Love the PRO RMK, hate the reliability of the 800, will a 600 Pro work?
- Thread starter Frostbite
- Start date
G
geo
Well-known member
You shouldn`t deny yourself because of internet gossip but if you can`t get your head out of the " Poo's 800 motor thing" don't do it. Life is too short to be worried about getting back home.
Any sled can be bashed on the internet. The Pro is the best mountain sled out there (you must have ridden one and that`s why you started this thread). For every story about being left in the hills there are 10 or more about 2500 miles trouble free and growing.
I met one '12 last year on the side of the trail surrounded by Doo's, so I stopped to help him fight his way out lol. His belt blew some strings (looked like there was no strings left to pull to me lol) and the top was in his hands (cause it wouldn't stay in the clutches lol). No spare and he already tried a Doo belt.
I installed and adjusted my spare while we talked. He got the sled from his brother and it was at 4540 miles and growing. As far as he knew it was the original belt (didn't know it was a "wear " item lol). The sled has lived it's whole life in the back of a pick-up (in for the first ride , out for the last) or under a tarp in the back yard and it looked like it. He gassed it up every ride and topped off the oil every three LOL.
They had a "smoke break". I gave him my address and phone number to return a belt and putted off to finish my ride (I think carrying a spare belt on this sled is a waste off space lol).
I got a new belt back and a case of Rainier and made a new acquaintance. We've passed in the local hills since then and waved. He was still riding the same sled but now the group of 3 Doo's and one Poo was 3 Poo's and one Doo If that doesn't say the Pro is the best and most dependable sled out there I don't know what does LOL.
If you don't read Snowest you might not have a problem. Just sayin' lol.
Any sled can be bashed on the internet. The Pro is the best mountain sled out there (you must have ridden one and that`s why you started this thread). For every story about being left in the hills there are 10 or more about 2500 miles trouble free and growing.
I met one '12 last year on the side of the trail surrounded by Doo's, so I stopped to help him fight his way out lol. His belt blew some strings (looked like there was no strings left to pull to me lol) and the top was in his hands (cause it wouldn't stay in the clutches lol). No spare and he already tried a Doo belt.
I installed and adjusted my spare while we talked. He got the sled from his brother and it was at 4540 miles and growing. As far as he knew it was the original belt (didn't know it was a "wear " item lol). The sled has lived it's whole life in the back of a pick-up (in for the first ride , out for the last) or under a tarp in the back yard and it looked like it. He gassed it up every ride and topped off the oil every three LOL.
They had a "smoke break". I gave him my address and phone number to return a belt and putted off to finish my ride (I think carrying a spare belt on this sled is a waste off space lol).
I got a new belt back and a case of Rainier and made a new acquaintance. We've passed in the local hills since then and waved. He was still riding the same sled but now the group of 3 Doo's and one Poo was 3 Poo's and one Doo If that doesn't say the Pro is the best and most dependable sled out there I don't know what does LOL.
If you don't read Snowest you might not have a problem. Just sayin' lol.
800. Don't look back.
Would the 600 Pro RMK in a 155" work for me?
Being that this is a "yes" or "no" question. I will say "no".
There is something to be said about "there is no replacement for displacement".
I have had many 600's in my lifetime and I can say without hesitation they do not stack up to an 800. Period! I don't think I have ever heard anyone say I wish this sled had less HP. If I were to ride strictly trails I may go for the 600. But for the mountains it has to be an 800.
As far as reliability goes we had two 2011 800 Pro's and had zero problems except for one ETS failed. We babied our 2013 800 Pro for the first 100 miles and have had no problems with it. I think it has 1507 miles on it. If I thought they were junk I would not have snow checked our 2014 800 Pro. Anyway, my $.02.
Would the 600 Pro RMK in a 155" work for me?
Being that this is a "yes" or "no" question. I will say "no".
There is something to be said about "there is no replacement for displacement".
I have had many 600's in my lifetime and I can say without hesitation they do not stack up to an 800. Period! I don't think I have ever heard anyone say I wish this sled had less HP. If I were to ride strictly trails I may go for the 600. But for the mountains it has to be an 800.
As far as reliability goes we had two 2011 800 Pro's and had zero problems except for one ETS failed. We babied our 2013 800 Pro for the first 100 miles and have had no problems with it. I think it has 1507 miles on it. If I thought they were junk I would not have snow checked our 2014 800 Pro. Anyway, my $.02.
If motor reliability really is your first priority then you already have the most reliable 2 stroke motor, the only reason you should be looking elsewhere is if you don't like how the chassis performs.
I don't remember what the ski stance is on your sled, but if you just want a more nimble feeling sled narrow the ski stance.
If you want a light nimble sled with a bullet proof motor from the factory.............. that sled doesn't exist!
