How to make the 2011 PRO RMK 800 better

[racerjb]

I noticed on the Assault version they put the running board supports back on them.

 

[WestMont]

From the way I see it mountainhorse your 1/2 way to -30# but your right it will be costly to drop much if at all and maintain reliability.

F-Bomb, you need to be on your soap box more often.lol Good info. Thanks.

 

[winter brew]

Ayone actually had one on a scale yet?? 430 would be quite an accomplishment if it's truly 430. Remember the M7 was 410 before production.
I agree with the suggestion of narrower bars and Camo 2.5". Nice sled!

 

[mountainhorse]

COBE... good pick up on the venting.... the clutches on all the demos were pretty darn hot... they cant vent them from the factory and keep the noise levels down. I dont think the temps are a "clutching" issue... more along the lines of 150 hp in deep snow, constant load and not much vent....

Paul... the sleds, by my estimation ... what they claim... WE, as consumers, will not know the answer to this till they hit OUR scales.

Rob, The shocks in the sled .... standard monotube/IFP shocks very similar to the Fox Zero-Pro... Valved very well. To beat the stock shocks...you would need to go with a Float-2 with a spot on valve stack... IMO...no need for a EVOL-R or other EVOL-X unless you are a Hucking-fool. The swaybar in the the 2011 is identical in Diameter/length to the 2010-09, but in this chassis, 2011 feels better in comparison to my opinion of the same in a 2010-09 chassis.

Jack/Mark Will have an EVOL-X upgrade (along with, I'm sure, other float options) for this sled... for the Turbo guys though... Don't get your hopes up for the stock skid controlling ski lift and control on-power in big climbs. You will need something that couples for that if you still want to maintain decent ride/performance elsewhere.

 

[WingNutRacing]

yes

It is actually pretty amazing how much more leverage you can create by narrowing up the bars some. My old Fly bars had 2 inches cut off each side.

My old bar setup, which I really liked.

 

[mountainhorse]

WNR, I agree... I prefer straight bars, at about 30" wide TOTAL... hooks included.

The PRO Tapers are decent bars, but this is where personal pref comes in. I dont like the feel of the stock PT bars even on the current sleds.

 

[Avi8tormd]

Carls Cycle weighed it at 434 with oil and coolant.

 

[racerjb]

There is talk about the Assault coming with a 155 comp track. Anyone know much about this track? Is it close to a camo X. Just curious if the 155 comp track will be better than the 155 5.1 track for the Cascades where snow is heavier then the light fluffy Rocky Mountain snow.

 

[WingNutRacing]

no

They're comp tracks are bulky stiff buggers, not like either of the other tracks.

 

[2strokes_are_awesome]

I noticed on the Assault version they put the running board supports back on them.

I've seen them on several pro rmk's and they weren't on the assault rmk that I rode. I believe they will be a polaris accessory.

 

[racerjb]

They're comp tracks are bulky stiff buggers, not like either of the other tracks.

I kind of like that especially for a turbo setup. I know they are meant for the hillclimb circuit just wondering if anyone has ran one. Probably will go with a camo x or a powerclaw hcr.

I've seen them on several pro rmk's and they weren't on the assault rmk that I rode. I believe they will be a polaris accessory.

I thought it was recommended not to run those on the raw tunnels...

 

[sortastock]

They (design engineers) know there are aspects of improvement to be had and almost everyone has been proven already in the aftermarket field but it all has to be a balance of economics and performance to a WIDE range of user groups on the same vehicle. Physically doing such things are way more difficult then conceptionally arm chairing it.


Trust me gang...its all aspects of how our stuff works that makes Better Boards the best and there is absolutely no way that without an insert the factory can compete heads up. Exactly the same as the XP and the newer M series lineups that offer a similar evacation style footbed. THEY STILL DON"T COMPARE TO OUR PRODUCTS FOR EVACUATION OR TRACTION. They are VASTLY IMPROVED but not as good as they could or should be! As a consumer you should be irked...as a manufacturer who makes his eating money on this stuff I still get to have a job because they just can't get it as good! That is why nearly to the man, knowledgable guys that actively ride our products then compare to these newer designs still see and feel the value of Better Boards and have gone to the trouble and expense to add them.

