Okay guys bear with me-
I don’t want to start this thread to sound negative or complain. My purpose for this is for others who have had engine problems to chime in and let “Mother Polaris” be reminded of problems that they know they have but won’t address. If you haven’t had problems don’t accuse those of us who have of trying to stir the pot and give the Pro a tarnished image. That’s not what I want- The chassis is great it needs a powertrain to compliment it and I’m calling Polaris out to give us one. So here’s my rant if you want to read. From 1996 to now my dad, brother and me all together have owned combined- 96 500 Sportsman, 98 500 Sportsman, 2005 800 Sportsman, 2011 850 Sportsman, 2-2005 500 Predators, 2-2007 525 Outlaw’s, a 98 400 and 2001 500 Scrambler, 08 800 RZR and 2012 RZR 900XP. In the snow machine department, 2 2003 VE 800’s, 2 2008 dragon 800’s, 2 2011 Pro 800’s, 2 2012 Pro 800’s. My point to listing these machines is to illustrate we bleed Polaris as a family. I’m not a Doo or Cat guy trying to start crap (they are good sleds I don’t hate). Both the Vertical Escapes (stock) had the bearing issue and had to be rebuilt, the Dragons (stock) blew 5 motors each, the 2011’s (stock) blew 1 motor each, and now the (they have a can and vent kits) 2012 Pro’s---- Each at the shop with motors. That’s 16 Polaris sled engines that we’ve been through. Since the VE’s and Dragons are yesterday’s news that Polaris left us to “EAT” (thanks Polaris) let’s talk about the Pro. I have a list of things to consider, what do you all think that Polaris needs to hear to get a hint on what they need to change??? Here’s my ideas-
We need reliability, the 800 CFI is not reliable it’s a band aided Dragon motor. If this wasn’t the case why does Indy Dan, MTNTK, RK TEK, and other aftermarket companies offer “The Fix”. Why is SLP saying add oil with your gas and turn up the pump? Also If reliability wasn’t an issue why is this snowest Pro Ride forum starting to sound like the “Dragon” section? Really now we have an engine Poll going on for reliability? That says something. This is because as these motors get miles their “true colors” are starting to show. For those of you that got 1500 miles and no issues great, but, when did 1500 miles become some great reliable high mile standard? It isn’t! We should expect more out of a sub $13,000 sled! More things to think about, read the Turbo section I love how the turbo guys diss the 800 CFI compared to the other brands on not being able to add more boost because the weak Polaris motor won’t stay together. I’m tired of Polaris’s “Dog and Pony Show” of “We tested the new 2011 Pro Engine for 110,000 miles, and we went to Peru and rode production sleds”. If so why the issues that are becoming more prevalent??? Polaris knows there’s a problem, case in point warranty work. I would love it if someone on here knows what they spent in warranty repair last year and shared it to us all? I bet it was a bunch. Anyone notice this year, especially, Polaris is stricter on warranty, taking pictures of everything, waiting long durations on time of approval, why? Because they know if you sneeze their engine will break. I’m fighting right now a can, really a can (should have been dishonest and lied)! Polaris is your engine that weak a can will put out the 1 extra horsepower and break a skirt??? Since I’m talking warranty just to let everyone know case halves are still on back order. My down time on the Retro sled will be over 5 weeks this week. What good is a warranty when 1/3 of the riding time is lost? That Fancy Pro Ride chassis does nothing sitting in the shop with a blown motor because warranty takes so long to approve and the 800’s are blowing up that case halves are on back order (that’s what the dealer told me why it’s taking so long…).
