I'm curious how the 2010 M8 will compare to RKT mod sleds and SLP Performance Edition

[Frostbite]

Hopefully, the new 2010 Arctic Cat M8 will prove to be a very reilable and legendary powerplant. I have all the faith in the world that this engine will be the one to beat in the mountains this upcoming winter.

In speaking to SLP technicians, they have mentioned when asked, that the 2010 Arctic Cat M8 engine looks an awful lot like their perfomance edition modifiication on the inside (except for the crank changes). Several of the SLP techs told me that the reliability of their performance edition package was unbelievable, even to them! In fact, they said SLP did not know of ANY of these packages that have ever failed. That sounds like B.S. but, they haven't lied to me (that I know of) yet. They have also told me repeatedly that yes, there is more performance to be harvested from the Arctic Cat 800 engine than we squeeze out of our performance edition package, but they have found that it comes with a reliability cost. So, they feel their performance edition package is right in the sweet spot between power gain and reliability.

I have heard that sleds with RKT setups make even more horsepower than the SLP kit and I have heard many good things about their setups, yet I have no idea about their reliability record, but I assume it's good as well?

If SLP comes right out and claims 169.4 HP from their performance edition package (I often wonder why they didn't tweak something to make it 170 hp when they were that close) and I have heard that RKT sleds are approaching the 180 hp mark.

http://www.startinglineproducts.com/catalog.cfm?pageID=detail&catalogID=2&catID=52&productID=1070

Other than faster reving, how do you think the new 800 motors with claimed horse power ratings anywhere from 150 to 160 hp are going to compare in the field with sleds using a Speed Werx, SLP or RKT setups?

 

[snowmobiler]

imo a modded 09 will spank a stock constricted epa approved 2010

 

[smoothdawg]

That's a good question Frosty. Hopefully we will all know here in a few months. Man I wish it would snow!!!

 

[ACMtnCat]

I gotta see one these RKT sleds go. 180hp from a single on 91 is a little hard to believe!

 

[MTm7]

I gotta see one these RKT sleds go. 180hp from a single on 91 is a little hard to believe!

i dont think RKT is claiming 180hp out of a modded m8! the 860 bb is rated at that.

 

[acs47x]

still....860bb at elevation, 180HP , very hard to believe. I think the 2010 powerplant will be a very strong setup and will be the sled to beat this year.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

on average the 09 slp package I think will beat the 2010, I know a guy with that setup and stomps a 09 m1000 with y and can and keeps up with m1000 with full slp pipe just wont beat it. so its got to be turning around 170hp.

 

[BigAir]

still....860bb at elevation, 180HP , very hard to believe. I think the 2010 powerplant will be a very strong setup and will be the sled to beat this year.

I don't think anyone is claiming 180hp at elevation.

 

[bluebear]

I remember when people called BS on 800's making 150 HP on pump gas. I am extremely excited to get mine.

 

[MTm7]

I don't think anyone is claiming 180hp at elevation.

exactly!

 

[backcountryislife]

They won't compare.

It would be nice to get a little closer to the mod sleds, but compression won't be where it needs to be @ elevation, and I have a hard time believe that they were as agressive with the porting as the mod companies.

But hey, it'll be seen for sure in about 6 weeks.

 

[Dam Dave]

just the fact that are comparing a stock sled to ported, piped and tuned sled is a good sign, and it wont be long before the aftermarket finds more in an 2010 M8, then what are you going to compare it too

 

[Frostbite]

Yes, to have a stock sled we can compare mod sled to is something special. With a few mods, it will be in class of its own.

What I was trying to say about hp is, the RKT mod sleds supposedly put out noticably more power than a SLP modded sled. I don't doubt that for a minute.

If that's the case, I would think they must be at least in the 175ish hp range if SLP is claiming .6 hp below the 170hp mark? I have no idea how close RKT kits are to 180hp but, they certainly must be getting relatively close (maybe with hp rating corrected to sea level).

Maybe a SLP piped M8 where SLP claims 159 hp is closer to what we can expect out of a 2010 M8?

http://www.startinglineproducts.com/catalog.cfm?pageID=detail&catalogID=2&catID=2&productID=1053

 

[Bacon]

Who are these people that are "supposedly" saying that the RKT sled are the real deal. I hate all the hear say from the neighbors third cousin because he saw one work good. I'm sure they work fine but just wondering.

 

[HANDSOME]

How are you liking the m8 Frosty ? I would like one myself one day but I wont give up the 1 ton for it just yet.

 

[backcountryislife]

Who are these people that are "supposedly" saying that the RKT sled are the real deal. I hate all the hear say from the neighbors third cousin because he saw one work good. I'm sure they work fine but just wondering.

