My 2013 Pro RMK ride pictures & video

[Scott]

I was in the 10:00 group on Saturday.
I took CrazyRed (my dad Bruce) and Ridinforfun (Anthony)

Snow build-up from the morning ride:

For you guys wanting to know about clearance:

CrazyRed

I left the parking lot on a 2012 Assault with 155 comp track. Ski stance was set to narrowest.

20° and a couple inches of freshy on top of hard pack. Not great snow at all.

Assault was workable to lay over and carve. Snow sucked, and it wasn't the idea conditions for it.

Got on the 2013...Instantly felt lighter. Easier to toss around and throw, tip, carve, hook a turn, balance etc than the 12 Assault.

The assault took much more work and a little countersteer to get it to go over. The 13.....NOT EVEN CLOSE to the same effort, IMO.

Anthony hooked a turn that I thought he'd NEVER come out of. Holy crap it was sweet. He was in the snow with his ribs and he stood that thing right back up when he came out.

We were gone from the parking lot less than 2 hours...we rode HARD for the 50 mins we were given at the warming hut area. I was sweaty wet and I was SORE on Sunday. We pounded it.


BTW, I am going to drill some screws (like the Skinz airframes) into the pretty little bracket at the back of the running boards. It's slippery.

Seat...the stubby seat is GREAT. I never hit it once with my legs.
It's more firm...I like it. Width is better. It doesn't go up my crack when I'm using it.
Didn't notice the wideness of the seat too be a negative at all. I'm not big (145lbs), and i thought the width was great. More firm than a 2012.

Shorter Seat length was a big (ie GOOD) issue for me. I loved it. Never kicked it once. Never knew it was there.
You taller guys will never know it's there until you want too suit down.

Kill switch...
WAY BETTER. Yeah, if your 4 year old is on front, he'll hit it. So put some rubber bands under it like we had to before. Cause they'll hit it no matter where you have it on the bars. I only bumped it once.

Belt drive...I like the lack of chaincase sound. Lack of that chaincase sound is replaced by that quiet belt whistle...like a supercharger. I liked it. VERY snappy. GREAT throttle response over the 12 Assault I was on. If you are worried about getting your fingers in there don't put them in there while you are driving. Same as your clutches. Don't put fingers in there either.
The belt is TIGHT. No tensioner needed at this point at all from what I could see.

I loved the sound of the belt drive.

 

[Scott]

I never took any action shots...too busy making tracks and burning gas.

Got about an hour of helmet cam vids. Gonna have to wait until late Feb for me to get that posted.

Anthony (Ridinforfun) on the left and Bruce (CrazyRed) strapping on...

 

[Scott]

The following posts are cut and pasted from other threads....

phatty, as far as laying the sled over on it's side, was there a big difference on the ease of doing so, compared to a 2012. I guess why I'm asking is because I had a sled with a belt drive and it was the easiest sled to lay over that I ever rode. There were some other factors involved but I did everything at once so I wasn't sure which made what. If it is that much easier I'm getting one for my wife.

YES, very noticeable. I jumped back and forth on a narrow set stance assault and the 2013. VERY NOCTICEABLE for me.

Anthony (ridinforfun ?) was with me on Saturday and I got a sweet helmet cam shot of him LAYING IT OVER on hard pack and it came out and stood RIGTH BACK UP again. It was a SWEET hook turn.

Did polaris say why they won't be putting the belt drive on the Assaults for 2013?

I'm going to guess the RMSHA guys want to be able to change gears, so if they want that option, they can buy the Assault.

 

[Scott]

Eric, Below is a copy and paste quote from Phatty about the handling of the 2013 compared to the 2012. Do you feel the same? The reason I ask is I own a brand new 2012 and find it hard to believe that the changes made would make the 2012 feel like the stone age. If this is the case what was the major component change on the 2013 to make it feel this way and do you think Polaris will have updates for the 2011,2012 PROS so our 2012 isn't outdated?... Thanks


Phatty's Quote

"So the 2013 handles like a dream. Burandts word is flickable. That word is definitly applicable to this sled. Its light, its nimble, its easy, responsive, and handles like a dream. Getting back on the 2012 felt like going to the stone ages. You can dance in the trees like never before, and i thought the 2012 pro was pretty awesome, but the 2013 is at a new level."

