Buy or build?

[suitcase]

Have a D8, with about 2100 miles on it. Have been seeing a lot of boosted sleds for sale, with the boondockers PG and aftermarket skids. But with my math there is not much diffrence in money when you start adding it up.. I would sale mine and buy a built one and have no idea what I'm getting, and have to rebuild the motor anyway, or strat with mine and rebuild the motor. What is the pro's and con's here? If there is any.

 

[R_8_N]

I bought a built one last spring. I was gonna build one this summer but I came across one that is insaine so i couldnt pass up the offer. Knowing the person that built it and did all the work helps too. If ya like to work on them alot and build them then i say build it. Ive built a ground up in the past. Probably wont do that again though. Theres some pretty good deals out there on some really nice sleds, and I think that your gonna probably get more bang for your buck getting one done.

 

[Ryan-41]

If i was you I would sell your a just Buy the New Pro Ride... I went and rode with Burandt last winter and saw a Pro Ride 163 out climb a 2010 Dragon 155 with a Boondockers!!!

 

[Jkinzer]

If i was you I would sell your a just Buy the New Pro Ride... I went and rode with Burandt last winter and saw a Pro Ride 163 out climb a 2010 Dragon 155 with a Boondockers!!!

the pros are sweet! but BS. that is definitely rider error if a pro out climbed a turbo'd D8. if you are mechanically inclined at all i'd say build one! but start now so you have plenty of time and arent stressed out to be done before the snow flies. this is my 3rd year in a row of a ground up turbo'd dragon build, this years being the most intensive of all with pretty much all new parts. But weather people will admit it or not, when you have a turbo sled and you actually ride it like you should you will be working on it. so it helps to no exactly how everything works and what it suppose to look like. and the way sleds are selling right now you'd be money ahead to throw a top end in yours and a pumper kit opposed to trying to sell it and then buying a built one. if the budget runs tight ride it that way for a bit until you get used to it and then do the aftermarket skid. the only time the skid will really shine is in steep technically climbs. the stock skids are pretty fun for boondocking and messing around because they wheelie like crazy!

 

[suitcase]

Time would be on my side if I go with my own biuld, I have an 09 with the 860 in it an it is tons of fun, So I would not feel the rush to get it done right now. I feel the same about knowing what you have underneath you and how it works and how it is built. You bring up a good point on the maintenance, threw the season and that is where I suck. I'm not a monkey wrencher by any means, I can wrench when I want too. I just don't like to wrench, so if I builb one that is solid and maintane it on a weekly basiss, a guy should have a lot of trouble free miles, (RIGHT ). Good info thanks keep them coming. I have a couple of mounths to make my mind up!! Trying to get all my ducks in a row for this one. So I know what I will need for a job like this one.

 

[Jkinzer]

yeah maintenance is the key, just make sure you give it the once over after every ride and you'll be fine. the wrenching i was referring to was more a long the lines of changing out reeds and top ends every 800-1500 miles. when i first built my sled two years ago i literally had 3000 miles of what i consider trouble free pull and go riding. i did two top ends and three sets of reeds, but other than that i didnt touch anything other than little boost leaks that were an easy fix with a new hose clamp or zip tie on the fitting. its the little things you dont think about that bite you in the @ss, like last year i went through what i considered to be everything maintenance wise to get it ready for the season, i didnt replace motor straps, didnt replace jack shaft bearings because they all looked good, well they all failed and caused me to get towed back 4 different times last year. so now in my mind those parts (all seals, all bearings and any other wear items) are going to be replaced yearly to keep from having any issues like that again. so when you do build if you decide to i'd go ahead and replace all your seals and bearings just the be on safe side. good luck!

 

[suitcase]

do you always live by the 1500 mile rule on the top end?

Thanks for the imput, lots of help thanks again.

 

[suitcase]

NO Rob I'm not going to buy a pro this yr. LOL Going to give them a yr and see what happens in 2012. How did last wkend treat you?

