Performance difference between 50th, Hill climb, Spring Only X?

[Frostbite]

I'm on the hunt for my next sled. My dad worked at a Skidoo dealership and I grew up riding (actually, mostly fixing since it was in the 60's) Skidoos. The 50th anniversary 800 Summit looks very nostalgic to me. I also like the looks of the blue and white spring only summit. I see there's also a hillclimb edition as well.

I looked at the dry weights of all these 3 sleds and they are all within 3 lbs. so it's not a big deal at all.

How much practical difference would a guy notice between these sleds hill climbing, trail riding and boondocking based on the suspension packages or any other differences?

Also, what's the preferable track length? 154 or 163?

Don't get me wrong, I am a Skidoo guy at heart but, I just came here after checking out Dootalk. How real are all the problems I read about on there? How big of a deal are the saggy shocks, super hot thumb warmer, belt blowing, innacurate fuel gauge, poor clutching setups, clutch rubbing through side panels, etc.

Thanks guys

Frosty

 

[Frostbite]

Surely someone must know the differences between the suspension packages of these sleds? I am looking at the Blue and White spring only sled right now. Is it a preferable sled to the 50th anniversary sled? I'm guessing that since it was a spring only option, it must be? If it is a spring only, why isn't it much lighter than the 50th sled?

Thanks for any help you can provide

Frosty

 

[hometheatre]

Not 100% sre but I think the spring check X has the lower windscreen, braided brake line, and thats about it over the 50th.

I personally chose the 50th just for the nostalgia as well.

 

[farmboy84]

i don't own one but here is my take on it since i was researching these last spring.

50th Aniv: the draw of this sled is the black tunnel and yellow paint. i think the only advantge of this sled is the looks. the shocks are all take apart aluminum HPG's.

X: it has the same shocks as the 50th aniv. sled but i would think they are valved a bit stiffer.

Hillclimb: this has take apart aluminum shocks but has clicker adjustment for the front a-arm shocks and the rear track shock. these shocks are valved stiffer than the other two.

 

[F7151]

The Hill climb edition also has a 47" ski stance that the others don't have

 

[rotax]

the 50ths tunnel is powercoated..if you know what that is, it may or may not be a plus to you..

for teh avg joe, i doubt you'd need hillclimb w/ the sno cross shocks.
but man would that be a blast to beat the crap out of on a 146.

 

[X_RS EXTREME]

I have a hillclimb and dad has an 08 everest. My hillclimb likes the jumps way more. But riding the everest just normaly across a field made no difference really. But in the bumps and jumps the hillclimb out performed big time. I like the wide ski stance for banging it around but the narrow stance sidehills noticably better. I'll know better at the end of next week when we go to Revy. I plan on putting a 15" wide track on my hillclimb and the suspension needs some adjustments. So....resale means alot too. And how fast you can sell the sled when you are ready for a new one.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks guys, I certainly don't want the wide ski stance for boondocking. I din't notice that on the hill climb edition.

For resale the 50th should be the one to have?

Also, I like the taller 50th windishield but, once I break it (and it would happen) I could go with the shorter windshield. Better yet, I could do that first.

So, what's the hot ticket for boondocking and some hill climbing? The 146, 154 or the 163?

Frosty

 

[stonehands]

For this chassis 154 feels like a 146

 

[Frostbite]

Stonehands I'm a bit confused.


"For this chassis 154 feels like a 146"

Does that mean that the 154" feels shorter in the XP chassis?

Or does it mean that the 154" isn't long enough and works like a 146", so I should go with a 162"?

Thanks

Frosty

 

[WMD]

It sounds like for what you want to do the 154 would be the ticket. Me and the other dozen or so skidoo riders in our group all ride 151 - 154 and we go wherever we want. The 146 is just a little short for most guys in the mountains.

The 154 will be a great all around track for you.

Just my 2 cents, good luck and you probably can't go wrong with the 50th.

 

[Chubbydog]

The 50th doesn't come in the 163". If you spend most of your time in the deep, get the 163". You can thank me later!

 

[rmk all the way]

the hill climb and x models do have a lower windshield but you can get the higher one for them. You will have a hard time finding a 50th because they made 600 and so you may just want to get the x if you are doing a lot of boondocking.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

The 154 is an awesome length. You can do everything you want and not be limited by a longer track. I have guys that have longer tracks and have ridden my 154. They like it better and so do I.

As for the Special Edition sleds, I don't have an answer, I usually buy the Everest and customize it the way I want to. That way when I toss the stock stuff in a box I haven't paid the extra 2000-3000 bucks for the special edition sled. Just my 2 cents.

 

[thebigtreeman]

Snowest just had an article covering the Hillclimb editions for each manufacturer. There are some differences with the shocks IIRC. Ski Doo used a heavier setup with the rear skid to take more pounding. Someone mentioned the wider stance...I believe they used MXZ a-arms. The skiis are Pilot 5.7's too.

Here's an old thread on it. http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69528

Hope this helps,

T

 

[ridewell]

The 50th doesn't come in the 163". If you spend most of your time in the deep, get the 163". You can thank me later!

Doesnt the hill climb model only come in the 154 as well? So if you go 163 you need the X or everest.

 

[Original Tetonice]

X package, Hillclimb or 50th.....They all need help.

ot