09 m8 sno pro schooled us today

[jaws136]

Your right V.E. the price of these things is becoming disgusting, alot harder to justify anyways, no new sled for me

b.t.w. I feel like a water head and looked at pic 2 again and saw you guys were coming down on the right.....lol

 

[iliketoridefast]

the new m8 is pretty impressive. a guy in our group last week had one(with a 153 powderclaw ithink) . it absolutely killed an xp 800, all the rev 800s, and was within feet of beating a 07 m1000 with a 162.

 

[Throttle Junkie]

the new m8 is pretty impressive. a guy in our group last week had one(with a 153 powderclaw ithink) . it absolutely killed an xp 800, all the rev 800s, and was within feet of beating a 07 m1000 with a 162.

hmmm, I have only one ride with the 09 M8, but snow was rock hard so there was no way to compare...but I rode with a 07 m1000 with y pipe, and box (162) and i was not impressed. I would think the 09 M8 would make a stock M1000 look silly as they never really where that impressive.

 

[slyrydr]

nice read, this thread.....glad you're riding again t/a, and thanks for the kudos for the cat guys...a few points as i read through the posts...we weighed the new m-8 compared to the xp, same track length, all full, 12.5 lbs difference.....the 1000 weighs 28 lbs more than the m-8, but when the aftermarket cans get put on, the difference is cut in half due to the 1000 can being much bigger than the 8s'.....the 1000 is 12 lbs lighter than the 09 d-8 with a l63, both with single pipes and cans, however, the 1000 had a boss seat....the 09 cats are a significantly better sled than previous years...the lighter weight, tunnel changes, the powderclaw, and clutching being the main points.....i'm mainly riding the 1000 this year (speedwerx y-pipe, lightweight can, significant clutch changes and a bit of suspension work)....i can't begin to tell the number of times i know i would have been stuck except for the powderclaw and the torque of the 1000 uphill in the trees.....i haven't had a chance to directly compare the new m-8s vs the 1000, but i have had several rides with the xps' of different track lengths and setup, including slp and other pipe can combinations......the 1000 always rules, i know, it should.....but many of the xp riders think they can dominate a 1000, maybe a stocker with a not too savey rider....not to knock the xp, it has set the standard that everyone else is trying to emulate....the cats are close in terms of weight, poo has a ways to go....the overall reliability of the cats give them that edge, imo....but all the sleds in this category are big jumps ahead of even two years ago....setup and rider make the difference, as is always the case....anyway, everyone, ride and have fun...stay out of the statistics column of the newspapers......

 

[89sandman]

wow i ride with a guy almost every weekend with a M1000 and it will totally spank my M8 in a climb everytime, no question. we switch back and forth and the outcome is always the same, my M8 will not touch his M1000 in a climb. can come close if i get the right line, but the 20 extra hp just gives the 1000 more track speed. now once we hit the trees the lighter M8 really shines the new tunnel just gives the m sooooo much better deep powder abilities than before...

 

[Wyoming T/A]

wow i ride with a guy almost every weekend with a M1000 and it will totally spank my M8 in a climb everytime, no question. we switch back and forth and the outcome is always the same, my M8 will not touch his M1000 in a climb. can come close if i get the right line, but the 20 extra hp just gives the 1000 more track speed. now once we hit the trees the lighter M8 really shines the new tunnel just gives the m sooooo much better deep powder abilities than before...

take those chains off your skis and you'll whip him every time

 

[Frostbite]

What an interesting topic. It sure sounds like CAT hit a home run for the mountain side for 2009. I have a question.

"we weighed the new m-8 compared to the xp, same track length, all full, 12.5 lbs difference.....the 1000 weighs 28 lbs more than the m-8, but when the aftermarket cans get put on, the difference is cut in half due to the 1000 can being much bigger than the 8s'.....the 1000 is 12 lbs lighter than the 09 d-8 with a l63, both with single pipes and cans, however, the 1000 had a boss seat....the 09 cats are a significantly better sled than previous years".

So, you are saying that a 2009 M1000 153" with a lightweight can is only 14 pounds heavier than a 2009 M8 153". That's less than a pound for each of the 20 additional horse power the M1000 is packing.

