deep powder challenge 800's

[Sled208]

Anyone else read the snowest deep powder challenge article? I found it VERY INTERESTING that 4 out of the 9 riders would purchase a 800 Cat pc if they were to buy a 2013 800cc mountain sled. 3 said they'd buy a Skidoo and 2 would buy the Polaris!!! several test riders commented about the Cat being the best at getting on top of the snow which i was surprised by because a common complaint on here is "trenching" I also found it interesting that the body of the Cat is only 1/2"wider than the Polaris!! Someone on here is pretty fired up about making the body skinnier???

 

[boondocker97]

I read it the day the digital issue was published and was surprised it took this long to see anything on here about it. Looks to me like there is a good crop of sleds overall (still couldn't get me on a polaris from the issues I have seen this year). Before i read it I figured polaris would be the frontrunner again but not so much.

 

[catrider800]

I found it interesting as well. Sounds as though it pretty much comes down to personal preference for the most part. I know I rode a new XM for a short time out in West this year and I could not get off of it fast enough. I just didn't feel right to me at all, while some say its the easiest sled to ride. Kind of funny they said the Ski-Doo was the sled of choice when 4 out of 9 would buy the Cat.

 

[Sled208]

I found it interesting as well. Sounds as though it pretty much comes down to personal preference for the most part. I know I rode a new XM for a short time out in West this year and I could not get off of it fast enough. I just didn't feel right to me at all, while some say its the easiest sled to ride. Kind of funny they said the Ski-Doo was the sled of choice when 4 out of 9 would buy the Cat.

I've ridden a 2013 pro and felt it had some similarities on the ride characteristics which is consistent with a lot of the test riders' reports.

 

[Arctic Thunder]

It was a typical SW article. They beat around the bush in an effort to make everyone happy. They try and cover up this and cover up that again all in an effort to make every sled look good. And I get it.

An interesting comment I heard the other day from a buddy of mine.

He was riding in one of our local spots and ran into a few guys, older guys, like 50+, and they were on the new XM's. And because my buddy is looking at getting a new sled he drilled them on their experiance with the XM chassis. To quote them "This sled isn't for the old guys" "It really tires me out" "It takes 100% attention to run a straight line" "it tips over so easy if you relaxe at all it will be going the wrong way"

They loved the sled, but it took a lot of attention to keep it going straight. "Kind of like riding a sled down a log"

Interesting

Thunder

 

[knifedge]

--If you read the personal reviews, the XM requires alot of physical input, although apparently much improved over the XP, but still not like the PC or Pro- good power - suspension marginal

--The Pro is slow motion HP, narrow focused on sidehilling / tree riding, poor suspension

--PC does everything well except gets beat out by Pro on the steepest sidehill that most people go around-- best power, best track, best suspension, best platform to mod, best engine choices

 

[swrev]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the point they measured was under the rider foot position, not overall width. Either way, I was surprised to see how close they all were at that point. STill wondering how Cat wasn't chosen as the best overall sled after reading the article. Nice to see how close all the new sleds are.

 

[slyrydr]

I found it interesting as well. Sounds as though it pretty much comes down to personal preference for the most part. I know I rode a new XM for a short time out in West this year and I could not get off of it fast enough. I just didn't feel right to me at all, while some say its the easiest sled to ride. Kind of funny they said the Ski-Doo was the sled of choice when 4 out of 9 would buy the Cat.

...it's frequently the case (funny, or maybe not), but i still think that advertising dollars and established traditions/preferences play a big part in the selection process...seems to me that the individual rider comments as a whole gave a fair and balanced review of the sleds....but still, 4 out of 9 ?....

 

[cpa]

...it's frequently the case (funny, or maybe not), but i still think that advertising dollars and established traditions/preferences play a big part in the selection process..

Can't bite the hand that feeds you. Kind of like Brett saying for years how awful the Ski Doo is until they show him the money. Now they are the best sled in the world.....just ask him

 

[Sled208]

Can't bite the hand that feeds you. Kind of like Brett saying for years how awful the Ski Doo is until they show him the money. Now they are the best sled in the world.....just ask him

And he did too!! He made fun of Skidoo specifically when i rode with him a few years ago

 

[kidwoo]

And he did too!! He made fun of Skidoo specifically when i rode with him a few years ago

Probably because skidoos sucked a few years ago.

 

[Arctic Thunder]

Probably because skidoos sucked a few years ago.

Sorry but I don't think they are much different today then they were in 08. Sure they made it as narrow as a scorpion super stinger, figured out how to make the a$$ end of the sled sloppy and loose, but is it really any different. I think not.

Thunder

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Anyone else read the snowest deep powder challenge article? I found it VERY INTERESTING that 4 out of the 9 riders would purchase a 800 Cat pc if they were to buy a 2013 800cc mountain sled. 3 said they'd buy a Skidoo and 2 would buy the Polaris!!! several test riders commented about the Cat being the best at getting on top of the snow which i was surprised by because a common complaint on here is "trenching" I also found it interesting that the body of the Cat is only 1/2"wider than the Polaris!! Someone on here is pretty fired up about making the body skinnier???

