2016 Polaris Axys Vrs skidoo T3 ?

[klpilot]

I'm absolutely sold on the Axys 163 3". I ride a lot in Canada with mostly t3 doo's and some pro-ride's. The chassis, handling, and appearance are vastly different, but seam to carry similar speed through the big terrain. As a personal preference I really don't like the doo chassis, power band, and "feel". I do like some of the handling characteristics. It comes over with less effort in very technical terrain, but can be kinda wallowy... (I know that's not a word) and unpredictable. The doo feels kinda fat compared to the axys. To me putting the 36" stance on the Axys makes it the perfect handling mountain sled. It's still the same predictable stable chassis, but much more responsive to off camber rider input and quicker to react. Almost like the doo, but the best of both. The Axys felt snappy at first, but when it finished the break in period was when I was REALLY impressed. It pulls way harder than the Pro. It's way snappier than the e-tec. The e-tec just has a different power delivery feel to it. Although you can tell they are similar in overall power. In short I think the Axys does everything better in a better package. The only change I think Polaris should do is in the front end. Narrower and stronger... maybe a snow check option? It really does make it a lot better mountain sled. Now Polaris has the power in a vastly superior chassis.

 

[Falcon1772]

I'm absolutely sold on the Axys 163 3". I ride a lot in Canada with mostly t3 doo's and some pro-ride's. The chassis, handling, and appearance are vastly different, but seam to carry similar speed through the big terrain. As a personal preference I really don't like the doo chassis, power band, and "feel". I do like some of the handling characteristics. It comes over with less effort in very technical terrain, but can be kinda wallowy... (I know that's not a word) and unpredictable. The doo feels kinda fat compared to the axys. To me putting the 36" stance on the Axys makes it the perfect handling mountain sled. It's still the same predictable stable chassis, but much more responsive to off camber rider input and quicker to react. Almost like the doo, but the best of both. The Axys felt snappy at first, but when it finished the break in period was when I was REALLY impressed. It pulls way harder than the Pro. It's way snappier than the e-tec. The e-tec just has a different power delivery feel to it. Although you can tell they are similar in overall power. In short I think the Axys does everything better in a better package. The only change I think Polaris should do is in the front end. Narrower and stronger... maybe a snow check option? It really does make it a lot better mountain sled. Now Polaris has the power in a vastly superior chassis.

How do you KNOW when its out of break in?

 

[klpilot]

How do you KNOW when its out of break in?

Read your owner's manual.

 

[Falcon1772]

it says first tank is considered break in. But from what I've read on here it also has to do with a 2.5 hr mark and a certain amount of that also being at a certain RPM, and I've read that it keeps doing extra oil till 18 hours.

 

[geo]

You have to hand it to Doo and the 174 T3. It was a big leap for them IMO for pull and go in the deep. Hard to keep up on a 153.

You have to hand it to Doo for knowing how to make money too.
Before the T3 I used to see all the guys-who-must-not-have-a garage-type-of-guy run around town all week, sled on deck in the middle, without a cover.
Since the introduction by Doo, of their "vibrant" colors, I now see them covered during the week.

So good marketing plan. Make them horrid enough to get a cover sale with every unit.

I actually heard the Wendy's and A and W's in town refused to serve anyone running through the drive-thru with Ronald MacDonald's sled on the back forcing them to eat over there.
For this reason alone, I could never own a T3. I just can't stomach that stuff anymore.

 

[xmk1080]

You have to hand it to Doo and the 174 T3. It was a big leap for them IMO for pull and go in the deep. Hard to keep up on a 153.

You have to hand it to Doo for knowing how to make money too.
Before the T3 I used to see all the guys-who-must-not-have-a garage-type-of-guy run around town all week, sled on deck in the middle, without a cover.
Since the introduction by Doo, of their "vibrant" colors, I now see them covered during the week.

So good marketing plan. Make them horrid enough to get a cover sale with every unit.

I actually heard the Wendy's and A and W's in town refused to serve anyone running through the drive-thru with Ronald MacDonald's sled on the back forcing them to eat over there.
For this reason alone, I could never own a T3. I just can't stomach that stuff anymore.

LMAO, not to mention a fat Ronald McDonald with an out dated skid, wide plastics and running boards

 

[wileybird]

LMAO, not to mention a fat Ronald McDonald with an out dated skid, wide plastics and running boards

Polaris cheerleaders!!! What would we do without em!!??

 

[xmk1080]

Polaris cheerleaders!!! What would we do without em!!??

That was a good one, I'm still laughing, lol. My buddy just bought a new ski doo 163 x 2.5 and I can't wait to ride it, but I'm having a hard time telling him that its 56 lbs heavier than my 16 axys 163 x 2.6! Its going to be a fun winter, run what you brung

 

[Pro-8250]

I call BULL SH!T! I don't give a Sh!t who Burandt is or what he might or might not ride. I didn't ride cats when he did and don't ride Polaris because they offered him $ to switch. I also could not give a Sh!t what products he endorses for the same reason. I'm not star struck, and I could care less what he sells his name and values to promote.

IMO most of the products he promotes are complete crap.

Trails West trailers are junk
Skins stuff is ill conceived garbage
Fox air shocks are worthless pogo sticks

Etc. Etc.

Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way, and that is fine with me.

Don't sugar coat it. Tell us what you really think.
I am just glad no one mentioned Flickable. (Dang I just did.)

