Calling All Converts

[Solby]

Hey guys I am thinking about a Pro for 14. I want to get some feedback from the former Cat owners after nearly a season on their Pros. I have ridden with 2 2012 and 2 2013 Pros, all stock, this year. I have been impressed with 3 of the 4. I want a sled that is handles better and sidehills better than my PC. I feel that I have hit the limit of the PC chassis for technical riding. I want to run the Pro 2 years and trade for a 16. I know a lot of guys had a 12 PC and went to Polaris this year. I am not that concerned about the drive train problems with the 13s, there is no way Polaris isn't going to address them on their production line tolerances.
I am wondering about the engine and overall satisfaction of the switch to Polaris. If I buy one will I need to do engine work to make it last 2000-2500 miles? Will I feel the need for more HP? In a perfect world I would put a HPS can on and MDS weights and be good to go. I know the failure rates are way down on 13s, but it still worries me because I almost guarantee my dad has a 14 Cat for next year.
Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[rmscustom]

I switched and haven't looked back. The stock power is great for technical riding, The on off throttle response is instant and for the way I ride I dont feel like its lacking in power. Stock clutching is pretty close. Imo must haves for the pro is SLP torque arm, venting and have holz revalve the track shocks for you weight.

 

[RMK935VA]

My 13 runs very well. I did venting, big air intake (Holz I think), shock revalving (Carls) with heavier rear shock spring for my weight, and Carls clutching (helix, springs, belly busters). It runs much better than my 11 with similar mods did. It will hold 8300 to 8400 rpm in all snow conditions on a long steep pull. I would do the Carls clutching at a bare minimum. I would stay away from the can. It adds a lot of noise, loses a little bit of weight and may actually rob power from the stock can. Not a good tradeoff in my opinion. My 13 has been trouble free from the start. No problems. As far as the power goes, when you factor in horsepower to weight ratio, it is actually giving you more power than the Doo and the Cat. My next mod will be a three inch Camoplast track which really makes the sled unbeatable in most conditions.

 

[CO 2.0]

I had a '12 proclimb and sold it for a pro. I put a belt drive and airframes on my pro, motor is stock. The pro does not have the power the Cat has. I feel a big difference in power between the two at 11K ft. The pro can hold technical lines in the trees, do sidehills and downhill pow turns much better than the '12 proclimb. Blew my pro motor with 670 miles. Warrantied. It's a fine line for me between having a more powerful and reliable motor, and a chassis that pretty much does whatever you want it to... I chose the pro for the chassis. Even though the shocks need upgrading IMO. Proclimb is a much smoother ride.

 

[TGZ]

I'd sell ya a 13 with 700 miles on it

TZ

 

[Solby]

Thanks for the info guys

 

[Sulley]

I'm thinking about doing the opposite....sorta. Poo to Doo. Lifetime Poo owner but not exactly confident in there workmanship...... i have been reading and reading and so far I've come to the conclusion that Doo has far less issues in 2013. I want to be confident i will make it back to the truck even if it means i ride a slightly less agile, powerful, flickable, heavier, or whatever sled. Poo might not be that sled unfortunately. Sounds like BRP back there product better, anybody have any input?

 

[azzkicker]

pro

I miss the cat grunt and the confidence I have in their motor.To me its all about at the end of the day how I feel and how much fun I had on what I rode.Now on my 3rd pol pro and have had as good of luck with pol. reliability as I did w/cat.IMO its the best option out there because the chassis is so far ahead of the others but I would love a cat motor in it!

 

[geo]

I'm doing 2 years on this 13 Pro. First time in over a decade I feel confident enough to do that.
I look at things like grey around the rivets (showing they have started to come loose) and clutch condition (rebuild or not), suspention and steering bushing condition, and if things (like plastic) still fit the same as new.
All in excellent condition on my Pro. I'll rebearing everything but that's it on the chassis.

I've had plenty of 800 Cats and I found the Pro stronger and quicker in the midrange and now with a 28 dollar upgrade doesn't stop pulling on the top.
I can't wait to get into this motor this summer and do a little cheating lol.


Overall as a Cat to Poo convert I didn't think it would be so trouble free or that I would enjoy the experience as much.

I though I was near the end of my sleddin life cause the Cat's were always so much work every year to make the clutching work with new components, dial in the suspention not to trench as much, seal and remount the plastic to fit, add venting cause it needed it, look at and do all easy weight loss things that could of come from the factory but didn't.
I usually planned a couple of grand for a new Cat to get it to where I wanted.
I was also starting to let the sleds limitations tell me where to go cause if I screwed up (do it all the time lol) it was a lot of effort to dig it out and it happened way too much. I was starting to feel old on a Cat lol. Not what I wanted to feel out on the snow.

My Poo came out of the box light and is a bit lighter now. Never had a sled since the old Phazers that floats and gets unstuck as easy or makes as narrow a path through the snow. Hasn't needed a single vent added. Probably don`t need to carry a spare clutch belt. Was really impressed with the "130 ponies". Suspention or stiff chassis was VERY noticable from the first ride. Found myself questioning where I was trying to go (old Cat-i-tiss coming out lol) but smiled big when it was done and amazed at the ease (why was I fighting the snow for so many years lol).

Daily maintenance has been grease the suspention (every ride, always for me), check for missing teeth on the QD and drive shaft for seperation lol (but I don`t do that anymore), check belt deflection with a quick push (never have I needed to adjust after initial break-in) and check the sheaves for crap (I clean them now about every 10 rides).
Top up the oil, click click and side covers go on, top up the fuel, enjoy.