Get your tape and out and measure yourself, this is why Snowest mag has gone to chit, all about propaganda and no real facts, just think when the pro came out they chose the XP, WTF (I haven't read it since, complete BS)

I've also said for 95-98% of riders the cat is the best sled, it gets on the snow really quick if setup right but not as fast as a well setup pro.

 

[Xrider]

All 3 sleds rip up the powder. I'm getting a doo cuz we don't have a cat dealer. I really like the Cat though.

 

[backcountryislife]

Sorry but I don't think they are much different today then they were in 08. Sure they made it as narrow as a scorpion super stinger, figured out how to make the a$$ end of the sled sloppy and loose, but is it really any different. I think not.

Thunder

I've hated every doo I've ever ridden since 2003, and rode a 13 this weekend... and now I'm buying one.

All I can say is you need to ride one, and it needs to have the swaybar off.

I HATE skidoos, I think the rev is a POS, I think the XP is a POS, I think they're pitiful trail sleds that don't belong in the mountains aside from the wider track... but the 13 handles nothing like any rev or XP I've ridden before.

It's without question easier to pull over & maintain a sidehill than the cat, heck, it was easier to maintain technical lines than my M... and I've got 4 years on essentially the exact same sled, I'd say I've got that chassis pretty dialed.

I've never even considered buying a doo before, and after riding it... whole new ballgame. As much as I was disappointed with the PC, I was blown away with the XM. Leave the swaybar on though, and it turns back into a doo

You've just got to ride one. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually excited to sell my M & get the XM.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3330697#post3330697

Couldn't take so I started it

 

[1rarel78]

If that doo motor lasts 2k with real rideing, I'd be surprised. Seen it to many times and experienced it myself.

 

[GlennRMK]

I've hated every doo I've ever ridden since 2003, and rode a 13 this weekend... and now I'm buying one.

All I can say is you need to ride one, and it needs to have the swaybar off.

I HATE skidoos, I think the rev is a POS, I think the XP is a POS, I think they're pitiful trail sleds that don't belong in the mountains aside from the wider track... but the 13 handles nothing like any rev or XP I've ridden before.

It's without question easier to pull over & maintain a sidehill than the cat, heck, it was easier to maintain technical lines than my M... and I've got 4 years on essentially the exact same sled, I'd say I've got that chassis pretty dialed.

I've never even considered buying a doo before, and after riding it... whole new ballgame. As much as I was disappointed with the PC, I was blown away with the XM. Leave the swaybar on though, and it turns back into a doo

You've just got to ride one. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually excited to sell my M & get the XM.

Interesting report. I gotta ride one and see how they are.

I agree with everything you said. I hated the REV and the XP.

What about the goofy lay down steering? The XM still has it doesn't it? You don't mind it? I really think they need a vertical post on those.

Are you going to get the 146? That would probably be the direction I would lean if I was going to ride a Doo.

 

[backcountryislife]

If that doo motor lasts 2k with real rideing, I'd be surprised. Seen it to many times and experienced it myself.

It seems like around here guys are getting well beyond that in more recent machines. Pre 2010 I'd agree 100% though. Still better than a poo though

Glenn, yeah going for a 146. Dealer has one coming and I'm demoing it and a 13 cat at the same time.

I don't know what changed, but the steering is different from the 11's and 12's I've TRIED to ride... it feels just slightly off vertical. I only noticed that it wasn't straight vertical when I would swap to the cat. The 12's I've ridden with the 36" arms fell over... but I had zero confidence riding them.., just felt award as he!!, this was totally different.

And yeah, 146 has the float of the 153, no reason to go longer than that IMO.

Sent from my A200 using Tapatalk 2

 

[m8magicandmystery]

I've hated every doo I've ever ridden since 2003, and rode a 13 this weekend... and now I'm buying one.

All I can say is you need to ride one, and it needs to have the swaybar off.

I HATE skidoos, I think the rev is a POS, I think the XP is a POS, I think they're pitiful trail sleds that don't belong in the mountains aside from the wider track... but the 13 handles nothing like any rev or XP I've ridden before.

It's without question easier to pull over & maintain a sidehill than the cat, heck, it was easier to maintain technical lines than my M... and I've got 4 years on essentially the exact same sled, I'd say I've got that chassis pretty dialed.

I've never even considered buying a doo before, and after riding it... whole new ballgame. As much as I was disappointed with the PC, I was blown away with the XM. Leave the swaybar on though, and it turns back into a doo

You've just got to ride one. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually excited to sell my M & get the XM.

wow..awesome your so hepped on this...is the T motion going to be ok for your air time or do you suspect you may have to beef it up on the brackets a tad..??