Another Poo vs Cat "which is better" question

[Steamboat-RN]

I made a mistake and sold my 07 600RMK last spring. (long story)
I'm looking to pick up a late model powder sled. 06 thru 08. I have had good luck with my RMKs but they're in short supply right now. There seem to be a decent number of M-series cats for sale so I might try one of them. I have a fair amount of time on the cats but I never really felt comfortable on them.
My question is for anyone who has gone from from the newer Poo chassis to the M-cats or from the Cats to the Poos. Would you do it again and which did you feel handled better. I don't care about how they handle on the trails. Trails are for towing broken Doos back to the truck. (sorry, couldn't resist)
I am only concerned about how they compare in deep powder.
Please no brand loyal babble. Both machines are excellent. Just looking for some pros and cons.
I know there are plenty of riders out there who have spent quality time on both machines.

 

[wasatchrider]

Just made switch from cat to poo but there is no snow so i dont know yet

 

[Billygoat]

the two sleds ride very similar. My dad spent a lot of time switching between a m7 and a d8 last year and said that the cat is a little easier in the trees, and the d8 is a little easier in the fields. Overall they handle very similar to each other.

 

[AZ800]

Same as Billygoat. I rode a Dragon 7 once, couple feet of fresh and it was very similar to a M sled. The seating position was better (higher), IMO, but onec your butt is off the seat, they were comparable.
Don't think you'll be dissapointed with the "feel" of an M compared to a RMK.

 

[coopchute]

I think i can answer this question better than anybody else. I do snowmobile tours in UT. They have brand new sleds (skidoo) every year. I ride them 5 to 6 days a week. Dont get me wrong im not here to sled bash, but i prefer my cats. They just seem to out perform skidoo hill climbing, boondocking, and hitting trees!!! ive said it a million times the day skidoo has a superior sled than arctic cat ill be on it. Skidoo is a great product, it really is!!! but it is not superior in the hills than ARCTIC CAT hands down!!!

 

[brendan ross]

i love them kittys i rode the dragon 8 last year i found the running boards were to small and they were to top end heavy and just hevy in general and i feel like there is a steering wheel on the doo i just prefere the kitty
lucky choosing

 

[Steamboat-RN]

Thanks for the input. I am really comfortable on the Poos but I would like to try something new this season. I've ridden with some great riders on the cats but I just have yet to feel at home on the M-series. I wish I could justify one of each.
But it is great to have this kind of dilemma.

 

[blackcatm7]

To tell you the truth im not really sure which one is better. My first sled was an 05 m7, and i loved that thing. It was reliable, handled great, and was as tough as any sled out there. However one thing that i didnt really like about it was its stock performance, especially when the emphasis on the 800's came to be. My best friends ride, 3 m8's and 1 m1000's, a cutler dragon cat, an xp and a dragon 7. 2 of the m riders were sponsered by cat and raced RMSHA. They run great dont me wrong, however they all have considerable work done. I was convinced that the stock performance with poo and doo were better than cats, but i couldnt tell myself that doo had thier reliability worked out. Spent a little time on a d7 last year and was much more natural feeling, than doo. In my PERSONAL experience the dragon out performed the m8 in most snow conditions, which made up my mind, dont get me wrong, cat is a great sled and it was a tough decision but i made it. Youll see me on a 09 D8.

 

[iluv2fly]

Compare the 09 M8 to the 09 D8 and the choice is even tougher. The new 09 M8 is quite a bit better than the 08 M8 so it would be a hard choice between the dragon and M8. My buddy bought the D8 and I bought the 09 M8 so we will have to see.

 

[boosted1]

another opinion

the D8 and the M8 are both great sleds, however my vote goes to the M series.
the instrument cluster and where your kness fit is far superior, I added pads on mine, while standing and givven er on a rough trail, I see a big bump comming i jam my knees into the pads and pin it! try that on a Poo

The seat on the Poo, yes is higher, howver if you sit up against the tank its like riding a 2x4!

the boards on the Poo are crappy as well

I have listed 3 things that I dislike about the Poo, here are the good.

Engine is stronger, more power is it more reliable, i have my doubts, Suzuki mill is imo the strongest 2 stroke out there for reliability.

Clutching is better on the D8, they came outta the box spot on for us running at 6000ft

with a Boss seat, knee pads and the 15hp RKT kit (no fuel box), can, weight up the primary, the M8 is a better ride....again in my opinion.

B

 

[MTNMAN800]

Both sleds are great - you can't go wrong with either. Most of what has already been said I agree with so I won't repeat it. My decision between the two came down to dealer support. In Denver and the Front Range its getting hard to find a Cat dealer so I went with the Poo.

 

[Steamboat-RN]

Both sleds are great - you can't go wrong with either. Most of what has already been said I agree with so I won't repeat it. My decision between the two came down to dealer support. In Denver and the Front Range its getting hard to find a Cat dealer so I went with the Poo.

It will most likely come down to the dealer for me as well. I went to the Poo dealer here in Junction last weekend and stood around for 20 minutes looking at the one sled in the showroom and at some riding gear. Not one person asked me if I needed help. They were all busy shooting the breeze about quads and hunting. I headed to the Cat dealer and was met within minutes by several pleasant people who were gald to talk to me about sleds and riding in the area.
First impressions are that I will get better support switching to Cats this year.

 

[snopropanther]

yamaha

 

[Steamboat-RN]

yamaha

Would be my first choice for a touring sled or a modded chute climber.
Love that four stroke sound. I ride big bore dirt bikes (KTM) but the four stroke sleds are just too heavy right now.

 

[SShiggles]

I'd have to say poo. my friend got the M8 last year and I was riding the D700. In the powder I was out climbing him. not sure if it was just his sled. this is stock sleds not mod. They ride about the same. Depends on preference. Seat sits higher on the poo and the cat does have wider running boards.