Past m8 riders?

[shell_guy]

I posted this in the general forum too but havn't gotten many opionions and I am hoping to find someone who was ridden both the pro and the m8. I am looking to buy either an m8 or a pro and am undecided.

I know the whole best sled thing has been beat to death, however, I am going to ask a slightly different question....I am an East Coaster and come from a back ground of riding off trail and power lines on the east coast with 136" tracks (5-6' of powder and small hills). This will be my first winter in the mountains, I will be riding primarely the trees and boondocking style of riding and am 6'2" and 245lbs, I am not the kinda guy that always wants to high mark and pull the big chutes. I am deciding between a 2011-2012 Polaris Pro and a 2010-2011 M8. Which in your opinion is the better choice and why? If it matters, in the last 3 years I have owned a Crossfire 800 136, Polaris Dragon 800 SB, and a Cat 440 SnoPro 700 conversion.

 

[hyperduc]

If you're an east coast'r, just buy whatever is cheaper because you'll likely spend most of you're time stuck and not riding anyway.

I just got off a 2010 M8, and onto a 2012 Pro RMK after a late season demo ride. Ignore the HP pissing war, it's not the deciding factor in the comparison between the two sleds. Not sure if it's weight or just the new chasis and set-up, but the pro just plain works.

Both sleds do well in the steep and deep, but how they handle comes down to a question of personal preference.

 

[shell_guy]

If you're an east coast'r, just buy whatever is cheaper because you'll likely spend most of you're time stuck and not riding anyway.

I just got off a 2010 M8, and onto a 2012 Pro RMK after a late season demo ride. Ignore the HP pissing war, it's not the deciding factor in the comparison between the two sleds. Not sure if it's weight or just the new chasis and set-up, but the pro just plain works.

I not new to off trail, or powder riding, just new to the hills (side hills, downhill turns, turing out and that sort of thing). Will someone with less experiance be able to notice the difference? Ori do I just buy an m8 for wayy less money, spend the extra on trips and gas, then look at a new Pro for 2013.

 

[aebsledder]

Own a pro, but spent some time on a Cat. One thing that I really noticed is how SIMILAR the two are. I feel like the M8's chassis is more suited to a rider position a little further back than on a pro, which took a little getting used to. I love the way both sleds can hold a sidehill, but I have grown accustomed to being a little closer to the bars on my Pro. I guess a good way to describe it for me is I feel like I can do the same things on both sleds, but I can do it on my Pro with a little less effort. I will say that I thought the M8 is better at "tractoring". What I mean by this is you can just kind of keep your momentum slowly going up a hill straight up and down. Tough choice, can't go wrong with either. I guess if you were looking to save a little coin, you could probably find a holdover M8 and used the extra cash to put a really nice set of shocks or other mod on it.

 

[hyperduc]

I not new to off trail, or powder riding, just new to the hills (side hills, downhill turns, turing out and that sort of thing). Will someone with less experiance be able to notice the difference? Ori do I just buy an m8 for wayy less money, spend the extra on trips and gas, then look at a new Pro for 2013.

In all honesty, flat land riding is flat land riding. Not much of it will lend to mountain riding experience.

I was just joking when I said it, but it might make more sense to get the cheaper of the two and "learn" to ride first. After you have some experience with what the sled will do on a hill you can make a much better assessment about which sled is right for you.

 

[cascadesnowjunky]

I have ridden m-7's and m-8's I have a 2011 pro and I can ohnestly say the pro is the best handling, boondocking sled you can buy. It is outstanding in tight trees, although the m is close it just dont quite have it. If you decide you want to shoot hills all day the m just might be the the sled for you, I believe the m might have a very slight edge on the pro for that. You wont be dissapointed with either.

 

[Jordo]

2 very good sleds! I have a 10 M8 with a Big Bore and I love it and it has TONS of power and good for boondocking and taking long pulls up the side of the mountain. I have rode a Pro as well and I will say the Pro is probably going to be the next sled I buy. Just bc with a lil clutching from Carlson cycle out of Idaho it will go almost anywhere that u want to go. The pro chassis is just made for Boondocking it's crazy!

