Any M riders get to ride the new RMK last season?

[GlennRMK]

Well I sold my 09 M8 at the end of April.

It was an excellent sled that never let me down.

I really like the M chassis handling. However if I get a 2010 or 2011 M8 I will be putting the older 05-07 spindles on it. I much preferred the easier steering of my 06 M7. I'm leaning on picking up a new M8 but...

I'm also kickin around the idea of a new Pro RMK.

I might have to wait till I can rent one though, to see if I like the handling as much as the M.

I've spent quite a bit of time on a 09 Dragon and it lays over nice but is not as flickable in the trees as the M. Its a lot harder to change direction from side to side IMO. Not hard to lay it over one way to do donuts though. Probably the sway bar, but I've never ridden a Dragon without the sway bar.

So for those who have ridden the new RMK, whats the consensus? More flickable then the Dragon? Or not? Hows the handling compared to the M?The last thing I want is something that handles like a Doo And I've read a couple reviews that say it handles more like an XP.

 

[Dogmeat]

I haven't yet ridden the Pro RMK chassis, but based on all the seat time I've had with the M and IQ chassis, I still say the Polaris chassis is the better handling of the two. Not that the M is a slouch, but it does require more attention and is not as forgiving as the IQ/Raw.

The motors is where Polaris really screws the pooch.

If Polaris can ever put a motor that doesn't grenade itself on a regular basis in a sled, I'll probably switch back. Until then I'm perfectly with happy staying with Cat.

 

[av8er]

if u are used to the best(mseries) why go backwards

to the polaris. they need at least a year or two to make it right, the m is dated but still at the top

 

[2fun4u]

I rode Polaris for 15 years and I spent 2 years trying to get a handle on my IQ chassis - I was one of those who just fell over and spent more time upside down than on the track. So I bought a 2010 M8 Sno Pro - and have not looked back!

THE M: Love the sled, love the smooth power, love everything about it, except the heavy steering. I have done a few of the suspension mods suggested on here, and it has helped quite a bit. I think of it as a great arm and upper body workout!

THE NEW POLARIS PRO: I got to ride this sled, the 800 155 for about 1/2 hour. It is hands down a better sled than the IQ - no question about it! It is nimble and very easy to control in the trees! Very fun sled to ride!!! Weight to power ratio for me (5'7" woman - 140 lb) was great too. When I did land it on it's side, I was able to get it up on it's feet fairly easily. Steering was much lighter than my M sled.

My only concern about the Polaris is that nobody is posting horsepower numbers. My husband is 5'11" and 215 lb. We snowchecked one for him and I am really concerned that the power just isn't going to be there. It didn't feel near as powerful and snappy as my M sled. Granted, it hadn't been totally tuned up yet, but with the efi, I don't think you should have to. No idea still what the Polaris will come in at with horsepower numbers, so you have to take a gamble with that.

When I bought my M, I put oil and fuel in it and rode it all year. It is responsive and snappy and SUCH a fun sled to ride!!! Easy to sidehill - I can sidehill that thing all day long, and carve and do pretty much whatever I want. If I had to buy the Polaris and do some work to make it run like the Cat, I would be sad. However, the one I rode was a super fun sled and I could have ridden it all day long with no problem.

CONCLUSION: I really don't have one. If my goal was nimble, light, easy steering, I would buy the Polaris. If I wanted the responsive horsepower, go Cat. It's really a tough choice.

Sorry - nothing conclusive to offer, but those were my observations.

2fun

 

[GlennRMK]

I guess my experience is different.

I feel the Dragon (spent most of my time on an 09 163) is a bit harder to lay over and a lot harder to control in the trees or say side to side powder turns.

I can lay the M over from right to left very quickly and not so much on the IQ.

However I am 6'3" and a 175 lbs

You should try putting the older spindles on. My 06 M7 steered way easier then my 09 M8.

 

[snowmobiler]

buy the polaris glenn .if you wanta garrenteed runner .go cat

 

[Ricks 32]

I did ride the Pro chassis for a limited amount of time. The powder wasn't great and we rode in an area that wasn't much of a challenge. I rode the Pro800 with 155 track. I also rode an '10 800 Dragon 155 as well to compare. I normally ride an '09 M1000 162.

That being said, both Polaris sleds handled better on this ride. We rode a bumpy backcountry trail into the riding area. The Pro was snappy and really rode well. I thought the '10 Dragon was good too, but I could tell the weight difference between the two.

I did get the chance to ride the Pro off the trail and it handles great. It rolls from side to side very well and handles rough terrian better than anything I've rode. I also feel the Dragon works well in these conditions as well. The Pro feels like a leaner Dragon to me.

We did race the Pro, Dragon and an excellent running '09 XP (163) up a few hills to see the difference. This wasn't a fair race due to both Polaris sleds were stock and the XP had some minor work with silencer and clutch work. The XP handly beat both sleds in every race that I saw. The Pro and Dragon were a toss up.

