Hey everyone, I am getting back into riding sleds. I rode sleds for a long time when I was a kid but got out of it once I hit high school and college. I took up riding quads in the sand for years and recently sold my quad. My buddy took me out the other day and I can say I miss the snow. A lot. Next year I will be buying a used ride. These new PROs seem amazing and at first it was a no brainer to me on what to buy. The more and more I read the more motor issues with piston clearances I find. Along with drive shaft issues. Are these things reliable machines? To me reliability is key when riding. I have no issues putting a "fix kit" in a machine and I can turn a wrench. I've looked at the new cats too. They seem to be very reliable and very advanced like these sleds. I know this is brand driven forum, but I'm just looking for more things to consider. Thanks for any leads.
PROs
- Thread starter twheat
- Start date
sorry no one has responded to you.
If reliability is your highest need, then you might want to look to Ski Doo in 2013. But that's probably "barely" more reliable than the Pro. All new sleds have teething issues, that's what happens when something that is being pushed this much in technology every few years goes with this few units in production. I don't like it either.
The cat is the last one i'd buy honestly. Too heavy and handles funny, but the motor is STRONG - though lacking the tech of the other two. The XM is pretty good this year, and the Pro is the best performing package (which is why i bought one). The reliability comprise might the XM - handles pretty dang good, and they've gotten much more reliable over the past few years. I still think they weigh too much and i don't like their riding style though. The Pro is the best handler by far, it weighs the least, and Power is very snappy. I'm quite impressed actually - doesn't feel slow to me at all? Climbs awesome and is just down right friggin awesome to ride technically.
All that being, if you've been out of riding for awhile, ALL the new sleds are WAY more reliable than the old ones!
If reliability is your highest need, then you might want to look to Ski Doo in 2013. But that's probably "barely" more reliable than the Pro. All new sleds have teething issues, that's what happens when something that is being pushed this much in technology every few years goes with this few units in production. I don't like it either.
The cat is the last one i'd buy honestly. Too heavy and handles funny, but the motor is STRONG - though lacking the tech of the other two. The XM is pretty good this year, and the Pro is the best performing package (which is why i bought one). The reliability comprise might the XM - handles pretty dang good, and they've gotten much more reliable over the past few years. I still think they weigh too much and i don't like their riding style though. The Pro is the best handler by far, it weighs the least, and Power is very snappy. I'm quite impressed actually - doesn't feel slow to me at all? Climbs awesome and is just down right friggin awesome to ride technically.
All that being, if you've been out of riding for awhile, ALL the new sleds are WAY more reliable than the old ones!
sorry no one has responded to you.
If reliability is your highest need, then you might want to look to Ski Doo in 2013. But that's probably "barely" more reliable than the Pro. All new sleds have teething issues, that's what happens when something that is being pushed this much in technology every few years goes with this few units in production. I don't like it either.
The cat is the last one i'd buy honestly. Too heavy and handles funny, but the motor is STRONG - though lacking the tech of the other two. The XM is pretty good this year, and the Pro is the best performing package (which is why i bought one). The reliability comprise might the XM - handles pretty dang good, and they've gotten much more reliable over the past few years. I still think they weigh too much and i don't like their riding style though. The Pro is the best handler by far, it weighs the least, and Power is very snappy. I'm quite impressed actually - doesn't feel slow to me at all? Climbs awesome and is just down right friggin awesome to ride technically.
All that being, if you've been out of riding for awhile, ALL the new sleds are WAY more reliable than the old ones!
Agree completely -
If you want reliability buy a Yamaha. If you want the best handling, best mobility, best flotation and the funnest sled out there then I would buy a Pro. I love my Pro and so far so good on reliability. This sled flat out works. Dont listen to all of the bitching and whining on here. There is a ton of Polaris sleds on the snow with just a small amount of issues. I had an 08 Dragon that was a piece. Last year I picked up a new 2012 Pro and loved it. My 2013 works even better.
