Assault Vs. Hcr or m1000

[Clarke673]

Thats what I was wondering... Just that I fell in love with the Polaris handling!! I don't understand why Polaris doesn't make a big bore machine to compete with cat? I know the 800's make about the same hp as the 1000 but the tourque has to be much lower.

Keep em comming I need more input before I decide

Thanks

They did, its called a 900.....People don't like it very much.

 

[chunkysoup]

They did, its called a 900.....People don't like it very much.

Correctly setup the 900 rocks! Polaris couldnt harness the power and torque! As far a i see it everyone on the 900 forum loves their sled! Maybe Polaris should hire some of the aftermarket guys that made the 900 rip and try again!

 

[Clarke673]

Correctly setup the 900 rocks! Polaris couldnt harness the power and torque! As far a i see it everyone on the 900 forum loves their sled! Maybe Polaris should hire some of the aftermarket guys that made the 900 rip and try again!

My 900 ripped and when i was 15-16 years old, i had like $5000 into my sled. I was out running 800 xp's when they first came out. I LOVED my 900 except for the damn TPS sesnors, other than that it was sick.


on a side note, my friend picked up a 06 900. It compleatly stock out runs my 800 dragon (suspension work+clutching at the time) His sled is a good 60 pounds more than my sled...

 

[Ricks 32]

LOL, similar handling? What are you smoking?

Yeah it will have more power but the handling won't even be close.

We have had 4 800 motors in my family (IQ) not one of has had one problem with a motor. The motor issue is blown way out of proportion. Get a good dealer.

After putting over 300 miles on a pump gas Dragon and over 800 miles on an '09 M1000, they are silmilar in handling. If you want to talk about sidehilling, then the M sled is the hands down winner. If you consider handling something that happens on the trail then I'd agree with you. But this discussion is taking place in the Mountain/Deep powder section.

 

[MtnMaxMod]

What?

It is not the stiffness that hurts the Assault track it is the length. I am willing to bet the 155 assault track that comes out on the Pro is going to rip. Sure the weight hurts it a little in the light stuff over the 5.1 but I think overall it will be a better track with the additional length.

Actually, it is the stiffness and design of the track that hurts it; not the length.

If you threw a 144x2.5 CE on that sled, it would be night and day difference over the stock track.

 

[milehighassassin]

I guess, agree to disagree.

 

[Clarke673]

The reaason for the HCR and the Assualt was to have a stock oem sled set up for hillclimbing. This way they are still "stock", but have features such as a stiff track, good shocks, set up skid, ETC. If you want a mountain sled get a sno pro or RMK...that simple. If you want a back country jump'n sled, and you like me have realized that even with an 800 powered IQR you can't get enough speed to hit anything or go anywhere with a 121.


I am a back country freerider and i like to climb, boondock and jump...mostly jump. That coupled with me hillclimbing on the RMSHA circuit this year make it a no brainer that i need an assualt. Hope that helps.

 

[Clarke673]

After putting over 300 miles on a pump gas Dragon and over 800 miles on an '09 M1000, they are silmilar in handling. If you want to talk about sidehilling, then the M sled is the hands down winner. If you consider handling something that happens on the trail then I'd agree with you. But this discussion is taking place in the Mountain/Deep powder section.

There is no way that an m sled handles as good as a RMK. Yes, you can keep an m sled tipped over, that is about it. In any other aspect, the rmk is much better. Trails, jumps, off camber mogles, bumps, ruts, ETC.

 

[Ricks 32]

There is no way that an m sled handles as good as a RMK. Yes, you can keep an m sled tipped over, that is about it. In any other aspect, the rmk is much better. Trails, jumps, off camber mogles, bumps, ruts, ETC.

I'll stand to be corrected. With what you've mentioned, I'd agree that the RMK does handle better. I really don't ride trails, mogles, etc. much. For breaking trail in a creek bottom and up deep slopes, I've felt that they are similar. This is where all my riding is done. In a rutted out climb, I feel the M sled stick's to the hill better than the RMK. the RMK likes to "wheelie" much more. Even with the limiter tight on the RMK. The KMOD really helped the RMK to tone the wheelie down.

How about this: Deep snow handling, they are similar.
Rougher conditions: The Dragon does handle better.

I think the key here is to identify the conditions you ride most and choose your sled. To each there own

 

[M8Chris]

I think when it comes to rough conditions it starts with being comfortable with your sled and knowing how it handles. I don't understand how xp riders ride those xps but they're comfortable on them. That's what it comes down to. Which one feels comfortable. You'll love the m1000

 

[backcountryislife]

I guess, agree to disagree.

As someone who has a 141 powerclaw, I've got to say it's less length than design as well. My 141 destroys the assault track, it's just plain NOT meant for powder.

Btw, as a somewhat loyal Cat owner, the RMK beats the M imo in handling. (btw, tell my friends with motor problems that they're blown out of proportion. If it costs you riding days when you want to ride, it doesn't matter how many other people had the same problem!) With the M it's the post & bulkhead issues, with the RMK it's the motor, with a doo... ha, my fingers are tired! They've all got issues!

 

[CO 2.0]

Kaleb you nailed it. After thousands of miles on both chassis', I am riding a Cat now. #1 reason. The motor.

I rode the Dragon from a neutral position most the time, where as my cat I'm throwing a leg off more. The dragon takes less input to point it where you want to go in the pow. The M sidehills easier and stays its line with less effort where the Dragon almost wants to go back downhill. The dragon is more foregiving on bumped out trails for sure. The M has more power and is a more reliable engine overall (at least for me). I know the Dragon has a pretty strong bulkhead as I've literally taken out the whole side of the suspension before without any bends to the bulkhead. The powerclaw track on the M is #1 for all around conditions.

