Just looking at getting a different ride this year if things work out. To me (having not ridin either) the both seem like excellent platforms?... Input from riders who have been on the mountain with both...
M-8 or Dragon... which one would you buy? opinions?
- Thread starter PowderCrew
- Start date
i love them both. i have heard of problems with the dragon but i have not had one in over 1500 miles. i think it might be a myth started by the arctic cat guys.
J
jaysonfreerider
Well-known member
i wouldn't mind owning one of each.
I was actually able to ride both of these sleds last year. My buddy has the M8 and I bought the Dragon. (Both 09's)
Dragon 800: THE GOOD: This sled handles really well. The suspension is dialed in real well and responds to ride input really easily. If your a tall rider your going to love this sled. The seat and the handle bars are perfect for a guy who is over 6 foot tall. The motor runs really good. Throttle response is great and the throttle lever has a nice pull. Also, belts are really easy to change or take off to cool in the snow. Only takes about 2 minutes from stopping your sled to installing the new belt and riding again. You also get more milage with the dragon. My buddy and I ride really similar and the M8 always has to carry extra fuel.
THE BAD: The sled seems to be out climbed my the M8. maybe because the M8 that I rode was a 163 and the dragon was a 155. You just had to put a couple sidehills in your climb to make it where the M made it. The Polaris 800 stock will blow within 2000 miles. Polaris has acknowledge this and will replace all 800 motors at no cost. The running boards don't clear snow as well as the M's
M8 163: The Good: The sled has a low center of gravity and is a born hillclimber. The powerclaw track just looks awesome. Motor is strong and reliable.
THE BAD: Handles great in the deep powder but on the trail it tends to push... alot. Even with the limiting straps adjusted it still pushes. You have to tinker a lit bit more to make the sled work good. The seat is out dated and really low. Its hard to jump up to a standing position and I felt a little more worn out on the M. The handle bars are also low and require a spacer for aggressive riders. This thing drinks gas.
Overall: Both sleds are really fun to ride. Depending on what you like to do has a great deal with which one I would pick. If your a hillclimber and your always going to be going for the highmark or steep chutes I would choose the M. If you like boondockin' and dropping cliffs the Dragon is an excelent choice. Both sled do everything really well, I would really base my decision on where is your closest dealer. I have a polaris and it gets annoying driving an hour just to get to a Polaris dealer. (I have an Arctic Cat dealer 10 minutes from my house.) Sleds have become like dirtbikes, pick your favorite color and go with that one.
Dragon 800: THE GOOD: This sled handles really well. The suspension is dialed in real well and responds to ride input really easily. If your a tall rider your going to love this sled. The seat and the handle bars are perfect for a guy who is over 6 foot tall. The motor runs really good. Throttle response is great and the throttle lever has a nice pull. Also, belts are really easy to change or take off to cool in the snow. Only takes about 2 minutes from stopping your sled to installing the new belt and riding again. You also get more milage with the dragon. My buddy and I ride really similar and the M8 always has to carry extra fuel.
THE BAD: The sled seems to be out climbed my the M8. maybe because the M8 that I rode was a 163 and the dragon was a 155. You just had to put a couple sidehills in your climb to make it where the M made it. The Polaris 800 stock will blow within 2000 miles. Polaris has acknowledge this and will replace all 800 motors at no cost. The running boards don't clear snow as well as the M's
M8 163: The Good: The sled has a low center of gravity and is a born hillclimber. The powerclaw track just looks awesome. Motor is strong and reliable.
THE BAD: Handles great in the deep powder but on the trail it tends to push... alot. Even with the limiting straps adjusted it still pushes. You have to tinker a lit bit more to make the sled work good. The seat is out dated and really low. Its hard to jump up to a standing position and I felt a little more worn out on the M. The handle bars are also low and require a spacer for aggressive riders. This thing drinks gas.
Overall: Both sleds are really fun to ride. Depending on what you like to do has a great deal with which one I would pick. If your a hillclimber and your always going to be going for the highmark or steep chutes I would choose the M. If you like boondockin' and dropping cliffs the Dragon is an excelent choice. Both sled do everything really well, I would really base my decision on where is your closest dealer. I have a polaris and it gets annoying driving an hour just to get to a Polaris dealer. (I have an Arctic Cat dealer 10 minutes from my house.) Sleds have become like dirtbikes, pick your favorite color and go with that one.
