Love the PRO RMK, hate the reliability of the 800, will a 600 Pro work?

[CoyoteGirl]

I hear a 600 is a great dude's sled... BWHAHAAA, sorry, someone had to say it!

Maybe do a bit more research into the engine troubles of the 13s. What I saw last winter was other issues, not the engine. I don't think I heard of a single engine going down in my area. If you want an 800, get it. Maintain it well balanced clutches and good motor mounts go a long way.

 

[Frostbite]

I hear a 600 is a great dude's sled... BWHAHAAA, sorry, someone had to say it!

Now that is some funny sh!t right there!

Way to go Coyote Girl.

 

[0neoldfart]

It boils down to you...

Frostbite, I can tell you this: I have ridden my wife's Pro as a 600, and since as a 660. Both were fun, the 660 more fun, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at either. It wasn't long ago that a 600 was a big sled, and the new ones give a five year old 800 a few headaches on the hill. If you can ride, you can put the 600 anywhere most riders put the 800, but you may have to have a bit more riding talent. The 660 is a different animal - it doesn't have the torque of an 800, but it revs like a blender and is a blast to ride - also pulls 62g weights the same as the 800. Carl's figures we should freshen the top end at 2000 miles which is reasonable. And for what it's worth, I rode the stock 600 last season with a buddy on a well set up M1000, and went everywhere he did, except for straight point an shoot climbs. In those instances I did some creative sidehilling, but the sled got there...

 

[JohnJerk]

We 600 owners could spend a lifetime defending this setup. To each his own. Don't knock it until you try it. Try it and then knock it - fine with me. It is a finesse sled and not a point and shoot. More "flickable" than the 800 because of the shorter stroke. Leaves you with more energy to complete the day. Deep deep will be more challenging. Pin it and it rips.

It is what it is - 400 something pounds with mid-90's honda civic horsepower. Pretty dam cool. And I recall mountainhorse calling it the gold standard for industry reliability.

Long live the 6 hunny.

 

[Frostbite]

JohnJerk, what you said here really appeals to me.

"It is a finesse sled and not a point and shoot. More "flickable" than the 800 because of the shorter stroke. Leaves you with more energy to complete the day."

I miss the days of 136" sleds being the "long tracks" and it taking plenty of finesse to climb the big hills. Now any kid with a fat wallet can go nearly anywhere the finest riders can go. I miss having to dissect a mountain to make it to the top. Just pointing and shooting up the face takes all the skill out of riding.

 

[ak]

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.

Ski doo has had recalls on 2011 and 2012 top ends that's why you see so many etecs advertised with new top ends.

 

[max-nut]

Ski doo has had recalls on 2011 and 2012 top ends that's why you see so many etecs advertised with new top ends.

And that is how it should be, identify the problem, fix it, than warranty it, and all for free.

Polaris may and may not have identified and fixed the problem, but there is no acknowledgement of it in form of a recall

 

[cateye5312]

I am in the market for a new sled and I have been researching the new sleds. I took the Plosris full day challenge ride and I LOVE the flickability of the Pro chassis but, I am scared to death of the long term reliability of the 800 motor.

I wish Polaris still made the reliable 700 motor and used it in the Pro chassis but, they don't. So, could a 170 lbs. guy that has been riding a modified 170 hp M8 ever be happy on a 125 hp 600 Pro PMK?

I am all about boondocking and couldn't care less about highmarking. However, I do want plenty of power to go the places my friends with 800 sleds go. In fact, in a lot of cases when boondocking I lead. Would the 600 Pro RMK in a 155" work for me?

In a word - NO



I absolutely love my little 600 Pro but let me tell you if you are used to a lot of horsepower this just won't cut it for you. It's a blast to ride and a ton of fun in the trees but if HP is what gives you your thrills don't buy a six. You WILL regret it. It just doesn't have that bottom of the throttle flat out rips horsepower and it does require more finesse in steep sticky situations. It got me everywhere I ever wanted to go though.

I passed my 600 down to my son and snowchecked an 800 this year. I'm more than a little apprehensive that I'm not going to enjoy it as much as the six but I figured there was no way to find out without going ahead and getting one -

 

[Ryan-41]

I honestly think that If you maintain them properly and let them warm up properly, the motors will hold up just fine, I ride with quite a few pro's and none have them have gone down!

Like Others have said, send the motor to Indy Dan and have him fix it up and warranty it.

Get the 800 Pro and ride the heck out of it!

Ryan

 

[sledneck_03]

I am in the market for a new sled and I have been researching the new sleds. I took the Plosris full day challenge ride and I LOVE the flickability of the Pro chassis but, I am scared to death of the long term reliability of the 800 motor.

I wish Polaris still made the reliable 700 motor and used it in the Pro chassis but, they don't. So, could a 170 lbs. guy that has been riding a modified 170 hp M8 ever be happy on a 125 hp 600 Pro PMK?