If you're seeing it on the internet, then it's pretty much ALL hearsay.

I have personally seen quite a few of these sleds run & they do very well. (stil hearsay though)

175, 180, 237hp? I don't freakin know, we ride um, well... snow. Not a dyno, not a bench, not a garage... snow. And on the snow, these sleds work well.

In another thread I joked some stupid number like 242.5 hp on some sled & people started questioning that as if anyone really thought it was legit, but that shows you how quickly stupid numbers get thrown around & repeated despite the fact that the guys building the sleds have never claimed those numbers. The other thing is, numbers can be manipulated like a Fox news commentator, they'll tell you whatever you want to hear & the truth is often something different.

Are there other options that do as well? I'm sure there are, but I honestly haven't seen a combo on the M8 that worked as well as the RKT setup. (kinda comparing dollar for dollar since throwing a turbo on costs a few more bucks!)


btw, not sponsored or anything else from Kelsey. I rode with him once & he is a friend of a friend, so I've got no other motivation for talking about his products aside from that I feel like they work well.

 

[minet]

i agree on the snow is what matters , but there are more than motor factors involved at that point.. clutching, skid set up , track ect ..

dyno is motor to motor comparo

 

[Frostbite]

I have all the respect in the world for Kelsey at RKT and Brian at Morehouse Performance. I have spoken to them both at length several times and would absolutely be honored to run their mod package on my sled.

Yet, after all my information gathering was done, I had to logically chose to stick with SLP merely because, I already had a SLP single pipe, canister and Y pipe on my sled and SLP's Power Commander comes pre-programed for plug and play operation with their Performance Edition Mod. Yes, I was admittedly leaving some hp on the table going with SLP but, 170 hp isn't bad and using my existing pipe setup was going to save me some money.

Maybe I am remembering incorrectly or somehow I was putting words in their mouths during our conversations but, the up to 180ish hp figure came from speaking directly with Kelsey or Brian to the best of my recollection.

There's no doubt those hp numbers must have been for a full mod kit, heck maybe I'm confused since it was last year or maybe somehow I am quoting numbers from one of their big bore packages but, I really don't think so since I wasn't interested in a big bore package.

Maybe one of them can straighten me out? I certainly have no intention of misrepresenting their products. If I'm mistaken, you have my apologies.

Handsome, to answer your question. I really do love my 1 Ton but, I just didn't want to boost my 03 RX-1M. It just didn't make sense to me boosting a 7 year old sled. I will probably keep it because it's completely dialed in and will go forever but, I really do like my M8. It has made me a better rider because it's got roughly the same power as my RX-1 but, it's a whole lot lighter and strangely I find myself doing stuff I had no idea I even knew how to do on a sled. Pretty cool!

 

[WyoBoy1000]

If you're seeing it on the internet, then it's pretty much ALL hearsay.

I have personally seen quite a few of these sleds run & they do very well. (stil hearsay though)

175, 180, 237hp? I don't freakin know, we ride um, well... snow. Not a dyno, not a bench, not a garage... snow. And on the snow, these sleds work well.

In another thread I joked some stupid number like 242.5 hp on some sled & people started questioning that as if anyone really thought it was legit, but that shows you how quickly stupid numbers get thrown around & repeated despite the fact that the guys building the sleds have never claimed those numbers. The other thing is, numbers can be manipulated like a Fox news commentator, they'll tell you whatever you want to hear & the truth is often something different.

Are there other options that do as well? I'm sure there are, but I honestly haven't seen a combo on the M8 that worked as well as the RKT setup. (kinda comparing dollar for dollar since throwing a turbo on costs a few more bucks!)


btw, not sponsored or anything else from Kelsey. I rode with him once & he is a friend of a friend, so I've got no other motivation for talking about his products aside from that I feel like they work well.

At least you said Fox News and not one of the others, at least that means theres something believable on here.

Its funny Frostbite you came over from the yami to a cat less than a year ago and where worried about reliability and now you can't decide how much more power you want, isn't it great. I predict a pg turbo next year, then maybe you'll be happy

 

[backcountryislife]

Frosty, the comments weren't intended for you, just in general. You said 180, and all the sudden someone else assumes that it's 180 @ elevation, which even most mod 1000's aren't making, but it gets said anyhow.

Dyno is much more subjective than most consumers realize, so the guys that make a 1/2ass product depend on them so heavily. Notice how many variables any dyno guy mentions when they're on here, and what a big deal it was when dynotech stated that Bikeman's kit made some outrageous number, it is easy for numbers to be misconstrued.

but all this is hearsay anyhow

I'm not trying to make fun of you bacon, it's just funny cause 99.99997654% of what's on the intraweb is 37% BS anyhow!