out with two pros yesterday, how they compare to the etec

[Arcteryx]

Great point

If you have followed fred w's post then you would see why no one respects his opinion. He talks alot of shi-. He told us all earlier that the horse power difference was going to get our ***'s kicked by the doos. he has expressed that it wouldnt even compete with the cat or the doo. No one likes to be told that their newly purcahased sled is junk before anyone can compare the sleds.

I thought this was a great point. The dude (Fred or whatever) is reporting exactly what he was promoting before even riding the sleds. Self fulfilling prophecy if you ask me. I'm sure he views the rest of his life through the same rose colored glasses. Just look at his assessment of how respected he thinks he is.
I rode all day Sat with a new etec. My pro had 1 HR on it, the etec had 0 HR on it. They both performed well (great sleds both of em) but the Pro was able to take lines that the etec didn't make. We spent FAR more time digging the etec out than the Pro.

 

[deaner]

So you guys are saying the Pro seems to crawl up on top of the snow pretty easily? Thats good to hear. The approach angle seemed a little steep to me so this was one of my concerns with the sled. The only other thing to wait and see on is if it holds together ok. I sure hope so, so they dont have to beef it up like they did with the XP and then there goes all the wieght savings.

I dont see the power thing as a concern. I think Polaris is just playing it super safe after some of the troubles it has had. I dont think its going to take much at all to wake this engine up alot.

 

[WFO or go home]

Never seen such defensive owners since the RX-1 was introduced.

Seems like a comparison "opinion" would be nice. I am sure the pro owners had a different opinion, but of course theirs would be right.

 

[Kestrel2126]

STFU and Ride!

My god.....really?
First off, I own a Pro. The reason I own a Pro, is because after demo's last year, and comparing the aspects of all the sleds available, I believe it to be the best sled for my riding style. That is my opinion, and now that I own the thing, I am probably unintentionally biased. That said, anyone who owns a sled, is going to want to defend their sled. Brand loyalty is about the most narrow minded way of thinking around when it comes to sledding. I personally will own what I believe to be the best manufactured sled, regardless of emblem. I could list off all the reasons why I believe the Pro is a better sled than the other offerings, but it wouldn't matter to anyone else. Those reasons will not have the same level of importance to others, so I keep them to myself. I don't care what you ride, we can still ride together. I'm not going to make fun of you and tell you what a pile you are on. If you are currently riding an XP and are used to it, guess what......switching to a Pro (or an M), is going to feel weird and unnatural for a while. After a bit, you should be able to get the feel of how it handles, and give a fair evaluation.
All the manufacturers are making a good sled these days. They all have their problems though, even my Pro. I just feel that my Pro, has the least issues that need remedied. The long and short of it, all the new sleds are good, all riders are not. A good rider should be able to ride anything, after making the adjustments from sled to sled. Make your own decisions based on your own riding style, and experiences with the sleds. Don't try to get knowledge from a thread like this, as it is all BS!

 

[Slick]

Never seen such defensive owners since the RX-1 was introduced.

Seems like a comparison "opinion" would be nice. I am sure the pro owners had a different opinion, but of course theirs would be right.

Apparently you were off-line in 08 when the XP came out.

 

[snopro_ac]

Never seen such defensive owners since the RX-1 was introduced.

Seems like a comparison "opinion" would be nice. I am sure the pro owners had a different opinion, but of course theirs would be right.

it's good to get a comparison, and of course our opinion is the one we consider "right" otherwise why the hell have them. i appreciate your comparison, after thousands of miles on an xp summit i can say without a doubt that the polaris is the way to go. if you don't have brand loyalty you'll be on a polaris this year, i can't say who will have the best sled next year but for 2011 polaris is the all around mountain sled, and if you stuck a 16 inch wide track on it, it would probalby climb right past a skidoo straight up as well. regardless the one spot skidoo shines is the straight up climb, i ride a lot more that straight up a hill and have no use for something that is glued down. and how about a cat, rave reviews on sidehilling and boondocking in all the mags, on top of that they have the same 163 hp skidoo does.

 

[gman086]

So you guys are saying the Pro seems to crawl up on top of the snow pretty easily? Thats good to hear. The approach angle seemed a little steep to me so this was one of my concerns with the sled. The only other thing to wait and see on is if it holds together ok. I sure hope so, so they dont have to beef it up like they did with the XP and then there goes all the wieght savings.

I dont see the power thing as a concern. I think Polaris is just playing it super safe after some of the troubles it has had. I dont think its going to take much at all to wake this engine up alot.

Hey Deaner,

Actually the AA is shallower than any sled I've seen; the rails are up against the drivers even making it basically impossible to run extroverts without heavy modding of the rails (which are nearly straight at the front compared to my Summit!). That combined with the much higher clearance for the running boards, in comparison to Summits, and there's little question as to why the Pro does so well in the deep.

