Can't decide which sled to get!

[a907rider]

Ok, so I can finally get my own sled so I can stop borrowing my father in laws Teenage Renegade. All of my experience is on skidoo's. Summits and renegades. I love the rev chassis but I rode a family friends dragon last year and absolutely fell in love with the handling in the pow. We split riding depending on the conditions into mountains, pow swamps, and of course trails to get to these locations. My.net concern is handling while boondocking through the trees and nce. My whole family rides skidoo so they know how to work on them and their quirks. But that dragon was just so much fun! So here's my choices. I found an 08 dragon 800 155 and an 06 summit 800 151. I'd prefer the summit with a 144 but can't find one with a 800. Will the 151 make that much of a difference handling? I'd appreciate honest opinions on which one I should get. I also appreciate brand loyalty but I like doos and poos so that doesn't really matter to me. Thanks.

 

[justjohnthomas]

Honestly if your whole family "knows" Ski Doo's that might be the better choice. You have someone who can help trouble shoot, work on and maintain it, set it up for your style of riding, and probably has the tools needed to do so. That being said the dragons are very capable sleds from what I have seen, if you can keep a motor in them. I personally started out on a MM because of the people I knew with them, stuck with Yamahas until I was venturous enough to buy an XP. From my experience it was a lot easier having 2-3 people that "knew" the sled I could talk to or have come over then having to search the internet or post for the information I needed.

 

[polaris dude]

I wouldn't recommend the dragon. You can read my name and realize what sleds I ride and I gotta say the dragons have been unreliable in the past and if your family know skidoo then I would stick to doo.

 

[bigislandgrrl]

I bought a 2010 holdover dragon back in 11 at the same time my hubby bought the new pro. I rode the dragon 4 times, tried out his pro several times and after about 250 miles on it I traded it in on a 11 RMK. (BEST DECISION EVER!) Ive been told time and again that it was a good idea to get rid of the dragon - stick with the summit - youll like the longer track length in that powder!

 

[Matte Murder]

Your choices are a LOT more than 2. There must be 10,000 good sleds for sale right now. Just got back from the Puyallup Snow show and saw that my dealer had one of the nicest Revs for sale for $2995. Looked in near perfect shape. You could trust a long distance sale with them too. What is your budget?

 

[a907rider]

Thanks for all the input. As far as only having 2 sleds to choose from, I love in Alaska. These 2 are the ones I chose from craigslist and other used sites up here. Buying anything out of state pushes my budget with shipping. That being said my budget is at 6000 max. I'd love to get a pro but its out of my league for now. The dragon has had the engine fixed and been re mapped to address the motor issues if that makes a difference. I know I'd be happy with the doo... Its just that ride I took that's making me hesitate. Does anybody have any experience with the longer track summits? The longest I've ridden is a 144 and I never felt the need for a longer one. Thanks again!

 

[XFIRE800]

If you like the dragon, the M series handles even better plus it is one of the most reliable sleds to ever hit the snow. Should be able to pick up an 09 m8 for under 6 and maybe a 10 in that 6 range.

 

[mr.deeds]

Does anybody have any experience with the longer track summits? The longest I've ridden is a 144 and I never felt the need for a longer one. Thanks again!

I didn't mind the 151 summit that i rode, I still thought it handled good... and the 154 is a nice track too. I didn't like the 162 (or 163... i can't even remember) but it was on a summit 1000 so that could have been the reason it handled bad.

 

[WaBackcountry]

If you want to hop on and ride the M series is the best...hands down.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

 

[SEAKM8]

Where in Alaska do you live?

 

[a907rider]

In the valley. Do most of my riding around Caswell lakes and mile 181 up in the mountains.

 

[Chris6060]

If you liked that Dragon, you should REALLY look into an M8. They handle even better than the Dragon, but the same kind of feel. They're beyond reliable, too, unlike the Dragon. The 800 Dragons were ticking time bombs, it didn't matter how many "fixes" you did to them.

If you pass on that Doo, seriously look at an M8. I know how brand loyalty is, but you wouldn't regret the decision if you made it.

 

[Summit74]

Find a 700 dragon if you prefer it. 700 motor was rock solid. Buddy had one for a few years and got it from rental place, never had 1 motor issue.

 

[slyrydr]

i agree with all that's been said...the 700 dragon is good, the doo is good, the m-7/8s are better...but please to good to yourself, and pass on the 800 dragon...

 

[a907rider]

Allrighty then, so I found an 07 summit 800 144 that I'm going to go look at Monday. I'm also going to go look at the dragon just to be fair but I think I might end up with the summit. Even my buddy that loves polaris so much I think he should own a dealership can't really in full confidence endorse the dragon. My father in law asked around and everybody told him to avoid it. The summit is exactly what I'm used to and has under a thousand miles cause it was the guys extra sled for inexperienced riders. Gently ridden. I just can't myself want a cat. I don't know anybody who rides them so I'd have no support maintenance wise. They look cool and all but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna make the safe bet and stick to what my family and I know. Monday will most likely be decision day. Thanks again!

 

[Bubba]

sled

I would say 7/8m series or 700 rmk. they are both good sleds.

 

[Spiced Wafer]

if your in alaska...then i think you would do yourself a disservice if you bought a short track. get the 151, they are not that much more than the 144, maybe 3 inches on the ground, but that will make a huge diffence in the powder for climbing, trees, and just getting around without having to be full throttle all the time.

i had a 151 sled and now am on a 163...i wouldn't go back...

as others have said, the m sled is a great sled to ride...

i went from a rev to a m, and i wouldn't ever go back to a rev, and i loved my rev...