I would agree about how much easier it is to ride.

My snow today SUCKED. HARD with only a couple inches of powder. Hard to trench through it.
With that said....

The 2012 I rode today (Assault with 155 comp track) was HARD to hook and turn uphill. The 2013 I rode today was NOT hard to do that with.

 

[Scott]

Someone mentioned ratcheting in another thread...

I came down on some really hard snow with heavy throttle and also in ungroomed road moguls up past the warming hut (where I have experienced the most ratcheting) I got NO ratcheting on the 13 Saturday (nor the 12 Assault for that matter).

 

[Scott]

Addressing how your boots might be shredded on the boards...

...I think most people do their boot damage while kicking and stomping snow...while these new running boards might have more teeth, I think a person will still do far less boot damage because they aren't scuffing or stomping into them very much at all.

The ONLY thing i might do is drill some screws into that pretty rear running board bracket. Sorta like the Skinz boards...
I slid my boot across that once on a particular couple of maneuvers and the boot slipped.
__________________

 

[Scott]

My home computer here is running out of steam for the night. I have to shut it down and try again tomorrow night.

I've got just a couple more pictures to load up, but nothing too exciting.

It sure is a fun sled to ride.

I made sure I rode the 13 down the truck on the way out. The "standard" Walker coilover shocks didn't feel as buttery on the chatter and the crap in the road on the way out as the piggyback shocks on the 12 Assault did...

WHY DON'T THEY OFFER THAT SHOCK PACKAGE (with proper center to center of course) AS A SWEET UPGRADE TO THE RYDEFX OR THE "STANDARD" WALKERS (without the piggyback)?

WE WANT THE PIGGYBACK SHOCK OPTION ON THE SWEET PRO CHASSIS!!!!!

 

[Letitsnow***907]

Thanks for the pictures and great review!! I am snow checking one

 

[Stocker]

What was your impression on the strength of the new running board cross treads? It looks like a great design, but I am a little concerned they may fatigue and crack over time. Especially for jumpers.

 

[Xrider]

I noticed scratchers down, still have heat issues I assume.

 

[Goin For Snow]

look how much area that saved with a small can, no chaincase cover.
other Manufacturers should take note, instead of putting time designing trying to make it small around big components(read AC 800 can), how about if we design smaller underhood parts??
A rear bumper that you can grab anywhere??? completely off the wall
sled looks good.

 

[Old Scud-doo]

Anybody get a look at the secondary? Is it a TSS-04 or a TIED? Haven't seen a picture of that side of the motor yet uncovered.

 

[braapin]

I know that people say they aren't putting the belt drive on the assaults, just because the assaults are made for racers that want to change gears. I think this is a mistake. The assaults are phenomenal mountain sleds with a great shock package. For anybody who rides the backcountry and likes the abilitly to dial in their shocks for a certain type of riding, the Assault is the ticket. I think Polaris should offer a premium shock package on the PRO RMK for 2013 if they aren't putting the belt drive on the 2013 assault. It doesn't make sense to me to produce a sled for a few hundred racers with a season that is now only 6 races long and doesnt get much exposure besides Jackson Hole. Just my 2 cents. Not sure what anyone else thinks.

 

[Mikew5j]

I know that people say they aren't putting the belt drive on the assaults, just because the assaults are made for racers that want to change gears. I think this is a mistake. The assaults are phenomenal mountain sleds with a great shock package. For anybody who rides the backcountry and likes the abilitly to dial in their shocks for a certain type of riding, the Assault is the ticket. I think Polaris should offer a premium shock package on the PRO RMK for 2013 if they aren't putting the belt drive on the 2013 assault. It doesn't make sense to me to produce a sled for a few hundred racers with a season that is now only 6 races long and doesnt get much exposure besides Jackson Hole. Just my 2 cents. Not sure what anyone else thinks.

I'm really hoping that a premium shock package will be a snow check option on the Pro-RMK this year.

 

[Spud]

I was in the 10:00 group on Saturday.
I took CrazyRed (my dad Bruce) and Ridinforfun (Anthony)

Snow build-up from the morning ride:

For you guys wanting to know about clearance:

CrazyRed

I left the parking lot on a 2012 Assault with 155 comp track. Ski stance was set to narrowest.