Cheers,

G

 

[rydningen]

My god.....really?
First off, I own a Pro. The reason I own a Pro, is because after demo's last year, and comparing the aspects of all the sleds available, I believe it to be the best sled for my riding style. That is my opinion, and now that I own the thing, I am probably unintentionally biased. That said, anyone who owns a sled, is going to want to defend their sled. Brand loyalty is about the most narrow minded way of thinking around when it comes to sledding. I personally will own what I believe to be the best manufactured sled, regardless of emblem. I could list off all the reasons why I believe the Pro is a better sled than the other offerings, but it wouldn't matter to anyone else. Those reasons will not have the same level of importance to others, so I keep them to myself. I don't care what you ride, we can still ride together. I'm not going to make fun of you and tell you what a pile you are on. If you are currently riding an XP and are used to it, guess what......switching to a Pro (or an M), is going to feel weird and unnatural for a while. After a bit, you should be able to get the feel of how it handles, and give a fair evaluation.
All the manufacturers are making a good sled these days. They all have their problems though, even my Pro. I just feel that my Pro, has the least issues that need remedied. The long and short of it, all the new sleds are good, all riders are not. A good rider should be able to ride anything, after making the adjustments from sled to sled. Make your own decisions based on your own riding style, and experiences with the sleds. Don't try to get knowledge from a thread like this, as it is all BS!

Could not agree more, ride what YOU want and like!

 

[Reg2view]

Hey Deaner,

Actually the AA is shallower than any sled I've seen; the rails are up against the drivers even making it basically impossible to run extroverts without heavy modding of the rails (which are nearly straight at the front compared to my Summit!). That combined with the much higher clearance for the running boards, in comparison to Summits, and there's little question as to why the Pro does so well in the deep.

Cheers,

G

You're right. Lined up my Pro alongside my Rev and XP, took some measurements, and the skid and tunnel is actually more like a Rev, than an XP, but still much improved. You can see how the snowability of the RMK works - lower attack angle, front skid dropped more, shorter front arm, deeper tunnel with huge taper, all adds up. Gotta say the Poo and Cat boyz in the west get some things right. I don't give 2 chits about the etec or xp, what works best for me in a given year, and that I can figure out and work on. Metric is a plus for those who've done the doo in the past, tho.

 

[deaner]

Hey Deaner,

Actually the AA is shallower than any sled I've seen; the rails are up against the drivers even making it basically impossible to run extroverts without heavy modding of the rails (which are nearly straight at the front compared to my Summit!). That combined with the much higher clearance for the running boards, in comparison to Summits, and there's little question as to why the Pro does so well in the deep.

Cheers,

G

Ok thanks for the feedback. Guess I should have looked a little closer. Im really starting to want one of these things. Havent ridden one yet, but just standing on them they feel like they would be a blast. Might hold off on doing the 860 on my xp until I can ride one of these things.

 

[mikew5945]

Pissypants??? Poo riders don't stop for lunch. They stop for hugs.
That should get me some slams.
I rode with two Pros yesterday. I, along with many of you was worried about the HP. I ride an M7 and heard all the Poo bashing. M7's had 140 HP back in 2006. I can safely say that the HP will not be a Pro problem. They get up on top of the snow way better then the M7. The M7 was trenching where the Pro went to the top. This was climbing in avalanched snow areas. Both Pro riders came off 2009 800 Dragons. It’s all in the new chassis. There was a slight complaint on coming down hill. They had control issues. Track may be too soft. The avalanche area had 2-3" of powder on top of the hard pack. The powder or non avalanche area was about 3' deep and wet spring like snow. In this area one rider rolled the Pro. He leaned to turn out of a climb and flipped it on its side. I think down hill and rolling was a rider problem not a sled problem. Sorry I can’t bash it yet.
Maybe Polaris pulled their head out of their Doo and the Pro will be for Polaris what the M7 was for Cat. If so in five years we will be riding some cool stuff, in all brands.

 

[snopro_ac]

Pissypants??? Poo riders don't stop for lunch. They stop for hugs.
That should get me some slams.
I rode with two Pros yesterday. I, along with many of you was worried about the HP. I ride an M7 and heard all the Poo bashing. M7's had 140 HP back in 2006. I can safely say that the HP will not be a Pro problem. They get up on top of the snow way better then the M7. The M7 was trenching where the Pro went to the top. This was climbing in avalanched snow areas. Both Pro riders came off 2009 800 Dragons. It’s all in the new chassis. There was a slight complaint on coming down hill. They had control issues. Track may be too soft. The avalanche area had 2-3" of powder on top of the hard pack. The powder or non avalanche area was about 3' deep and wet spring like snow. In this area one rider rolled the Pro. He leaned to turn out of a climb and flipped it on its side. I think down hill and rolling was a rider problem not a sled problem. Sorry I can’t bash it yet.
Maybe Polaris pulled their head out of their Doo and the Pro will be for Polaris what the M7 was for Cat. If so in five years we will be riding some cool stuff, in all brands.

good post, thanks for an honest review.

 

[WYsteph]

Apparently you were off-line in 08 when the XP came out.

Lol, the pine cone thing was sure funny though.

