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Alpha 1 ride review

Thread Rating
5.00 star(s)
I really wanna know the diff in 154-165 I love shorter sleds and all but I worry the 154 will be a little too squirmy
 
Dave McClure Said he prefers the 162 Mountain cat 2018 but liked the 154 Alpha because it performed so good with the shorter track. I would say go short if that's what you normally run
 
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So here is my question: was there anything about the sled and it’s handling that you didn't like?

Or something you feel could use some refinement?

Thanks for taking the time to answer 4 pages worth of questions..!! :)
 
Just wanted to add in a couple of comments I've had answered by a few different riders who have taken out all the 2019 iron.

1. The Alpha does not wash out on steep terrain (riding 1-2 feet of fresh)
2. The Alpha is very nimble, game changer for Cat (very noticeable difference over a mountain cat)
3. One rider said he is 110% ordering an Alpha and has been on both 850's, Polaris is a nice increase in power but Alpha is too much fun.
 
So the new poo wins the hp war? Did he say how the alpha climbed against the 850 poo?

850 Polaris is a nice increase over the 800 Polaris in power, not sure if it's the top performer for the hp war. No direct climb comparison to the 850 poo. My guess is the 850 (actually an 840) poo performance is a bit better than a piped 800 axys, chassis wise no big changes (narrow front end, running boards).

They will have some video of the Alpha out in the next few days.
 
Dave McClure Said he prefers the 162 Mountain cat 2018 but liked the 154 Alpha because it performed so good with the shorter track. I would say go short if that's what you normally run

Spoke w a guy today..... if you like shorter sled go with the shorter sled. It’s in no way wild washy. The 154 is a blast to ride he said. Wheelies good and playful but gets dirty when you want to. Also was told hands down will out side hill, climb, perform the 18 mountain cat. 154 it is for me!
 
Now this is third hand ha but he told me he thought the alpha was easier to hold a line and the power felt more linear not a big hit off the bottom like the 850 has but top end felt similar. When we lined the sleds up the alpha would outclimb the 850 by 20’ or so. Climbing ability I would give to the alpha again because of the ease of holding the line, in my opinion it took more effort to make the 850 keep its edge.


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I’m assuming the doo 850 was a 165?
 
Factory hot rod? Or the real deal

. When we lined the sleds up the alpha would outclimb the 850 by 20’ or so. Climbing ability I would give to the alpha again because of the ease of holding the line, in my opinion it took more effort to make the 850 keep its edge.


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I really hope this sled actually performs like this in production models. Not just a turned up factory sled. I find it hard to believe it out climbs an 18 cat and 18 doo in a straight uphill pull by 20'? No motor changes or extra HP claims by cat? I'll let everyone know word is they beat the 18 cat & Doos up a hill in deep snow, that's a pretty big deal if true for the production sleds.
 
Just wanted to add in a couple of comments I've had answered by a few different riders who have taken out all the 2019 iron.

1. The Alpha does not wash out on steep terrain (riding 1-2 feet of fresh)
2. The Alpha is very nimble, game changer for Cat (very noticeable difference over a mountain cat)
3. One rider said he is 110% ordering an Alpha and has been on both 850's, Polaris is a nice increase in power but Alpha is too much fun.


So he is ordering a new one ( 100%) and 10% of another one? That's weird. ha ha , just having some fun this morning!!
 
I really hope this sled actually performs like this in production models. Not just a turned up factory sled. I find it hard to believe it out climbs an 18 cat and 18 doo in a straight uphill pull by 20'? No motor changes or extra HP claims by cat? I'll let everyone know word is they beat the 18 cat & Doos up a hill in deep snow, that's a pretty big deal if true for the production sleds.

I would tend to believe more if it wasn't just all unicorns and rainbows.
 
I really hope this sled actually performs like this in production models. Not just a turned up factory sled. I find it hard to believe it out climbs an 18 cat and 18 doo in a straight uphill pull by 20'? No motor changes or extra HP claims by cat? I'll let everyone know word is they beat the 18 cat & Doos up a hill in deep snow, that's a pretty big deal if true for the production sleds.

Straight up hill climb performance is so dependent on many factors and conditions. Would have to be repeated in different conditions and elevations to be 100% proven. But there could be several reasons why the Alpha would out perform an 18.
1 3.5 pitch track
2 lighter track
3 lighter rear suspension
4 no snow build up
5 track with mono conforms to terrainn for better traction.
There is 5 possible reasons. Plus I think the maneuver ability is what most are after.
 
I really hope this sled actually performs like this in production models. Not just a turned up factory sled. I find it hard to believe it out climbs an 18 cat and 18 doo in a straight uphill pull by 20'? No motor changes or extra HP claims by cat? I'll let everyone know word is they beat the 18 cat & Doos up a hill in deep snow, that's a pretty big deal if true for the production sleds.

I think the performance increase in climbing is mostly from the use of a 3.5 pitch track, it was a nice gain in the doos. Some minor contribution would be drop in weight and Cat is claiming revised ECU for enhanced performance.

Few more comments from riders:

1. This sled turns super tight, extremely tight donuts.

My thoughts are regardless of climbing ability or power comparied to the competition. The Alpha 154 will be the most playful and fun sled on the snow for 2019.
 
As far as the climbing, the 3.5 pitch works really good. It is probably a combination of the whole package but the xm trenches bad. The 850 just hooks up and goes. I always thought the power claw is the best track out there so most of it is probably the 3.5 pitch. Now Polaris didn't come with it so I'm guessing they think it doesn't work as good or they would have it because it's lighter. Climbing is good but it is the handling I'm looking for. I love the doo. Good power, quick handling, and effortless in powder. It has its faults and I was going to lock out the t motion but then it will just reverse the scenario. Way better in the trees and sidehills but not effortless in the other Conditions. I am hoping this is the best of both worlds and then some.
The biggest thing I find comical on the forum is everyone makes it sound like they are on a 50 or 60 degree steep sidehill all day. Most of the people I know won't play on that stuff when we are playing on it and most sidehills aren't that steep. Way more to mountain riding than that.
 
The biggest thing I find comical on the forum is everyone makes it sound like they are on a 50 or 60 degree steep sidehill all day. Most of the people I know won't play on that stuff when we are playing on it and most sidehills aren't that steep. Way more to mountain riding than that.[/QUOTE]

Reminds me of back in the early 2000's when it was all about sitting at the bottom of a bowl and point and shoot all day. As soon as the M7 came out and you could actually spend the day banging trees without killing yourself those days were over for me. Lots of the diehard loyalists scoffed at the "underpowered" little M7, if it couldn't climb the biggest chute it was worthless. We just laughed because it might not have climbed the biggest badest climb but it could do so much else so much better.
 
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The biggest thing I find comical on the forum is everyone makes it sound like they are on a 50 or 60 degree steep sidehill all day. Most of the people I know won't play on that stuff when we are playing on it and most sidehills aren't that steep. Way more to mountain riding than that.

Reminds me of back in the early 2000's when it was all about sitting at the bottom of a bowl and point and shoot all day. As soon as the M7 came out and you could actually spend the day banging trees without killing yourself those days were over for me. Lots of the diehard loyalists scoffed at the "underpowered" little M7, if it couldn't climb the biggest chute it was worthless. We just laughed because it might not have climbed the biggest badest climb but it could do so much else so much better.[/QUOTE]

I had so much on my M7 - I didn't buy a new sled until the 13 PCs.
 
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