How good are the skis on the 2010 M Series Sleds?

[Frostbite]

I am thinking about upgrading the stock skis on my 2009 M8 Sno Pro for next season.

I'm wondering if going to the 2010 M series skis that are wider with a deeper keel may be a good way to go? Those of you that have ridden the 2010 M sleds, did you notice a difference in the skis between the new skis and previous Arctic Cat powder skis? The price seems pretty good on the 2010 skis.

I have read an awful lot about what skis people seem to think work and do not work on the M series sleds.

Here's my brief summation based on what I have read on the other ski options.

It seems the MODS skis are a big favorite of those who seem to have tried many ski variations on the M sleds. They aren't pretty but, they work well.

The Powder Pros sound like they are the best "all around" skis but, can be overly aggressive on the trails.

The Simmons Gen I skis are popular but often hard to steer and the Gen II are also popular with some for the float they provide but, some say the "clown shoes" can be hard to lay over and can hinder boondocking in tight trees.

The Slydog skis look like a million bucks but, I certainly haven't read of very many people recommending them.

The USI skis with the adjustable keel seem well liked by some and sound like a good idea but, I have to wonder about the float with their fairly narrow width and how they'd hold up with a bolt on rudder?

How do the new 2010 Arctic Cat Mountain Skis compare to the other mountain ski options?

 

[HiWaYman92]

I went through the same dilemma. I haven't been impressed with my stock 08 M skis. It seems in heavy snow when sidehilling uphill or downhill they want to bend all the way up to the bumper. My uncle has slydogs, and she said that they were good in the powder, but very unpredictable on the trail. No one really complains about Powder Pros. Good skis. (They now make them in white, if you are into that...) I just ordered C&A Pro XT's. They are a very aggressive ski with a very deep keel, and 7'' wide. I like the aggressiveness, but we will have to see how much arm torque they require on the trail...

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I went through the same dilemma. I haven't been impressed with my stock 08 M skis. It seems in heavy snow when sidehilling uphill or downhill they want to bend all the way up to the bumper. My uncle has slydogs, and she said that they were good in the powder, but very unpredictable on the trail. No one really complains about Powder Pros. Good skis. (They now make them in white, if you are into that...) I just ordered C&A Pro XT's. They are a very aggressive ski with a very deep keel, and 7'' wide. I like the aggressiveness, but we will have to see how much arm torque they require on the trail...

Uhmmmm??



How much wider are they.

 

[Dam Dave]

I heard they are the same ski the HCR came with year, all M sleds get them in 2010, just what I read some where.

I have Sly Dogs and loved them every where until it got warm out, they dont like spring snow, but I haven't found a good spring snow ski yet, I had Simmons Gen 1 but as you said they are hard to steer on the M, I snow checked a 2010 M8 SP so I will find out I guess

 

[WyoBoy1000]

the gen II seem to work really good on the trail and all snow conditions as far as steering, and they flex well on bumps, the only thing I don't like is the don't get up one edge as well in the hard stuff and cause a teetering effect I think I will build a new mount and move them in so that they are no wider than the stockers outside to outside and see what I think, but the 09 and older stockers are junk in my opinion.

 

[Frostbite]

Two things jump out at me from the repsonses.

1. Yes, if the Simmons Gen II skis had all that extra ski on the inside of the spindle, as long as the additional ski width in this area didn't create a disturbance of the snow for the track and hurt track perfomance, on the other hand, maybe the wide skis could pack down the snow for the track and make tracks work better? That would be great.

2. The Carl's cycle mod of trimming off a portion on the rear of the Powder Pro skis I guess really helps. I may be wrong but, isn't the mod supposed to help the sled be able to cut into a hillside easier? I wonder if this type of mod could/should be applied to other skis? Can you imagine Simmon's skis with such a mod?

 

[savage]

Any wider ski would be superior in powder to the old "trail" ski that AC supplied.

AC gets smarter every year, perhaps one day the AMP manufacturers will be hurting...

 

[akmc800]

The powerhouds are good for sidehilling and powder, pretty iffy haulin' *** on crusty snow.

 

[Frostbite]

So, are the 2010 skis really just 2009 HCR skis?

If that's the case, there are plenty of folks on here that bought 2009 HCRs. Did the skis work well on your 2009 HCRs?

How much wider and deeper are the 2010 skis than the previous skis?