 

[WFO or go home]

How can you put any weight behind mikew5945's review, he isn't a poo rider? LOL

Funny how the review is only acceptable if it is favorable.

 

[snopro_ac]

How can you put any weight behind mikew5945's review, he isn't a poo rider? LOL

Funny how the review is only acceptable if it is favorable.

it's acceptable because he's right on with my opinion, i rode an 05 and 06 m7, then i rode the xp summit, and someone who thinks an xp summit is more nimble and could out do an m7 or pro in the trees or side hill hasn't spent much time on the other two. i'll take a bad review of a cat or polaris, but telling me a sled that's known for not being good in trees or sidehills is out doing sleds that are excellent at it. if you can make your skidoo sidehill and boondock with ease then a cat or polaris will make you look like burandt.

 

[miller tools]

sleds

I ride with a guy that can put any sled anywhere, dont matter what brand their all good. Lets just ride and have fun.

 

[noob]

I ride with a guy that can put any sled anywhere, dont matter what brand their all good. Lets just ride and have fun.

When guys can figure this out, it will be a better world.

 

[bushwackin]

Wow..... A brand loyal Ski-Doo guys opinion of the Pro.

Why are Skidoo guys spending so much time in the Polaris section of SW?

I read the POLARIS Pro Ride section because I own one and want to hear from other guys that own one. If you have an Etech and like it, great, good for you. I think it is a great machine. It's obvious by all your comments that you think the Skidoo is the greatest machine ever. Fine. That's your opinion and I can respect that. But why stir the pot in the POLARIS Pro Ride section? Why not post your opinions in the Skidoo section where you can get mindless brand cheering, or in the mountain -- not brand specific-- section of SW?

Most of us come to the POLARIS section of SW looking for info on our sleds. I personally don't come to the POLARIS section looking for a fight from pot stirrers.

I have a Pro Ride 155. So does the GF. We both love them. Are they the best machine for 2010? Do we really care? They are the best machine for us and our type of riding. Can you climb higher on your Skidoo? Maybe, maybe not. Does it really matter to me? Not in the least.

Pot stirring and brand bashing doesn't really belong in the brand specific sections of SW. It's a useless exercise.

Take a pill buddy. Or maybe change your rag

 

[MT rydn]

agree

Wow.....what a bunch of pissypants'. Are you guys serious?? That was about as objective of a review as you get. Yeah Fred drives a doo, but I dont see where he bashed your precious Polaris once.

Im not one bit brand loyal to any of the manufacturers. Im gonna buy whoevers sled is best. Ive been thinking about getting a Pro. In order to do that a guy needs to hear honest objective reviews. Not your mindless pissypants brand loyal bs. How about you change out your tampons for clean ones, pop a midol, and lighten up a bit next time someone posts up a review.

agree. give the guy a break. i'd rather hear what real world riders think (yes, their personal impressions/opinion) then i would like to hear AC say about AC sleds, about what Skidoo has to say about their sleds, and what Polaris (or paid rider Burandt) has to say about Polaris sleds. i'm an AC owner but i like to hear what others say of all the brands so is great reason for me to read all forums. and BTW - Yahamas are too fat, doo equipement failures are notorious, and polaris might now have a hit after years of embarrassment. But AC is still best!

 

[Ricks 32]

Had a great ride today and we had 3 Pro's and an Etec out today. 1 of the Pro's was on the first ride. What a fun day this was. Everybody was excited to be on great sleds that worked well. The Pro riders especially.

I'm not into debating which sled is better, all the 800's are very good. So far, after 3 great rides in great snow, the "mountain dyno" has revealed to me that the difference in power between the Pro and the Doo is minimal, if there is a difference. The Doo sounds better. The Pro is crazy light. The differences between the two are many, however the results on the hill are the same. In a straight line climb in powder without track poaching, they put the same mark on the hill. When climbing in rough tracked out hills trying to punch a trail to the top, the Doo handles the rough sections great, especially when going straight. So does the Pro. Maneuvering the Doo through switchback sections does take a lot more effort and rider feedback than the Pro. In really technical sections on a steep slope, the Pro is easier to ride. The Doo will get the job done, it just takes more effort from the rider.

After riding 5 different Pro's this year, they have all felt the same. Effortless when riding through the trees, they sidehill great. The best way I can describe riding a Pro is comparing it to a jet ski. They feel a lot a like. The Doo and Cat feel like a snowmobile. Still fun, you just sweat a little more.

I ride an '09 and '10 Cat. They work great in the deep snow. The Pro does handle better. The lighter weight is very noticeable on the Pro. I'm not a brand loyal rider at all. I like to ride a great sled that will get me where I want to go and still make it to the parking lot at day's end. I love the '09 and newer Cats, but the bar has been raised. Great job to Polaris. They have set the new benchmark in handling and they set it high. We will all benefit from this b/c Cat and Doo will have to step it up.

Now that Polaris can rest for a year or two with the Pro chassis, hopefully they work on a big bore . If I was a turbo installer, I'd be jumping all over the Pro b/c the Pro on boost will be the ultimate.