 

[TGitt]

I have an 08 M8, and it's the most nimble, best sidehilling and fun sled I have ever ridden... Until the Pro RMK. I just picked up a 2011 800 Pro RMK. I was riding my 08 M8 the past couple seasons, and the M8 feels like a BOAT compared to the Pro. For the kind of riding you want to do, you cant go wrong with either, but the Pro excels in those departments. Don't get me wrong, I love my M8 and if I hadn't got a sweet deal on my Pro, I would still be on it this season. I just think the Pro has more "fun" factor. Also, for what its worth, the Pro I bought, which is stock, absolutely destroyed a 2010 M8 with a can on a deep powder filled hill. No contest.

 

[Snodawg]

Exactly what everyone else is saying. I came from an M8, currently ride a PRO, my buddy still rides an 09 M8. Both are excellent sleds and both just plain work for boondocking. The Pro feels lighter (well it is) and I feel it is easier to get through the trees. Can't go wrong with either.

 

[m8sandman]

i was a diehard cat rider of 15 years, 5 years of that was on a highly modded M8. i'm a very aggressive tree rider. bought the pro and held on to the cat in case in wasn't all it was supposed to be. rode the pro once and new i'd never want to ride the M again. put it up for sale the next day. would rather ride the pro in any condition, any day. i loved my M from the day i got it and even more after i modded the heck out of it, but the pro stock is so quick, agile and light, like posted above makes the M seem like a boat. as for power the pro is not lacking in that department at all, could run circles around my M at half throttle. buy the pro and welcome yourself to the new generation of mountain sleds, i gaurantee you won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[glassman]

I own an m8 and have a buddy who owns last years pro. Last year I could jump between the two any time I felt like it. I think the M chassis is an exceptional performer, and until the pro came out, it was the best chassis to ride. The Pro is very predictable and flickable, and feels like it takes less effort to ride it. As my years are getting on, and my energy levels dont stay as high as they used too. I like the idea of getting home at the end of a ride and feeling like the ride just began.
Best bang for the buck would be the M. Best fun factor the Pro. Either way, you wont be disapointed.
This is only my opinion, 20 years of mountain riding.

 

[shell_guy]

Sounds like I should save the $4000 in the difference and use it for fuel and trips. Get some experience and see what i like for next year.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Sounds like I should save the $4000 in the difference and use it for fuel and trips. Get some experience and see what i like for next year.

Or......get the pro and have the funnest winter you have ever had..the M sled is a great sled but stock for stock it wont touch a pro in deep snow..spend the extra..and be ready to ride everyday all winter.....

 

[JSun]

It sounds like I haven't spent enough time on the Polaris chassis yet. The Polaris is an all-around better snowmobile, hands-down. The Polaris gets up on the snow much better than the 2010 M8 that I used to ride, BUT I had a harder time holding a sidehill on the Polaris. They tipped on their side with about the same effort, but the M still rules supreme off-trail when it comes to handling for me. That could change this year, and if it does I'll let everyone know!!

Joe

 

[lorne1176]

I came off a 04' mtn cat 900, had the chance to take a few pulls on a Pro last year. The Pro is much easier to handle and gets up on the snow quicker. Obviously a big leap from the 1M compared to the M series but none the less the Pro platform is one of the most fun sleds to ride.

 

[Outlaw525s]

I have always been a polaris guy and have ridden all types of sleds....i had a 2009 dragon 800 and now i have ridden the pro and have totaly fell in love with it...going from the dragon to the pro was an outrageous differnance to me...i say save the money and get a pro and keep it for a while and really learn how to master the easy riding because its way less effort ridding the pro... cheers!

