I must first of all admit that i have always been a ski doo guy. But the pro chassis looked very similar. So yesterday we had the chance to take one out for the day. Put on almost 100 miles. I could not believe the power from this 600! I took it everywhere i wanted to go, extreamly nimble! When climbing i could thread needles and pull lines in the trees i would not try with my xp. Although boondocking was a bit tough for me on it, i was so used to my xp. This maching needs very little effort , i had it on its side more times than i care to talk about. My fiancee spent alot of time on it as well. She has been riding a ski doo 600 sdi, this is what she will be buying. She fell in love with the ease of carving on this machine. She was abel to climb, side hill and carve effortless. Now she has to decide wether she wants the 800 or the 600?? We r taking an 800 next weekend for her to try. Cant wait, i will post again. As for me, im thinking 1 more year on the xp, but will definatly consider the pro chassis when its my time.. hope this helps those in limbo.
2012 600 Pro test ride
- Thread starter shanepr1
- Start date
dont ride the 8 pro next weekend if you are wanting to keep your xp another season then...cause you will love the 8 pro, especially a 163.....just let the boss ride it and you just follow along...good luck to you....and looking forward to a ride report from both of you....
Yes i believe this to be true! However it is her turn for the new one, and i must wait till next year! But this means there will be one availbale for me to ride during the week while she is working!!!
I read her ride report on the 6..she sounds very very stoked...good on you for not passing your sled off on her...most guys would have.....
If you thought the 6 was impressive wait till you ride the 8.
I own an 800 163 and got to do the Polaris test ride in IP. The 155 just didn't seem to have the floatation for the kind of riding I do. The little 600 would go anywhere I wanted but I had to really work it to get there. The 800 has power to spare and you can ease through side hills and climbs with extra power if you need it.
Overall the pro chassis felt the same with the 6 or 8 in it. I just felt like I was riding an underpowered 8 while I was on the 6.
With no weight savings and a couple hundred bucks difference I don't see why anyone would prefer the 600.
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I own an 800 163 and got to do the Polaris test ride in IP. The 155 just didn't seem to have the floatation for the kind of riding I do. The little 600 would go anywhere I wanted but I had to really work it to get there. The 800 has power to spare and you can ease through side hills and climbs with extra power if you need it.
Overall the pro chassis felt the same with the 6 or 8 in it. I just felt like I was riding an underpowered 8 while I was on the 6.
With no weight savings and a couple hundred bucks difference I don't see why anyone would prefer the 600.
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Thanks for the review! Sounds like you both had a blast! What did you think of the handle bars, running boards and seat height?
turbolover, you might check out the "would I like the 600" thread as to why some might perfer the 600 over the 800. Different strokes for different folks.
turbolover, you might check out the "would I like the 600" thread as to why some might perfer the 600 over the 800. Different strokes for different folks.
Buy her the 800. I bought the 800 155 and my wife liked it so much I had to go back and buy me a 800 163, and sell her 10 dragon 800 cause she wouldn't give it up. The extra power makes it easier for her and the weight is already the lightest stock sled out there in the 800 class. But having the 800 during the week while she's working will make you happier too.
You know the bars where good, its the diference in the steering that took a while to adjust to. As far as the seat, loved it. I love the height and also how narrow it was compared to my xp.. the boards will also take some getting used to. Kikidee my fiance said it didnt affect her as much, but she has very small feet. I also think that having virtually no foot well is great easyer for me to move quickly from side to side. Also less snow to kick! Cheers!Thanks for the review! Sounds like you both had a blast! What did you think of the handle bars, running boards and seat height?
turbolover, you might check out the "would I like the 600" thread as to why some might perfer the 600 over the 800. Different strokes for different folks.
Steph,
You will find the steering action on the PRO similar to the Cat... but much differnt from the XP with the over the engine steering post.
Also, the seat height at 5"3" tall would feel better if it were a bit shorter.
