Well I have had my Yamaha Nytro MTX and Phazer Mtn Lite (son's) for 2 seasons and I am thinking of switching back to my beloved Polaris. Yamaha makes great engines but they are kind of heavy and handling sometimes leaves a little to be desired. My question is this: Is it worth the extra dough to buy a Pro vs a nice used IQ? It looks like I could save a few to several thousand by going IQ but would hate to outgrow them quickly. Also I am considering a 600 due to the reliable reputation they have, the one thing that sold me on the Yammi is the long engine life. My hope would be to buy a sled that would last at least 5k before a rebuild. We ride a mix of trails and boondocking in the Oregon Cascades. Stu
IQ vs Pro Advice Wanted
- Thread starter rmk stu
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sledneck_03
Well-known member
Iq's are trenchers unless you put different rear suspension in. ive done some stuff to mine but ive yet to test if it fixed it. Get a nice used 12 600 pro.
If you get an iq get a 700 I have 5000 trouble free miles on mine but I heard the 600 155s pro will spank my 155 700 iq.
If you get an iq get a 700 I have 5000 trouble free miles on mine but I heard the 600 155s pro will spank my 155 700 iq.
The pro's have a few advantages in the performance category... my 700 IQ Raw will hang with a pro pretty good until we get into the straight up hillclimbing and extreme angle sidehills. The 700 obviously doesn't have the power the Pro 800 has and the wider body panels on the IQ will prevent you from leaning it over that last little bit, causing an earlier wash out, but I still have lots of fun on my 700 IQ RAW or 900 IQ. The IQ does have more weight behind it so it requires more effort to do maneuvers. Coming from a Nytro, even a 900 would be pretty light-weight, let alone a RAW or a PRO.
Just depends what you want to spend and what you expect to get for performance.
Just depends what you want to spend and what you expect to get for performance.
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I really liked my '09 700. I wouldn't necessarily say the pro is easier to ride. Those 700's are really easy to throw around and standing on flat ground in my shop I could get the '09 to lay on its side with one hand on the bars easy.
I do like my pro a lot better though. It gets around way better and it does tighter turns through the trees a lot better without washing out.
One thing I would say though is if you get a used 700 get a base model rmk with coil over fronts, they were a lot more reliable for me than the walker evans gassers (I've had both on a few different sleds). If the gassers lose their charge on you they won't hold the sled up anymore where coilovers will. That can end a good sledding trip fast if you aren't where you can fix it right away
I do like my pro a lot better though. It gets around way better and it does tighter turns through the trees a lot better without washing out.
One thing I would say though is if you get a used 700 get a base model rmk with coil over fronts, they were a lot more reliable for me than the walker evans gassers (I've had both on a few different sleds). If the gassers lose their charge on you they won't hold the sled up anymore where coilovers will. That can end a good sledding trip fast if you aren't where you can fix it right away
The Pro chassis combination is light years ahead of the IQ. You can hold an off camber line through trenched up snowand pick your line and point it straight up through the mess or hold a sidehill through it. Either way it will hold the line and not tank slap you around like an IQ does. You can also drop the downhill ski and pull it back up with ease. Try that on an IQ and you are generally committed to go down unless you really wrench it back up. It takes a lot of strength and throttle to do that which can cause you to wash out because of the aforementioned width issue on the IQ. I just don't think that there is any comparison between the two sleds when it comes to handling, not to mention the weight difference. There are some great deals out there on IQ sleds and that is for a very good reason; they just don't work nearly as well as a Pro.
MY wife and son ride the 09 RMK 700 I ride a 12 pro.The differance is night and day.I taught my son how to power turn in about 5 mins on my pro after he was having trouble learning on the IQ.On days where its easy to get stuck I give him my pro and I ride the IQ makes for less trouble as he can through the pro around a lot easier.End of the day you are less tired on the pro.Find the extra money and get a pro they are that good.I'm seriously thinking of selling her 700 and giving them my pro and i'll prob check a 14 model.
First, I would stay away from CFI-4's now, at least the 8's and 6's. The 7's I've rode ran well, but I wouldn't buy an 8 or 6 CFI-4. I have an 11 pro, and ride extensively with an IQ 8 and a few other IQ 8/6's, 08's, 09's and 10's, RMK's and Assaults.
The IQ 8's also could be basket cases VR and wiring wise. The IQ does okay in deep snow, the Pro is just better, much better on steep sidehills (IQ panels drag, overly wide), Pro gets up on the snow abit better, and climbs better, less weight and better transfer on the skid, but stock, I don't think the Pro rides any better, but you do have a wider range of adjustment. Depends how and who you ride with, and what's important to you. The IQ is easier to work on, FWIW, but needs lots of little improvements to make it pow ready. Airbox sucks pow, boards get loaded, rear panels need airflow, etc.
I think the RMK 6 is one of the two best deals in snowmobiling right now, smile per dollar, if cash is important at all. Just awesome bang for the buck, with little to no mods required, gas, oil, throttle and snow. Wish I could justify another sled...
The IQ 8's also could be basket cases VR and wiring wise. The IQ does okay in deep snow, the Pro is just better, much better on steep sidehills (IQ panels drag, overly wide), Pro gets up on the snow abit better, and climbs better, less weight and better transfer on the skid, but stock, I don't think the Pro rides any better, but you do have a wider range of adjustment. Depends how and who you ride with, and what's important to you. The IQ is easier to work on, FWIW, but needs lots of little improvements to make it pow ready. Airbox sucks pow, boards get loaded, rear panels need airflow, etc.
I think the RMK 6 is one of the two best deals in snowmobiling right now, smile per dollar, if cash is important at all. Just awesome bang for the buck, with little to no mods required, gas, oil, throttle and snow. Wish I could justify another sled...
I've owned the "New" Phazer and sold it for a 2008 600 155" ($4500), and I can tell you there will be NO comparison in any of the categories you have concerns. The 600 IQ chassis will be light years better than the Phazer in every single aspect of mountain riding. The PRO would be the number one choice, but unless you are doing extreme sidehilling/ climbing as stated in previous threads, you won't be dissapointed and will save some good money. Yes I am a hater after spending the money on the Phazer. Hey at least I gave it a try
T
thebirdman
Member
I've owned the "New" Phazer and sold it for a 2008 600 155" ($4500), and I can tell you there will be NO comparison in any of the categories you have concerns. The 600 IQ chassis will be light years better than the Phazer in every single aspect of mountain riding. The PRO would be the number one choice, but unless you are doing extreme sidehilling/ climbing as stated in previous threads, you won't be dissapointed and will save some good money. Yes I am a hater after spending the money on the Phazer. Hey at least I gave it a try
X2! I am very happy with my 900 and both of my 10 rmk 600's compared to my stock nytro that I sold. Even my 900 (though still heavy) feels way lighter than my yammy did. I love the iq chassis for out playing in meadows/boondockin. Our 600's are just a hoot. I can't imagine how much better the pro is but do think you would have a lot more fun on a iq than your yamahas and you can find some pretty good deals on the iq's. I can't wait until I can get a pro in a few years!
Bought on 09 600 for my son to learn on. trouble is he rides my 800 pro so much better, that I sold the 09 600. Now I have two 800 pros, but I will likely sell my 2011 800 pro to buy a 13 or 14 pro 600. Look for a good deal, but the 4 year warranty is peace of mind!
$.02
We have had two 2009 800 Dragon RMK's, and now we on are on our third 800 Pro RMK. I agree with what RMK935VA is saying......100%
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