RMK / Assault - need input & advice

[milehighassassin]

I've heard you can snowcheck the Assault with a 155" 5.1 track on request.

 

[Skeld]

I'm a back country rider here in Maine, which is fairly flat. Just some rolling hills. I end up breaking a lot of trail but not necessarily crazy deep powder. A lot of time the snow will set up a little after a few days. Would I be better off with the 5.1 or the Comp. Track? Leaning toward the Comp. Track because it sounds like it might be a little better at chewing into some hard snow if I have to ride those conditions. But I don't want to take a 155" sled and it make it terrible in deep snow on account of the track, either.

 

[OnlyPolaris]

One question I have on the assault, does the stiffness of the front shocks without the sway bar effect side hilling at all.

 

[FatDogX]

One question I have on the assault, does the stiffness of the front shocks without the sway bar effect side hilling at all.

This was a concern of mine as well. From what I've heard and been told, the balance of the Assault without the swaybar still side hills fine compared to the Pro RMK as long as you set the ski stance to the narrowest setting and play with the shock settings. Obviously everyone is different in riding styles and rider make up (weight, experience, and nerve) so some adjusting here and there is definitely worth the time to get it dialed in. Now will it side hill just like a Pro RMK set at 39", probably not but I don't think it will be far behind. Again, I'm only relaying what guys have passed along to me and by next year at this time, I should first hand input.

Also, in 2011 the Walker Evans Needles received different valving from what I've been told. They are not as stiff as the previous 2009 and 2010 models, thus helping deep snow handling. Most Assault riders that have commented on this change as well.

I've also been told that smaller, lighter weight riders may notice more of a difference then a larger rider when comparing sidehilling and carving.

Hopefully someone else can chime in and make a little more sense, ha ha.

 

[155Assault]

One question I have on the assault, does the stiffness of the front shocks without the sway bar effect side hilling at all.

No that's the beauty of the shocks. These clickers actually work. I like my suspension stiff for cornering, so I run my fronts 4 clicks from the top. When I get to the play area, iturn them down anoother 5 or 6 clicks to the softer setting. If the powder sd really deep, it dosent make any difference, you dont really steer, just lean. However if your on 8 " of POW and thre is a solid base below, when you hit that base carving it is helpful to have the shocks set soft. That way it dosent affect your turn. However every once in awhile you end up like this:

 

[Rudy198]

does the Assault stay up on top the snow like the Pro,or can something be done to help with that...I hate trenching.

 

[tyb57]

does the Assault stay up on top the snow like the Pro,or can something be done to help with that...I hate trenching.

There are two mounting holes for the front suspension. The assault is in the bottom hole. Drill out the top hole and relocate the mounting position. Get the 5.1 track and now the only difference between the assault and the pro is the assault is like 1.5" wider. But you have far better shocks

 

[Rudy198]

I just sold my 09 assault an amazing sled to ride on the prairies in saskatchewan, the track REALLY HOOKS UP and is fun to ride , it is a little slower to ride if you want to drag race your buddies switchback. the better shocks are good for the hard drifts we get and the ditchbanging. the assault is a fun sled to drive with a 144 track
my 2011 pro rmk is awsome to ride but the new geometry design is for sidehilling and climbing and manouverability, IT FREAKIN ROCKS IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH 2 TO 3 FEET OF POWDER

think about your riding you do the majority of the time

an assault will be excellent in the prairies and ok in the powder
an rmk will be excellent in the mountains and ok in the prairies

my suggestion is ride the assault cuz you can ride it at home everyday and REALLY ENJOY IT , the rmk is designed for the mountains ....not the crappy snow conditions we get in the prairies

you can ride the assault in the mountains you just might not highmark with the new pro

that is my thoughts ...good luck in your decision

you say "you may not highmark the Pro with the Assault",is that with the comp or powder track?...If you say with the comp i can understand that but if you say powder track please tell me why you think that?......just curious