m8's not a bad sled but they wont touch a xp that is actually clutched right in the mountains ive seen piss poor xps the best xps going and terrible running m8's and good ones and the set up xp works the best in the mountains for climbing steep and deep and if you dont believe that watch hang fire it shows great examples of flotation. and the dragon will beat a xp in a field bring it to the mountains and higher elevation they dont go that good at all.
The 09 M8 is the SLED OF THE YEAR
- Thread starter JSun
- Start date
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badass1000
Well-known member
so your test was done by yellowstone last week? In other words in hero snow.
Too bad bigman wasn't their. He could of showed you how his 97 700rmk dominates all the new sleds.
I don't care how a sled performs in set up snow or across the lake. These are mountain sleds. Not trail sleds.
I want to see how they do in bottomless snow. Doesn't matter anyways. I never believe what some one says on the internet. I just believe what I see with my own eyes in person.
Too bad bigman wasn't their. He could of showed you how his 97 700rmk dominates all the new sleds.
I don't care how a sled performs in set up snow or across the lake. These are mountain sleds. Not trail sleds.
I want to see how they do in bottomless snow. Doesn't matter anyways. I never believe what some one says on the internet. I just believe what I see with my own eyes in person.
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high time
Well-known member
Geeese cut the guy some slack. He didn't like getting beat.
I'm the guy that beat him, and all the rest. I'm 59 years old and never touched the new M. And yes it rocked.
For ten days in all snow conditions and many other sleds, both in our group of sixteen and alongside others including 800 Dragons, the new M was the star. There was not a condition that tyhe M failed me. Yes, hero snow, but it was for all and the track, seemed to work the best of all in both unbroke powder or on tracks of others.
The sled, a '09-M-8, 153'' Sno-Pro, with no add-ons and only 100 miles.
Owen
I'm the guy that beat him, and all the rest. I'm 59 years old and never touched the new M. And yes it rocked.
For ten days in all snow conditions and many other sleds, both in our group of sixteen and alongside others including 800 Dragons, the new M was the star. There was not a condition that tyhe M failed me. Yes, hero snow, but it was for all and the track, seemed to work the best of all in both unbroke powder or on tracks of others.
The sled, a '09-M-8, 153'' Sno-Pro, with no add-ons and only 100 miles.
Owen
I never said the dealers in Minnesota weren't capable of setting up a Mountain seld. I was making a point that if the test was in Minnesota I would fail to appreciate any results because of the terrain lacking any sort of challenge that a mountain sled is so purposely built for. I've heard of Big John, as a buddy of mine has an 860 kit in his XP from him. I've ridden 'doos, cats, poos, and own a Nytro. I don't make any claims of what my knowledge level is, I was simply asking a question as to WHERE the test was...what kind of snow conditions were you in....and you have yet to answer them.
I'm glad you can compliment another manufacturers sled, as unbiased opinions are rarely found. I agree that we need to have better "out of the box" performance from ALL the mountain sled mfgs. It sucks to buy a brand new sled, use it as it is designed to be used, only to have to spend a grand or more on proper setup to actually make it work.
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high time
Well-known member
He can't answer all those questions..
It's not his M-8. Dealer set-up, what's that? The M-8 is set up at the factory by factory specs. and runs spot-on.
Conditions on ten days of riding from Sheep, Lyons Head at West Yell to Island Park and MT. Jefferson were different each day. I will say that most of the time we boondock and hill climb. We serch for the untracked and that's what really counts. There was a couple of huge climbs on tracked snow and the Powder Claw worked well there too. I would say in powder it's at it's best. Most of the sleds have been clutched and tunned in the last year by the best tuners. The new M was not. and yet it could not be beat.
Owen
It's not his M-8. Dealer set-up, what's that? The M-8 is set up at the factory by factory specs. and runs spot-on.