 

[Jkinzer]

yeah i pretty much live by the 1500 rule... guys have gone further but at 12+lbs of boost i dont see the point. if your running 6-10lbs of boost you could get away with 2000 i'm sure. have seen many m8's go 2500 miles on 9lbs or less. i do it as a preventative maintenance, i'd rather spend $3-400 on a top end twice a year than 8 thousand to have a new motor built like mine again if it when hin chit

 

[suitcase]

I do the same on the 860. I'm with you, a little preventative maintance is worth a lot.

 

[PGTDragon]

If i was you I would sell your a just Buy the New Pro Ride... I went and rode with Burandt last winter and saw a Pro Ride 163 out climb a 2010 Dragon 155 with a Boondockers!!!

Who ever was riding a boosted Dragon and could not out climb a RMK Pro has no business on a Turbo sled. I have a Turbo D8 (currently for sale) have plenty of seat time on the Pro and there is no way it will out climb my sled, even if I turned the boost down to 6lbs it does not have a chance. The RMK Pro is a good sled, it is stiffer and lighter but the motor has very little over a Dragon as far as power, it has a cleaner power-band and better mids, but lets also see how they run when they are fully EPA de-tuned and stock clutched.
BTW now you can buy a cheaper sled than build one, mine is going to go for about what I have in it for aftermarket gear, and only has 500 miles since the update on it....sucks to be selling Turbo Dragons now, but the new sled is on the way.

 

[R_8_N]

Who ever was riding a boosted Dragon and could not out climb a RMK Pro has no business on a Turbo sled. I have a Turbo D8 (currently for sale) have plenty of seat time on the Pro and there is no way it will out climb my sled, even if I turned the boost down to 6lbs it does not have a chance. The RMK Pro is a good sled, it is stiffer and lighter but the motor has very little over a Dragon as far as power, it has a cleaner power-band and better mids, but lets also see how they run when they are fully EPA de-tuned and stock clutched.
BTW now you can buy a cheaper sled than build one, mine is going to go for about what I have in it for aftermarket gear, and only has 500 miles since the update on it....sucks to be selling Turbo Dragons now, but the new sled is on the way.

Your sled is the one I would buy if i was looking for one. Nice sled!

 

[SNOW JW]

Right now you can buy some very nice units at some great prices and this also gives you room for upgrades if needed like a skid or intercooler or mods of your choice. Many guys have new Pro's on order so for a short wile there will be some great deals on the Dragons I also have a brand new 0 mile 163 Dragon for sale that I have with boost as well for sale.

The Pro is going to be a hot seller for a wile so deals will be hard to come by.

 

[95RXL]

top end

When you guys do a top end as maintaintence every so many miles, what all is done? Piston's, rings, and a quick hone? No hone? New cage bearings?
Thanks.

 

[Ryan-41]

Who ever was riding a boosted Dragon and could not out climb a RMK Pro has no business on a Turbo sled. I have a Turbo D8 (currently for sale) have plenty of seat time on the Pro and there is no way it will out climb my sled, even if I turned the boost down to 6lbs it does not have a chance. The RMK Pro is a good sled, it is stiffer and lighter but the motor has very little over a Dragon as far as power, it has a cleaner power-band and better mids, but lets also see how they run when they are fully EPA de-tuned and stock clutched.
BTW now you can buy a cheaper sled than build one, mine is going to go for about what I have in it for aftermarket gear, and only has 500 miles since the update on it....sucks to be selling Turbo Dragons now, but the new sled is on the way.

Sorry just sayin wat I saw!!!

 

[F-Bomb]

If you were wise you would do nothing except ride your 860.

 

[suitcase]

If you were wise you would do nothing except ride your 860.

NO NO I will keep the 860 just the way it is, I love that sled. I plan on building the other D8, all new front end, rear skid, the whole works.

 

[cowboymann02]

hey suitcase, weather you buy or build just make sure you put a nice rear suspension in the sled to help keep the front end down on long pulls.

 

[turbo800rmk]

there is no way a stoc proRMK can outclimb a turboed 800

 

[KAWGRN]

there is no way a stoc proRMK can outclimb a turboed 800

what he said!!!!!!!