I didn't get to sidehill anything challenging at all due to conditions. I've always felt that the M sleds dominate in sillhilling. I've had the Wedge, Edge and IQ chassis and nothing that i've rode to date will sidehill with an M sled. I do feel that the Pro and IQ are very similar and I'm ASSUMING the Pro may have the same tendancy to "spin down" when on a very steep sidehill. Other than that, I feel it will be on par if not better than the M sled.

I think the Pro is going to be a fantastic sled. I am hopefull the motor glitch is solved. I did snowcheck a Pro 163 the next day. I liked the feel of the sled and personally haven't experienced any motor troubles with the previous 800's (but all had SLP exhaust and fuel controller). A few days later I went riding after a storm and we had some good snow and great hills to climb. The same XP we rode earlier was there too. The XP and some other good running Dragon 800's really struggled on this day. The snow was soft and heavy (spring snow) and on the harder climbs the 800's just didn't have the beans to climb out of every hill we got to. I rode my '09 1000 which isn't a fair comparision to the 800 sleds. But after this day I was pretty bumbed that I just snowchecked an 800. I cancelled my Polaris snowcheck once again . For me, after riding an excellent running M1000 and some 800 turbo's, there is no going back to an NA 800 sled again.

However, I'm 215 lbs and the M1000 doesn't really care about how much I weight as the 800's do. As far as handling is concerned, I think the Pro is very similar to the Dragon. If you are in the market for a great 800, I really think the Pro is going to be an excellent sled.

As far as comparing an '10 M8 and the Pro, good luck on that one. I think the M8 has the Pro in the motor dept and an already proven chassis. Buy another M8 and let your buddies be the guinea pigs for the Pro

 

[Snodawg]

I rode the Pro and '10 M8, back to back. It was a very tough decision. The M8 is a very good handling sled that has great power. Very heavy steering though and rides like a buckboard on the whooped out trails. The Pro handles much better in the tight trees (hard to imagine anything handling better than an M series, but the Pro does easily). The suspension is by far the best stock suspension that I ever rode. It does not have the power that the M8 has, but it has a very strong midrange that will rock you. As far as motor issues on the Pro, my guess is they have fixed it, cuz the problem that caused the meltdowns were the controller and FPR, both of these have been changed on the Pro. I have since sold my M8 and snowchecked a 155 Pro. The unbelievable handling (it's the closest thing to riding a dirt bike, other than of course a ski/bike kit or a Snowhawk) and the awesome suspension sold me over the power. I will be able to ride longer, more often and have more fun riding the Pro than any other sled, so that's where I put my money. JMO

 

[RACINSTATION]

The only concern I would have is that the 2008-2010 800 engine has had mucho problemos. The new 2011 model has the same basic engine. Whether they are going single ring or double I don't know if they have said for sure, but not enough difference to warrant (pun intended) consumer trust.

 

[GlennRMK]

Thanks for the info Snowdawg

So you got to ride it in some deep snow in the trees and prefer its handling?

I know what you mean about the heavy steering. If I get another M I'm going to put the 07 spindles on. My 06 M7 had much lighter steering.

I keep hearing problems with the Polaris engines, but I know quite a few people with 08s and 09s with no issues.

 

[Dam Dave]

I try not to go around bashing other sleds, but all my friends with 08 Dragons have lost engines every 300 miles, they got the update done last year and they both lasted 300 miles, I am not kidding, one sent the engine to SLP because they said they had a cure, guess what, 300 miles, its not fun to own a sled like that

I have only ridden the 08 Dragons but I prefer the handling of my M sleds, and the 2010 is just awesome, no comparison to the 2009, the engine just flat runs, still a little heavy to to steer but better, , that is my only fault with the 2010 M8

I looked at he new RMK but ordered a 2011 M8 just my 2c

 

[martin1200]

rode the polaris wasnt impressed have a buddy who snowchecked one and im gonna have a blast doin circles around his azz all year on my m!

 

[AndrettiDog]

I try not to go around bashing other sleds, but all my friends with 08 Dragons have lost engines every 300 miles, they got the update done last year and they both lasted 300 miles, I am not kidding, one sent the engine to SLP because they said they had a cure, guess what, 300 miles, its not fun to own a sled like that

I have only ridden the 08 Dragons but I prefer the handling of my M sleds, and the 2010 is just awesome, no comparison to the 2009, the engine just flat runs, still a little heavy to to steer but better, , that is my only fault with the 2010 M8

I looked at he new RMK but ordered a 2011 M8 just my 2c

5 Dragons/Assaults in my family and not one burn down. I realize others had some issues, but not everyone did have problems. Very few had issues after the update. At least Polaris did an update to make a fix. I know the AC guys like their reliable "old" chassis, but come on. Sooner or later AC will have to stop using the "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" line and catch up with everyone else in the chassis department. I'm impressed with the AC 800 HO, but I wouldn't buy that bathtub chassis over a Pro, XP or even IQ chassis. Good to see others in the snowmobile business moving forward. If only AC would use that race chassis in their mountain segment.