A
AkHockey10
Well-known member
Ive ridden both. For me, I like the M better overall. Dragon was more stable on the hard packed snow and the trails as the M was more difficult to maneuver. In deep snow (if you wanna call it that) 2-3 ft. the M was easier to lay over and play in tight trees. So, I am more comfortable on the M with the riding I do. You cannot go wrong with either one honestly. I had many sleepless nights debating on which one to go with..I pretty much flipped a coin and snow checked the M8.
Are you thinking about picking up a 2010 model? or a hold over?
like stated above, I wouldn't mind owning both!
Are you thinking about picking up a 2010 model? or a hold over?
like stated above, I wouldn't mind owning both!
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if i was you i would look at which dealer is closer, and which is giving the better deal. I would probably go with the dragon because i like the colors better, but then again im a polaris guy
This question is asked a lot between all of the sleds. We can all give you our opinions, but they will be different in some aspect of what you like. The best thing you can do is ride them both and make the determination yourself. I was going to buy one sled (I was determined), until I rode another. I changed my mind.
By the way, the Dragon is better. It just needs a better track under it.
By the way, the Dragon is better. It just needs a better track under it.
Both are great rode both and love em
Ive ridden both. For me, I like the M better overall. Dragon was more stable on the hard packed snow and the trails as the M was more difficult to maneuver. In deep snow (if you wanna call it that) 2-3 ft. the M was easier to lay over and play in tight trees. So, I am more comfortable on the M with the riding I do. You cannot go wrong with either one honestly. I had many sleepless nights debating on which one to go with..I pretty much flipped a coin and snow checked the M8.
Are you thinking about picking up a 2010 model? or a hold over?
like stated above, I wouldn't mind owning both!
Looking at holdovers. Dealers dont factor in as any good ones are all over 250miles in any direction. Not a ton of trees here in the high Nevada desert...lots of climbing, lots of chutes. Im 6'2" and ride HARD... so far for my style of riding... consensus seems to be an M. I have ridden an M-7 and REALLY liked the feel. Just not alot of DRAGONS around here.
S
snowmobiler
Well-known member
Xp
m8
go with the m8, unless you want to deal with poo and there wonderful engines. the m8 is the best 800cc sled out there, even with less power it is always there with the others, or from what I saw last winter beating them all. With the 2010's coming soon they will be behind even more! Sorry doo and poo boys!
go with the m8, unless you want to deal with poo and there wonderful engines. the m8 is the best 800cc sled out there, even with less power it is always there with the others, or from what I saw last winter beating them all. With the 2010's coming soon they will be behind even more! Sorry doo and poo boys!
S
SNOW JW
Well-known member
That is a hard one. With having allot of seat time on the boosted M's and Dragons if I had to pick from the 09's I would go with the Dragon.
If I had to pick from the 2010's I would go Cat but not because I think the Cat is better I just like switching sleds every few years and the new 2010 motor with boost is amazing.
Like most have said these two sleds are the cream of the crop as far as mountain sleds go. If I was rich I would own bolth for sure.
If I had to pick from the 2010's I would go Cat but not because I think the Cat is better I just like switching sleds every few years and the new 2010 motor with boost is amazing.
Like most have said these two sleds are the cream of the crop as far as mountain sleds go. If I was rich I would own bolth for sure.
put a camo extreme or a power claw on the dragon and it will out climb the m-8 and the xp..I have ridden with both xp's and m8's and the polaris track sucks in all but certain conditions...buddy put a camo extreme on his 700 dragon and spanked all of us very badly for the rest of the season(D-8's, m-8's and xp's).....but as everyone has said..ride them all...find the one you like to ride the most ..if the only thing that stops you on the dragon is how well it climbs...consider a track..it will impress you.......
A
AkHockey10
Well-known member
lol, so with all the good opinions out there.. flip a coin and pull the trigger
Good luck with your choice and let us know which one your bringing home !
Good luck with your choice and let us know which one your bringing home !
I would buy the m-8 just for reliability, i know a guy who went through many d8 motors this year, i just wont say how many. The dealer fixed the sled each time but what happens when warranty won't cover, the d8 is a great sled except for the engine issue's and the track i hope they get a fix soon. On the other hand the m-8 is a strong runner, great engine, good track, awesome in the powder but rough on the packed trails, i like my m8 and have had no issue's yet. JMO
You need to ride each to tell what you like most. It doesnt matter how many opinions you get, most of these people probly arent your size and dont ride in the same conditions or have the same riding style as you. Its also a good idea to take your dealer into consideration, which one is closest, best deal, and which will provide the best long term service. Its still good to get everyones opinion, but when it comes down to the final decision it should be from riding each sled and seeing which one suits you best.
If those are the only two choices, I would definatly go M8....but both are not the best choice IMO
