better boards, anyone use em on a PRO?

[B00nd0ck3r4lif]

So has anyone (that does not sell them) actually compared the better boards to the stock PRO RMK boards and seen a difference? I was in Valdez over New Years and my buddies 09 D8 with better boards had just as much snow buildup if not more than my PRO. Based on how crappy the stock Dragon boards were I see that there would be room for improvement, but on the PRO I just don't see there being that much room for improvement.

Unless the coating you can get them in offers a significant reduction in ice sticking to the boards I would never waste my money on them based on what I saw (my buddy had regular aluminum uncoated BBs on his D8)

 

[Roadtrip]

I had them on my last two IQ's but the Pro's running boards will stay stock. They work OK.

 

[2XM3]

I have better boards on my other 3 sleds, edge,iq,apex they work GREAT ! On the pro i'm leavin it alone as it is a good design stock. BUT I did add the polaris factory running board braces..like 65 bucks and I would suggest anyone over 180 lbs or so put them on, really took a lot of flex out of the boards.
The best so far has been my edge, better boards and the cooler tubes along the running boards= rarely any snow buildup.

 

[crf118r]

I had them on my D8 and wow what an improvement! That said, I haven't wanted to route out my new boards yet. I feel they clean out pretty well. The problem I have apparently, is my inner foot is bending the cleats down between the tunnel and rails. I recently put on the Polaris tunnel stiffeners and now they collect a little more snow in that area. I think it will take a little more kicking the snow off now and I'll just have to stay on top of it. I would think the BB's would work a lot better and are definitely stronger, and us "heavier" guys would probably benefit greatly from them. I can see my sled with them on at some point in it's life, just not this year.

 

[B00nd0ck3r4lif]

the BBs bend just like the stock ones. My buddy bent his just kicking snow out.

 

[snopro_ac]

i did exactly what the other two did, i put the stiffners on the boards from polaris. i don't know why polaris didn't put a hole to clean out right in front of the boards it wouldn't built up there in foot wells as much if they did. i can see a set of skinz air frame boards going on it, but my checkbook can't. they are almost a whole trip to the mountains in one price. maybe a summer project.

 

[barry1me]

I dont see why you would need different boards on the PRO. The stock ones clean out pretty good.

 

[GMCRMK]

I dont see why you would need different boards on the PRO. The stock ones clean out pretty good.

The worst part of the PRO boards is the foot well area. The toe area needs a cut out.

 

[F-Bomb]

GO RIDE A PRO WITH COATED BETTER BOARDS. You will be sold!

I grant you that the PRO stockers work way better then the IQ RAW running boards (which we all know sucked). Just like name says. "Better Boards" They are absolutely BETTER then stock! We don't call them ice eliminators, no snow stickers, miracle cleaners, no kickers, or any other misleading name. We call them BETTER BOARDS and the fact is they are absolutely BETTER.

Ours clear snow, enhance traction, and add strength to your weak stock factory running boards BETTER then stock and Better then any other product available in a comparible price and labor range. All without risking the structural integrity of your sled or endangering your well being.

$215 and two hours install. Full warranty and the only no questions asked damage replacement policy in the business.

Here are the benies on the PRO
This is easily one of our best designs for traction and snow clearing while adding strength. We have to work with what the stocker has to offer. Huge benefit is the front of the footwell. I don't have a block off in my PRO footwell and have not had any issue with clutch belt slippage from build up. I don't get a block built up in the footwell that requires forward kicking. That results in pushing snow into your clutch compartment. We've had the best snow in years and my PRO has been all over it. Deep and all qualities of snow from sugar to freeze to your sled high water content heavy stuff. Once again no contest with our product on the PRO versus the Polaris cutout sections. Half the board management of the stock PRO. Just ride and have fun.

Here is the issue with stock. The cut outs are too small, too weak, too low, the wrong angle, and incompass the entire opening which traps and holds snow. Plus snow and ice adhere strongly to natural grained aluminum. Nothing works as well as our coating process. Especially when there is any pack ability to the loose snow. We already have over 300 sets on PRO's all across the world. So far nothing but totally satisfied consumers.

