First weekend on my 2010 M8

[HiWaYman92]

Put just over 100 miles on in the last two days, and wow am I impressed. Coming off of an 08 M1000 with a powerclaw and 30 pounds of weight savings, I didn't expect there to be much of a change. This new sled flat out rips!!! It is so flickable, so light feeling, and boy does it get up on the snow! I climbed stuff today that my 1000 couldn't touch. The weight savings is very noticable, even with the 23 pound stock suitcase muffler on it. The power is very linear, and pulls smoothly through the whole power band. It is not peaky like my 1000 was when the power valves kicked in. The fuel milage was at a minimum 1-2 less gallons used as compared to my 1000. The 09-10 style rear bumper helps in sidehilling too, and also lets the track dig deeper, and keeps it from hanging up on the running boards. The new seat is a little softer and wider than my old Boss highrise, and much more comfortable. Lots of storage inside of it too.

I rode with a buddy on an 08 M1000 with CPC clutching, Y pipe and can, and he couldn't keep up in the trees, and couldn't keep up in the steep either. I would have never believed it until I saw it for my own eyes. Very happy with my purchase!

My only complaints with the M right now are:
Running boards still hold a lot of snow, Sno eliminators are needed
Stock skis are unpredictable
Should come stock with side vents of some kind

Add ons planned:
Powder Pro skis
Side vents
HPS Can

Thats all it needs.... ride it!

 

[AaronBND]

Hey thanks for the update. So I assume you don't feel like you went backwards in power? I may just make it my next sled...................

Aaron

 

[HiWaYman92]

No, I really don't feel like I went backwards at all. I think the clutching is much better from stock, it pulls well all the way up the hill, and pulls hard all the way through the RPM range. It never bobbled or bogged once in 100 plus miles. It didn't put a whooping on my buddy's M1000, but it beat it... everywhere. He rode it and is putting his sled up for sale tomorrow...

 

[skimike]

I put a slp can on mine this week and there is a noticeable mid range power gain , I also put the tunnel flares/snow eliminators and so far the flares are my best mod , they work so good they really keep the snow off especially with the powder claw track cause that sob really slings the snow, nobody likes riding behind me

 

[dfinn]

What do you mean by the stock skis are unpredictable? I've only got 100 miles on mine so far but so far...I don't see why people hate the stockers so much.

 

[XFIRE800]

ride with aftermarket skis and you will see why they hate the stockers so much

 

[dfinn]

ride with aftermarket skis and you will see why they hate the stockers so much

$400 is a lot of coin to drop when I don't see an issue. Just wondering if I could get some info from people about what it is that the stockers don't do well enough for them?

 

[hatchers]

ride an M with the SLP skis and you will understand...

PM racinstation when you get sick of the clutching, it dont need much, but it makes a huge difference

 

[HiWaYman92]

Yes I agree, you need to ride with better skis to notice how bad the stock skis are. Some times they bite, some times they slide, just generally unpredictable as compared to my C and A XT's. The XT's were too agressive though, real shoulder builders, so I think Powder Pros will be the way to go. Rode with a 2010 XP 163 today, with a better rider than I. Like it or not, and believe it or not, I consistently outclimbed him on the pont and shoots. He even admitted it! I have put 173 miles on in three days. Fuel and oil economy are awesome as compared to my 1000. Yesterday I rode hard for 66 miles, and used 7.6 gallons of gas. Way better than the big bore. I can't express just how impressed I am in this sled!

 

[diggler]

awesome, thats exactly what i wanted to hear

 

[Dano702]

Great news , glad you like it. All i have heard all year is how sweet the new 8 is. This is just what Cat needed , the 2011 stuff is just fine with BNG.

 

[CO 2.0]

I just got out on a full day on my 2010 M8 as well. Coming off a 2009 Dragon 800 (1550 miles). A little comparison between the two, just my opinion...

I'd have to say that this thing is WAY more powerful than my Dragon ever was on its best day...and I haven't even fully broken in this M8 yet. Varied throttle the first day for 35 miles. Then gave it hell on Sat and now sits at 75 miles. Keeps getting more powerful the more miles I put on. Was pulling target rpms (8100) all day in every snow/terrain condition at 12K ft.

I can get out of down to uphill J-hook turns much better with this sled where the Dragon would barely have the power to pull itself out. The powerclaw track does hook up better than the 5.1. For just regular side to side turns boondocking the Dragon is a bit easier to bop around on but I have no issues with the M.

The M on sidehilling gets the win. I can hold a sidehill line much easier than the Dragon, which would want to fall back downhill. I also feel the M is much more stable than my Dragon was when jumping/landing.

Overall I'm happy with my purchase and glad I dropped my Dragon 8, which I had nothing but motor and clutching issues with. I needed something more reliable and hopefully I found it.

 

[summit-x]

yeah i would order powder pros, the stocks grab to much,.