Don't kid yourself, going from 170hp to 135hp, you will miss it........ a lot!
I do have one other option. Buy a 2011-2012 Pro RMK (maybe with a seized motor) discard the motor and buy a custom big bore from Carl's or PAR. Then you have a light weight nimble sled and superior power and reliability.
Used PRO - $5-6K
Custom Motor - $6k
Total = $12K, same as buying a new sled, but no warranty. But your friends won't be able to keep up = Priceless!
This is what i did, bought a blown motor 2011 pro and had indy dan convert it to a long rod. About 9-10k in it total. Runs great so far on the flatlands, heading to the mountains in december.
G
geo
Well-known member
If motor reliability really is your first priority then you already have the most reliable 2 stroke motor, the only reason you should be looking elsewhere is if you don't like how the chassis performs.
I don't remember what the ski stance is on your sled, but if you just want a more nimble feeling sled narrow the ski stance.
If you want a light nimble sled with a bullet proof motor from the factory.............. that sled doesn't exist!
Don't kid yourself, going from 170hp to 135hp, you will miss it........ a lot!
I do have one other option. Buy a 2011-2012 Pro RMK (maybe with a seized motor) discard the motor and buy a custom big bore from Carl's or PAR. Then you have a light weight nimble sled and superior power and reliability.
Used PRO - $5-6K
Custom Motor - $6k
Total = $12K, same as buying a new sled, but no warranty. But your friends won't be able to keep up = Priceless!
I didn't feel the loss,,,,,,, At all lol!! In fact, I think, the pro has more power where I spend 90% of my time.
Another internet bs topic IMO.
You wanna drag race in a meadow lol. The 135hp pro won't be embarrassed. Stock gearing and the Poo clutches just keep pulling.
You wanna poke a fresh hill. No worries. Pro 135hp climbs on top and stays there. you won't be embarrassed. Gear down to the other brands ratio and you may be surprised.
You wanna poke up a packed hill, I don't know I haven't tried, but I never need to use full throttle to climb something like that anyway so 135hp seems to be enough.
I'm a heavy guy at 235 out of the shower but I have never been embarrassed riding only 135 hp that I know of and with the lesser power of this 135 hp engine it seems to get me places I couldn't go with more advertised power. Easier too.
What should be embarrassing is 170 HP not spanking day in and day out 135HP if that is your game.
I guess this would be another advantage in not reading Snowest if your in the market for a new sled lol.
Fwiw, this is what I did, I bought a 12 in November of 11 knowing that I would have the 1 year warrenty plus a second year power train coverage and Indy Dan would have my motor eventually , so I put on 1800 miles on my pro rmk 155, last spring I pulled the motor and took it to Indy Dan, now I have a new motor with a reworked clutch, (I did the full meal deal) with a three year warrenty on the hard parts in the engine, you can't even get that from Polaris on a short block!
So that's just what I did, 600 no thanks, no substatute for HP!
If you get a 600 I bet you will say "I wish I had an 800" more times than "I'm glad I had a 600".
This is jmo!
So that's just what I did, 600 no thanks, no substatute for HP!
If you get a 600 I bet you will say "I wish I had an 800" more times than "I'm glad I had a 600".
This is jmo!
D
Drewd
Well-known member
A Polaris dealer in Woodland Park, CO is putting a turbo on his personal sled, a 600 Pro RMK. He says it'll be more powerful than my 800, lighter, and possibly more reliable.
What is everyone's thoughts on a turbo'd 600? If you boost it lightly to extract perhaps 150 or so horsepower instead of the 200 HP or so this dealer is trying to get, would it last longer?
What is everyone's thoughts on a turbo'd 600? If you boost it lightly to extract perhaps 150 or so horsepower instead of the 200 HP or so this dealer is trying to get, would it last longer?
A
ak
Well-known member
I have ridden a 2012 RMK 600 for the last two years, and this year I traded it in for an RMK 800.
The reason why is simple: My brother bought a 2014 Freeride 800!
The 600 I had outran some 800s, and got beaten by others. The only time I was missing power was in wet snow, and whenever I was thinking about my brother and his Freeride.
That the 600 is more reliable than the 800, to me that seems plausible. But whether the Polaris 800 is worse than the other 800s, and if so, how much worse, of that I'm unsure.
What I am sure of, is that Polaris isn't to good at handling the issues that they have. The way Ski Do handled the Etec 800 debacle, is how it should be done.
The reason why is simple: My brother bought a 2014 Freeride 800!
The 600 I had outran some 800s, and got beaten by others. The only time I was missing power was in wet snow, and whenever I was thinking about my brother and his Freeride.
That the 600 is more reliable than the 800, to me that seems plausible. But whether the Polaris 800 is worse than the other 800s, and if so, how much worse, of that I'm unsure.