We need Power here People. Polaris give us the costumer a motor that kills the competition. I mean kills it. During the unveil of the 13 everyone was saying “A power bump” would be Friday’s big bomb drop, reread the forums if you don’t remember, how many people were disappointed by this not happening. I’ve read too many posts by the A/C and Doo guys saying they love the Pro but a weak and unreliable motor sways them not to buy. Read these forums, why does the Cat guy say put a Suki in a Pro and you got something, Doo guys say put an E-TEC in a Pro and you have something. I read PV’s opinion of his demo ride on the new XM, sounds solid, but more concerning is the number of responses of Doo guys that bought a Pro, read the XM handles like a Pro and now want to go back to Doo for the engine. More power to them and why not??? I have ridden both the E-TEC and SUKI they rip and their chassis is heavier than the Pro what gives Polaris??? For those who feel they don’t need more power out of the 800 buy a 600 next time. Last year at the hill climbs for Kings a 600 stock Ski Doo being piloted by Luke Rainey made it to the top. It took Keith Curtis on a turbo to best that. I guarantee Keith Curtis, Chris Burant, Dan Adams, and others won’t mind a little power bump so it’s time for Polaris to come out with a new mill that really meets the expectation of a true mountain rider, we need reliability, durability, class leading power, run ability, and class leading fuel consumption. People get tired of spending 1800$ to 2500$ on 858 BB, SLP stage 3 and 4’s, just to get the sled up to the competitions power. Polaris quit raising your prices, we all will be priced out of this sport, we get tired of stripping off our shocks for real ones, putting Team Tieds on to hold better RPM’s and putting other aftermarket parts on that work better. Here’s an Idea, don’t put your stuff on the sled, deduct the price or just start using better components from the get go. My point- it took you till 2013 to figure out the Air Frame style of running board is what it takes to evacuate the snow. So many people spend big bucks to upgrade your poor engineering. Please listen to us the mountain customer and deliver what we need. The days of riding a long track trail sled and calling it a mountain sled are over or at least that’s what I thought.
I hope everyone sees where I’m coming from. I’m writing this so we all have a better sled. I don’t want to make waves but it’s time for Polaris to really listen to use the mountain rider. I don’t think a company “With 2010 annual sales of $1.99 billion” should have a hard time filling our requests of a stronger better engine. It is 2012 and technology has come a long way. In closing, I can tell you this much I’ve rode the new 2013 and yes it rides and handles better but with the same 800 CFI I won’t buy another. It’s not enough to sway me; I need reliability and more engine. And all the hype on Polaris 2013 “You Tube”, it’s just that, hype. Your 11 and 12 will run with the 13. A 2012 SLP stage 3 killed the 13 up a deep steep hill. Not impressive for the 13, but imagine if that 13 came stock with more reliable power??? Now how many people would be for that?????? Are you listening “Mother Polaris”??????????
I need to add this so people won't feel I'm trying to lie to them, as sledr900 brought up two stage 3's were added earlier in the year. Yes both 12's had stage three’s on them. That post sledr900 brought up was either late Jan or early Febish. Since that time both stage 3’s have been taken off because of all the ramblings of motor issues and we both experienced our 11’s go down, we both felt warranty was more important than the added power, I didn’t lie they are stock at the time this was written (should have said once had stage 3). CRFfred- I’m not trying to deceive you or anyone else. So everyone that's mad at me for not including that from the get go I do apologize I wasn't trying to deceive anyone. That’s why I’m adding this, by saying so. Warranty will be done I talked to the dealer as the machines are back to stock (they aren’t worried about the can that’s cleared) When they are fixed I am more than happy to show the repair order so everyone knows I’m not trying to deceive them. If you feel that the stage threes with little mileage on them made the machines go down that’s fine don’t put a Stage 3 on. I on the other hand feel that the Polaris motor is subpar and will fail with or without the stage three. Also once you ride the Pro with the power Polaris should be giving us maybe some of you will thank the small majority of us that are trying to get a more reliable more powerful engine. With all this being said and to what has been posted I do appreciate everyone’s comments good or bad. For those that say just don’t buy Polaris and hit them with your pocket book to help them wake up… I feel we get more accomplished as a group voicing our experiences versus being an individual.
To those who say buy another brand, I’m not a hater on Polaris, I love Polaris, I’m on your side, I’m just trying to make our brand better by voicing my opinions from what I’ve experienced. My point in all this is to get a better product. Businesses are like government if we the people don’t hold them accountable then they will do as they please. Sorry for trying to make Polaris better, delete this post if that helps more.