Conditions on ten days of riding from Sheep, Lyons Head at West Yell to Island Park and MT. Jefferson were different each day. I will say that most of the time we boondock and hill climb. We serch for the untracked and that's what really counts. There was a couple of huge climbs on tracked snow and the Powder Claw worked well there too. I would say in powder it's at it's best. Most of the sleds have been clutched and tunned in the last year by the best tuners. The new M was not. and yet it could not be beat.
Owen
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JSun
Well-known member
The XP's weren't even second...... they didn't have a very good week, to say the least..
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badass1000
Well-known member
I just don't see how you can compare sleds when the snow is so set up that literaly a 97 700rmk could go every where and do all the same climbs a 09 m8 or any other new sled could do right now.
Reminds me of the year the 07 700rmk came out a local dealer had a demo day and was climbing some steep hill in the set up snow. A few guys were sitting at the bottom saying how good it could climb. I wish I had a old arctic cat powder special with me. I would have followed him on every climb. Almost any half *** mountain sled could make any climb because the snow was heavy and set up.
When you ride across flat ground and your sled only sinks into the snow a few inches that is not powder wether it is fresh untracked snow or not. the only time you can truely compare the new sleds is when it is bottom less snow. the kind where you get stuck on flat ground and have a difficult time going up any kind of incline. That is the only test of a mountain sled to me. I guess others have their own testing methods.
Reminds me of the year the 07 700rmk came out a local dealer had a demo day and was climbing some steep hill in the set up snow. A few guys were sitting at the bottom saying how good it could climb. I wish I had a old arctic cat powder special with me. I would have followed him on every climb. Almost any half *** mountain sled could make any climb because the snow was heavy and set up.
When you ride across flat ground and your sled only sinks into the snow a few inches that is not powder wether it is fresh untracked snow or not. the only time you can truely compare the new sleds is when it is bottom less snow. the kind where you get stuck on flat ground and have a difficult time going up any kind of incline. That is the only test of a mountain sled to me. I guess others have their own testing methods.
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badass1000
Well-known member
I guess as a disclaimer I don't know or have a opinion on what the best sled is out for 09. If I were to buy a new sled right now it would be a 09 m8 or a 09 xp. I would probably buy a new leftover 08 xp because their are smoking deals out on those right now.
I had a 06 m7 153 with a racin station 800bb kit, jaws twin pipes and several other mods. I bought a 08 xp 154 last year. I think the m7/8 could have done alot better if I had put a different track on it like the 156x2.5 challenger extreme. But as it was the m7/8 had plenty of power just not enough track. The stock xp will outclimb it. Plus the xp suspension is way better and I like the way it handles better. Handling is a personal preferance. What some people like others do not. When I first bought my xp I did not like the way it handled. After 3 or 4 days I like it alot. I like it better then the m8 now after swaping back and forth between sleds. It just takes time to get used to the xp chassie. Pull the sway bar off and put a two wheel kit on it. Reliability and dealers around here are a bonus reason to go with the 09 m8.
I have only rode one day with bottom less powder and a 09 m8 with the slp pipe and head kit. We both did all climbs the same and it did not seem to me that their was a sled that was clearly better. They both seemed to perform about the same. We didn't get a chance to do a heads up comparison between the two sleds or any kind of really good comparison between the two. I would like to ride a 09 m8 for a day or ride with another 09 m8 for a day in really good snow conditions. I hope we get some snow soon. I don't like riding in crap snow. That is why I havn't gone in a couple weeks. When we got good snow I will go any day. I go 4+ days a week some times when the snow is good. Almost went today, but not quite enough fresh snow. Hopefully some time this next week.
WE NEED MORE SNOW!!!
I had a 06 m7 153 with a racin station 800bb kit, jaws twin pipes and several other mods. I bought a 08 xp 154 last year. I think the m7/8 could have done alot better if I had put a different track on it like the 156x2.5 challenger extreme. But as it was the m7/8 had plenty of power just not enough track. The stock xp will outclimb it. Plus the xp suspension is way better and I like the way it handles better. Handling is a personal preferance. What some people like others do not. When I first bought my xp I did not like the way it handled. After 3 or 4 days I like it alot. I like it better then the m8 now after swaping back and forth between sleds. It just takes time to get used to the xp chassie. Pull the sway bar off and put a two wheel kit on it. Reliability and dealers around here are a bonus reason to go with the 09 m8.
