AC. For those that say they have never been marked by the poo or ac, i'd like to see who your riding with.

compareing to the assault isnt a fair comparision..the track gives up so much in powder over other tracks its not close....

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Both are REALLY good. I like the feel of both sleds. In stock form, I like the D8. I've rode both with the SLP setup. The M8 responses much better with the SLP mod's and it worked better in the deep snow when compared to a D8 with the SLP mod's.

I feel they both work well in the deep snow. The M8 does work better on a sidehill. Go with the best dealer...

on the slp setup on the D-8..I tried both carls clutching as well as slp's..neither worked near as good as they should...after doing a combo of both and dialing it in..big difference...I have ridden with an 09 M-8 and mine pulls it everywhere except in a sugar snow condition...the powerclaw hooked up better there....

 

[curt1800]

i'd like to know who you ride with i am probably the the better rider out of our group but i do own a 07 m1000 slp pipe boondocker box it climbs great but not as well as my 09 xp 154 slp pipe timbersled air intake boss seat this thing is insane i have climbed and drag raced just about everything out there and never been beat i have never climbed or dragged with a turbo sled those things are crazy fast

 

[IceCap]

Aksnowrider, Do you mine sharing your clutching setup?
Also what are the elevations you ride? I ride at 5000-6000 feet.

I here the skid on the M8 seems to be better for hill climbing than the D8 especially on a turbo application. From what I have seen ( rode for a day) the turbo D8 155 had trouble keep the front down and the whole track in the powder, and this was a 3foot plus fresh day.

 

[jim]

M8 in the deep snow...just gets up on top better and crawls well when finishing climbs. The Polaris is the best handling chassis by a good margin IMO...really shines in the spring with that chassis and track combo. But if you want steep and deep the M8 would be my choice. I ride my M1000 (162) in the deep, and ride my T600 (155" track) when the snow sets up or in spring snow. Either way, they are both great sleds. You should factor in the dealer proximity and quality too...

And, yes, a Turbo on the Polaris Chassis will have the front end coming up much more than the Turbo Cats. I have to say that the best Turbo combo out there is the M8...or just get a M1000 and turbo that...should get you high enough on the hill.

 

[GlennRMK]

I have an 09 M8 Sno Pro 162.

Spent some time on an 09 Dragon 163 and a whole day on a 07 700 Dragon w/SLP pipe.

I have ridden the Dragon in some fluffy bottomless snow and hardpack.

THE DRAGON TRACK JUST SPINS IN HARDPACK AND DEFINITELY TRENCHES DOWN IN THE DEEP. The track is no were near the Powerclaw.

I would like to ride a Dragon with the Powerclaw on it though for a better comparo.

I find the Dragon a lot LESS flickable then the M. Once I get the Dragon layed over I can spin cookies and sidehill similar to the M. However I find when going back and forth and through the trees then M is a lot easier to throw around, by a wide margin. This could be the swaybar however. I have hardtime steering in the deep snow as well, but that could be the crappy skis.

Also, I feel like the Dragon 8 is just nutless on the bottom end. Feels like it revs quick but the low end torque is not there. Worse then my old M7 IMO.

Personally I like the Dragon 700 motor better. Feels like its got more grunt and pulls harder.

The M8 has lot more low torque and seems to pull hard.

I was on the fence about these two sleds in the fall and I couldn't be happier with the M8. Wouldn't hesitate to buy another 09 M8 over the Dragon.