Need a stronger reference then this. For the PRO why no call Carl's Cycle sales and see what their premium customers ride. Call Dan Adams and see what he rides. Call Chris Burandt and see what he rides and what all of his customers at Burandts Back Country Adventures ride. There is over 40 verified PRO sleds ridden daily by the world's foremost experts on the POLARIS PRO that should give you a pretty good sampling of what we offer and how they work.

Thanks for listening!

 

[aebsledder]

I ended up selling mine to a friend with the IQ chassis, that chassis really needs them. I just couldn't bring myself to cut into my Pro, the stock boards have performed well. I have rode in some deep snow this year too. I am definitely going to take a look at the bar/board combo, because I DO think the running boards could use a some stiffening. I do think that Rob has a great product and you can't go wrong installing them on your sled. I just felt that my friend needed them a lot more than I did. I will say that when your feet aren't in the footwells, they are prone to getting some snow in them. I have learned to ride my pro with my feet in the footwells quite a bit, unless I am riding extremely off-camber. Sometimes that makes me a little nervous though, I would hate to get my foot stuck in there in a crash.

 

[evandaigneault]

GO RIDE A PRO WITH COATED BETTER BOARDS. You will be sold!

I grant you that the PRO stockers work way better then the IQ RAW running boards (which we all know sucked). Just like name says. "Better Boards" They are absolutely BETTER then stock! We don't call them ice eliminators, no snow stickers, miracle cleaners, no kickers, or any other misleading name. We call them BETTER BOARDS and the fact is they are absolutely BETTER.

Ours clear snow, enhance traction, and add strength to your weak stock factory running boards BETTER then stock and Better then any other product available in a comparible price and labor range. All without risking the structural integrity of your sled or endangering your well being.

$215 and two hours install. Full warranty and the only no questions asked damage replacement policy in the business.

Here are the benies on the PRO
This is easily one of our best designs for traction and snow clearing while adding strength. We have to work with what the stocker has to offer. Huge benefit is the front of the footwell. I don't have a block off in my PRO footwell and have not had any issue with clutch belt slippage from build up. I don't get a block built up in the footwell that requires forward kicking. That results in pushing snow into your clutch compartment. We've had the best snow in years and my PRO has been all over it. Deep and all qualities of snow from sugar to freeze to your sled high water content heavy stuff. Once again no contest with our product on the PRO versus the Polaris cutout sections. Half the board management of the stock PRO. Just ride and have fun.

Here is the issue with stock. The cut outs are too small, too weak, too low, the wrong angle, and incompass the entire opening which traps and holds snow. Plus snow and ice adhere strongly to natural grained aluminum. Nothing works as well as our coating process. Especially when there is any pack ability to the loose snow. We already have over 300 sets on PRO's all across the world. So far nothing but totally satisfied consumers.

Need a stronger reference then this. For the PRO why no call Carl's Cycle sales and see what their premium customers ride. Call Dan Adams and see what he rides. Call Chris Burandt and see what he rides and what all of his customers at Burandts Back Country Adventures ride. There is over 40 verified PRO sleds ridden daily by the world's foremost experts on the POLARIS PRO that should give you a pretty good sampling of what we offer and how they work.

Thanks for listening!

Ok, I have to chime in. I am the "friend" boondocker4life is referencing. My better boards SUCK. I have maybe a 10% improvement over the stock boards I had on my Dragon. They also bent up by the footwell on my left side on my second ride out. Tons of ice buildup and I end up kicking out the boards just as much as i did with stock.

So, how does your warranty address my issues?

Thanks

Evan

 

[snopro_ac]

Ok, I have to chime in. I am the "friend" boondocker4life is referencing. My better boards SUCK. I have maybe a 10% improvement over the stock boards I had on my Dragon. They also bent up by the footwell on my left side on my second ride out. Tons of ice buildup and I end up kicking out the boards just as much as i did with stock.

