2010 M8 or XP ????

[kobylka18]

Both Sleds are really great sleds. It really comes down to rider preference. I have a 2010 Summit XRS and absolutely love it. It does everything I want, and like any sled there are always upgrades to make it better. My friend switched from Doo this year and bought the 2010 M8. It climbs great, and sidehills way easier (not saying the XP doesnt) but the M8's balance point is easy to find. But there are things that I cannot seem to get used to. It seemed really floppy which helps turn over but at times makes it harder to control. The steering is awkward if not in the deep snow, and at the end of the day it is just not as comfortable coming down the trail. Although I do wish the XP had telescoping handle bars, EFI, and the aftermarket goggle bag is a nice touch. All this being said, try both sleds to see which one fits your riding style.

 

[Snodawg]

Coming off a Dragon 8 and was wondering how the new M8 is stacking up? Does anyone run with XP's? If so, in what conditions does each excell in?

From what I've seen the XP excels at the wrong end of a rope.


I just couldn't resist....Just kidding...LOL

 

[cody7thomas]

I have ridden with alot of XP's. I own an M but was a skidoo fan. I am being honost and not biased. If you like to climb XP. Boondock and sidehill M. I have ridden XP all it does is fight you back to the ground. What happens is the clutching on Xp is above one another and with that it creates a Gyro effect. Always wanting to bring you back to the ground!!! It climbs great straight up and looks cool but honostly that is all it has on the M.

Just my 2

 

[McStevoKLX]

Thanks for all of the great insight. I owned a couple Doo Revs prior to the Dragon 8. I have ridden the XP one day and the Dragon the next. About 3 hours seat time and I'm comfortable on either chasis. Never had the opportunity to ride the M8 so now I am waiting to demo on a deep powder day. I would say I like all aspects: boondocking, sidehilling, backcountry/trees, climing. I do not like the roads! I'm not a huge suspension guy as I like the powder. I want something that is reliable, delivers consistent power in most conditions, and has good clutching. I am not a Cat, Pol, or Doo guy. I just want what performs best. Again, thumbs up for all of the great responses!

 

[3revdooz]

Love my XP's

After reading all the comments about the XP, here is my opinion.I love both of my XP's and no I haven't ridden another brand and really don't need too. I have owned many many Skidoos and have many favorites and some not so favorites but I can honestly say my XP's are at the tops of my list. I have NO PROBLEM side hilling carving etc nor do they blow belts as many have mentioned, both were purchased used and had the updates done. The XP is an agressive machine and is intended to be ridden that way, sure all machines have there own set of issues and so does the XP, but for me it works great.
The floatation is second too none and these machines keep on churning through the powder.
I feel that Skidoo since 2003 has changed the way snowmobiles are ridden with the introduction of the first Rev and now the upgraded XP, some will like the Xp some don't. If you are one that doesn't like it then don't buy or bash it. I am not a Cat fan although nice sleds, the are dated and lack in low end torque, Polaris is also a great machine but are big feeling in comparasion to the Rev. But as I said to each his own. My XP's are a 154 X and a 146 X and I am impressed how the 146 gets around in the deep stuff almost as much as I am the 154.
I am a Ski doo fan through and through been on one for 40 years, all manufactures are good but Skidoo just works for me.

 

[89sandman]

if you like to tell your sled what to do buy an M, if you want your sled to tell you what it wants to do buy a xp. enough said...

 

[polemite.productions]

i have the only cat in a sea of xp's where i ride. we all swap back and forth once in a while, and every time i can't wait to get back on my M. its the most awkward sled i've ever been on. however, the guys that own the xp's have no problem throwing them around. its a matter of getting used to the chassis.

the 2010 xp suspension feels a bit better than the 08 (not sure about the 09). and i have to admit that they do feel nice going over jumps. they also seem to go through belts more often than anything else. and it always seems like they have a body panel coming loose. my one buddy had to do some work on his, and apparently the whole thing is put together with rivets rather than bolts or screws (weight savings?), and he was getting pretty annoyed at drilling and pounding out the rivets all over the place. what really gets me about them though is that the tunnel is super wide at the foot wells. very uncomfortable in my opinion. another edge the cat has over the xp is fuel injection. the xp's still get flooded when they are on their side or if they go upside-down. for initial comparison, i like the rev better than the xp, and M better than both.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Like said a little mods go a long ways

Strong points of the xp over the m8
They like air
Great on the trail ( the sway bar needs to be disconnected for mountain riding)
Great in the fluff out of the box
If you want one you'll be happy

Cats just don't do air quite as easy especially without suspension upgrades, m8 can float just as well ( a 146 xp puts down almost the same amount of track as a 153 m8) and can easily be made as light with more power,

Suspension is key with most conditions and the xp starts off way better than the m8.

I just had holz revalve my skid and now I follow xp's down the trail like I'm ready to pass. ( I am now noticing the front, going to have to get them done to) If I could put a 16 wide track under my m I would especially a 16 wide PC. If you like the xp and want it to side hill a little better put a Power Claw on it, I know of many this way and they love them.

seen more m's climb farther since 09.