 

[martin1200]

Dude i don't even understand what u just said! If it isnt broke don't fix it works well why fix it! Ive riddin them both and my opinion is polaris still needs some fixin! "my opinion"!

 

[Dam Dave]

5 Dragons/Assaults in my family and not one burn down. I realize others had some issues, but not everyone did have problems. Very few had issues after the update. At least Polaris did an update to make a fix. I know the AC guys like their reliable "old" chassis, but come on. Sooner or later AC will have to stop using the "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" line and catch up with everyone else in the chassis department. I'm impressed with the AC 800 HO, but I wouldn't buy that bathtub chassis over a Pro, XP or even IQ chassis. Good to see others in the snowmobile business moving forward. If only AC would use that race chassis in their mountain segment.

I apologize in advance for those I am about to offend


So, just so I understand, even though it works they should throw it away and try and make a short course race sled work in the mountains, that's why we have 12'000 snowmobiles, just adds the the cost

seriously, how many ways do you think there are to mount an engine, 2 skies and a track...........its all been done before, just repackaged to fool guys like you into thinking its the latest greatest since sliced bread, strip these sleds to there basics and most guys could not tell what brand they were looking at, rant over,

 

[Snodawg]

The problems with the Poo engines were caused by the FPR and controller. They have gone to the 2 injector setup with new FPR's. Have you heard of any meltdowns from people that went to the PCV. Not me. Polaris has changed their controller also.
Granted the Pro does not make the power that the M8 makes, but when I rode it, I was very impressed. It's a completely different type of power. It doesn't rip your arms off like the M8, it sneeks up on ya with an incredible midrange pull.
One of the best things that the new sled does is get up on top of the snow. Polaris did an astounding job on the rear skid. Not only does it get on top and stay there, it soaks up bumps like a cadillac. This sled comes with a $2500 aftermarket suspension.....stock. Why buy a sled that you have to throw several grand at it to perform when you can get it stock. That's why I went with the Poo over Cat. Plus a 4 year warranty, dirt bike handling, one year 0 percent financing etc. I'm gonna miss my Cat until I hit the electric start button on my new Pro.

 

[AndrettiDog]

I apologize in advance for those I am about to offend


So, just so I understand, even though it works they should throw it away and try and make a short course race sled work in the mountains, that's why we have 12'000 snowmobiles, just adds the the cost

seriously, how many ways do you think there are to mount an engine, 2 skies and a track...........its all been done before, just repackaged to fool guys like you into thinking its the latest greatest since sliced bread, strip these sleds to there basics and most guys could not tell what brand they were looking at, rant over,

With that type of thinking we would all still be on the old Edge chassis or Phazer/Exciters of old. Don't get offended or overthink it. Polaris changed mountain riding with the Edge/GenII sleds, AC did it again with the M, Ski Doo did it over and over with the Rev and XP. Now Polaris is trying with the Pro. It's evolution and it's good for the consumers.

So you guys think AC should stay with the chassis forever? Come on, all I'm saying is that sooner or later they will have to evolve too regardless of how good they think their chassis is. Don't be so caught up in the sled you bought. Personally, I would buy any brand if I thought it was going to be a good sled. I was hoping AC would put their race chassis in the mountain segment with their 800 HO and then I would have had a hard time deciding over the Polaris and AC.

You guys get bent out of shape because "if it ain't broke then don't fix it!". LMAO!

 

[AndrettiDog]

Dude i don't even understand what u just said! If it isnt broke don't fix it works well why fix it! Ive riddin them both and my opinion is polaris still needs some fixin! "my opinion"!

And the AC is perfect? I wonder what you ride...

 

[CO 2.0]

I loved my Dragon BugIto, it's just the constant motor problems I had with mine. I thought buying a 2nd year sled like I did with the dragon, that any issues would have been worked out the 1st year of production. Which should be the case when anyone spends over $10K on a sled. That's the only reason I switched over to Cat, and I even bought a first year motor because it's a Suzuki motor. Hell I can throw my old edge around better than some IQ and M riders, so I guess I'd rather have a "tank" that is reliable over something more flickable that leaves me stranded. I hope Cat moves forward like Polaris just has. The new Pro "looks" to be the best handling sled ever. If after 2 years there is no major issues with these new 2 injector engines, I'll for sure jump back on another Poo. Especially when Cat dumps Suzuki in 2014. Cat has the engine now, and I agree they just need a fresh new chassis. If the price doesn't go up lol!

 

[martin1200]

all i said was it is my opinion go get a polaris! we will see YA THE M IS PRETTY CLOSE TO PERFECT! JOKE DUDE!