new to poo need some help

[doofun]

I've rode an 07 doo for the past 5 years. I just purchased a 2012 Pro. I've only got to ride it a couple of times but at this point I prefure my old doo. The Pro is completly stock. I ride in Idaho around 8000 ft. Mostly ride in the trees boondocking. Got a couple of questions.
Romove sway bar or leave it?
Narrow ski stance or leave stock?
Handle bars seam too high and too wide.
Front shocks soft or stiff?
Any other help that I'm missing would be great.
THANKS

 

[Butta]

What is it about your Doo that you prefer? Is it just more seat time required to make the transition?

I've ridden quite a few different machines, including the 07 Rev, and by far my '12 Pro is the most comfortable and confidence inspiring machine for me. I have only tightened up the rear shock spring a few turns and replaced the front track shock spring with the Assault spring (heavier spring).

The Pro is very neutral and does not require the huge "commit" to lean like the Rev chassis (for me). Most of the time the inputs for me to control the Pro is purely leaning with my hips and a slight pull on the opposite side handlebar. I suggest more seat time, and if you are over 180-200 lbs, replace the front track spring with the heavier Assault spring (cheap mod and works well). Foot placement also has a lot to do with it, although I can't exactly explain every situation. When I was learning the Pro, I had a tendency to remain too far back on the machine, causing the track to slide out on sidehills...once I forced myself to remain more forward, it became "easy"....

 

[Jaynelson]

I've rode an 07 doo for the past 5 years. I just purchased a 2012 Pro. I've only got to ride it a couple of times but at this point I prefure my old doo. The Pro is completly stock. I ride in Idaho around 8000 ft. Mostly ride in the trees boondocking. Got a couple of questions.
Romove sway bar or leave it?
Narrow ski stance or leave stock?
Handle bars seam too high and too wide.
Front shocks soft or stiff?
Any other help that I'm missing would be great.
THANKS

I came off an 07 Rev I quite liked as well. It did take a ride or 2 to get used to the Pro, but once I did, I can do things on it that I flat could not on the Doo. Here's some quick stuff I could think of for a starting point.

- Leave the swaybar in and forget that it exists unless you are willing to buy heavier springs/different front shocks.
- Ski stance in the middle is about the same as the narrow setting on the Doo IIRC. My stance in still in the middle (just because), but narrow works too. Doesn't change the world.
- I am 6'1" or 6'2" and the stock bars seem the right hight. If you're a bit shorter (or just prefer lower bars), you may have to change them out. I liked the Pro bars more than the narrow ones on the Doo....but I think I just like em cause they feel like dirt bike bars. If the width bothers you more than the height, the "most free" solution would be to cut them and see if that helps...
- Bars in-line (on the same plane) as the steering post.

Suspension:
- Small suspension adjustments on the Pro have WAY more impact than on the Rev, so you want to get it dialed.
- To start, I would set the RTS to the spring length for your weight (it has the specs in the owner's manual).
- FTS to roughly 1" of threads showing.
- Front ski shocks maybe 1/2 way through their travel and go from there? Those are more personal pref, and don't make as much difference as the skid shocks.

Note, even with the suspension "set up," it will roll like a basterd on the trail and/or push through corners more than your Rev. It also doesn't wheelie as much, which is an advantage in the steep stuff, but harder to double-up the whoops and such. Those seem to be the compromises for off-trail performance. Steer with your feet, and the Pro likes lots of counter steer. Have fun!

 

[Reg2view]

Those where great comments. The Pro is the most sensitive to suspension setup than any mt sled I've ridden, and must more sensitive than the Rev (Rev rider since 04, still have two and a XP, and Pro rider since 11). The Pro is the worst trail handling, and stock riding, mt sled I've owned. By far. And the easiest stock deep pow sled I've ridden, comparable to the best rev mod sled, and I've owned one of those, but it has to be setup correctly for pow. JMPE. Get with some riders that know the Pro setup, if you haven't. Of course, sometimes, what works for some doesn't work for all. Good luck.

 

[doofun]

Thanks for all the comments. With a little suspension set up and more seat time I hope it all comes together. I love how the Poo gets up on the snow and the power is very consistant. Where I seem to have the most trouble is side hilling. I'm 5'10" 200# and have no arms. By the time I reach the bar on the down hill side of the sled most of my weight is over center and makes it hard to pull it up. I know, the first thing you are going to say is lose 30#. This is why I am woundering if I narrowed up the bars if that would help, but what am I giving up. You know the law of physics for every action there is a reaction.
Everyone out there is so helpfull and ready to give up their secrets to help a newbee.
Again THANKS

 

[jakey-boy]

I have bad news for you! Once you ride a doo you are forever ruined to all other snowmobiles and nothing will ever work...









No but seriously. The PRO is awesome just different. Get as much seat time as you can and really try to push yourself in places that would normally be easy. Find ways to make easy lines technical so that when it comes time to make technical lines they are easy. Others can help you with suspension setup I am sure but my recommendation is just lots of time riding.