Stone
Stone
K
knifedge
Well-known member
13 cat with vertical steering, 2.6 powerclaw track(must have), Suzuki 160 hp oem proven engine that likes mods like a kid likes candy(carefully chosen mods for your alt and app), lighter than doo(little bit), best suspension, easy to mod and lighten up
12cat has updates but still has 2.25 powerclaw track
11-12 Pro many have had premature engine failure, some multiple times, likely most all 11-12 engines will fail prematurely due to poor oem design
11-12 pro has a reliable chaincase
13 pro has engine improvements but primary issue still unresolved
13 pro has unreliable drivetrain(driveshaft and belt drive) some havelost belts evenafter hundreds of miles
Would recommend standard 800 rmk with chaincase if you choose Polaris - brace chassis at footwells and aft running boards - still needs RKT piston kit
XM probably ok but do not trust oem tune
12cat has updates but still has 2.25 powerclaw track
11-12 Pro many have had premature engine failure, some multiple times, likely most all 11-12 engines will fail prematurely due to poor oem design
11-12 pro has a reliable chaincase
13 pro has engine improvements but primary issue still unresolved
13 pro has unreliable drivetrain(driveshaft and belt drive) some havelost belts evenafter hundreds of miles
Would recommend standard 800 rmk with chaincase if you choose Polaris - brace chassis at footwells and aft running boards - still needs RKT piston kit
XM probably ok but do not trust oem tune
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I love my Pro. Not one problem in 2 years. Good on gas and oil, fun to ride.
Don't really like the engine vibration at times but got familiar with it and does not bother me like it did when I first started riding it.
I rode a REV before the Pro. Jumping over to the PRO felt pretty familiar but easier to lay over. Lighter too.
Tried an XP and didn't like the steering post and rider position felt funny to me. I have not ridden the XM yet but the steering post looks the same. It is at an odd angle and when turning it sort of dipps the bars down toward your knee in the direction you are turning.
The Doo E-Tech is an awsome engine. I have never seen anything run so smooth. Power is smooth, and pulls right from the bottom to the top. Very linear power. No vibration, even at idle it just purrs.
My Pro uses about a gallon more fuel than my riding partners XP on every ride. The Doo uses lots less oil also.
My dream sled would be an E-Tech 800 Pro.
The CAT M8 sleds were darn good. For a while, around here, 80% of the newer sleds on the hills was the M8.
Now mostly PROs. Have not even seen a ProClimb while out riding yet.
Look for the best dealer service in your area, a good dealer that is close by is the key. Any of the newer sleds will be night an day better ride and more reliable than anything even 6 yrs ago.
If I was just getting back into sledding and wanted a fun reliable used sled, I would look for a low milage M8. Great sled for the money.
D
Don't really like the engine vibration at times but got familiar with it and does not bother me like it did when I first started riding it.
I rode a REV before the Pro. Jumping over to the PRO felt pretty familiar but easier to lay over. Lighter too.
Tried an XP and didn't like the steering post and rider position felt funny to me. I have not ridden the XM yet but the steering post looks the same. It is at an odd angle and when turning it sort of dipps the bars down toward your knee in the direction you are turning.
The Doo E-Tech is an awsome engine. I have never seen anything run so smooth. Power is smooth, and pulls right from the bottom to the top. Very linear power. No vibration, even at idle it just purrs.
My Pro uses about a gallon more fuel than my riding partners XP on every ride. The Doo uses lots less oil also.
My dream sled would be an E-Tech 800 Pro.
The CAT M8 sleds were darn good. For a while, around here, 80% of the newer sleds on the hills was the M8.
Now mostly PROs. Have not even seen a ProClimb while out riding yet.
Look for the best dealer service in your area, a good dealer that is close by is the key. Any of the newer sleds will be night an day better ride and more reliable than anything even 6 yrs ago.
If I was just getting back into sledding and wanted a fun reliable used sled, I would look for a low milage M8. Great sled for the money.
D
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Pro's are wicked sleds, hands down the best handling and lightest feeling sled in the snow. They hold a line through the trees with less effort then any other sled ive ridden. Yes I've rode an XM and was a pretty die hard doo guy before I bought my assault. IMO proper maintainance is key with a 2 stroke. It's not if it blows up, it's when! I would certainly look for a sled with as low miles as possible if I were going the used route. I've seen cats and doo's both cook motors around the 1000-1500 mile mark.
Honestly you're going to get alot of mixed answers because not everyone rides the same and some people don't like to do maintainance work. I've seen alot of pro rmk's with 3000 miles or more with original pistons and good compression.
Honestly you're going to get alot of mixed answers because not everyone rides the same and some people don't like to do maintainance work. I've seen alot of pro rmk's with 3000 miles or more with original pistons and good compression.