Getting this and the handlebars dialed in can be done at a reasonable cost.... fitting the sled to you will make a huge difference in your riding-confidence and engery level while riding.
From what you've said in the past... you owe yourself a new sled that will take your riding to the next level. Making sure it fits you will give you all that much better experience next year.
You will find the steering action on the PRO similar to the Cat... but much differnt from the XP with the over the engine steering post.
Also, the seat height at 5"3" tall would feel better if it were a bit shorter.
Getting this and the handlebars dialed in can be done at a reasonable cost.... fitting the sled to you will make a huge difference in your riding-confidence and engery level while riding.
From what you've said in the past... you owe yourself a new sled that will take your riding to the next level. Making sure it fits you will give you all that much better experience next year.
The problem with teh 600 is that i don't feel you get enough of a price break from an 800. I think my price comparisons only showed bout $1000-$1300 difference. The resale is going to be better on the 800.
I'd like to have a 600 for the girlfriend and use it as a backup sled. I think it would be a great tree sled.
I'd like to have a 600 for the girlfriend and use it as a backup sled. I think it would be a great tree sled.
The sleds themselves are the identical except for the motors and clutching. The 600 does not cost Polaris much less to build. The cost diff is not that great..
IMO, the $1200 smaller price tag is an "incentive" price for the smaller sled.
As I've said before... the "feel" of 800 and a 600 is different and not related to power alone. The 600 is more nimble than the 800 even if it is down on power a bit.
I've seen kids ride 8's and smaller riders that handle them well... The 6's would be even more responsive to them until they find that the that they need everything the 800 can give them... but with a trade-off of less nimble sled.
IMO, the $1200 smaller price tag is an "incentive" price for the smaller sled.
As I've said before... the "feel" of 800 and a 600 is different and not related to power alone. The 600 is more nimble than the 800 even if it is down on power a bit.
I've seen kids ride 8's and smaller riders that handle them well... The 6's would be even more responsive to them until they find that the that they need everything the 800 can give them... but with a trade-off of less nimble sled.
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I agree. I had a talk with a former Polaris dealer about this. He dealt in Polaris, AC, SD and Yami and said that the manufacturer had even told him that production costs are the same on the 600. There is less margin of profit on them. Only Polaris and Ski Doo make them now that AC has quite (I don't consider the Nytro a 600 even though it is in that class).
The best deal might be the 600 RMK (non-PRO). For the price difference you could "fix" it up yourself.
The best deal might be the 600 RMK (non-PRO). For the price difference you could "fix" it up yourself.
6
600xc4me
Well-known member
MH, I have been reading your posts about the better handling on the 600 due to the smaller engine, and I tend to agree with you, it only makes sense. But I am reading numerous reviews where the people said the 600 felt exactly like an 800, with less power? I'm curious have you ridden both sleds and felt the difference for your self? Or are you just going with the physics? I was convinced to buy a 600 when/if I ever buy a pro, but now I'm not sure anymore. Can a person REALLY FEEL the difference?
I got a chance to ride a 600 Pro last week along side my 800. I can't say I felt huge differences in handling between the two, certainly the power delivery is noticable. The 600, once clutched right, digs really well - it just needs more ground speed before you hit the hill. In the right snow (around 12-18 inches of doughy fresh), it will even stay within a reasonable distance of an 800 on a climb, which was surprising. It reminded my of my mod '06 600 except the Pro works way better in deep snow. For messing around in the trees, the 600 does ok and even seems to react faster (maybe due to less accel per throttle punch), you just don't let off as much like when on an 800. All in all, it's a fun buggy and I would consider it for my wife.
I've yet to ride the 600 PRO side by side with the 800, jumping between sleds, but look forward to doing just this in the next week or so.
Unless the slightly lower mounting position of the PRO RMK magically negates the differences in rotational inertia of the two different motors the end result will predictable.
I'd like to see what a 660/685 would do in this sled.