 

[retiredpop]

The weight of axys does transfer too better handling. You won't be disappointed. I believe the axys is easier too jump on go in most snow conditions. It holds a side hill better and weight is noticeable. But the inch wider track of the XM is huge in deep snow. And i don't think anything else downhills the way the XM does when its deep. All about preference and riding conditions. Thats what I'm on the fence about. To bad i already snow checked the axys lol. I wasn't planning on second guessing myself. Both very good sleds imo.

Well there's a marketing slogan Skidoo missed out on. LOL

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Well there's a marketing slogan Skidoo missed out on. LOL

Skidoo riders go down on the deep.
And they are The Best at it!!

 

[LoudHandle]

Originally Posted by STACAIR
The weight of axys does transfer too better handling. You won't be disappointed. I believe the axys is easier too jump on go in most snow conditions. It holds a side hill better and weight is noticeable. But the inch wider track of the XM is huge in deep snow. And i don't think anything else downhills the way the XM does when its deep. All about preference and riding conditions. Thats what I'm on the fence about. To bad i already snow checked the axys lol. I wasn't planning on second guessing myself. Both very good sleds imo.

If you end up missing the downhill ability of the Doo that much! Put a couple 25# Barbell weights in the nose cone of the AXYS for your downhill maneuvers. For everything else you can either put them in your pack or mount one to each footwell where the balance point of the sled is. LOL

I think you will figure out the body position and technique for doing the same thing on the AXYS and never look back at that overpriced, recolored, Sanford and Son's Couch with new casters.

 

[d8grandpa]

Originally Posted by STACAIR
The weight of axys does transfer too better handling. You won't be disappointed. I believe the axys is easier too jump on go in most snow conditions. It holds a side hill better and weight is noticeable. But the inch wider track of the XM is huge in deep snow. And i don't think anything else downhills the way the XM does when its deep. All about preference and riding conditions. Thats what I'm on the fence about. To bad i already snow checked the axys lol. I wasn't planning on second guessing myself. Both very good sleds imo.

If you end up missing the downhill ability of the Doo that much! Put a couple 25# Barbell weights in the nose cone of the AXYS for your downhill maneuvers. For everything else you can either put them in your pack or mount one to each footwell where the balance point of the sled is. LOL

I think you will figure out the body position and technique for doing the same thing on the AXYS and never look back at that overpriced, recolored, Sanford and Son's Couch with new casters.

Lmao!!!

 

[STACAIR]

LMAO. I hope so. Going too give it another try in next few days after storm hits. If I wasn't spending time looking for XMs i would have ordered and installed a 36inch kit in the front and probably would have fixed all my dislikes. But i guess that will have too wait a little longer.

 

[mrquick68]

I am going to delete my t-motion on my Xm to see if it makes a difference in sidehilling. Everytime it gets steep it just washes out to easy, unlike the pro. I haven't been on an axys yet but if it's better than the pro then the Xm won't have a chance in the super steep side hills.

though the t-motion doesn't help here, XP and XMs have had washout issue since designed. It's the chassis design and ultra rider forward body position. It's also skid design. Ski Doo's transfer hard and like to lift the skis high (which points them uphill!), Poo's skid and chassis geometry is much like the old M sleds. That's why they stink on the trail but are much more fun on steep sidehills and technical riding. the XM is too fat, too rider forward, and has a skid more designed for trail than mountain, and its direct weird steering provides very little leverage. The reason it does pretty well in-spite of these attributes are its ultra narrow ski stance, great power, huge track, and the help the t-motion and flex-edge give it to get on edge. In the end however, you'll notice that the XM has trail roots, and Axys has mountain roots. They are both excellent, but shine in separate areas. Pick your $14k poison!

 

[snowmobiler]

lets see video of a axys outdoing a trail doo 174 anywhere in the mountains.LOL

 

[CO Powder]

lets see video of a axys outdoing a trail doo 174 anywhere in the mountains.LOL

Coming soon, just need the snow... In my case it will be a slightly better rider that uses a 155 Axys to out do a 174 T3 Doo. One of my riding crew just bought the yellow bus. Pretty sure I can still school him regardless of machine...


Lots of Doos in my riding group, 154 T3, 174 T3, 163 2.5 x2. They still are trying to keep up with the Poo, they just keep buying the wrong sleds LOL

 

[snobyrd]

We just rode 2 days in chapel in 4 plus feet deep of snow, 1 t3 164, 2 axys ,155,163,the axys are quicker and faster when racing through the trees, there was no point and shoot going on due to avy rating.where the t3 got stuck, we would keep going. We are still clutching as we feel theres more gains to be had. At one point n the day the secondary clutch didnt close after a turnout , maybe a black purple will be needed to help back shift

 

[snobyrd]

We just rode 2 fays in chapel in 4 plus feet deep of snow, 1 t3 164, 2 axys ,155,163,the axys are quicker and faster when racing through the trees, there was no point and shoot going on due to avy rating.where the t3 got stuck, we would keep going. We are still clutching as we feel theres more gains to be had. At one point n the day the secondary clutch didnt close after a turnout , maybe a black purple will be needed to help back shift

 

[mrquick68]

lets see video of a axys outdoing a trail doo 174 anywhere in the mountains.LOL

that wasn't my point, and you know it. a HUGE track like 174" should always get the win over a shorter/narrower track given similar power in straight up climbing. Do you really want to ride a 174 to keep up with a 163 though? Do you like how the Doo handles? Some people doo, i personally don't! Shoot, i'm riding single-ski nowadays anyway as i spend all my time in the woods in steep terrain! Ride what you like and don't be so color blind snowmobiler!