600 vs 800 hp and reliability?
- Thread starter biggdaddy
- Start date
I owned a 2013 600 pro rmk as well as a 2013 800 pro, both with the 155 track. Power wise the 800 has a lot more in my opinion. The 600 still climbs very well and is a great machine but if your a bigger guy than I would go 800 all the way. I never had an issue with either machine.
My wife has a 2013 600 and I have a 2014 800, I think the power difference is about 20-25 horses. I don't know what the difference should feel like but to me it's not dramatic. We've raced up a small hill, maybe 150 yards, and I'll beat by 30-40 feet.
600's do grenade, too, and come way too lean on oil from the factory. Refreshing pistons and rings needs to happen routinely with the 6's, or should happen, also. Same kind of PM. If you do the PM, any comfort from more reliability with the 6 may be an illusion. If you ride where/when it's deep, the 6 is just pinned much of the day. That illusion thing again. I have both - stock to stock, the 6 gets around fine, 8 can be/is definitely more fun. Find trouble faster on the 8. Good luck.
I went with a 600 last year and found that I missed that punch of an 800. I had no issues but traded the 6 toward a 800. Get the 8 I wished I did.
My findings exactly, I have a 6 and a 8 too.
High porting of the 600 cfi hasn't changed since '07. This IMHO makes it feel gutless on bottom to high midrange until you're wot then you might feel the difference over the 600 carbed HO. Bigger bored 700/800 is much better overall. Reliability is how well you take care of any engine making sure it is warm enough all the time and not overheating it, etc.
I had a 6 last year and went through 2 sets of pistons. The idea that the 6 is more reliable than the 8 is a myth. It is a great sled but I would recommend the 8. Especially if you are in the deep. The 6 is missing the bottom end grunt to get you out of the hole when its 2' of fresh.