How it works:

You need larger evacuation holes and that requires a heavier stronger foundation. You need a taller and more aggressive cleat in unison with the size of the evacation holes or the snow holds in place. How much or how difficult it is to get off our through depends completely on the water content and temperature of the snow in question. Having a 360* raise simply traps and actually increases build up with bonding. With the design weight limitations of the entire vehicle they have a limited option for the heft of the base metal. The strength value of what they have to work with limits the cleat height to under 3 mm and must be rolled to 90* or they would just bend. The angle of the cleat bend and the pattern of the cut are critical for actual traction even when there is some snow trapped between the rider and the boards. This is all stuff we learned by manufacturing and testing thousands and thousands of products for millions and millions of FIELD USE RIDDEN MILES. Polaris should have done you all a favor with this sled and contracted us to build those parts for them with our expertise and experience instead of trying an end around. By prepping the cutout base in the footbed and automated riveting or using their new nasa glue process this could have all be done super easily and you guys would get a superior performing brand name product on your expensive hot rods for the same money.

From a rider standpoint:
I am accustomed to how Better Boards feel and work and actually made a manuever and slipped off the side of the DEMO 2011 and up ended it. Other testers (name guys like Burandt, Adams, Struthers, ect ect) who've all have now ridden both made the same statement. Our conclusion was for the common guy who doesn't know there is a difference the new boards are an awesome and huge improvement. For us that do we'll just have to get Better Boards if we want the best for 2011..simple.
Braaaaaaaaaap

It surprises me that Polaris would knowingly put out an inferior board on a sled like this, where they did everything else they knew how to do to make us happy...

If there are no down sides to the better board, and nothing else stopping Polaris from putting a board like your together, why didn't they do it? If they can justify the cost of a carbon fiber bumper and tooling up a new snow flap for one model in their line up, I would think that starting with a heavier gauge aluminum running board would be no problem?

 

[WingNutRacing]

turbo track

I'd say go with the Camo X, if you're gonna turbo, my 270 horse Nytro seems to like it. Haven't heard good things about the Powerclaw's durability...

 

[berrynuts]

11 rmk

800 skidoo etek motor

 

[Scott]

Well, just remember, the etec 800 is a brand new motor. It's unproven thusfar in production models.

 

[2strokes_are_awesome]

I thought it was recommended not to run those on the raw tunnels...

That's what I thought too!

 

[Perk]

narrowed bars are defineatly rider preference. For some reason I like mine wider. I'd rather have them keep em wider so you guys that like em narrower can just cut em to fit your preference. It's a lot harder to add than it is to take away.

I ran a powerclaw on my sled for 1 ride last year. That was enough for me, put the CE back on and rode the next day. Same snow conditions, same lines, no comparison, the powerclaw just did not work in the deep stuff (at least on my sled). Funny though, you hear the exact opposite from most everyone else. This the first thread I have seen where others have chimed in that they did not like the powerclaw.

 

[sledhead_24_7]

Having ridden a 2010 M8 this year (and sold it) I can tell you that the Pclaw is NOT god's gift to tracks. That thing trenched like a beech and got walked all over by an XP any time the snow was soft. With a base it could hold it's own, but I sure wouldn't waste money on changing to one, unless my sled came with a 1" lug.

Finally someone who has some experience with that track, and was willing to share. Good job

 

[sledhead_24_7]

This is what I would have liked to see. For a good reliable stocker

1) fox evol R' all tha way around
2) go back to the 166 2.4" 2.52 pitch track( call me crazy but it works AWSOME)
3) Get rid of the "flat turning bars", they aim for the nut sack every time you are up by the foot stirup in the tight trees (ouch)
4) Won't ever happen.
Build a very very mountian specific sled, turbo, titanium, etc, you don't need a rmk, summit or m series in the mid west. Build a limited number of true mountain sleds, and sell only to mountain dealers. That way they could control warrenty issues and other problems. If Polaris did that I would buy one.

 

[Kestrel2126]

This is what I would have liked to see. For a good reliable stocker


4) Won't ever happen.
Build a very very mountian specific sled, turbo, titanium, etc, you don't need a rmk, summit or m series in the mid west. Build a limited number of true mountain sleds, and sell only to mountain dealers. That way they could control warrenty issues and other problems. If Polaris did that I would buy one.

Diamond-S, CMX, and myself all make the sled you just described, as well as a few others. (Diamond -S and CMX being the two largest, I just do a couple turn key sleds here and there) Be prepared to shell out a healthy sum. Just about to sell this years project for $40k. Just rode with Scott Stevens last weekend and his are fetching even more. Lol