If a M1000 is only that much heavier you'd think they would be the rockstar of the year, not the M8?

 

[slyrydr]

i think that the m-8 is getting a lot of interest because of its' direct comparison to the xp and the d-8....also, my dealer sold many more 8s than 1000s this year, not sure if that is the same everywhere, but if so it would explain a lot....i've had a 1000 each year, and this year it's the sled i was hoping for 3 years ago....and when i comes time to climb, none of the 8s' are close, well set-up or not.....my 1000 will put any of the pump gas turbos to a good test.....yes some can beat me in long climb, but it takes a while to catch me...and they get towed home not that infrequently....yeah, yeah, i know, yours never gets towed...

 

[high time]

The truth and nothin' but the truth.........

The M-1000 needs some tougher conditions to shine. Whether deeper snow or a longer climb. If the conditions lack the need extra grunt, you won't see much difference. Thus for boondocking or most climbing the little M-8 will be very impressive.

Owen

 

[Frostbite]

So, is a 2009 M8 153" preferable to a 162" in most western snow conditions because it can create more track speed?

Or is the 162" preferable because it has more of a footprint in the fluffy stuff?

I bet it depends on the day, rider weight, snow conditons, steepness of terrain, etc.

But what are you guys seeing?

 

[TREEKILLER]

i really like my 09 m8 sno pro 153 the track is so much better than last year , the xp is one great sled too , i found the throttle pull a little heavy on the xp as compared to the m8. i guess less sore thumbs a friend blew a cylinder on his new m8 w/in 50 miles(warrantied)

 

[Wyoming T/A]

i really like my 09 m8 sno pro 153 the track is so much better than last year , the xp is one great sled too , i found the throttle pull a little heavy on the xp as compared to the m8. i guess less sore thumbs a friend blew a cylinder on his new m8 w/in 50 miles(warrantied)

i lost a motor in my 08 x at 200 miles-still great sleds--glad to see cat get better this year..it will force doo and poo to get better--turns out good for snowmobiling in general when there is good compitition--cheers to all manufactures

 

[mavesko]

So what is it that makes the 08 Cats better than the 09s? I was in West Yellowstone and IP all last week with a broken down sled sitting on the trailer...so I rented different sleds throughout the week. My favorite was the 08 M8 (and I've grown up a Doo guy). I had an 08 M8 153 for 2 days, an 09 Dragon 163 for a day, an 09 Assault 146 for a day, and an 09 M8 163 for a day, and I got to spend about 20 minutes on an XP 800 154 on the trail. Maybe it is because I am a flatlander and I liked how nice the 08 cornered on the trails (since it still had the outer boggies on the skid). Just curious why the 09 Cat is considered "better" by most people.

Either way, I'm in love with the M8! It just needs a taller seat.

 

[high time]

I used to be sold on the 162'' when I rode a King Cat,

But I sure don't feel the M needs it. I like the 153''. I guess there will be times for a longer track, but then a 1000cc motor would be good then too.

Owen

 

[Hilly]

What can really help the 2009 M800 run even closer to the M1000 is by putting a lighter weight rider on the 800 for the hill pull. What do ya think Big O Just trying to keep ya honest. Tough to shake that M800 and sounds like it might be game over for 2010 I might have to get into the motor now You will be convinced once again when there is good powder out west that the 162 is the way to go for us heavier riders.

 

[high time]

It's true the M-8 had a lighter rider than me, but.....

We'd all have to know what you weigh Hilly to know if that was an advantage.
''Bad Cop, no donut''

Owen

 

[SAWYER]

good post TA

 

[Hilly]

225 for me 190 for your jockey you put on the M8

 

[Wyoming T/A]

i dont care what you weigh-with a turbo they rip--rode Big Johnsons 09-162-turbo set at 5 to 6# boost and its a animal---not exactly my kind of sled but take nothing away from it , it runs great--ran thru 1 plus tanks of fuel and never had a problem--

 

[MTm7]

i dont care what you weigh-with a turbo they rip--rode Big Johnsons 09-162-turbo set at 5 to 6# boost and its a animal---not exactly my kind of sled but take nothing away from it , it runs great--ran thru 1 plus tanks of fuel and never had a problem--

how did VE like the 163?