I don’t want to start this thread to sound negative or complain. My purpose for this is for others who have had engine problems to chime in and let “Mother Polaris” be reminded of problems that they know they have but won’t address. If you haven’t had problems don’t accuse those of us who have of trying to stir the pot and give the Pro a tarnished image. That’s not what I want- The chassis is great it needs a powertrain to compliment it and I’m calling Polaris out to give us one. So here’s my rant if you want to read. From 1996 to now my dad, brother and me all together have owned combined- 96 500 Sportsman, 98 500 Sportsman, 2005 800 Sportsman, 2011 850 Sportsman, 2-2005 500 Predators, 2-2007 525 Outlaw’s, a 98 400 and 2001 500 Scrambler, 08 800 RZR and 2012 RZR 900XP. In the snow machine department, 2 2003 VE 800’s, 2 2008 dragon 800’s, 2 2011 Pro 800’s, 2 2012 Pro 800’s. My point to listing these machines is to illustrate we bleed Polaris as a family. I’m not a Doo or Cat guy trying to start crap (they are good sleds I don’t hate). Both the Vertical Escapes (stock) had the bearing issue and had to be rebuilt, the Dragons (stock) blew 5 motors each, the 2011’s (stock) blew 1 motor each, and now the (they have a can and vent kits) 2012 Pro’s---- Each at the shop with motors. That’s 16 Polaris sled engines that we’ve been through. Since the VE’s and Dragons are yesterday’s news that Polaris left us to “EAT” (thanks Polaris) let’s talk about the Pro. I have a list of things to consider, what do you all think that Polaris needs to hear to get a hint on what they need to change??? Here’s my ideas-
We need reliability, the 800 CFI is not reliable it’s a band aided Dragon motor. If this wasn’t the case why does Indy Dan, MTNTK, RK TEK, and other aftermarket companies offer “The Fix”. Why is SLP saying add oil with your gas and turn up the pump? Also If reliability wasn’t an issue why is this snowest Pro Ride forum starting to sound like the “Dragon” section? Really now we have an engine Poll going on for reliability? That says something. This is because as these motors get miles their “true colors” are starting to show. For those of you that got 1500 miles and no issues great, but, when did 1500 miles become some great reliable high mile standard? It isn’t! We should expect more out of a sub $13,000 sled! More things to think about, read the Turbo section I love how the turbo guys diss the 800 CFI compared to the other brands on not being able to add more boost because the weak Polaris motor won’t stay together. I’m tired of Polaris’s “Dog and Pony Show” of “We tested the new 2011 Pro Engine for 110,000 miles, and we went to Peru and rode production sleds”. If so why the issues that are becoming more prevalent??? Polaris knows there’s a problem, case in point warranty work. I would love it if someone on here knows what they spent in warranty repair last year and shared it to us all? I bet it was a bunch. Anyone notice this year, especially, Polaris is stricter on warranty, taking pictures of everything, waiting long durations on time of approval, why? Because they know if you sneeze their engine will break. I’m fighting right now a can, really a can (should have been dishonest and lied)! Polaris is your engine that weak a can will put out the 1 extra horsepower and break a skirt??? Since I’m talking warranty just to let everyone know case halves are still on back order. My down time on the Retro sled will be over 5 weeks this week. What good is a warranty when 1/3 of the riding time is lost? That Fancy Pro Ride chassis does nothing sitting in the shop with a blown motor because warranty takes so long to approve and the 800’s are blowing up that case halves are on back order (that’s what the dealer told me why it’s taking so long…).