 

[Ihntdux]

Ive got a set of the C&A Pro Xt and love em. They are stiff year round, floatation is great and they are very strong. On the trail they handle a little tough with the 1 1/2 deep keel but its worth it, just give her alittle more throttle and get the ski's off the ground

 

[Woody67]

the 2010 skis scheduled to be on the 2010 M's are not going to be production. According to the engineering team at the dealer show they changed their minds at the last minute. Did not have the overall performance they said. The HCR deep keel skis are different than what the 2010 skis were going to be. The 2010 Ms according to Cat engineers will be the same as 09. HCR will have the deep keel like in 09. I use powder pros and like them do not think they are overly agressive on the trail. I don't have them in the most aggesive mounting. Have heard some people really like the SLT on them too.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

the 2010 skis scheduled to be on the 2010 M's are not going to be production. According to the engineering team at the dealer show they changed their minds at the last minute. Did not have the overall performance they said. The HCR deep keel skis are different than what the 2010 skis were going to be. The 2010 Ms according to Cat engineers will be the same as 09. HCR will have the deep keel like in 09. I use powder pros and like them do not think they are overly agressive on the trail. I don't have them in the most aggesive mounting. Have heard some people really like the SLT on them too.

this is the kind of chit I tried to warn people about that would go ride a 2010 demo and think it was the cat a$$, and then go snow check one, they will not get the same sled, its been this way for years and it pi$$es me off.

 

[diggerdown]

this is the kind of chit I tried to warn people about that would go ride a 2010 demo and think it was the cat a$$, and then go snow check one, they will not get the same sled, its been this way for years and it pi$$es me off.

So after testing a new ski, the engineers did not like the way it performed and decided to go with a ski that they knew worked, and you are mad about it? Everyone should know by now that a proto-type sled is just that! A proto-type.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

first off the stockers are junk, but lighter than my gen II's. If they are worse I don't mind them removing them. My point is, If I test a sled and get talked into snowchecking one I expect to get what I tested, truth be told there will be some thing that didn't work removed and some that did work removed as well. So if you snowcheck one you may not be getting what you thought you where, false advertising if you ask me. and I don't see how they wouldn't work better than the old ones even a little.

 

[Frostbite]

So, the question I asked in the post is now moot?

I see skis that look like the new ones in the online 2010 Arctic Cat accesory catalog. Maybe they just won't become available? Maybe they are still the same old ski as last year?

If Arctic Cat is not going to use the wider/deeper keeled ski on the 2010 models, then unfortunately we are back to the same old question of, what are the best skis for these sleds?

 

[HiWaYman92]

AC also makes a wider ski that comes on the bearcat. Pretty wide like a powder pro, but saddleless like a cat ski. I think they are pretty reasonably priced... I have seen a few people put them on, I think you can get them in 6.5'' and 8'' wide....

 

[Frostbite]

I have been researching the USI X2 Triple Threat skis as well.

I know they are relatively new but does anyone have any input on these skis?

 

[Samurai]

This isn't like a engine enhancement question were H.P. and torque are your general bench mark. Like I said before to you in your other ski thread. Skis qaulity can only be determined by the RIDER. Everyone's style, likes and dislikes will result in a different opinion. What every RIDER wants and does not want in a ski is different.
If skis were a simple issue, why do we have so many CHOICES. Because everyone wants something different for their stlye if riding.
Even if someone says I'am a boondocker or I'am a trail rider or I'am a climber and says this ski works great for me, it really doesn't mean anything. Another person could then assume well I'am a boondocker too so thats the ski for me.........nnnaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh....it dont work that way.
Sorry you just have to open up the wallet and find your own way. I've tryed Simons 1, C.A's, currently running PP's...next year simons 2 for the start of the season.

Here's a example

Hey everyone was thinking about trying a Red head with green eyes heard alot of good things about girls like this. Whats everyone opinion are REDHEADS the best?

 

[goinover]

I have a friend with an HCR that works for a dealer and asked how he like the newer "improved" ski that came on the HCR, thinking he was running them, when in fact he had the standard M skiis on. His first comment was that after a few rides in mixed conditions they were great, at least as good or better than the standard skis, but was quick to say that the tips of the skiis had VERY little tip up to them and they acted as if they prefered to stay under the snow. Potentualy making them fairly interesting to ride in various snow conditions. The lack of frontal tip up was the only reason he ditched them. Having never ridden with a set of them Im not sure how they would be, but judging from his observations I would hesitate to buy a set of the HCR skiis anyway. The ski tip being shallow may be the reason for pulling the skiis from production, maybe, maybe not. Anyways my vote goes to moddified powder pros. My .02. Later

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Do you want to try my Gen II's,