Help - Dragon 800 155" or M8 Sno Pro 153" ?

[Frostbite]

I have been riding Yamahas for years. I had an Exciter, MSRX and still ride a modded RX-1M. I have been waiting for a long time (too long) for Yamaha to come out with a sled I'd be proud to ride in the mountains. The release of the 2010 models disappointed me greatly and I'm not waiting any longer to update. I'm really not interested in a turbo or a supercharger and the tunning issues that come with them. I am looking for a lightweight, flickable sled the boondocks amazingly.

I thought I wanted a Skidoo XP Summit X but after reading about all the clutch, belt and engine problems I ran away screaming. Now it's Polaris and Arctic Cat left standing. Yesterday I had a chance to do a demo ride the 2009M8 and M1000 Sno Pros. I liked the M8 much better and in fact I'm about ready to buy one.

There's one (maybe two) sleds standing between me and a new 2009 M8 Sno Pro. The Dragon 800 155" or 163" and the Assault.

I love the looks of the Assault but, I plan to use it for boondocking and some sane climbing. The wide ski stance, stiff durometer track and lack of a mountain bar drive me away. It wasn't designed as a boondcoker but I bet it could be made into a fine one.

The Dragon 800 is really the focus of this post. The Cat guys are giddy I'm thinking very seriously of buying a Cat (I have always called them ditch pickles). I really need to ride a Dragon 800 in the worst way before I buy anything.

I'm sure the M8 and the D8 are both fine sleds but, please tell me why a Dragon 800 should be my new ride.

Thanks

 

[Scotford]

The M8 seat bites..... you would need a boss seat for sure, the poweer in the M8 is just not there.... the 09 D8,,,, has the seat, handling,,,, the dam thing is to flickable at times,, and once set up right the D8, spits out the M8 and even the XP's, in certain conditions..... If I was you try the 09 D8... i donot think you will be dissapointed and think you will buy the D8, before the M8.....

anyways you asked and that is just my opinion....

 

[prox18]

I ride a D8 163 and like it just fine oh mine is a mod of sorts BD turbo but I rode a stocker last year and it did fine.I'm sure the cat is good also, what I'd be more concerned with are local dealers.I don't mean just for sales but for set up and the big one support.The dealer I deal with is great on both counts and my reason for sticking with the polaris. If the dealer suport and prices are compatable then I'd go with what you like best. I feel both sleds are a good choice and fairly close.Good luck

 

[skibreeze]

I'd say look at the dealers around you. I have a dragon and a buddy just bought an M8 and both feel very, very similar. It seems that the cat might have fewer issues overall, but I think that you'd be happy either way.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks, I have signed up at both local (and some not so local) Polaris dealers to get a ride on the new Dragons but, the Cat dealer is the only one that has called so far. The Skidoo dealer hasn't ponied up yet either.

The reason Skidoo slipped from my list is engine reliability. Does Polaris have any problems with their engine reliability? Coming off a fourstroke with no problems for 7 seasons I certainly don't want to migrate to an unreliable engine.

On the showroom floor, the standard RMK almost seems to fit me better than the Dragon. Is there any substance to that and are the Dragons worth the extra money?

Thanks again

Frosty

 

[crf118r]

Dragon!!

 

[Watson777]

Polaris, with out question. I hate the way A/cats feel. They are not comfortable and the Poo is way easier to ride

 

[SNOW JW]

I ride Polaris so I have a feel for it here is my take bolth are boosted.


M8 I like how low the sled feels on a side hill it seems to hunker down and stick to the hill. With that said I also don't like the seat even with a Boss it needs to be higher. The ride is not like a Dragon Power is not as snapy but again we were on boost and I was 2lbs higher on my boost than he was.

Skis were not as good

Dragon I love everything about it minus I wished the motor was down in the sled more or something?? Almost feels like a lifted sled at times kinda like a truck.

Can't go wrong with bolth sleds. The best part about bolth of them just been gas and go.

 

[SLED2SHRED]

I have an 08 M8 and love it. Definately dealer setup is a big issue but I just got on a slp pipe and bdx intake and the M8 rocks now. I always liked the Polaris but check the posts on some of the problems. I tried simmons skis and I like better than Powder Pros on the M8.

 

[skibreeze]

Polaris, with out question. I hate the way A/cats feel. They are not comfortable and the Poo is way easier to ride

I've got to say that you have a very jaded opinion here. I have an 08 Dragon and rode an 09 M8 back to back and "not comfortable" doesn't work as it feels so close to the Polaris. BTW I've never liked cat's because of the neon colors and no decent dealers around here, but the new M8 is a great sled.

I also love the stock boards and fox floats on th M.

 

[wasatchrider]

cant go wrong either way it took a few days to get used to the dragon coming off the m7. the m8 needs boss seat the dragon needs boogie wheels but the rmk comes with them.

 

[Frostbite]

Great info guys!

I know sleds are a very personal item. We put a lot of time and effort into our sleds to make them measure up when out with our riding buds. Sometimes another sled isn't necassarily better but, the tuner of the sled was better or he had more money into mods than the next guy.

Both sleds sound like they are solid, each with benefits of their own.

So you'd recommend a Dragon 800?

155" OR 163"?

 

[akhammer]

The M8 seat bites..... you would need a boss seat for sure, the poweer in the M8 is just not there.... the 09 D8,,,, has the seat, handling,,,, the dam thing is to flickable at times,, and once set up right the D8, spits out the M8 and even the XP's, in certain conditions..... If I was you try the 09 D8... i donot think you will be dissapointed and think you will buy the D8, before the M8.....

anyways you asked and that is just my opinion....

The polaris is a piece of s h i t. I sold my 08 xp for a assault because it had too many problems. Well my assault had 18.8 miles on it and blew the bearing out of the pto side. not to mention all of the silicon you have to use just to keep the snow out of the intake. That 800 CFI is dog too, I read a dyno and it really puts out 147 hp and has bad bogging.

 

[spudy]

I have an 09 D8 and my wife has an 09 M8, so we do a lot of comparison. Neither of us has has ANY problems with either one, they are both stock. Don't let ANYONE tell you the M8 is underpowered, if they say that, then they obviously have NOT ridden an 09. Side by side the M will take the Dragon by about half a sled length. The steering effort on the M is quite a bit harder than the D. It will take you a few minutes to adjust to riding each one, but once you do they are both extreemly easy to ride. I find you need to stand a little further back on the M than the D.

Everything said, I LOVE my Dragon and my wife loves her M, but I don't think either of us would be too upset to ride the other one's sled. By the way they are both 162 and 163's.

Shane

 

[Frostbite]

Shane, great review.

If you had to chose one to ride with Chris Burant or a 40 mile cross country boondocking day. Which sled would you take?

Would you prefer a 153" or a 155" track on most days?

 

[Flit-e]

I like my dragon, i enjoyed a 08 m8 i rode a few weekends ago...last weekend i rode a 163 dragon..and for track length i really didnt notice that much difference between my 155 and the 163. i would say that you could go 163 and not regret the decision but you cant get the 163 in the standard rmk so that would force you to get a dragon. I cant tell you how the track size is different on the m's.

if you get a polaris they have some minor issues....that can turn into major issues and burn your motor down. you have to seal the headlight and cover the adjuster and a possible bog...that i have not seen nor experienced.

really what color of sled do you want??

 

[Frostbite]

I'm not a racist by any stretch but, I would like a white sled this time around. Once the decals are removed I'll have a clean slate to put Yamaha blue decals so I don't have to buy new riding gear.

Thanks for the advice.

Frosty

 

[CO 2.0]

I have more than enough seat time this year on both the 09 M8 HCR 153 and the 09 D8 155. I like the dragon much better for boondocking and throws J-hook turns easier. The HCR lands jumps better. The dragon was outclimbing the HCR yesterday on long uphill climbs in 2ft of pow, every single up hill pull. I cannot tell you how much fun the Dragon is to ride. The HCR is a great sled too and light years ahead of the Edge I was riding last year... Other than jumping and sucking up the whoops on the trail I just feel more comfortable on the Dragon in every other aspect of riding.

 

[Frostbite]

CO 2.0 thanks for the info. But..............................................................

Wouldn't the HCR and the Assault be a much more fair comparison?

I would think a M8 Sno Pro 162" would be much more comparable to a Dragon than the HCR.

I may be wrong but, I would think one would expect a Dragon to outclimb a HCR in the deep stuff.

 

[CO 2.0]

I don't think so because the HCR is lighter than the regular M8, and still has the 153" powerclaw track (my Dragon is 155). The only real difference is in the suspension. The wider ski stance and A-arms make it harder to get the HCR on its side but is more stable landing jumps (less tipsy). I think climbing wise the HCR should actually outclimb the M8... don't see why it wouldn't. You just need to get on a Dragon and feel the difference for yourself. It's really user preference. Some guys coming off the edge chassis like I did last year feel more comfortable on a M chassis. I just am not one of those people, and I am definitely not brand loyal.