20° and a couple inches of freshy on top of hard pack. Not great snow at all.

Assault was workable to lay over and carve. Snow sucked, and it wasn't the idea conditions for it.

Got on the 2013...Instantly felt lighter. Easier to toss around and throw, tip, carve, hook a turn, balance etc than the 12 Assault.

The assault took much more work and a little countersteer to get it to go over. The 13.....NOT EVEN CLOSE to the same effort, IMO.

Anthony hooked a turn that I thought he'd NEVER come out of. Holy crap it was sweet. He was in the snow with his ribs and he stood that thing right back up when he came out.

We were gone from the parking lot less than 2 hours...we rode HARD for the 50 mins we were given at the warming hut area. I was sweaty wet and I was SORE on Sunday. We pounded it.


BTW, I am going to drill some screws (like the Skinz airframes) into the pretty little bracket at the back of the running boards. It's slippery.

Seat...the stubby seat is GREAT. I never hit it once with my legs.
It's more firm...I like it. Width is better. It doesn't go up my crack when I'm using it.
Didn't notice the wideness of the seat too be a negative at all. I'm not big (145lbs), and i thought the width was great. More firm than a 2012.

Shorter Seat length was a big (ie GOOD) issue for me. I loved it. Never kicked it once. Never knew it was there.
You taller guys will never know it's there until you want too suit down.

Kill switch...
WAY BETTER. Yeah, if your 4 year old is on front, he'll hit it. So put some rubber bands under it like we had to before. Cause they'll hit it no matter where you have it on the bars. I only bumped it once.

Belt drive...I like the lack of chaincase sound. Lack of that chaincase sound is replaced by that quiet belt whistle...like a supercharger. I liked it. VERY snappy. GREAT throttle response over the 12 Assault I was on. If you are worried about getting your fingers in there don't put them in there while you are driving. Same as your clutches. Don't put fingers in there either.
The belt is TIGHT. No tensioner needed at this point at all from what I could see.

I loved the sound of the belt drive.

So you met Troy from Great Falls? He is the one to the left of crazy red in the blue klim coat-black hat, grew up in Ltown w/him!

 

[Scott]

What was your impression on the strength of the new running board cross treads? It looks like a great design, but I am a little concerned they may fatigue and crack over time. Especially for jumpers.

I thought they were STIFF. There was a guy in our group that was big and he said he was impressed when the ride got over.

I noticed scratchers down, still have heat issues I assume.

We were required to put them down on the road in...the road conditions sucked.
Once we got to the warming hut...they let us kick them back up on the rails and the water temps did NOT change on the sled I rode. They STAYED at 125 the ENTIRE RIDE!!!

Anybody get a look at the secondary? Is it a TSS-04 or a TIED? Haven't seen a picture of that side of the motor yet uncovered.

TSS-04.

I know that people say they aren't putting the belt drive on the assaults, just because the assaults are made for racers that want to change gears. I think this is a mistake. The assaults are phenomenal mountain sleds with a great shock package. For anybody who rides the backcountry and likes the abilitly to dial in their shocks for a certain type of riding, the Assault is the ticket. I think Polaris should offer a premium shock package on the PRO RMK for 2013 if they aren't putting the belt drive on the 2013 assault. It doesn't make sense to me to produce a sled for a few hundred racers with a season that is now only 6 races long and doesnt get much exposure besides Jackson Hole. Just my 2 cents. Not sure what anyone else thinks.

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm really hoping that a premium shock package will be a snow check option on the Pro-RMK this year.

LETS START A CAMPAIGN!!!

So you met Troy from Great Falls? He is the one to the left of crazy red in the blue klim coat-black hat, grew up in Ltown w/him!

Yeah. I think he said he rides a Yami right now.

 

[Scott]

Looks like my computer didn't get anymore pics uploaded to photobucket before it took a digger last night.

I'll get some more tonight.

BTW, Confused by negative rep in the this thread. LOL

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Looks like my computer didn't get anymore pics uploaded to photobucket before it took a digger last night.

I'll get some more tonight.

BTW, Confused by negative rep in the this thread. LOL

POSTAL...thats all I have to say to you today scott....****er....LMAO....

 

[Spud]

Yeah a older RX1 turbo, he owns TC collision

 

[xc6rider]

Great review!! Was hoping to read some seat opinions.