What I am sure of, is that Polaris isn't to good at handling the issues that they have. The way Ski Do handled the Etec 800 debacle, is how it should be done.
Wow, this has turned into a great thread!
Thanks for all the info guys.
If Polaris is good at honoring their warranties (I have no info on this) then buying an 800 with a 4 year warranty would be a no brainer.
The other option might be trying to find a used 2013 600 with a 660 kit?
Thanks for all the info guys.
If Polaris is good at honoring their warranties (I have no info on this) then buying an 800 with a 4 year warranty would be a no brainer.
The other option might be trying to find a used 2013 600 with a 660 kit?
Thank you.
I haven't ridden the new Cat M8000 yet (it seems really big and wide) so who knows what I will come up with. I certainly do like the power of my sled but, I like sleds that are lightweight even more.
If I could put a lightweight exhaust system on the 600 Pro and gain a few horsepower (132) and very get close to 410 lbs ..... hum.....
http://www.startinglineproducts.com...alogID=3&catID=19&productID=2383#.UpFeJMQtrHs
However, I am at 430-435 lbs. and 165-170 hp with my M8. I guess I could go back to my BOSS seat and take off the heavier 2011 seat, get rid of the full cover skid plate, go to lighter a BDX or Timbersled intake system, add some lightweight A arms and save another 20+ lbs. maybe I am better off riding the M8? Who knows?
first i doubt you are 430-435 lbs. my m8 has alot of lightweight stuff and weights in at 479 wet with about a gallon of gas.
that being said, i rode a 13 600 pro last winter and im in love and it will be my next sled. doesnt have the power of the 800 but its very nimble, and i think because it has less power it doesnt over power the track and just kinda chugs along.
now, that being said, ive ridden 2 800 pros 155 with boondocker turbo/kmod skid and a stock 13 163. and i dont like either of them. i dont know why, just didnt feel comfortable.
but i was instantly comfortable on the 600
Warranty??????? On my snow-check, I went with the 2 yr and $600 which the dealer added another $200. So with $800, all my options were paid for.
D
Dizzle
Well-known member
This^
The 800 cc Dragon's were glorified garbage. Update or not, that piston/motor combo simply did not work.
To the OP - think of the situation this way: Does bad news travel faster/further than good news?
Rarely will you hear people boast about how reliable their 800 Pro has been. In fact, there had to be a specific thread made to give a place for owners to confirm that they have had trouble-free seasons.
That said, the bad news is what always sticks out in our minds. We subconsciously hold on to EVERY horror story we've heard, or EVERY negative comment we've read on the internet. Do we hold onto the positive comments the same way? No. It's human nature.
That said - if you love the chassis(which so many people do), do yourself a giant favor and buy the 800. Ride the piss out of it - almost dare the damn thing to break on you. Approach your purchasing and riding with that mentality and you are guaranteed to have a blast with leaving your buddies wondering "how the hell did he do that?"
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Dizzle
Well-known member
I've always thought this would be a bad *** combo. Not necessarily for the super deep pow days, but for a snappy and reliable setup - I think a boosted 6 would be a kick in the pants!
do you have a good Polaris dealer close ?
a quality dealer makes the all the difference
oh yeah 800 with warranty FO SURE
a quality dealer makes the all the difference
oh yeah 800 with warranty FO SURE
J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
That's a good point. I have been helping a friend look for an etec, and have been really surprised at how many are advertised having "new top end" under 2,000....like quite large percentage, as many as a similar sampling of pros for sale. I guess they just don't talk about it on the forum? Not sure.
Anyways, moral of the story is, pistons replacement on interval if you run it hard...not a bad idea.
I wonder why Polaris didn't have any 600s on their all day demo rides.
I guess if the sleds are indeed the same weight, why buy the 600?
I think I am going to have to be be a pain in the neck this year bugging people to ride their sleds. However, I always feel very strange and apprehensive asking people I don't know very well to ride their sled.
I have three friends brand new 2014 Cat M8000s, so riding one of them will be easy. It will be the Polaris and the Skidoo that will be tricky. While I am at it, I want to try a snowbike as well.
I guess if the sleds are indeed the same weight, why buy the 600?
I think I am going to have to be be a pain in the neck this year bugging people to ride their sleds. However, I always feel very strange and apprehensive asking people I don't know very well to ride their sled.
I have three friends brand new 2014 Cat M8000s, so riding one of them will be easy. It will be the Polaris and the Skidoo that will be tricky. While I am at it, I want to try a snowbike as well.
the same story since 2000 each just out "no problem with XXX new model year" and then after the new sled comes out of warranty nobody want to keep it. taking bets on anybody who wants to put a cat 800 up to a pro 800 motor in a stocker to see who gets to 3k first with no major repairs or warranty in the mts.
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