So, how does your warranty address my issues?

Thanks

Evan

i'm not sure telling the guy you want warranty from that his product sucks is going to help, but hey you got to vent!

 

[AndrettiDog]

Ok, I have to chime in. I am the "friend" boondocker4life is referencing. My better boards SUCK. I have maybe a 10% improvement over the stock boards I had on my Dragon. They also bent up by the footwell on my left side on my second ride out. Tons of ice buildup and I end up kicking out the boards just as much as i did with stock.

So, how does your warranty address my issues?

Thanks

Evan

You only saw a 10% improvement over the stock Dragon boards? C'mon, we all know how bad the stockers were. I chewed up a good pair of Klim boots because I was kicking snow out. You will still get some build up but the Better boards help evacuate it better.

 

[gman086]

The worst part of the PRO boards is the foot well area. The toe area needs a cut out.

AGREED! That is the ONLY weakness of the stock design. Rob could make some money if he designed a front footwell insert with holes there that would also reinforce that area. $75 would be a fair price and I'd bet he'd sell a BUNCH of them, especially if it also bent upwards at the toe area to prevent snow from moving forward into the clutch area! Kill 2 birds with one stone.

My 2 cents,

G MAN

 

[F-Bomb]

It doesn't have anything to do with selling. Just because you sell something doesn't necessarily make you QUALIFIED TO COMMENT. YES WE MAKE THEM BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I RIDE THEM DAILY! EXPERIENCE snowesters...that is where the value is!

Evan I'd email photos of your damage and comments about your experience to sales@snowmobilebetterboards.com. The warranty is your standard motor sports parts workmanship format. Go to our website and read both the replacement damage policy and the standard workmanship warranty. Be cool and work with Rich (I'll advocate that they help you get squared away) maybe we'll do something out of the ordinary (based on your comments so far reference "better boards suck") and help you get a coated set replacement so you can enjoy the boards.

Now once again concerning the original question about the PRO. I've got more miles on multiple PRO's from last year to this then I do on my own PRO with Better Boards and 100% the sled with the Better Boards clears snow and offers Better traction. As well as the fact that the running boards are stiffer and more durable. Guys that ride each and everyday on this product are raving about them.

Does anyone who has Better Boards on a PRO think they don't work as well as stock? I clogged up the stockers over and over and fell off the PRO multiple times because I'm accustomed to excellent foot traction on my rides. Right off the bat we knew this would be a good candidate for boards.

story.....

Way back in the day (over 3,000 of this version ago) when I did the very first design on the IQ RAW lots of professionals told me the stock running boards were great and this chassis didn't need them. They offered the little holes and the star cleats. Jack Struthers himself (Snowmobile Hall of Fame inductee and one of the leading designers and builders of custom mtn Polaris snowmobiles) told me that you didn't need this product and it wouldn't sell. WELL GUESS WHO IS MY NUMBER ONE SELLING AND ADVOCATING DEALER FOR BETTER BOARDS? Once again we are talking EXPERIENCE from professionals! Guess who has put more Better Boards on PRO's then any other single company on the planet. Struthers' company is who. That says they flat out work and there is significant benefit to this product on the PRO. Watch and see what Polaris does down the road with their running boards. What they did with the PRO is just the start. They will eventually go with an insert because that is the only way to get the durability and performance like we experience with Better Boards. You think the current design concept wasn't "borrowed" from us and our success on the IQ RAW? I provided product to several of their key mtn sled management to experience how your running boards should work on a mtn sled. Thought they would rather a brand name deal then an end around but was wrong. Oh well there is about a million mtn sleds out there for us to work with before we get outdated.

 

[Tec]

Living in Colorado and having 600 miles on my pro, the only snow build up I see is when the snows wet and heavy! which is not to often I also just bought the Polaris running board supports for $60 bucks.

 

[B00nd0ck3r4lif]

Anyone ridden with the coated/non coated better boards and seen a difference in how much snow they retain?