 

[joshua335]

Like said a little mods go a long ways

Strong points of the xp over the m8
They like air
Great on the trail ( the sway bar needs to be disconnected for mountain riding)
Great in the fluff out of the box
If you want one you'll be happy

Cats just don't do air quite as easy especially without suspension upgrades, m8 can float just as well ( a 146 xp puts down almost the same amount of track as a 153 m8) and can easily be made as light with more power,

Suspension is key with most conditions and the xp starts off way better than the m8.

I just had holz revalve my skid and now I follow xp's down the trail like I'm ready to pass. ( I am now noticing the front, going to have to get them done to) If I could put a 16 wide track under my m I would especially a 16 wide PC. If you like the xp and want it to side hill a little better put a Power Claw on it, I know of many this way and they love them.

seen more m's climb farther since 09.

Definetely go with a 09 or better M8, as the 07/08's are well, uh I better not say..

I also felt out of the box the XP is better, as I found the M8 needs lots of little things done to it. The M8 is more reliable, EFI is nice, for the most part handles better in the deep.
Ride both sleds and find out for yourself! Make sure the two sleds you ride are "properly" set up, in regards to clutching and suspension.

 

[joshua335]

I'm on a 2010. For what it's worth to climb MAYBE a few feet above me (depending on rider, snow conditions, track length, etc.)... repeat MAYBE..... Why not go with a sled that's super easy and nimble to ride.. AKA the M. I don't get the mentality of crowding over to Doo.

So the XP's are out climbing the 2010 M8 then? Or am I reading this wrong??

 

[schmeric]

I have spent alot of time on revs, xps, m7s and m8s I just bought a 2010 m8 162 and I would have to say that arctic cats lack of power is no longer a problem. The new cats will out run the xps stock for stock by 3 to 4 sled lengths on flat ground. Up a hill in bottom less snow their isnt anything that will touch a xp. Cats are so much more enjoyable to ride than a doo in powder and side hilling and you can carve in very little powder with a cat plus cats and polaris would both be able to climb with the xps if they had a 16 inch track but 16 inch tracks are too stable. Buy a m8 162 and have fun on it the first day you get on it and that 162 will climb with a 154 doo.

 

[HiWaYman92]

I rode with a 2010 XP last weekend in bottomless pow. My M1000 was not having a good belt day, and the XP consistently went by me. I think with a good belt it would have been close... the new M8 with as much hp as my 1 liter, minus thirty pounds would take it I think.

 

[Chazmanian]

What's the point of the video? An XP with a turbo, track, and mods...might sidehill close to as easily as an M????

You were right....After much thought and consderation I was offered a good enough deal to join you freaks and swapped my fairly well sorted XP for a new 2010 M8 Sno-Pro....Wanna do a twisted turbo kit on it like real soon.

Was gonna do an M1000 build up but got cold feet at the last minute and bought the M8.

First ride in the AM!!!

 

[Alaskan_awd]

You were right....After much thought and consderation I was offered a good enough deal to join you freaks and swapped my fairly well sorted XP for a new 2010 M8 Sno-Pro....Wanna do a twisted turbo kit on it like real soon.

Was gonna do an M1000 build up but got cold feet at the last minute and bought the M8.

First ride in the AM!!!

lmao, nice, enjoy

I'm on my first cat too, 2010 M8 also and I'm loving it!

 

[swahili]

I own both, 2010 m8 and 08 XP.. they are both awesome sleds.. side hill both the same, cat feels a little more nose heavy. But in a gun fight,I would pick either. Will come down to your riding style. Good luck.

 

[SDSX8]

I own both, 2010 m8 and 08 XP.. they are both awesome sleds.. side hill both the same, cat feels a little more nose heavy. But in a gun fight,I would pick either. Will come down to your riding style. Good luck.

for sure.

I can ride either of them and make them do what I want them to as well, both great sleds. learn how to ride either and you will be happy.

 

[WYsteph]

Watched wyrider on his '10 m8 153" and happyfast79 on his Polaris 900 play on a hill in the snowies on Saturday. A rider on a xp 163" came over and was trying to high mark them, they seemed to be pretty fairly matched riders. But even with the shorter track the m8 was victorious.

We rode in some pretty good snow and have to say the m8 is quite impressive on everything but the trails.

 

[akpowrider]

I would go with whatever brand has the best dealer in your area. Either sled will make you smile big.
RIP CHAZMANIAN

 

[skimike]

my riding partner rides a 2010 dragon 155 and its a good sled, obviously I have a stronger engine and pull, but his sled handles very well and hes a better rider, he has had some problems with the ecu setting off codes, it all started with the plug wires coming off on the second ride, we still havent figured how that happened. other than someone opening his hood and pulling them loose , then they came the rest of the way on the trail . we ended up towing it i and taking it to the shop, they reset the ecu and sent him on his way.

 

[Wapow]

I have ridden with alot of XP's. I own an M but was a skidoo fan. I am being honost and not biased. If you like to climb XP. Boondock and sidehill M. I have ridden XP all it does is fight you back to the ground. What happens is the clutching on Xp is above one another and with that it creates a Gyro effect. Always wanting to bring you back to the ground!!! It climbs great straight up and looks cool but honostly that is all it has on the M.

Just my 2

Gyro effect eh? Then how do explain this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ54rm6EdC8&feature=player_embedded#