Can't Decide?

[anderson5]

I cannot decide what to buy right now so I was wondering?
I want Polaris for sure as thats what I have always rode.
I really would like to have a 800 Assault, but with what I have heard is that all these 800's are having problems. Are the 2010's going to be more reliable?
Right now i'm deciding between 600 RMK Shift 144 or 155, 700 RMK 155, 800 Assault, or 800 Dragon 155.
I like to jump which is why i would love to have the Assault, but I also want to better myself with boondocking, sidehilling, etc.
Let me know all your thoughts.

 

[600xc4me]

If was your your boat I would go for the 700 155. Put a pipe on it, and ride. Very few motor worries, and still good power. Plus you get the best chassis on snow to boot. I ave the 800, and wouldn't ever buy it again. Works well when it works, but it hardly ever run, so it's not worth it.

 

[Snowrat]

I have an 09 800 Dragon 155 and my wife rides an 09 600 Shift 144. I have not had any problems with either. I love my 800 in the steep and deep and it is also a real solid boondocker. The 600 will has a permagrin factor that I have not experienced on any other sled. Its light, flickable (more manuverable in the trees) and just a fun sled to ride. FYI, I am a 235 lb rider. $.02

 

[AndrettiDog]

If was your your boat I would go for the 700 155. Put a pipe on it, and ride. Very few motor worries, and still good power. Plus you get the best chassis on snow to boot. I ave the 800, and wouldn't ever buy it again. Works well when it works, but it hardly ever run, so it's not worth it.

I know that there were plenty of snow checked sleds that have gone down. But check with your dealer to see how many sleds that were produced after the snow check (late VIN numbers) have gone done. I've been told that the voltage regulator (source of a lot of problems) has been fixed in later builds.

 

[600xc4me]

You think this is a voltage regulator issue? How so? Lettign to much current to the ECM causing it to mess with the mapping, and there for the 800's are burning up? Doubt it. I know there have been and are 800's that have quit because their ECM got fried when the voltage regulator blew. But that they are causing these things to burn down? I don't know. There is only one 800 around here left to blow up, after that they have all been done at least one time. Some two times. And if it were the voltage regulators, how come is this problem almost non existent above 6000 feet? I'm not saying that it's not the problem, but it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[bjenkins]

You need to ask on the around snowest for a good dealer. I have not heard of one motor problem that was bought from Carls cycle in Boise ,ID and I know there are plenty of other good dealers out there. Some dealers have their own setups and some use stock, I have heard that the stock setup is what people are having problems with primarily when ridden below 6000 feet.

 

[Latitude 62]

I have owned two Dragon 800's now. I have had no problems with either one of them and I rarely ride above 6000 feet. Not much terrain around at those altitudes that are accessable. I have to agree with some of what is said here, but, I would not choose to get 2010 model over a 2009 model as there is absolutely no difference between the two other than color. If you are a young guy that loves to do the Freestyle/big air thing on harder snow, get the 09 Assault at a great price, there are still plenty around. If you are other than that, get an 09 Dragon in the length of your choice. You would probably get an even better deal on one of those. If money is a real issue, get the RMK.

 

[ADHD]

sled

I rented both an assault and a 600 rmk shift 2 weeks ago in west yellowstone. I honestly had more fun with the 600. I agree with snowrat on the permagrin. One of my buddies rented the 600 and said the same thing. He had rented an 800 rmk the rest of the week. I was worried that it wouldnt have enough power to turn the 155 track, but it did great. I also go about 205-210 all geared up. If I were to buy one I would go with the 700 if you are worried about the 800 reliability. The assault definitely was much more stiff in the rear which made it push bad on the trails. I also ran the rmk hard on some pretty bad trail whoops and never had it bottom. Granted both sleds were rentals so I didnt mess with the settings ,but I would go with the rmk. I also was thinking about getting an assault but after renting them both I would go with the rmk.

 

[anderson5]

Thanks for all the input, I am really looking at getting either the 09 Assault or 700 RMK 155''
Keep it coming.

 

[poopow]

got an 08 rmkshift 155. love it, factory, little under powered. but going to send motor to carls cycle this summer for 660 kit. ride with a couple of buddies with 700 rmks and they dont always make it were i do. i am also 205-210 all suited.

 

[Nelson]

I got an 08 Dragon 800 for sale if your interested, its a 163 though. 1100 trouble free miles and we have dozens on 08 and 09 800's around where I live that have had no problems.

 

[d_aggen]

If you do decide to go with a dragon yard out the walker evans if you really like to jump. I am now on my third set of WE and I am giving up. I had to stay home yesterday because both sleds are layed up with suspension issues. one was a tree issue not shock, but the WE just do not hold up if you like to launch you sled. I have a set of fox floats and I have a set of zero pros coming from carl's cycle should be in today. I would save the money for the dragon because you are going to wind up with an aftermarket suspension anyways, at least with a basic model you get to pick the aftermarket shocks that you want.