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

It sounds like I haven't spent enough time on the Polaris chassis yet. The Polaris is an all-around better snowmobile, hands-down. The Polaris gets up on the snow much better than the 2010 M8 that I used to ride, BUT I had a harder time holding a sidehill on the Polaris. They tipped on their side with about the same effort, but the M still rules supreme off-trail when it comes to handling for me. That could change this year, and if it does I'll let everyone know!!

Joe

JS, last season alot of the cat guys had issues with riding the pro...seems like on the M you stand farther back..on the pro..you need to be closer to the bars..once the cat guys stepped forward..they got a handle on sidehilling the pro..might give it a try as well as scope out where you have the bars set as well..to far forward or back messes with its sidehill ability also.....

 

[seth25]

Sounds like I should save the $4000 in the difference and use it for fuel and trips. Get some experience and see what i like for next year.

I would agree with this. I've had four m8s and came from a PG tm8 last year. I will be on a stock 2011 Pro this year. If money is even a little tight, save the dough, get an 09+ m8 and learn the mountain basics. Sidehilling, u turns, etc. Get a feel for what mountain riding is. When you feel you have a handle on it, the transition from m8 to Pro is a smooth one.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

JS, last season alot of the cat guys had issues with riding the pro...seems like on the M you stand farther back..on the pro..you need to be closer to the bars..once the cat guys stepped forward..they got a handle on sidehilling the pro..might give it a try as well as scope out where you have the bars set as well..to far forward or back messes with its sidehill ability also.....

I cut the post on my m's and angled them forward to get farther forward, jumped on a pro and made it my b1tch right away. (that should tell you it handles great) the biggest difference to me was I could feel the slight angle of the handle bars on the pro and did not feel as balanced on the pro, but the pro's ability to correct itself made up for it, the m8 feels more grounded.
Biggest handling difference I found was the pro, its light on the skis and uses a lot more counter steering than the m's do. One thing a pro does a m8 just wont do is down hill turns. On the pro you just lean and it cuts to one side very easy, on the m8 you have to step back or get weight on the back of the tunnel and help the a$$ end drop down, big difference. Even though I have cats that weigh as much or less then a pro the pro feels lighter and easier. I can tell the power isn't there on the pro but you can still make it work.
The pro is narrow too allowing it to hang on a sidehill with little drag, the m8 drags sooner than the pro because of its wide running boards and body, but the pro running board are to narrow and will kick your a$$ when the snow piles on them, they need more grip. The pro puts the track down farther forward than the m8 and thats part of the why it responds to rider input well and light on the skis, the pro 155 track puts down nearly as much track on the ground as a m8 162 and is shorter with a closer distance from ski to track, it balances out and responds very well.

I put a kmod suspension under my m8 which gave me another 1" of suspension and changed some other stuff making it so I could hold any line a pro could and maybe more, I like the m8 better but it does take more effort, seeing how I am 6'6" and 210lbs its not an issue but for someone under 6' or 180lbs I don't know if they would be able to make them do the same stuff. Who knows what a pro would do with the same suspension under it though.

I hate the pro motor though and everyone knows it, get a warranty at the very least, or a cat. I think you would pick it up real quick on the pro rather than the m8 unless its modded, but it will be interesting to see what the new cat does.

Where are you going to be riding

 

[jakey-boy]

Ive been riding cats for the last 7 years and after watching my buddy that has been riding for 3 years follow me everywhere I went on my m8 I decided to make the jump. I rode his sled a few times and the 2 felt almost identical. He is a die hard polaris guy and he rode the cat for an hour one day and said he was surprised that it was as easy to ride as it was. SO basically you are talking about 2 very similar handling sleds. Climbing wise everything I have seen they are neck & neck. The pro has a narrower feel and overall it is definitely a better chassis, but not by a ton in my opinion. Since I am on a Polaris this year you can see which way I vote but I wouldn't feel bad at all about riding a m8 again just depends on the deal you can get. I would not touch a polaris without a warranty tho. Just not worth it to me. Good luck with the decision and welcome to real snowmobile riding. Highly recommend a class from Bruandt, Rasmussen or Dan Adams that may be your best spent money for the first year.