Looking at buying a Pro, Input Please

[Ckale]

Selling my 04 Summit 800, time for a new sled. Thought about getting another newer summit, but ive decided a Pro is probably a better route. Looking mostly at 2011's with my price range, preferably a 163 but theyre a little harder to find. Just looking for advise on these sleds, what you like, what you dont, good mods to do, stuff to look out for. Im sure it will be an awesome step up from my Rev. Thanks!

 

[vdog0531]

i just bought a 12 and havn't ridden it yet but mods to do will be different running boards, a can (for weight), a tether, some vents, a gauge lifter and maybe some storage bags. other than that, ride the hell out of it from what i'm seeing.

 

[wang11]

Buy stock add oil to gas tank ride it for a while then decide mods. Running boards would be my first choice. You will love it. Lower the miles the better

 

[philsummers21]

Depends on how deep your pockets are

 

[Proride_284]

Selling my 04 Summit 800, time for a new sled. Thought about getting another newer summit, but ive decided a Pro is probably a better route. Looking mostly at 2011's with my price range, preferably a 163 but theyre a little harder to find. Just looking for advise on these sleds, what you like, what you dont, good mods to do, stuff to look out for. Im sure it will be an awesome step up from my Rev. Thanks!

I love my '12 pro. It handles awesome and works well on flats as well as the mountains. I read in sled tech magazine however that the '11 had some efi map problems but I also know a few riders that find their 11 just as amazing as a 12. 2 things I would do however on a pro in 11 or 12 is to get different running boards and get a holz aluminum bumper unless its already been done

 

[die hard poo]

Ya I would recommend purchasing 13' running boards or the Burhandt extreme running boards to install on a 11/12. They are really nice and are super cheap compared to air frames. Installation is the same as the air frames essentially, but easier because you don't have to install all the traction screws in the running boards like you do on the air frames. IMO it's a poor design because the inner tubes on the air frames are very thin and the screw will strip out and eventually fall out.
Good luck and enjoy the new chassis, it is really enjoyable sled!

 

[brn2ride]

Just my two cents. I bought a '12 Pro last year. I know there are some differences between the two years but they are minimal.

What I liked: I put on a 1000+ miles last season and never had an issue. Which is always a plus. The sled flat out rips. I have a group of guys I ride with and they all ride different machines. Heading out last year we would switch sleds every once in a while. Needless to say, my buddy that rides Cat snowchecked a '13 Pro. My other buddy rides Doo and he has been looking to score a used Pro. The handling is great I can pick any line in the trees and hit it no problem. Sidehills fantastic, and is easy on the gas. What they say is true the sled has a way to make every rider a little better. I know that people complain about the lower HP on the sled, but I was able to out climb everyone. Probably what the sled lacks in HP makes up for being so much lighter. I am guessing a power to weight ratio. It really is a great sled.

What I didn't like. I know I am a Polaris honk, but I can be a little objective! I changed the stock clutching. In fact, I hated the stock clutching. It engaged late, felt boggy, and I could never reach a peak RPM. It felt like the sled had a lot more power but couldn't deliver it. I talked to my local dealer about it and they recommended a new clutch setup different spring and weights and it made all the difference in the world. It felt like the whole sled literally woke up.

As said above the stock running boards are a joke. Sometimes shaving too much weight is a bad thing. I don't do massive jumps, but just through a days worth of riding my running boards would be bent down. I started grabbing a mallet and pounding them back up after each ride. I am a heavier rider, but it wouldn't make a huge difference. There was a reason Polaris came out with the running board braces before the sled was even out! I recommend the Burandt boards. My buddy that snowchecked already received his sled and it has the updated running boards. The Burandt boards are similar to a stock '13 and they are sweet. I will definitely be putting them on my sled.

There is also no storage. I bought the under-seat bag. Its not huge but better than nothing. Literally nothing.

Other than that I really love the sled. Polaris delivered on this sled.

Let us know what you decide! Good luck!

 

[Ckale]

What clutching do you guys like to use? i know brn2ride said stock wasnt very good, im kinda a clutching fanatic, clutching can make all the difference in the world IMO. Any good kits to use? Anybody tried Vohk? curious about them

 

[Destroyer]

I found the clutching to work awesome at 6000-8000' deep deep days could use a tad less weight maybe or a little more primary spring.