 

[Dartos]

Thanks for all the comments. With a little suspension set up and more seat time I hope it all comes together. I love how the Poo gets up on the snow and the power is very consistant. Where I seem to have the most trouble is side hilling. I'm 5'10" 200# and have no arms. By the time I reach the bar on the down hill side of the sled most of my weight is over center and makes it hard to pull it up. I know, the first thing you are going to say is lose 30#. This is why I am woundering if I narrowed up the bars if that would help, but what am I giving up. You know the law of physics for every action there is a reaction.
Everyone out there is so helpfull and ready to give up their secrets to help a newbee.
Again THANKS

I am 5' 7" and the stock Pro Tapers are definitely to high and to wide for me. My biggest problem is much like you described, trying to get the sled up on edge when you are already on the hill and very slow or stopped. My chest is already past the center line of the sled and even when I steer downhill it is very difficult to get the weight to transfer back up the hill. I had a 2011 M8 and loved the adjustable height steering post, put it all the way down and you don't have to reach downhill nearly as far to grip the handlebar.

This summer I will be putting on a pivot style steering post and an adjustable height Rox Riser handlebar riser along with different handlebars.

 

[06redrevx]

I came off an 06 rev and loved it.
At first I thought I could do more on the Rev.
Once I learned to use finesse and less throttle on the Pro there was no looking back. They are simply amazing.
A little counter steer will go a long way.
As others have stated set-up is key. Get shocks set to your weight and play with fine tuning in small increments.
Enjoy!!

 

[revrider07]

Came from the Xp camp and realy like my pro. My findings is I was to far ahead on the pro moved back off the bars and steer with my feet the sled comes alive. I put raptors on it and bumps don't matter just hammer though them. Small suspension changes make the sled handle way different. More seat time and you will get it after putting 800 miles on mine rode buddies Xp last time out and no way would I go back. You can ride way slower in sidehilling takes some getting used to.

 

[AdrenalineAddict]

Alot of folks have issues with the Pro-Taper bars. I am the owner of a 2012 and the first thing I did was remove the stock bars and replaced them with a set of lower and narrower RSI's (would do it again in a heartbeat and I'm 6'2"). It is almost impossible for most to pull off an uphill turn in the deep because of the width, your CG ends up on the wrong side of the sled. Suspend the front end of your sled and adjust your front shocks to as soft as you can make them without the keepers falling out, keep the swaybar in. Tune for 8050 RPM, Polaris book clutching is nearly perfect. You do have to ride the sled on one ski, it's a little difficult to ride sitting in the seat. I wasn't sure I'd like the sled after riding some 2011's but I just turned 3400 miles today and have loved every minute of every ride. It's easy on gas, easy on belts, and runs very consistent, it's the best gas and go sled I've ever had. The sled has a wonderful balance point if sidehilling is your deal, you can ride this sled on one ski all the way to the sun with no effort whatsoever.

 

[gman086]

I've rode an 07 doo for the past 5 years. I just purchased a 2012 Pro. I've only got to ride it a couple of times but at this point I prefure my old doo. The Pro is completly stock. I ride in Idaho around 8000 ft. Mostly ride in the trees boondocking. Got a couple of questions.
Romove sway bar or leave it?
Narrow ski stance or leave stock?
Handle bars seam too high and too wide.
Front shocks soft or stiff?
Any other help that I'm missing would be great.
THANKS

Same here and actually still have my '07 Summit as my backup sled.
LEAVE the swaybar as has been stated. I pulled them on every REV I owned but they actually help the Pro - especially with diving while sidehilling even WITH aftermarket shocks!
Narrow stance - still wider than Doo's stance by 1"!
Bars ARE too high and wide. Get RSI bars or even lower with Fly Freestyle bars cut 1" on each side (what I did).
Stock shocks suck on the Pro. I went with Evol R's and never looked back - HUGE improvement all the way around and now sled works well even on the trail.
Shock tuning is critical - I found a bit more FTS (front track shock) pressure worked absolute wonders for the Pro when it comes to countersteer initiation. Heavyweights already sag the rear so they don't need to do that but it helped me immensely like Jaynelson said - 1" threads showing. My Pro runs circles around my '07 Summit!

Have FUN!

G MAN

 

[doofun]

Thanks guys for all the great feed back. I am going to buy the lower RSI bars and cut them down and inch on each end and hope that helps. The rest is probably just lack of talent. G Man I alway respect your input since I was on dootalk. THANKS EVERYONE!!!

 

[Solby]

Thanks guys for all the great feed back. I am going to buy the lower RSI bars and cut them down and inch on each end and hope that helps. The rest is probably just lack of talent. G Man I alway respect your input since I was on dootalk. THANKS EVERYONE!!!

You might also look at the Fly Dan Adams bar, it is a little taller than the Burandt bar with more room to narrow up the bar and fit your controls.

 

[doofun]

Thanks I'll look at that too.