This fall I made the decision to buy an Assault. My prior two sleds was a 2002 Arctic Cat Mountain Cat 800 LE 151", which I rode for two years and then I bought a 2005 Ski Doo Rev 144". The Mountain cat was basically stock (just a can) and the Rev had quite a bit of bolt on work (head, can, Holz, Boss, Fox Floats, Reeds, etc, etc). I obviously went to the Rev because of the updated chassis. The cat had good power but was heavy and was a bathtub chassis.
I had spent some decent time on both the Dragon 700 and two different Dragon 800's, as well as some time on the XP 800. I really like the chassis of the Dragon and was open to buy a D8 or an Assault. I knew if I bought the Assault it would not handle as well as the Dragon and I was willing to accept that. I figured the chassis was good enough that even with the front end being longer I would be able to get around fine. I like to jump a sled and boondock mostly, so I figured this sled was a good fit. Plus the price was right ($8600 with 155 miles on it).
Day 1 doesn't really count, for it was with very little snow and mostly a trial run to see how the sled ran. I got some turns but it was limited to lack of snow.
Day 2: This is my first real day on the snow with this sled. We made the drive to Wolf Creek this past weekend because of lack of snow in our area. The snow up there was great; many spots had 2.5' of fresh. I was able to turn with no issues. It certainly doesn't turn as easy as a D8 but it turned easier than my 2005 REV. I did have my shock turned all the way down on the front; even on their lightest setting they are stiff. I never did turn down the rear shocks; I think they are on the hardest setting as well. I struggled a bit in the trees to have the control I wanted. It was not bad but I didn't feel like I was in complete control. I had no issue getting the sled onto it's side or turning but I had a problem going back the other direction or more specifically to the "neutral" position. When I try to go to the middle I usually go to far and end up on the othe edge. I hope that makes sense; if I am on a right and turn and try to go straight I usually ended up on a left hand turn. I was able to get more time in open areas, doing turnout, donuts, etc. This was helpful to get a feel for the sled. This sled is easy to get over, hard to get back up. Throttle control goes a long ways.
I was hurt because the original owner took the bar hooks off and the sled also doesn't come with a mountain strap. I never had any idea how often I grab for the mountain bar, many times without knowing. I tried to make a makeshift one with some rope but it didn't really work to well and the rope would flex down and hit the kill switch which made for more than one stuck.
I also hate the position of the kill switch, too bad it is attached to the throttle block or I would move it. I plan using a rubber-band in the future. That and I am sure I will learn to remember where the switch is. Overall I didn't think was getting stuck because of the "track". I felt that I was stuck because of no mountain strap and unable to control the sled correctly, or my feel for the chassis and new sled was lacking (riding skill on this chassis wasn't there yet).
Day 2: Day 1, every time I got stuck I blamed the lack of mountain strap. It has kinda became a joke. Because of that I was able to buy a fabcraft mountain bar that fit the Assault handlebars perfectly. It is actually the EXACT strap that Polaris uses on the Dragon. This helped a lot. For anyone having problems moving the Assault how you would like, I HIGHLY recommend you get a mountain strap. The Fabcraft is hard enough to be firm while using it and soft enough it will not destroy you if you come in contact with it while jumping. I actually had aftermarket bar hooks to put on, but they didn't fit the handlebars. I will probably source out the OEM hooks.
Day 2 went a lot better. I got stuck way less (1 time I think). I also think having a day under my belt on the chassis helped me out. The mountain bar helped me turn the sled when on a side hill much easier, I was also about to do downhill turnouts much easier. You certainly have to learn to commit the sled when turning. If you half *** it, it is not going to happen. Seat time on the chassis will give you (learn) confidence. I still have a ways to go but day 2 was a much better day. When you are turning get your weight forward on the chassis, this helps add ski pressure to make turning easier (really the same with any sled). There were really no hills that I couldn't climb that I wanted to climb. Granted I was never a big hill climber I have always been someone that enjoys boondocking, playing and jumping more.
The track hooks up awesome; you learn to back off the throttle a little to keep the track from trenching. Learn to feather the throttle. When the sled starts to trench down, shaking the sled, working the throttle and getting your weight forward helps a lot. There were several times that while climbing I ended up going into a side hill because I wasn't going to make it and then after the side hill I would climb up further, going straight. You will work with this sled.
All in all I love the sled at this point. It does not handle like a Dragon but it is not bad. It handles better than my REV and I think handles better than an XP. I love how the track hooks up. I can honestly say that I was never stuck because the track was too hard or too short. I was stuck because of my skill or because I hit the kill switch.
