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snobyrd
Well-known member
dan adams has just released a vid on this topic, check it out on utube or go to his page
patriot vs doo vs alpha
- Thread starter snobyrd
- Start date
dan adams has just released a vid on this topic, check it out on utube or go to his page
That is interesting. In set up snow or snow with a base, my buddy loved his alpha. In deep fluff I was killing him on my 800 poo. Enough that the next ride in deep fluff he brought his 800 poo.
My 12 was bone stock other than different clutching. The demo 13 ran good. Raced up a hill a bunch even swapping sleds. Same result everytime. About a dead heat out of the hole. Depending on who hit throttle first and then my 12 would win by 2 lengths everytime. Maybe if I was comparing what a stock 12 came with. Compare what you brought. Might be the difference between your comparison and the other guy with the alpha. Two identical sleds will have a different result. My 16 155 axys was quicker than my wife's 163 belt drive. I think it is marketing. Cheaper for them to build and get the same or more money. Not the same as my old cmx belt drive.
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I agree with you. Atleast in the snow we generally have in Alaska. Iv owned a couple 2.6” x 155” in the 800.
This year with the same track length and 850 power this 3” has straight Impressed me so far
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Jaynelson
Well-known member
I think the comment was more on the "feel" and throttle response of the belt drive vs chain....rather than a distinct difference in capabiilty
I found exactlly the same, i have a 850 axys, ride with a doo 850 all year so far, 163 belt drive... it is way more snappy than the doo when i find it helps the most is like that split second you need right before you get stuck the polaris pops up and snaps out of the trench and the doo just digs and your boned.. i flip back and forth quite a bit and me and my buddy are always compareing the doo has some benifits but overall if i had to choose i would stay on my polaris any day.
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150+ or nothin
Well-known member
It’s very interesting to hear how everybody has different experiences between the different sleds especially relative to handling. The last couple weeks we rented some sleds and I had the pleasure of riding an 850 patriot, 800 axys (personal sled), 850 ski doo, 850 ski doo turbo with silber at 5 lbs, and an 800 alpha in a variety of different conditions. What I came away with was they are all good sleds but shock setup is HUGE.
In the deep fluff the 800 axys was amazing but on hard pack a lot of throttle is necessary to roll up on edge. “You have to ride it like you hate it”. If you tighten front track shock further it gets to be a trencher in good snow. It wants to turn up hill when sidehilling with any gas at all if the front track shock is tight enough to make it easy to roll up on the hard pack. I just rode the 850 Polaris briefly but I would say it is very similar but slightly easier to roll up on edge in the hard pack and has slightly better shocks.
The alpha cat had very little front track shock pressure (we had no pump to adjust it) and was crazy stiff in the bars.
The 850 ski doos were very easy to roll up. Both had good shocks and both of them had good power (of course the turbo did). When they were stuck you could feel the extra weight over the Polaris.
In fluff I liked the Polaris, but in harder snow I loved the 850 ski doo with silber. I have rode Polaris sleds for a while but gained some respect for ski doo this week. Until I ride an alpha that is setup a little better it’s not a fair comparison.
In the deep fluff the 800 axys was amazing but on hard pack a lot of throttle is necessary to roll up on edge. “You have to ride it like you hate it”. If you tighten front track shock further it gets to be a trencher in good snow. It wants to turn up hill when sidehilling with any gas at all if the front track shock is tight enough to make it easy to roll up on the hard pack. I just rode the 850 Polaris briefly but I would say it is very similar but slightly easier to roll up on edge in the hard pack and has slightly better shocks.
The alpha cat had very little front track shock pressure (we had no pump to adjust it) and was crazy stiff in the bars.
The 850 ski doos were very easy to roll up. Both had good shocks and both of them had good power (of course the turbo did). When they were stuck you could feel the extra weight over the Polaris.
In fluff I liked the Polaris, but in harder snow I loved the 850 ski doo with silber. I have rode Polaris sleds for a while but gained some respect for ski doo this week. Until I ride an alpha that is setup a little better it’s not a fair comparison.
Coming out of the hole the same with 2 almost identical sleds except chain versus belt is basically the identical feel and throttle response.
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Yes it was. Snow was 16 inches I would say from the night before. Good steep hill climb. My shock was locked out. I seriously think that's a massive gain. I honestly would ride any new sled any day of the week. My last sled was a 18 axys and I could not get use to it for side hilling. I always fought the front end from going straight up. I think it just comes down to what works for you. Im not brand loyal I just pick the next sled to ride every year and try it out.
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16 inches of snow from the night before. Nice steep climb. Will see how it does in Revy and sicamous for a couple weeks. Different snow to compare.
I've ridden the same places in west Yellowstone for 25 plus years same hills and drainages. I was really impressed with 850x 163x3. Pulled some lines where the 2.6 got stuck and 3 just motored on by. The snow was deep and no base. Had a doo 3 in also and was same result vs 2.6. I chalked it up to a deep day advantage 3 inch. One drainage the 2.6 could not get out where the 3 had no trouble at all. Its sometimes amazing you think a sled is faster than another one but it not until you compare side X side. Clutching makes huge difference smooth is fast feel it shift it is slow.
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snobyrd
Well-known member
Truthfully, the polaris are a hand full and a workout in shallow sno packi live in the mtns so i can generally choose my riding days, ive cut many days short due to crappy snow , the pol is a deeep sno loving sled and in those condtions, this sled rocks my world, i want to put on as many sidehilling miles as trail miles.
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Dabull
Well-known member
We had the same results last weekend the Poo 850 is one sweet ride.
Truthfully, the polaris are a hand full and a workout in shallow sno packi live in the mtns so i can generally choose my riding days, ive cut many days short due to crappy snow , the pol is a deeep sno loving sled and in those condtions, this sled rocks my world, i want to put on as many sidehilling miles as trail miles.
I agree 100%. I've got a 174 Axys 800 and a 175 Gen 4 850. Absolutely love the Axys on a deep powder day. Go anywhere do anything with ease. But when the snow is thin or set up, it absolutely kicks my butt. I go where it wants on those days, not where i want. Unfortunately that's usually wherever gravity pulls me.
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snobyrd
Well-known member
I have rode with alphas and doo 850s all winter but didnt choose to go head to head untill now,cause the skill of the riders were not that great so it wouldnt be a fair comparason, the cat guy wanted to do the challange so i greatfully accecpted, im goin out again today or tomorrow with him , it all depends if he is still sore from riding on wed if we go today, and will offer to do the same climb with no run at the slope and ill vid it.
Was rideing with an 800 cat this weekend... the axys kicked its butt.... givin it wasent exactlly a fair comparison as it was a 2016 cat but my 850 axys just hauls and sidehills so much better i rode his for a bit and its like night and day... even when i compare with my old 800 axys it was still better...
Thats not the ascender chassis, big difference.
These two sleds are two different animals. The new ascender has different clutches, eight tooth drivers and more. Your sled review cred is now in shambles. After rebuilding your engine, Please find an ascender and try again.
