Just took my new 2012 Pro 800 163 for a break in ride today. Basically a road ride with a few off trail excursions, just couldn't resist. I rode a 2011 Pro 154 last year for 3 days so that is what I am comparing it too. The engine feels like it has more power. I was about 3000 feet lower elevation for most of the day but even taking that into account it seems like the engine had more pop. The 163 doesn't turn very well on the trail. I didn't buy it for a trail sled but it really doesn't want to corner on harder snow. That said the front end seems way too planted. Couldn't get the skis up at all, I am going to change the set up until I get a little ski lift. Should work really well when I put the Silber Turbo on it. I just might not need a Kmod or T sled skid. I did have Holz put adjustable clicker reservoirs on all four shocks and a revalve so it is not a true stock sled. Adjusting the clickers made changes I could feel right away. Nice mod for the money. It was really nice on the whooped out sections. The snow was 3-4' deep off trail and the 2.5" 163 track worked really well, got over confident a couple of times it had such good flotation and bite. Hit some stuff too, went over the bars once. Gotta be more careful early season. Last, I don't like the way the engine temp drops so much every time you stop, even for just a minute or 2. I was running 125 all day in varying conditions. Stop for just a couple of minutes and the temps would drop to 90. That can't be good and I hated to sit for a couple of minutes to get the temps up. Prolly going to get that over thermostat bypass thing or just leave it running more. Seems way over priced and I rarely complain about peoples prices. At $150 I think it's over priced and the thing sells for $300.
Rode my new Pro today, first impressions...
- Thread starter Matte Murder
- Start date
The 2012's are harder to turn since they come with straight rails now. Helps keep the front end down when climbing.
Play with the preload and compression on your center shock to compensate for ski pressure. Too much preload=lots of ski lift, too little=less ski lift
Themostat by-pass only works on carb models. EFI will not run correctly if the engine is not at high enough temperature.
its a bypass warm up loop type thermostat by redneck racking that brings temps up and holds em there longer reducing a cold shot of coolant on restart
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pura vida
Well-known member
i ran my 09 dragon a 90 degrees all the time and it ran just as good if not better. imo, 125 is pretty high to start with. i would rather run 90 degrees. the only thing high engine temps do is help with emissions and cause easier detonation. that redneck racing bypass to help with the "cold shot" just doesn't add up. no offense intended but it just doesn't make sense to me.
pv
pv
Thanks all. Didn't know about the straight rails. I know I can find a set up that will work. Just have to try a few things. Man this thing really gets up on the snow. We road again today and in one spot it was nearly 4 feet of untouched snow and with just a little momentum(like 3-4mph) I was right on top of the snow. I climbed some vertical walls of snow with no run at all. Just punch it right from the bottom and the sled would lift me right up over an 8-10' nearly straight up wall of deep snow. Put some more preload in the front springs as the sled wanted to push really bad in the turns and roll over to the outside. I also stiffened up the rear shock spring preload just a little and added a couple clicks of bump(compression damping) and man can I smash over the big whoops. I am a big guy, like 250 loaded up ready for bear, and I NEVER bottomed the rear out today. Holz did some magic on these shocks. I will try and get some ski lift with the front skid shock tweak mentioned above. Also, this engine just runs perfect for me. Never a bobble, burp or rumple. The throttle response is super crisp. I will have a change to do some drag racing tomorrow with an ETEC that has the same track length. I will let you know how that goes.
Pura vida my sled ran perfect today, usually ran 125 F. Sometimes it would get a little hotter but not much. If it sat for even a couple of minutes on start up the temps would drop right to 90 F. I don't think you should run an engine hard when it's only 90. It's even worse when you see 145 or so and it drops to 90. That CAN'T be good for it. Hot engine doused in cold water, especially an aluminum block and head. I like to see at least 115 and that is kind of a pain to let it warm up every time you stop too. My buddies won't wait very long.
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Oregonsledder
Well-known member
I rode my new PRO for the first time yesterday and had a similar experience. I have been riding an 800 Edge for years without a temp gauge so I don't know how they compare. I wonder if having a gauge is making me over think things. Maybe just pull and go like usual??
guys thats pretty normal..and while I wont pull the cord and pin it from a stop..I will take off and baby the throttle off/on till the temp guage comes back up to 125..before all we had were hot lights so while the sleds still did it..we didnt notice it..its not a problem and it wont hurt anything..just dont pull and pin it...
I agree ak that is what I do also. I just ride real easy until it reaches about 120 after sitting for a few minutes then it's game on.
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pura vida
Well-known member
i didn't say it wouldn't run fine at 125. my pro runs at 123-127 just fine all day. imagine that, with a 125 degree thermostat... i simply said that wasn't necessarily the most ideal temp to run a motor at. in fact, that use to be considered quite warm. 90 is not cold. it will not hurt a motor to run a motor at 90 degrees. we could argue all day at what damage a "cold shot" does or does not do. do i pin it to win it after it has been sitting for a few minutes, no i don't. i ALWAYS let the temp settle out before taking off. my buddies be damned, it's my sled and hence my money. (but i consciously start my sled when others are putting their helmets and gloves back on) but running the sled 145 plus will lead to issues. again, 125 degrees is for emissions and that is about it.
pv
Used a different sled today. No temp gauge. Wondered what was going on all day. BTW, 145 degrees is not too hot. Those guys with the temp bypass super expensive plastic case with a thermostat and a hose with some hose clamps for did I say it $300 dollars state in their ad that the Pro won't make full power until I believe 145 degrees. The hot light doesn't come on until above 165 degrees either. Still a pain to "warm it up" everytime you stop for even a few minutes. Engine is on and off all day. I don't see people warming up their sleds after a stick and usually that's with the tunnel buried in the snow. Definitely a cold shot then to get moving most of us pin it. These motors must be tougher than I think.
Same here. Mine softened a little. I dont really mess with suspension, because i dont know much about it, so how ever it is when i picked it up from the dealer is how i learn to ride it same thing with my street bike.
I ride with a 2010 CFI4 non-dragon RMK all the time. His temps rarely get above 130 when mine could hit 170 at slow speeds with scratchers, or blow away fluff, and seldom drops below 120 if stopped for a few minutes, where mine will drop to 90, but very quickly come back up. It's the smaller coolers on the CFI2, and no front cooler on the Pro that drives it. FWIW.
This was a dilema for me when I was looking at the2012 163. Straight rails might not be for me as I love to wheelie. I'll keep my 2011pro for now as my buddy bought a 2012 163, so once he gets his sup set-up I will give it a whirl to see if I like the straight rails and how they handle.
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