Perfect Backcountry sled

[Schmeg]

Hi folks,

Coming off an F7 shorty, and looking for a nice backcountry sled, with some trailability. I ride some groomed trails in Maine, but have been getting into more and more off trail stuff. Looking to keep it trailable, but be able to hit sweep powder in the flatlands, with some hill climb capability. I am by no means an expert at this off trail stuff, so I don't need a hero sled. I'm torn between a '12 RMK 600 144, and a Switch Assault 800,,,,leaning toward the RMK. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[akgiauque]

800

I rode an 07 600 RMK 144 before the 10 RMK 800 144 and the difference in power is noticeable. I am a big guy, 230 Dry weight, and I have not felt the 800 was not enough power unless going up the steep and deep. I felt that on the 600 a few times in the deep powder with incline. The 6 lacks the jump the 8 has when you punch it and there is no substitution for HP. I sold the RMK and and went with a pro because of the type of riding I do but I was torn between the the Pro 155 and assault 144 because we do run trails and rivers here but I never once considered an 600. The assault has better shocks and If I was going to spend 51% of my time on trails and cornering that is what I would have bought.

 

[sledfreak89]

Get the assault!

I finally got my M1000 next to the new pro rmk chassis last weekend and WOW those suckers are LIGHT!

 

[greasemonkey3406]

I would say to get the switchback assault with the 2" track. They work great on the trail and they are excellent in the powder. A lot of my friends have them here and they love them.

 

[pura vida]

i would say don't get the switchback. regardless of the motor size get an rmk. you don't get the coil over with the switchback and the geo is closer to the rush the the rmk. no the 600 won't have the power of the 800 but they flat work really well. plus if you decide you want more power you could add carl's 660 setup later and it will roll with any 800 out there. (this is what i would like to do but wife say no to the second sled... ) i looked into all the options last year when the pro's came out b/c i really wanted a 144, but ended up with an rmk 155. i was even looking to have carl's build me a 144 off of an assault 155 but decided it just wasn't worth the extra money. but i would have done that before buying a switchback. just me.

pv

 

[coolx2]

Schmeg, I ride nh and maine. If I where you I would go with a 800,155 and not look back. Here in the east I relize we ride a lot of trail to get to the good stuff.Put a set of scratchers on and you will be all set. I had over 5500 miles on my 07 dragon 2.4 track and it was fine when I swapped it out. Good luck with your decision.

 

[FatDogX]

RMK Assault, all the way!!!

Here's some pretty good info on the Pro Assault and Pro RMK,

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248439

 

[hiwayman]

X2 on the 155 Assault!!

 

[allpowersports]

RMK Assault 155

X3 on the RMK assault 155!

 

[xc6rider]

Group of guys I ride with in Iowa all have 155" sleds mainly. Need em out west, yet we still love em here! You'll learn to love a 155 wherever you ride!

 

[mickyd32]

I would say if you are not spending all your time in the backcountry there is no need for a 155 version

I myself ride a switchback assault in similar conditions as yourself and it does exactly what i want

go with the SB Assault and a larger lug track. Had the 1.375" last season and have now upgraded to a 2"

 

[Schmeg]

Thanks for the replies. Gives me something to chew on. I only weigh 160, so I could get away with the new 600, but yes, the 8 would be nice.

 

[Krackle_959]

I live in southern Maine, last year I bought a Switchback Assault after being away from sleds for 7 years. I figured it was a happy medium to figure out the type of riding I wanted to do. It did great on the trails around here, and went anywhere I pointed it off trail. I put around 500 miles on it, and had no complaints last season. I did trade it in for a 2012 Pro-RMK 800, 155" though, as I liked the back woods and off trail riding more than the trails, plus Polaris had the $1,000 rebate that made the offer better. My old sled is currently sitting at Wescott's & Son's in Gorham, if your looking for a slightly used one.
I know that they only had 2 RMK's snow checked, mine and another guy in town, and they dont typically carry the longer tracks around here. The only place I can think of that stocks the 155"s would be in Jackman, but you might want to call first.

 

[Schmeg]

Thanks for the insight. I am going to keep the kitty for trail work, but am fairly convinced I am going RMK for a new sled. It was just a matter of going with the standard 144" or go with a 155". The new sled will be used for 30 percent trail use (to get to the good stuff), and 70 percent flatland ungroomed logging roads with some hill work.

 

[claydogg]

Both are good options

I have been riding a 07 600 RMK 144 and love her. I am a big guy 6'5" 240 and I could always hang with the 800's. The 600 motor is way fun and bullet proof. I have 2500 miles on her without even the smallest issue. Gas and oil and go. I have only been through two belts and there was nothing wrong with them I just replaced them because I couldnt expect them to go any further. I have put the slp pipe, can, air horn and intake vents for a little more power. I bought a new Pro 800 163 this summer and am excited to test her out. In your situation I would strongly recomend the 600 pro, you will love it. You wont high mark the 800's but you will have a very well rounded fun sled that will get you any where you want to go.

 

[tbeaton]

i riide in nh and me as well. last year i bought an 800 etec back country x thinking it would do what i want it to do in all situations. this year i'm going to a pro rmk 155. i am keep the etec for long trail rides, but the gade to me is pointless. i wish it was a shorty.

 

[F-Bomb]

You want the new suspension design plain and simple. The 144 does not have the room for the geometry to get the new coil over Polaris suspension which is a HOLZ ALPHA-X copy so your choice is simple if you want the best overall sled irregardless of trail or free ride. If you spend all of your time on the trail simply buy the appropriate trail track lug height and design. If you buy 144 you get ten year old technology versus NOW stuff. We've come a long long ways in the last couple seasons!

...and no I don't ride the trails of the east but I am still an expert on such matters...not only am I an expert on the interrnet/computer like SO MANY OTHERS but magically I'm also one in the field were it actually counts.

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

A good friend of mine named F-Bomb wrote that post and he said it was the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post.

Well, I wrote him back a private meassage and told him it was not the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post because he hadn't said anything about mods, or trailers, or trucks, or SnowCheck, or big dumps!

Well, he sat down a wrote another verse to this post and after readin' it I realized my friend had written the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post, and I felt obliged to include it on this post....the new post goes like this here....

Well it was dumping
the day my Pro
got out of SnowCheck
And I went
to pick it up in the snooow!
But before I could get it to the mountains in my pick-up truck!
It got new A-arms, BetterBoards(R), clutchwork, a head, vents, better shocks, a pipe, a can, a new track, an EGT...
and a new Mul-ti Func-shun Dis-a-playyyyyy!

 

[Bagger]

A good friend of mine named F-Bomb wrote that post and he said it was the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post.

Well, I wrote him back a private meassage and told him it was not the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post because he hadn't said anything about mods, or trailers, or trucks, or SnowCheck, or big dumps!

Well, he sat down a wrote another verse to this post and after readin' it I realized my friend had written the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post, and I felt obliged to include it on this post....the new post goes like this here....

Well it was dumping
the day my Pro
got out of SnowCheck
And I went
to pick it up in the snooow!
But before I could get it to the mountains in my pick-up truck!
It got new A-arms, BetterBoards(R), clutchwork, a head, vents, better shocks, a pipe, a can, a new track, an EGT...
and a new Mul-ti Func-shun Dis-a-playyyyyy!

Ok, JJW/DAC put down the 18th of Oct as your debut date . . . we'll take your submission under advisement and let you know . . . . maybe !

Oh, and Rob, confidence is everything!! (thanks for the offer, but I don't want to buy the torn seat!)

Bag

 

[Oregonsledder]

A good friend of mine named F-Bomb wrote that post and he said it was the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post.

Well, I wrote him back a private meassage and told him it was not the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post because he hadn't said anything about mods, or trailers, or trucks, or SnowCheck, or big dumps!

Well, he sat down a wrote another verse to this post and after readin' it I realized my friend had written the perfect backcountry & western snowmobile post, and I felt obliged to include it on this post....the new post goes like this here....

Well it was dumping
the day my Pro
got out of SnowCheck
And I went
to pick it up in the snooow!
But before I could get it to the mountains in my pick-up truck!
It got new A-arms, BetterBoards(R), clutchwork, a head, vents, better shocks, a pipe, a can, a new track, an EGT...
and a new Mul-ti Func-shun Dis-a-playyyyyy!

You did David Allen Coe proud! That brought a tear to my eye!