We need Power here People. Polaris give us the costumer a motor that kills the competition. I mean kills it. During the unveil of the 13 everyone was saying “A power bump” would be Friday’s big bomb drop, reread the forums if you don’t remember, how many people were disappointed by this not happening. I’ve read too many posts by the A/C and Doo guys saying they love the Pro but a weak and unreliable motor sways them not to buy. Read these forums, why does the Cat guy say put a Suki in a Pro and you got something, Doo guys say put an E-TEC in a Pro and you have something. I read PV’s opinion of his demo ride on the new XM, sounds solid, but more concerning is the number of responses of Doo guys that bought a Pro, read the XM handles like a Pro and now want to go back to Doo for the engine. More power to them and why not??? I have ridden both the E-TEC and SUKI they rip and their chassis is heavier than the Pro what gives Polaris??? For those who feel they don’t need more power out of the 800 buy a 600 next time. Last year at the hill climbs for Kings a 600 stock Ski Doo being piloted by Luke Rainey made it to the top. It took Keith Curtis on a turbo to best that. I guarantee Keith Curtis, Chris Burant, Dan Adams, and others won’t mind a little power bump so it’s time for Polaris to come out with a new mill that really meets the expectation of a true mountain rider, we need reliability, durability, class leading power, run ability, and class leading fuel consumption. People get tired of spending 1800$ to 2500$ on 858 BB, SLP stage 3 and 4’s, just to get the sled up to the competitions power. Polaris quit raising your prices, we all will be priced out of this sport, we get tired of stripping off our shocks for real ones, putting Team Tieds on to hold better RPM’s and putting other aftermarket parts on that work better. Here’s an Idea, don’t put your stuff on the sled, deduct the price or just start using better components from the get go. My point- it took you till 2013 to figure out the Air Frame style of running board is what it takes to evacuate the snow. So many people spend big bucks to upgrade your poor engineering. Please listen to us the mountain customer and deliver what we need. The days of riding a long track trail sled and calling it a mountain sled are over or at least that’s what I thought.
I hope everyone sees where I’m coming from. I’m writing this so we all have a better sled. I don’t want to make waves but it’s time for Polaris to really listen to use the mountain rider. I don’t think a company “With 2010 annual sales of $1.99 billion” should have a hard time filling our requests of a stronger better engine. It is 2012 and technology has come a long way. In closing, I can tell you this much I’ve rode the new 2013 and yes it rides and handles better but with the same 800 CFI I won’t buy another. It’s not enough to sway me; I need reliability and more engine. And all the hype on Polaris 2013 “You Tube”, it’s just that, hype. Your 11 and 12 will run with the 13. A 2012 SLP stage 3 killed the 13 up a deep steep hill. Not impressive for the 13, but imagine if that 13 came stock with more reliable power??? Now how many people would be for that?????? Are you listening “Mother Polaris”??????????
I need to add this so people won't feel I'm trying to lie to them, as sledr900 brought up two stage 3's were added earlier in the year. Yes both 12's had stage three’s on them. That post sledr900 brought up was either late Jan or early Febish. Since that time both stage 3’s have been taken off because of all the ramblings of motor issues and we both experienced our 11’s go down, we both felt warranty was more important than the added power, I didn’t lie they are stock at the time this was written (should have said once had stage 3). CRFfred- I’m not trying to deceive you or anyone else. So everyone that's mad at me for not including that from the get go I do apologize I wasn't trying to deceive anyone. That’s why I’m adding this, by saying so. Warranty will be done I talked to the dealer as the machines are back to stock (they aren’t worried about the can that’s cleared) When they are fixed I am more than happy to show the repair order so everyone knows I’m not trying to deceive them. If you feel that the stage threes with little mileage on them made the machines go down that’s fine don’t put a Stage 3 on. I on the other hand feel that the Polaris motor is subpar and will fail with or without the stage three. Also once you ride the Pro with the power Polaris should be giving us maybe some of you will thank the small majority of us that are trying to get a more reliable more powerful engine. With all this being said and to what has been posted I do appreciate everyone’s comments good or bad. For those that say just don’t buy Polaris and hit them with your pocket book to help them wake up… I feel we get more accomplished as a group voicing our experiences versus being an individual.
To those who say buy another brand, I’m not a hater on Polaris, I love Polaris, I’m on your side, I’m just trying to make our brand better by voicing my opinions from what I’ve experienced. My point in all this is to get a better product. Businesses are like government if we the people don’t hold them accountable then they will do as they please. Sorry for trying to make Polaris better, delete this post if that helps more.
Last edited:
