help me decide on a new sled

[tbeaton]

so i'm keeping my 12 pro, no question about it, i love the sled. but the issue is which 13 to buy? i'm getting rid of my wifes xp and she will get to ride which ever sled she wants. right now i'm trying to decide between a 13 pro 155 800 or a 13 pc8 sno pro. i thought i had my mind made up with the pc8, thinking it might be a better sled for my wife to ride on and off the trails. the cooling, switch placement, wider boards and adjustable riser are the benefits i see for her with the pc8. now like i said i love the pro, would love to get into the 13 for myself and give the wife the 12. i do worry about her having to deal with the cooling, i may have to drop the bars down a bit so she is comfortable. while we don't ride at night to much, the placement of the switches on the pro could be a draw back for her.

then there is the issue of price and spare parts. having 2 pro's makes spare belts, parts and oil much easier. with the 13 pro all i need is a skid plate, another goggle bag, clutch weights for low altitude and a new larger bag for her on the 12. if i buy the pc8 i need new skis, front bumper, front and rear skid, goggle bag, gas rack, tunnel bag and possibly an exhaust can and some low altitude clutch kit that my dealer says will be $200.

pricing:

11,200 for the pro
11,100-11,400 for the pc8 depending on where i go. the $11,400 is a better dealer who will throw in a spare belt.

i wanted to try the pc8 this year along side my pro to see what i like, but i'm struggling to make this decision and i only have a limited amount of time before snocheck is over. it just seems like i'm going to end up spending more money on the pc8 than i really want to, but some of that stuff needs to be done, thier stock skis such, i love my grippers.

 

[Murph]

My experience, my opinion--- not based on superiority/ inferiority of the other brands-- since you are keeping your Pro, buy another Pro.

We have three Pro's-- not because we are brand loyal, but we both love the chassis. The added benefit is all spares, consumables, etc are the same. We can jump on any of the sleds and they are familiar.

My GF is only 5'2", 115 lbs-- she rides with the stock Pro Tapers, same as I do at 6'. And she rides it.... Not just cruising trails (she hates trails)

This is her mid downhill U-turn

 

[tbeaton]

My experience, my opinion--- not based on superiority/ inferiority of the other brands-- since you are keeping your Pro, buy another Pro.

We have three Pro's-- not because we are brand loyal, but we both love the chassis. The added benefit is all spares, consumables, etc are the same. We can jump on any of the sleds and they are familiar.

My GF is only 5'2", 115 lbs-- she rides with the stock Pro Tapers, same as I do at 6'. And she rides it.... Not just cruising trails (she hates trails)

my wife is just getting into back country as we live in MA and ride in NH & ME, so trails are the primary riding here. shes 5'-4" or so, like 130. the trails and the snow out here could be the issue with cooling. i found myself getting up there in temp on the trails some times. when its just her and i we stay on the trails or logging roads, but when the other guys are around we go off trail, if she gets stuck to bad or i do, i'm afraid her and i won't be able to get out if its just the 2 of us.

 

[Murph]

We ride by ourselves a lot. We like riding with others too, but some of our best pow days have been by ourselves.

Last year, after a solid week of Tahoe dumping (over 12 feet fell) we both got hopelessly stuck in the flats and the sleds were vertical..... Took us hours to get out, back to the truck well after dark, about 10:30pm or so, clothes were frozen and it was still snowing.....

Bottom line you are on Pros, you can usually get them out pretty easy. If not, leave one behind, and double to safety. Go back later and get the other one.

 

[tbeaton]

We ride by ourselves a lot. We like riding with others too, but some of our best pow days have been by ourselves.

Last year, after a solid week of Tahoe dumping (over 12 feet fell) we both got hopelessly stuck in the flats and the sleds were vertical..... Took us hours to get out, back to the truck well after dark, about 10:30pm or so, clothes were frozen and it was still snowing.....

Bottom line you are on Pros, you can usually get them out pretty easy. If not, leave one behind, and double to safety. Go back later and get the other one.

as i was typing my response i was thinking about all the times i got stuck this year and how many times i got it out myself. prob about 50/50, as the season wore on i figured out easier ways to get it unstuck, mostly just positioning of the sled. i will be alot less worried with her on the pro that i am with her on her xp. how does your gf feel about the controls on the pro? i'm sure you guys don't have issues with cooling?

 

[Super Sled]

Maybe get her a standard RMK, not the Pro RMK. Basically the same sled but has more cooling. The shocks aren't quite as good, but they work just fine. Pretty much the same sled other than a few things.

 

[tbeaton]

Maybe get her a standard RMK, not the Pro RMK. Basically the same sled but has more cooling. The shocks aren't quite as good, but they work just fine. Pretty much the same sled other than a few things.

thought about that, but if i'm gunna buy a new rmk its going to be a pro for me and she will ride the 12. my buddy has a 12 standard and if they were close in mileage or $$$ i would talk to him about trading sleds.

 

[06redrevx]

Maybe get her a standard RMK, not the Pro RMK. Basically the same sled but has more cooling. The shocks aren't quite as good, but they work just fine. Pretty much the same sled other than a few things.

And lower bars too- good call

 

[Murph]

how does your gf feel about the controls on the pro? i'm sure you guys don't have issues with cooling?

Controls, she's fine with them. She rides a Ducati Monster in the summer.

Cooling.... She knows the deal temp gauge is always on with the RPM. Scratchers down and hammer the throttle occasionally to cool the cylinders with fuel and oil and also to spin the track and throw snow and ice at the coolers.

 

[Jaynelson]

If I were buying a new sled for my GF it would be a Pro 600 155".....being 100lbs lighter than me, she really doesn't need the extra hp and maintenence that comes with the 800 motors. The 600's just seem to be easier on clutches, belts, motors, chaincases, etc, etc. As per the forums, you just don't see the same problems with the smaller engines than the 800's. Although I don't have any issues keeping my pro cool, I would consider the standard model with the additional cooling to have for a wife/buddy sled.

Also like the idea of having 2 of 1 brand for the reasons above of parts sharing and common knowledge.

 

[savagecanuck]

If I were buying a new sled for my GF it would be a Pro 600 155".....being 100lbs lighter than me, she really doesn't need the extra hp and maintenence that comes with the 800 motors. The 600's just seem to be easier on clutches, belts, motors, chaincases, etc, etc. As per the forums, you just don't see the same problems with the smaller engines than the 800's. Although I don't have any issues keeping my pro cool, I would consider the standard model with the additional cooling to have for a wife/buddy sled.

Also like the idea of having 2 of 1 brand for the reasons above of parts sharing and common knowledge.

Yes I would do the same but ad Electric start.You have to be thinking of youe wife GF not youself of your headed for trouble.

 

[knifedge]

--Massachusets? Why even consider a 155. Get the snopro XF or at most the xf high country that has a 141x 2.25 power claw track that will not stop on icy trails. A 141 x 1.5 with studs and trail suspension would be the way to go. --For those New England "powder days" you could do a quick track swap to the power claw or whatever.

-- I grew up over there, are you seriously thinking about getting a sled with a 153 x 2.6 power claw?

-Any crossover with a 141 or 144 and 1.5 lug with studs would be safe on the ice and adequate in the rain, sleet, ice, and snow riding conditions out there.

-Comparo-

cooling - Cat
power - Cat
suspension - Cat
weight difference - "relatively insignificant" when riding in 6 inches of fresh powder and then it rains the next day.
skis - stock works fine for out there
exhaust - change it out, why not and drop around 15 lbs, but not necessary


--Cat XF Sno Pro 800 with a 141 x 1.5 studded track

--Cat XF High Country with a 141 x 2.25 Power Claw (no studs available)

--Polaris Assault Switchback 800 with 144 x 1.3 studded track

--Polaris Switchback 600 with 136 x 1.25 studded track

--Polaris Switchback 800 with 136 x 1.25 studded track

 

[pura vida]

you are in the polaris section so you are not to get a majority of responses pushing the pro. with that said i don't think i would buy a new cat just b/c of the issues they had this year. if i was you i would do one of two things. go with the 600 pro or the new xm from doo. that are definitely advantages to have two of the same brand sled but what fun is that... seriourly though, the xm is a really nice sled and i would have one to go along with my 13 pro if i wasn't building a house this summer. if you went with the 600 and decided you need more hp, you could always do a carl's 660 setup and have a sled that WAY over performs. bullet proof and will hand with any 800 out there.

pv

 

[tbeaton]

--Massachusets? Why even consider a 155. Get the snopro XF or at most the xf high country that has a 141x 2.25 power claw track that will not stop on icy trails. A 141 x 1.5 with studs and trail suspension would be the way to go. --For those New England "powder days" you could do a quick track swap to the power claw or whatever.

-- I grew up over there, are you seriously thinking about getting a sled with a 153 x 2.6 power claw?

-Any crossover with a 141 or 144 and 1.5 lug with studs would be safe on the ice and adequate in the rain, sleet, ice, and snow riding conditions out there.

-Comparo-

cooling - Cat
power - Cat
suspension - Cat
weight difference - "relatively insignificant" when riding in 6 inches of fresh powder and then it rains the next day.
skis - stock works fine for out there
exhaust - change it out, why not and drop around 15 lbs, but not necessary


--Cat XF Sno Pro 800 with a 141 x 1.5 studded track

--Cat XF High Country with a 141 x 2.25 Power Claw (no studs available)

--Polaris Assault Switchback 800 with 144 x 1.3 studded track

--Polaris Switchback 600 with 136 x 1.25 studded track

--Polaris Switchback 800 with 136 x 1.25 studded track

i/she has a 800 etec back country x right now, and while you may think that you can get around with the shorter tracks, you can't get as far as you can with the 155's. we spend half our day digging out guys on gades. the trees are so thick out here that you need to be able to take things slowly, with the gades, xf's or any cross over sled you end up getting stuck more often then not. you would be surprised how many guys are going full out mountain sleds here. most of the time up in northern nh they get more snow than the get sleet or rain, this year not so much, but it was a **** year in most places. the bcx was my sled last year and i bought the rmk this year and won't look back, i thought guys that ran 155's in NE were crazy, until i got on one and rode it. if you would have asked me this 2 years ago i would have said a 137" is all you need, i was wrong.

 

[tbeaton]

you are in the polaris section so you are not to get a majority of responses pushing the pro. with that said i don't think i would buy a new cat just b/c of the issues they had this year. if i was you i would do one of two things. go with the 600 pro or the new xm from doo. that are definitely advantages to have two of the same brand sled but what fun is that... seriourly though, the xm is a really nice sled and i would have one to go along with my 13 pro if i wasn't building a house this summer. if you went with the 600 and decided you need more hp, you could always do a carl's 660 setup and have a sled that WAY over performs. bullet proof and will hand with any 800 out there.

pv

i think i'm going to let my die hard doo buddies try them out for 13. get a little seat time on thier machines before i go back to being a doo owner. if i'm going to upgrade to a model year 13 i want it to be my sled, i'm the one that pays for them, so i'm going to be selfish and buy one for me. not to mention i will get the 4 year warranty that i don't have on the 12, so i won't worry so much about getting high up in the mileage.

 

[knifedge]

--A fair amount of guys out west run 141-144 tracks in the deep stuff. Just saying -- whatever works-- I suppose a longer deep lug track would work better uphill in heavy timber

 

[Pro-8250]

my wife is just getting into back country as we live in MA and ride in NH & ME, so trails are the primary riding here. shes 5'-4" or so, like 130. the trails and the snow out here could be the issue with cooling. i found myself getting up there in temp on the trails some times. when its just her and i we stay on the trails or logging roads, but when the other guys are around we go off trail, if she gets stuck to bad or i do, i'm afraid her and i won't be able to get out if its just the 2 of us.

As far as heating up, the scratchers work great! 125 all day on trails and no need for them in the deep snow.
I am confused as to why you would want another Pro RMK for mainly trail riding.

 

[tbeaton]

thought about that, but if i'm gunna buy a new rmk its going to be a pro for me and she will ride the 12. my buddy has a 12 standard and if they were close in mileage or $$$ i would talk to him about trading sleds.

really, a bad rep for this comment, get a life guy.

 

[yooper 8]

Not brand loyal at all...... I am switching from Doo to Poo this year. I have had a XP summit for 4 years, and the Pro is flat out funner to ride. I rode a 12 pc 800 enough this year to know I would not even consider the Cat. I am selling my wifes 600 E-tec Summit XP and getting her a 2013 Pro 155 800 too. Want two sleds from the same company for parts and familiarity for me when I break mine and have to steal hers! She struggles laying the XP over. I think she will love the Pro RMK.

 

[turboless terry]

really, a bad rep for this comment, get a life guy.

I was wondering the same thing. Don't let it get you down. The bad rep button is a way for people, who don't know anything, to contribute.