I just thought I would share my initial impressions of this sled. Right now it is basically 100% stock. I do have better boards on it and am planning on an SLP can along with some various vents.
For people with this sled I would go for a Mountain strap first thing. Spend some time on it getting used to the chassis and the tipsiness of it and what it takes to get it back up.
I had spent some decent time on both the Dragon 700 and two different Dragon 800's, as well as some time on the XP 800. I really like the chassis of the Dragon and was open to buy a D8 or an Assault. I knew if I bought the Assault it would not handle as well as the Dragon and I was willing to accept that. I figured the chassis was good enough that even with the front end being longer I would be able to get around fine. I like to jump a sled and boondock mostly, so I figured this sled was a good fit. Plus the price was right ($8600 with 155 miles on it).
Day 1 doesn't really count, for it was with very little snow and mostly a trial run to see how the sled ran. I got some turns but it was limited to lack of snow.
Day 2: This is my first real day on the snow with this sled. We made the drive to Wolf Creek this past weekend because of lack of snow in our area. The snow up there was great; many spots had 2.5' of fresh. I was able to turn with no issues. It certainly doesn't turn as easy as a D8 but it turned easier than my 2005 REV. I did have my shock turned all the way down on the front; even on their lightest setting they are stiff. I never did turn down the rear shocks; I think they are on the hardest setting as well. I struggled a bit in the trees to have the control I wanted. It was not bad but I didn't feel like I was in complete control. I had no issue getting the sled onto it's side or turning but I had a problem going back the other direction or more specifically to the "neutral" position. When I try to go to the middle I usually go to far and end up on the othe edge. I hope that makes sense; if I am on a right and turn and try to go straight I usually ended up on a left hand turn. I was able to get more time in open areas, doing turnout, donuts, etc. This was helpful to get a feel for the sled. This sled is easy to get over, hard to get back up. Throttle control goes a long ways.
I was hurt because the original owner took the bar hooks off and the sled also doesn't come with a mountain strap. I never had any idea how often I grab for the mountain bar, many times without knowing. I tried to make a makeshift one with some rope but it didn't really work to well and the rope would flex down and hit the kill switch which made for more than one stuck.
I also hate the position of the kill switch, too bad it is attached to the throttle block or I would move it. I plan using a rubber-band in the future. That and I am sure I will learn to remember where the switch is. Overall I didn't think was getting stuck because of the "track". I felt that I was stuck because of no mountain strap and unable to control the sled correctly, or my feel for the chassis and new sled was lacking (riding skill on this chassis wasn't there yet).
Day 2: Day 1, every time I got stuck I blamed the lack of mountain strap. It has kinda became a joke. Because of that I was able to buy a fabcraft mountain bar that fit the Assault handlebars perfectly. It is actually the EXACT strap that Polaris uses on the Dragon. This helped a lot. For anyone having problems moving the Assault how you would like, I HIGHLY recommend you get a mountain strap. The Fabcraft is hard enough to be firm while using it and soft enough it will not destroy you if you come in contact with it while jumping. I actually had aftermarket bar hooks to put on, but they didn't fit the handlebars. I will probably source out the OEM hooks.
Day 2 went a lot better. I got stuck way less (1 time I think). I also think having a day under my belt on the chassis helped me out. The mountain bar helped me turn the sled when on a side hill much easier, I was also about to do downhill turnouts much easier. You certainly have to learn to commit the sled when turning. If you half *** it, it is not going to happen. Seat time on the chassis will give you (learn) confidence. I still have a ways to go but day 2 was a much better day. When you are turning get your weight forward on the chassis, this helps add ski pressure to make turning easier (really the same with any sled). There were really no hills that I couldn't climb that I wanted to climb. Granted I was never a big hill climber I have always been someone that enjoys boondocking, playing and jumping more.
The track hooks up awesome; you learn to back off the throttle a little to keep the track from trenching. Learn to feather the throttle. When the sled starts to trench down, shaking the sled, working the throttle and getting your weight forward helps a lot. There were several times that while climbing I ended up going into a side hill because I wasn't going to make it and then after the side hill I would climb up further, going straight. You will work with this sled.
All in all I love the sled at this point. It does not handle like a Dragon but it is not bad. It handles better than my REV and I think handles better than an XP. I love how the track hooks up. I can honestly say that I was never stuck because the track was too hard or too short. I was stuck because of my skill or because I hit the kill switch.
I just thought I would share my initial impressions of this sled. Right now it is basically 100% stock. I do have better boards on it and am planning on an SLP can along with some various vents.
For people with this sled I would go for a Mountain strap first thing. Spend some time on it getting used to the chassis and the tipsiness of it and what it takes to get it back up.