I feel that a coating is the only way to prevent snow from sticking, so perhaps the coating makes all the difference in the world.

Anyone seen this to be the case?



PS: the reason I started this thread would be because of the claim I've read in the past saying "why destroy a 200 dollar pair of boots every season kicking your boards when you could just buy better boards instead and save your boots" (that was paraphrased but you get the idea).

From what I saw uncoated better boards require a lot of kicking just like stockers.

 

[RIDECATS]

I rode a few Pros with and without better boards.

1. With: MUCH more rigid and snow "came off" easy - one simple kick and it all came off as a chunk.

2. Without - I thought the boards flexed way to much and I'm only 165 lbs. The snow also was much harder to remove and required lots of kicking to clean them.

Summary - if i was cool enough to OWN a PRO I'd have a better than stock version.


Rob - If you do a gen 2 Pro board the only improvement that I would look at is the area "over the bracket" on rear of the sled...without a hole there it was the biggest problem spot - since the skid is mounted to this bracket I'm not sure anything could be done

 

[Timbre]

Big Thumbs Up!

I just installed the Better Boards on my Pro and WOW! what an improvement!! The BBs are as big of a step up from the stock PRO boards, as the Pro boards are over the IQ stock boards...in my humble opinion.

The snow does stick a bit to the black BBs but not even close to how it stuck to the stock aluminum, and the cutout under the ball of your foot is perfectly placed. Cleat height is perfect as well! Could not be happier...and i paid full price. No freebies or discounts here.

At first i was a little skeptical of seeing any substantial improvement over the stock boards, but after my first ride since the installation....i am impressed to say the least!

Rob...your install instructions were spot on! Thanks for the time you took to explain by PM. The install was quite easy indeed. Mine took quite a bit longer than 2 hours, but i am very particular and had to have it just perfect.

Bottom line...if you dont get these BBs you will be buying a new pair of boots every year after pawing that snow off of sharp edges. Don't ask how do i know this?

Cheers!

 

[Arcteryx]

Need a stronger reference then this. For the PRO why no call Carl's Cycle sales and see what their premium customers ride. Call Dan Adams and see what he rides. Call Chris Burandt and see what he rides and what all of his customers at Burandts Back Country Adventures ride. There is over 40 verified PRO sleds ridden daily by the world's foremost experts on the POLARIS PRO that should give you a pretty good sampling of what we offer and how they work.

Thanks for listening!

LOL, hell send me a pair for free and then they can all call me for a reference! Those guys are long past paying for anything to do with sledding, so I highly doubt they PAID for their better boards. And why would anyone getting any sort of free stuff "bite the hand that feeds them" by bad mouthing sponsors in the business.
My point is simple. If you want a good opinion, ask someone that
A) Has nothing to gain by endorsing them
B) Has no relationship or friendship with the seller
C) Can give good honest feedback about their purchase. Many people can't do this. They think that because they have spent money on something they will look stupid if they say it was anything less than a brilliant move to purchase it. We all know the type.

I had better boards on my Dragon and I would never own one without them. One of the top 3 mods for the Dragon IMO.

I do not have them on my PRO and I am not sure that I need them. They clear out pretty well. I think that is why I hear these STRONG opinions about how much they do and I really have a hard time buying it. It's feeling oversold to me.

Why not send out a pair to a couple of neutral guys (people like I envision Mountain Horse to be) and ask them to install just 1 side and ride for at least a few weeks. Ask them to take pictures of each side (same time) in different conditions on different rides , do a write up and give us feedback here on SW. Just an idea, but one that might help convince me to make the purchase. I'm not like the "Premium" customer at Carl's so I don't have money to burn. If its a great mod I'll buy it. If its marginal gains for a premium price I'll have to stick with my status as just the "average" customer.

Personally I don't like the scare tactics either. "Buy these better boards or you'll be buying a new pair of boots every year". Use the bottom of your boot you'll be just fine, Ask me how I know!!! LMAO