I'm wondering if those reviewers were riding 600/800's, Back-to-back on the same day, in technical situations where a more nimble sled would be evident. Also, rider size has something to do with it... bigger riders notice the difference less than smaller riders do and also need more power to do the same things than as smaller rider with less power. (I'm a smaller rider)
It will be interesting to find out if the difference is as evident for me on the PRO 800/600 as it was with the same bore/stroke motors in the IQ chassis.
Unless the slightly lower mounting position of the PRO RMK magically negates the differences in rotational inertia of the two different motors the end result will predictable.
I'd like to see what a 660/685 would do in this sled.
I'm wondering if those reviewers were riding 600/800's, Back-to-back on the same day, in technical situations where a more nimble sled would be evident. Also, rider size has something to do with it... bigger riders notice the difference less than smaller riders do and also need more power to do the same things than as smaller rider with less power. (I'm a smaller rider)
It will be interesting to find out if the difference is as evident for me on the PRO 800/600 as it was with the same bore/stroke motors in the IQ chassis.
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I agree with you 100% MH.
I too would like to do a 685 kit. I thought the best way to do this is to buy the 155" RMK (non-Pro) with no warranty. The BB kit would ruin that warranty anyway. I've never ridden a 685 kit but have been told they have moments where they will embarrase an 800.
I too would like to do a 685 kit. I thought the best way to do this is to buy the 155" RMK (non-Pro) with no warranty. The BB kit would ruin that warranty anyway. I've never ridden a 685 kit but have been told they have moments where they will embarrase an 800.
6
600xc4me
Well-known member
Awesome. Post up what you find. 
I'm curious. I'm not super small, but not a big guy either. 6.1 about 170lbs-no gear. So I would be curious. I would miss the power, I am currently quite enjoying 200hp, but I do more boondocking in super tight stuff than I do climbing, so I don't NEED the power. It's just fun. I mean a guy can turbo a 600 too if need be. lol
I'm curious. I'm not super small, but not a big guy either. 6.1 about 170lbs-no gear. So I would be curious. I would miss the power, I am currently quite enjoying 200hp, but I do more boondocking in super tight stuff than I do climbing, so I don't NEED the power. It's just fun. I mean a guy can turbo a 600 too if need be. lolpro 600 vs 800 decision made!
so yesterday I spent the day riding the 800... conditions wher not the best. Heavy wet snow moest of the day. On top we found a few nice climbs that had some fresh on them. I gave her a few nice rips, a bit of sidehilling and some jumps. I will say i do love the nimbleness of this chassis. It sidehills with ease, i kept usung to much of my body when it didnt need that much effort. Again like the 600 i could thread lines in the trees very well. My only dissapointment was the power. My xp has alot more throttle. Flat out more power, without a doubt. Everyone that was with us agreed on that even the polaris riders. Kikidee has posted her response in the powder room. I feel that maybe with a good clutch set up and piped it will rip. But i am confident that the xp better fits my riding style. As for Kikidee she will be snowchecking the pro 600. And i agree with her 100%! It has better throttle response and is definatly going to prove to be an overachiever in the 600 class.
so yesterday I spent the day riding the 800... conditions wher not the best. Heavy wet snow moest of the day. On top we found a few nice climbs that had some fresh on them. I gave her a few nice rips, a bit of sidehilling and some jumps. I will say i do love the nimbleness of this chassis. It sidehills with ease, i kept usung to much of my body when it didnt need that much effort. Again like the 600 i could thread lines in the trees very well. My only dissapointment was the power. My xp has alot more throttle. Flat out more power, without a doubt. Everyone that was with us agreed on that even the polaris riders. Kikidee has posted her response in the powder room. I feel that maybe with a good clutch set up and piped it will rip. But i am confident that the xp better fits my riding style. As for Kikidee she will be snowchecking the pro 600. And i agree with her 100%! It has better throttle response and is definatly going to prove to be an overachiever in the 600 class.