IMO heads and tails better than any Cat I have owned in build quality, usable power and ease of riding (I haven't even opened the vents in my jacket yet lol).

That's MO as a convert. If Poo does something drastic in design change in 2015 I won't believe it til I try it cause this package will be hard to beat.

 

[revrider07]

I came from doo and they have there problems to clutching is realy poor compared to pol. This is the best stock clutch set up from the factory I have ridden. This pol has a balance point farther back than the doo this has been the hardest thing to overcome. The Polaris likes you to be back about 10 inches from the stirrups in tech rideing on the doo the farther ahead the more control. I am getting better but find myself up by the bars in no mans land fighting the balance point for me. Small suspension changes make a huge difference in the handling of it more so than any sled I have ever owned maybe because of it lightweight and ability to crawl up on the snow. The only issue I have with the sled is the poor shocks I am putting raptors on Monday night. I got back on a doo Xp and it felt heavy and planted. I am happy with it and will run it one more year. 2013 pro

 

[likkerpig]

Came off an 06 m7 with rkt bigbore and too much other stuff. 13 pro is light years ahead. I'm not disappointed with the power at all. So far I'm very happy with the updated machine. It's just so much easier to ride.

 

[snobyrd]

I'm with geo, I hav both sleds in question, I went for a 2 day overnite ride with my kids 13 pc, I busted a belt,2nd in 500 miles, I left the camp at 730 and pinned it for home just so I could get my leg over that 13 pro, I love this machine, it works and fits me purfectly, it doesn't hav the top end the cat has but hands down better in all other areas, and against a doo I'll put my pink slip down against a XM and day of the week, there's one in our group and hes a expierenced rider and in some suitations it's not even close, buy wat u like but I love this sled so much that IDE buy a new 14 In a heart beat, if pol added 15 hp they would be in a league all by its self hands down..

 

[Solby]

Thanks Geo, I know you are a very happy convert over here! I really respect all of your input it is always spot on Cat or Polaris. I am thinking a 14 Pro 155. Adding Polaris side vents and a bumper and having the shocks valved for my weight. Then just riding the heck out of it for two years.

What about aftermarket QD belt tensioners? I am sure one or more will be available for next season. I worry about jumping in close quarters and after landing having to hit the brakes a bit. I am mostly worried about the peak shock loading of the belt. One day after one too many jumps I hit the brakes, it strips the cogs, and my sled goes off into oblivion.

 

[geo]

I think the debate about the QD belt drive will go on for years until it is the norm in the industry (and it will be).
Chain or rubber, tensioner or no, jackshaft or driveshft brake.

I hardly use the brake in the best part of the season but we have spring snow conditions now. It just takes a blip and some air to need a strong brake now. I'm very happy to have a light weight effective brake on the jackshaft. I missed that since I was on trackshaft brakes (that takes soo much more force to work) for the last few years.
Hope i never find out the hard way about brake loss but it takes very little pressure to have a lot of stopping power. So, so far so good for me.

I had the QD in the back of my mind for the whole season. The last 300 have been spring snow and I've had to land at heavy throttle in high traction holes to keep the front up for the next drop or hole. So far so good for me.

At the beginning of the year I thought a tensioner was a no-brainer but if this '13 belt gets to 2000 miles, I'll probably rebearing and installed the stronger '14 belt for next season and just ride with less thought about it cause so far so good for me.

 

[jkjasperson]

Hey guys I am thinking about a Pro for 14. I want to get some feedback from the former Cat owners after nearly a season on their Pros. I have ridden with 2 2012 and 2 2013 Pros, all stock, this year. I have been impressed with 3 of the 4. I want a sled that is handles better and sidehills better than my PC. I feel that I have hit the limit of the PC chassis for technical riding. I want to run the Pro 2 years and trade for a 16. I know a lot of guys had a 12 PC and went to Polaris this year. I am not that concerned about the drive train problems with the 13s, there is no way Polaris isn't going to address them on their production line tolerances.
I am wondering about the engine and overall satisfaction of the switch to Polaris. If I buy one will I need to do engine work to make it last 2000-2500 miles? Will I feel the need for more HP? In a perfect world I would put a HPS can on and MDS weights and be good to go. I know the failure rates are way down on 13s, but it still worries me because I almost guarantee my dad has a 14 Cat for next year.
Thanks in advance for the info.

I'm not dissing the pro or your thought of swapping brands. The pro is a bad *** sled and whatever makes you happy. I'm just laughing that you feel "I have hit the limit of the PCM chassis for tech riding" hahaha please man! Really!

 

[Solby]

Geo if your stock motor gets 2000 miles this season I will be able to sleep better ordering a pro. I am just shy of 2000 on my PC.

jk-

I'm not claiming to be the best rider out there. I will claim that I have hit the limits of the PC chassis for sidehilling, holding lines, and tree riding. The PC is a good chassis, way better than the M in almost every way. BUT it has limits when putting it on its side. From my observations the Pro chassis does not have these same limits due to body and chassis design. Sure take a PC chassis and actually design it for the mountains and the 800 motor only, yes it would be a winner NO DOUBT. However it was designed for the 1100T motor. Luckily the 800 also fit.

Anyways back to the subject - Polaris Pro RMK 2014