I'd still be on my Dragon if it hadn't failed on me so many times and had the advertised HP it should have had stock. But since that wasn't the case I am very impressed how the 10 M8 is working out for me. Best sled I've ever owned cause it gets me back to the truck every ride.

Obviously this is just an opinion on a brand war thread

 

[milehighassassin]

As someone who has a 141 powerclaw, I've got to say it's less length than design as well. My 141 destroys the assault track, it's just plain NOT meant for powder.

As an Assault rider and spent plenty of time on 155 Dragons, I can honestly say the Assault track is not garbage. The Assault has some setup issues that hurt it but when you get those corrected this track rips. The limit needs to be tightened all the way up. With the higher and more aggressive stance, you MUST do this. The shock are also loaded way up, they really need a revalve.

I found moving the limiter strap helps the Assault (night and day) with the attack angle of the track on the snow. That same track in a 155" would rock.

 

[backcountryislife]

As an Assault rider and spent plenty of time on 155 Dragons, I can honestly say the Assault track is not garbage. The Assault has some setup issues that hurt it but when you get those corrected this track rips. The limit needs to be tightened all the way up. With the higher and more aggressive stance, you MUST do this. The shock are also loaded way up, they really need a revalve.

I found moving the limiter strap helps the Assault (night and day) with the attack angle of the track on the snow. That same track in a 155" would rock.

We'll have to ride this winter... you'll change your mind after riding a better deep snow track in a short length. That piece of rubber with a bunch of concrete blocks attached to it.... pfft...!

Play with that skid all you want.... then let's see how it compares to the shorter track!!!

 

[Clarke673]

We'll have to ride this winter... you'll change your mind after riding a better deep snow track in a short length. That piece of rubber with a bunch of concrete blocks attached to it.... pfft...!

Play with that skid all you want.... then let's see how it compares to the shorter track!!!

The track is designed for racing on ice, rocks, dirt, and stumps. It is built for 100 ft+ jumps and poping wheelies on cornaces. NOT made for hillclimbing of deepsnow boondocking. What mile high was saying is that it is an OK track if the skid is set up proper. He didn't say it is THE BEST, but it was ok. I would imagine that a 155 would be able to go anywhere. It won't get the high mark, and sure it will trench, but it is a hell of alot more fun (except for hill scratching) than a soft flimsey powder track.

 

[milehighassassin]

The track is designed for racing on ice, rocks, dirt, and stumps. It is built for 100 ft+ jumps and poping wheelies on cornaces. NOT made for hillclimbing of deepsnow boondocking. What mile high was saying is that it is an OK track if the skid is set up proper. He didn't say it is THE BEST, but it was ok. I would imagine that a 155 would be able to go anywhere. It won't get the high mark, and sure it will trench, but it is a hell of alot more fun (except for hill scratching) than a soft flimsey powder track.

Exactly!

And with that said, the Assault track is an absolute blast in the spring. This thing hooks up like no other.

I bought the Assault knowing I wouldn't put the highmark up, but that is fine. I don't really ride to highmark. I ride to boondock, jump, play around.
The sled is perfectly capable with some minor changes that are free to do. Learn how to ride it, just like any sled.

 

[mikew5945]

Hey guys got a question for ya.... Looking for a new sled this year and am torn between the Polaris Assault and Arctic Cat Hcr or maybe the m1000 sno pro. I have always rode Cats and never had a major problem but last trip out this past winter I rode a both 09 Polaris dragon and 09 AC m8 snopro and gotta say I loved the handling of the Polaris. I am just scared of the time bomb 800 polaris motor. (been on many trips the last few years and had buddys sleds go down on them) Should I look at the Polaris 700? Have they got the 800 motor fixed for good??? My other question is will I be wanting more power? as my current sled is a 900 king cat with some goodies. One thing I don't like about the m1000 is the longer track. I don't think you can get a new 1000 with the shorter track any more? could be wrong.
I like to mostly boondock in the trees and meadows but also like to hill climb some.
Thanks

I agree with the personal choice. I love my M. If you want the dragon or a Polaris contact Mark at www.crazymtn.com. He throws some ungodly power into these engines. Most of the Dragons I ride with run his fuel control box and see an improvement. All three are stock sleds and two have the box. He also dosen't make a living off each box sold. There is also an improvement with his belt drive. Weight loss and less HP to turn the track. One of the three has the belt drive. This is IMO and what I saw last year. I rode the dragon and still like the M sled. GOOD LUCK.

 

[Clarke673]

I agree with the personal choice. I love my M. If you want the dragon or a Polaris contact Mark at www.crazymtn.com. He throws some ungodly power into these engines. Most of the Dragons I ride with run his fuel control box and see an improvement. All three are stock sleds and two have the box. He also dosen't make a living off each box sold. There is also an improvement with his belt drive. Weight loss and less HP to turn the track. One of the three has the belt drive. This is IMO and what I saw last year. I rode the dragon and still like the M sled. GOOD LUCK.

The box that mark sells is not as good as the PCV because it is not tunable like a powercomander. BUT, his belt drives are AWESOME!!!! I would love to get one on my sled and would highly recomend one to anyone.

 

[milehighassassin]

Found this and thought it might apply to this thread:
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=221496

That is a premium members are a link, so if you are not paying you won't get to see that link. (modstock articles)

What do we really think? It’s not a powder/boondocking sled. It can be done on the Assault (if you can manage the throttle and maintain momentum, it can go almost anywhere the other RMKs go, just sometimes drafting off a track or two), but if that’s your bag, you really should look at the regular RMK. But if your idea of a ride is finding anything and everything to hit, jump off of or fly over, the Assault may be your soul mate.