Ride it stock and get some running boards. It even sounds great stock
These are the feethookers boards with the tunnel support. They work awesome!

A wrap for some mental HP is always good too!

 

[Hurricane Tim]

Sled looks great Destroyer. Nice wrap job.

 

[Vfrtrader]

Many used Pros on KSL.com, some with great prices.

 

[brn2ride]

What clutching do you guys like to use? i know brn2ride said stock wasnt very good, im kinda a clutching fanatic, clutching can make all the difference in the world IMO. Any good kits to use? Anybody tried Vohk? curious about them

Same here on the clutching. In just talking with some other pro owners, many felt the way I did. Others said the stock setup was fine.

After reading what people wrote in forums, I ended up going with a setup that Tri City out of Centerville, Utah offered. They were about the same price as everyone else. I was pleased with the results.

The weights and spring were changed. The new setup for my sled gives a great powerband. I ride anywhere between 8000-11000 feet.

 

[Ckale]

Awesome, thanks for the input!! Sounds like they really dont need much, minimal things. Cant Wait!!!

 

[Hurricane Tim]

Selling my 04 Summit 800, time for a new sled. Thought about getting another newer summit, but ive decided a Pro is probably a better route. Looking mostly at 2011's with my price range, preferably a 163 but theyre a little harder to find. Just looking for advise on these sleds, what you like, what you dont, good mods to do, stuff to look out for. Im sure it will be an awesome step up from my Rev. Thanks!

Don't be one bit afraid of a 155" Pro, if that's what you find. They work extremely well also.

 

[Ckale]

Well theres a definately pleanty of 155s around here, 163s are harder to come by. Its tempting...

Anything to watch out for on the 2011s? ive read about updated engine mounts?

 

[Ruger]

PM'ed you. I went from the 166 to the 155'' and won't go back. I figured the 163 is great right after a storm, and I usually get those ride's about 10% of the time.The 155 be the best all around for me. The group I ride with mostly boondocks anyways (to many close calls). You'll be amazed on how well this sled gets up on the snow.

 

[Matte Murder]

Ckale what is your budget? You can get a really nice low mile 12 for around $9000, a little less a little more depending on mods. I love Airframes, #1 best bang for the buck mod on any sled you ride in deep snow. Can be hard to get so buy some now. Aluminum rear bumper, extreme front bumper, tether(I really like the Teth Air system) and an under hood back for dry gloves and goggles, gauge lifter and a Carls clutch kit with machined sheaves and that is about it. $800-1400 for everything. I would buy a sled with the 4 year warranty and leave the engine stock. Engines are expensive for the Pro and it looks like a 15% failure rate by the polls on SW.

 

[skibreeze]

Ckale what is your budget? You can get a really nice low mile 12 for around $9000, a little less a little more depending on mods. I love Airframes, #1 best bang for the buck mod on any sled you ride in deep snow. Can be hard to get so buy some now. Aluminum rear bumper, extreme front bumper, tether(I really like the Teth Air system) and an under hood back for dry gloves and goggles, gauge lifter and a Carls clutch kit with machined sheaves and that is about it. $800-1400 for everything. I would buy a sled with the 4 year warranty and leave the engine stock. Engines are expensive for the Pro and it looks like a 15% failure rate by the polls on SW.

I agree with most of your post, except, IMO the Polaris extreme front bumper is garbage. They are very light and thin, thus the front will snap off the first time you tag a tree, leaving you with no bumper at all. The Skins bumper is awesome. I am also not sold on the Teth air, as there have been a few injuries where the rider is still in close proximity to the sled. I prefer a cord tether will be pulled off easier or at least will allow me to pull it off and kill the motor.

 

[Ckale]

My budget is under 8k. I am currently looking at one in close proximity to me with 40 miles on a brand new motor, silver snow check, 155. Having quite a time finding a 163 near me. Should i just settle for a 155?

Also, has anyone tried SLP's powershift clutch kits?

Bumpers and stuff I will worry about a little later, but thanks for the info

 

[snowman80]

In my opinion I would be careful what bumper you put on. I know a couple people with skins bumpers on their sleds and they are too heavily built, they break the mounting points. The polaris bumpers bend and absorb the shock of hitting something solid. In my opinion I would rather bend a bumper.