So now that the XM has been around most of a season.....

[kidwoo]

20 years ago, it was all about creating or modifying a sled that would meet the skill level of the average rider.

Now it's all about enhancing the handling charictaristics to compensate for riders lack of talent.

Not really. What's going on now is the exact same thing that's always gone on.......making sleds perform better for what the rider wants to do.

It's no different at all. "What riders want to do" has just evolved just like every other sport.

I crack up every time a full time rev or xp rider gets on an M-sled or a dragon or newer polaris. Full on shoulder check into the ground they're yanking so hard. Because that's what they're used to doing with their own sleds to lean them.

Once something better comes along, just blatantly ignoring it is nuts. That's what BRP did every year they kept making XPs.

As far as fit and finish goes, yeah skidoo makes some really clean looking packages. And when I'm pinned on one ski hauling a$$ up some weird slope with my eyes fixed on the only spot between two trees that a sled will fit, the following thoughts are going on in my mind in equal proportion.

1. My that sure is a sharp looking tunnel bag I got.

2. I wonder what's going on at 5 thousand feet below the pacific ocean right now.





Skidoo seems to be killing it with the XM and I'm glad. But they changed things for a reason.

 

[swrev]

....and it has been well received.......do all you Doo fanatics finally admit that the XP handled like arse in the mountains after so many years of defending that ill handling POS? Or how does that work?

Just was reading a thread from last year where guys were blasting a Skinz front end kit, saying that if it made the XP "too easy" to handle/sidehill ala Pol or Cat....they weren't interested. Easy handling is for nancy boys they said, and real men would rather wrestle their sled to do things it sucked at, eventually get high-sided, and watch their machine cartwheel into the trees. Their words not mine.

However, I haven't ran across anyone on here, or in person who wishes the XM handled more like their old XP.....and the same fanatics seem quite puffy chested that their machine is now an easy to handle limp-wristed thing like the others.

So which is it? Lying to yourselves then or now??

Still don't think XP's handles like crap, but I was never a chest beater. The XM is better than a production XP. W/ the changes I've made to my XP, I preferred the way it handled to the XM but still think the Pro handles better. So where does that leave me in your scenario?? Don't think my sled or the XM handles setup snow as well as the Pro, but I'd put my sled against any Dragon or M series for overall handling. Body panel width is always going to be an issue for the XP and an area the old M would do better. So to say the XP has handled like arse, is a matter of opinion. Even before my changes, only brought on after riding a Pro, I preferred the XP to other sleds available at that time. Right now for handling, I like the Pro the best out of the sleds available. Having my buddies '13 Pro recieving a new engine after 500 miles is leaving me to continue riding my XP until whatever Skidoo offers is different enough to upgrade or Polaris builds a better motor. To be fair, I looked at the pistons on the Pro, it looked like the dealer had not turned up the oiler. Severe scuffing that resulted in the motor locking up and taking crank and cases. May have to demo a new Cat.

 

[snowmobiler]

LOL.

 

[89sandman]

love the streamers!!! don't all the 14 snowchecks get them i heard peewee said the xm does more spankin' than he does

 

[summitriders36]

I went from an 04 Rev to the 09 XP and was VERY dissappointed with the handling of that sled. The XP came out in 08 and I figured with a year to work the bugs out, I couldn't go wrong. The sled handled poorly. However, there were a lot of good things about the sled. A couple of years later I purchased an 11 XP. Initially I was glad that the handling was significantly better than the 09. Then I set the skis to the narrowest position, purchased a can to lighten up the front end, and removed the sway bar. The thing handled great. I was very happy (at least I thought so) and was hesitant to purchase the XM. I pulled the trigger on the XM anyway and I LOVE that thing. It handles amazingly well. In defense of the 09, it made me a much better rider than I would have been if I'd never had it. I don't consider myself to be extremely brand loyal but overall I've had a positive experience with Ski-Doo.

 

[snowmobiler]

i heard peewees sled has power steering.

 

[Dartos]

I crack up every time a full time rev or xp rider gets on an M-sled or a dragon or newer polaris. Full on shoulder check into the ground they're yanking so hard. Because that's what they're used to doing with their own sleds to lean them.

I laughed so hard at that. We had a guy in our group get off his Freeride and jump on an Assault, 100 feet later he is face first in the snow, sled laying on its side, pulled so hard he buries himself in the snow. Hilarious!! But a good time.

 

[Mafesto]

As an XP owner I did the same thing when I hopped onto a buddies Pro.
However, later in the day he hit a rock that took out an a-arm & later found out there was enough damage to total sled. It didn't seem like that bad of a hit either.
My point is each model from each brand has its strong points & weak points.
All are good & all are bad I suppose.

 

[sdsnocop]

As an XP owner I did the same thing when I hopped onto a buddies Pro.
However, later in the day he hit a rock that took out an a-arm & later found out there was enough damage to total sled. It didn't seem like that bad of a hit either.
My point is each model from each brand has its strong points & weak points.
All are good & all are bad I suppose.

Must have been Gordy's sled. We went up Thursday and rode so he could break in his new Pro.

 

[Mafesto]

Yea, he sent me an email about all the fresh & having the entire Black Hills to themselves....just rubbing it in!
I told him he sucked!!!!

He truly is one of the nicest guys I know!
Lots of fun with him over the years!

 

[kidwoo]

As an XP owner I did the same thing when I hopped onto a buddies Pro.
However, later in the day he hit a rock that took out an a-arm & later found out there was enough damage to total sled. It didn't seem like that bad of a hit either.
My point is each model from each brand has its strong points & weak points.
All are good & all are bad I suppose.

Oh for sure. I ride polaris sleds at work and I folded an a-arm on one of ours this year on a pebble that was the kind of hit I take 20 times a day on my m8. If I needed a sled to last, I'd buy a skidoo over a polaris any day of the week.



I think we're all bummed there's not a boost friendly arctic cat engine sitting in a polaris chassis with a flex track being driven by skidoo clutches

 

[AZ800]

What he said!!
Just like everyone wants a Cummins powered F350 backed up by a Alli trans!

 

[backcountryislife]

Funny... as a convert to doo this year, I still dont understand why people subject themselves to the horridity (bet yer azz that's a word!) of the XP... I just can't stand that sled.

The funniest thing is the people who've ridden the rev & XP, who get an XM, then set them up to handle as poorly as they can...


Whatever came before it though... I've never enjoyed a stock sled this much before! (don't tell Abby that though, I still NEED an 860)

 

[kidwoo]

The funniest thing is the people who've ridden the rev & XP, who get an XM, then set them up to handle as poorly as they can...

Come on, those risers can go just a little more forward don't you think? Vertical is just a starting point there's just so much windshield you're still not hitting though.


I almost had an intervention and called child services when I saw what one guy had done with the bars on his XM this year.

 

[polaris dude]

Oh for sure. I ride polaris sleds at work and I folded an a-arm on one of ours this year on a pebble that was the kind of hit I take 20 times a day on my m8. If I needed a sled to last, I'd buy a skidoo over a polaris any day of the week.



I think we're all bummed there's not a boost friendly arctic cat engine sitting in a polaris chassis with a flex track being driven by skidoo clutches

doo clutches? Ewwwww the polaris clutching is one of the best from the factory from what I've heard. I'm pretty sure if polaris could stuff a Suzuki or T-yammi engine in their chassis they would have a winner(assuming they ditch the god-awful glued in drive shaft and get a decent drive belt)

 

[kidwoo]

Come on I had to come up with SOMETHING skidoo did well before this season.

I've obviously got no beef with polaris clutches because I've got a damn p85 sitting on my M8.

Gotta admit though, on the fly adjustments on the BRP clutches is pretty rad.

 

[94fordguy]

I crack up every time a full time rev or xp rider gets on an M-sled or a dragon or newer polaris. Full on shoulder check into the ground they're yanking so hard. Because that's what they're used to doing with their own sleds to lean them.

Haha, I've had the same experience, not necessarily with Doo riders, but with a few Cat riders believe it or not... One guy stepped off his M7 onto my 700 RAW and within 15 ft had it completely on it's side every bit of 90* over if not more... All he said was - Dang that thing's snappy and easy to throw around!

As to the XM, The 1 time I rode one I was impressed at how it wasn't as foreign as I was expecting it to be as the XPs all had the reputation of being completely foreign from the Poos/Cats I've ridden, I could at least get used to how it needed to be ridden fairly quickly. I'd never ridden any Doo before so I expected something un-maneuverable and it didn't strike me that way for the short time I was on it. I will say that the first time I rode an XP a couple months later I was completely dumb-founded... the riser was pushed forward about 4 or 5 inches out of line with the steering column and I had no idea how the heck the guy rode it that way, I got off the thing as quickly as I could before something bad happened, LOL.