Dragon RMK800 or SnoPro M8?

[retiredpop]

I just read the thread from last fall regarding Dragon D8 vs Cat M8 vs Skidoo XP. Now that the 2009 models have been ridden for a season I thought it would be nice to get the latest opinions on which performs better. I will be buying new sleds this year for my wife and myself and have narrowed the choice down to Cat or Polaris. We ride Polaris now but old technology sleds. Mainly interested in ride quality, ease of pulling over in deep snow, general handling both on and off trail. Which sled is best out of the box? Reliability is a key issue as well.

 

[Bkinz]

The Polaris is nice in the deep pow! My dad has an 09' 800 and I have a 08' 700, the diff. between the two is amazing. When I carve our whatever, I get lots of snow on the hood and in my face. Which is awesome, but it slows you down a little. The 09' doesn't really throw snow in your face very much with the new front end. I thought the new front end was just for looks and weight saving, but it truly did help with the flotation of the sled. I thought the 08' floated nice, but the 09' doesn't have the snow plow effect in the pow till you get around 3ft.
I would talk about Artic cat and all that I have seen and riden, but I don't really like them IMO.
Oh ya, we never had an issue with 800 either this year.
Brad

 

[pura vida]

both are very nice sleds. you would probably be very happy with either one. and more than likely most people with push the brand they are comfortable on and ride themselves. with that said i have two dragons and love the way they handle, easiest sled to ride IMO, but the m sled is the only other sled i can jump on and feel comfortable right away.

as far as reliability that is where it gets a little tricky. the 2010 cat motor is completely new so it is impossible to comment on reliability, although cat has always been as good as anyone. the new motor wouldn't keep me from buying one if that is what i wanted but then again i never like to buy the first year of anything. some people had issue with the dragon motor the last couple of years, others have not. polaris is doing another update that includes a head, pistons, and another reflash that "should" fix any issues but only time will tell. i've never had any issues with my dragon fwiw.

pv

 

[polaris dude]

you guys sound like you should get the dragons. There is no question that dragons have the best ride on trails, and they handle better too. Also, dragons are pretty darn reliable if your not doing anything crazy with it too.

The thing cat has more of is power

 

[winter brew]

D8 reliable??? Is that why Poo is working on the 3rd rendition of a "fix" for the '08's and '09's ?? Of those 2 choices, the Cat would be my pick....and yes, I had a '09 D8.

 

[IdahoDragon]

I'm a Polaris rider, 07 D7 RMK.
But I wouldn't buy the Polaris 800.
Yes, I think it handles better than the Cats, but I also think the Cat 800s (at least the ones through 09) are more reliable.
For my money, reliable is the key.

 

[Killerk]

Buy one of each and after a couple trips out you will end up on the one your wife likes least.
Then next year you can post up and give us your opinion on the 2 sleds.
I would buy the cat, but I think you will be happy with either choice.
Either choice is somewhat of a gamble being that the reparis has had issues and the "fix" is no where near proven, nor will it be till at least mid season.
And the cat has a new engine... Although it is just an improvement over the older mill.
If I were a betting man, my money would be on the 2010 cat for reliability vs the reparis.

 

[snowmobiler]

out of those choices,id get the wife a e start xp.lightweight,stable,smooth and a comfortable ride.

 

[AndrettiDog]

I have an 09 D8. Not a single problem (knock on wood). I think the problems were snow checked sleds. Later builds didn't see the voltage regulator issues. Polaris will have the mapping issue done by snow season to take care of the mid range lean.

 

[T&A1000]

I've spent some time on both and both are easy to ride. I personally like the feel of the cats better. As far as reliabikity, I would definately buy the cat.

 

[harf69]

i ride a cat but ihave spent time on the polaris and i know a few people that had sleds catch fire from wiring issues and with the update with the head and pistons on the polaris I would really look at a m8 before i made a choice i just found the m sled alot easier to ride but i here that the dragon is great for trail riding jmo

 

[XFIRE800]

Buy one of each and after a couple trips out you will end up on the one your wife likes least.
Then next year you can post up and give us your opinion on the 2 sleds.
I would buy the cat, but I think you will be happy with either choice.
Either choice is somewhat of a gamble being that the reparis has had issues and the "fix" is no where near proven, nor will it be till at least mid season.
And the cat has a new engine... Although it is just an improvement over the older mill.
If I were a betting man, my money would be on the 2010 cat for reliability vs the reparis.

That is a great idea, buy one of each and get a carry over of the one you liked more the next year, or at least have you and your wife ride each before you buy them.

 

[AndrettiDog]

i ride a cat but ihave spent time on the polaris and i know a few people that had sleds catch fire from wiring issues and with the update with the head and pistons on the polaris I would really look at a m8 before i made a choice i just found the m sled alot easier to ride but i here that the dragon is great for trail riding jmo

Wow! Sled caught on fire? Has anyone else heard of this? That seems like misleading information.

 

[pura vida]

haven't heard any catching fire but it could happen, just like it could happen to any other sled. saw it happen to a couple of doos a few years back. there were some issues with the poos, and some had major issues, but many people had no issues. i did everything i supposedly wasn't suppose to do to my 09 d8 and have had zero issue. still runs perfect. no scoring. checked it many times. but i will have the update done when they come in. again not to take anything away from those who had major issues but i don't think the issues weren't quite as bad as what the internet made it out to be. but when i was looking for a second sled, the only reason i went with the dragon was because i already had a lot of parts, knew the sleds, and had the clutching dialed in. the peripheral cost were much lower. the m sled would have been really nice, and the new one is going to be even better but honestly i didn't feel that much more power when i road the 2010 cats. but i was only on it for 30 min or so. not the best comparison. but i digress...

pv

 

[RidnHigh]

Ecu

Havnt seen one with my own eyes as far as flames and fire, but have seen yes lots of smoke and smells like a plastic fire. The ECU's have gone capoot on a few of them as well and yeah the top ends have all been recalled. So possibly misleading info, but just myop...ride with eight of them all together and we have only had one ecu go wrong and every other issue has been dealer oops's so yeah everybody knows there are some problems, just like every sled that is produced new or with changes, every manufacturer goes through it and fixes it. Try and ride both, thats the only way to choose...