I am all about boondocking and couldn't care less about highmarking. However, I do want plenty of power to go the places my friends with 800 sleds go. In fact, in a lot of cases when boondocking I lead. Would the 600 Pro RMK in a 155" work for me?

i had a iq 700 155 rmk and i have to say you are a light guy the pros lighter than the iq and it gets on the snow better. I would say the 600 pro rmk would out shine a iq 700 easily.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks for all the great info. Keep it coming...

 

[cateye5312]

i had a iq 700 155 rmk and i have to say you are a light guy the pros lighter than the iq and it gets on the snow better. I would say the 600 pro rmk would out shine a iq 700 easily.

I have an 07 and 08 Dragon 700 RMK - my little 2012 Pro RMK 600 will eat their lunch all day, every day. Going back to ride that chassis/motor combo is like riding a fat chick now. Still fun, but no blonde bombshell that's for sure!

 

[deaner]

......... Life is too short to be worried about getting back home........

This quote confuses me?? haha

 

[nuggetau]

There is NO advantage to having less power! If you want less power use that flipper thing on the right handlebar, it's called throttle control!

If the 600 were significantly less weight(like 40lbs) you could make an argument for it, as it is the 600 is only good for women and kids who are afraid of the power of an 800. For those of you who ride 600's this will really put your panties in a bunch, but it's the truth.

 

[mountainhorse]

Good to stir the pot nug!



.

 

[nuggetau]

Good to stir the pot nug!



.

If you want to chastise me for bluntly answering the original question with no tact or deference towards the 600 riders I plead guilty.

There are only 2 good reasons to buy a 600, if you can't come up with the cash to buy the 800, or you haven't mastered throttle control (beginners).

The tiny weight difference and slightly improved gyroscopic effect are minimal at best.

I guess there is one other advantage to a 600, you will have to work harder to do the same things others are doing on an 800, so I guess you could argue it's a path that will force you to improve. Does that satisfy your desire to see the silver lining?

 

[JohnJerk]

There is NO advantage to having less power! If you want less power use that flipper thing on the right handlebar, it's called throttle control!

If the 600 were significantly less weight(like 40lbs) you could make an argument for it, as it is the 600 is only good for women and kids who are afraid of the power of an 800. For those of you who ride 600's this will really put your panties in a bunch, but it's the truth.

The 800 has 10% more hp, so not really scary fast. Sorry to burst you bubble. Have you ridden a 600 pro or are you just a keyboard jockey?

 

[ltw]

I was in the same position 3 weeks ago. I had the very same thought pattern as you. Buy a 600 or an 800, reliability concerns, lightweight feeling, nimbleness. I had a deposit on a heldover 13' Pro RMK 800. I phoned at least a dozen dealers in Canada and US as well as engine builders. Out of all the dealers I found only 4 engines total that went down. To be fair, I did not ask how many 6's went down. This is saying good things for the 8 as the dealers sold a pile. I originally was told the 13's and 14' had a new bottom end (revised case) so I called a reputable engine builder we all know and he had 3 13' 800's down and some 14's were being sent in already. This surprised me and did tell me the piston skirt problem has not be resolved and the long rod motor would be beneficial. A wise man once told me "buy the 6 and you will have the same power at 1000 miles as an 8 due to the fact there will much more piston slop in the 8." I called people that had both the 6 and 8 and asked them to provide a review on both. With this in mind I go to the dealer to pick up my sled and still was undecided on what I want. I took a 2014 6' for a ride and loved it. I came off of a modded Dragon 800 VES BB. I did not take the Pro 800 for a spin. At the back of my mind if I bought the 8 was I really going to be happy. Very possible but I visualized my purchase and knew I would be more happy with the 6. I came home with a 2014 Pro RMK 600. This is what you have to ask yourself. Do your research and compile the information and visualize what you will be happy with. Others can not make the decision for you but they are very helpful in the gathering of information process. Go to your dealer and take both out for a ride. There are a lot of people stuck on the 800 mindset and so was I at one time but technology has come a long way. There are also people who say that 1200 Turbo is the way to go. There is always bigger and better. Buy what makes you happy and you will have a great season of riding. JMO.

 

[nuggetau]

The 800 has 10% more hp, so not really scary fast. Sorry to burst you bubble. Have you ridden a 600 pro or are you just a keyboard jockey?

What? People really ride these snowmachine thingys? I thought we just argued about them all day on the net.

Being a keyboard rider has its advantages, nice and warm all the time, no riding gear to buy or wash, no fuel to buy, no parking lot hassles, no sled parts to buy, no mechanical breakdowns, food and drink at hand all day, and a warm toilet seat at the ready.

OK, somebody remind me why I DO ride again?

 

[mountainhorse]

It's all fun... ride what you like.

The 600 also costs about a grand less for the exact same chassis.