I have only rode one day with bottom less powder and a 09 m8 with the slp pipe and head kit. We both did all climbs the same and it did not seem to me that their was a sled that was clearly better. They both seemed to perform about the same. We didn't get a chance to do a heads up comparison between the two sleds or any kind of really good comparison between the two. I would like to ride a 09 m8 for a day or ride with another 09 m8 for a day in really good snow conditions. I hope we get some snow soon. I don't like riding in crap snow. That is why I havn't gone in a couple weeks. When we got good snow I will go any day. I go 4+ days a week some times when the snow is good. Almost went today, but not quite enough fresh snow. Hopefully some time this next week.
WE NEED MORE SNOW!!!
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JSun
Well-known member
Ok, I will give you the fact that with the snow conditions we were riding in, you could go anywhere on almost any sled. But, to me, a fair comparison occurs between snowmobiles when all face the same conditions, on the same day, at the same time, and a winner is determined. The winner was the M8 this past week, on all but 3 climbs. It lost to Hilly's 07 M1000, and to my XRS twice. Once on baisically a hard pack hill, the other when I had a much easier line. I will be the first to say that in the softer snow the M8 would have killed me, which it did twice, mostly due to the Challenger Lite vs the Claw IMO.
The most fun climb of the trip for me personally was when my XRS lined up against an 07 M8, an 08 M8, the 09 M8, and an 08 XP because it showed how far the M8 has come in those 3 years.
All I am trying to say is that if I was looking to buy a new sled for hillclimbing, boondocking, reliabilty, and out of the box performance, IMHO the 09 M8 would be the sled I'd buy.
The most fun climb of the trip for me personally was when my XRS lined up against an 07 M8, an 08 M8, the 09 M8, and an 08 XP because it showed how far the M8 has come in those 3 years.
All I am trying to say is that if I was looking to buy a new sled for hillclimbing, boondocking, reliabilty, and out of the box performance, IMHO the 09 M8 would be the sled I'd buy.
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Hangtime
New member
M-8 thumbs up.
I also was there with this group and rode all the sleds. I too think the M-8 shined especially due to the fact that the complete set up was bone stock.
The XP , which is my buddy's.. had BJ clutching, gearing,can, engine brace. The Sled ran very strong, and was the first trip out that we didn't fry a belt or 2 ( Finally )
I think the XP handles better on the whooped out trail heading into the hot spots. The m-8 153 Powerclaw seems to work very well compared to the doo track, this might have been most of the issue. The Doo track seemed to trench much more.
I don't have a biased opinion, I have owned Polaris,Ski-Doo, Yamaha and currently run a boosted Nytro.
To each their own, but out of the box.. the 09 M-8 was very impressive to say the least.
Hangtime
I also was there with this group and rode all the sleds. I too think the M-8 shined especially due to the fact that the complete set up was bone stock.
The XP , which is my buddy's.. had BJ clutching, gearing,can, engine brace. The Sled ran very strong, and was the first trip out that we didn't fry a belt or 2 ( Finally )
I think the XP handles better on the whooped out trail heading into the hot spots. The m-8 153 Powerclaw seems to work very well compared to the doo track, this might have been most of the issue. The Doo track seemed to trench much more.
I don't have a biased opinion, I have owned Polaris,Ski-Doo, Yamaha and currently run a boosted Nytro.
To each their own, but out of the box.. the 09 M-8 was very impressive to say the least.
Hangtime
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trinitypowder
Well-known member
Anyone have a Dyno number on the new M8? It's gotta be 150+, huh? She must put out some good numbers to whoop up on everybody on hard snow. I almost bought a Power Claw intead of the Camo Extreme..................maybe I should have! As for the Big John thing, he rides in Cooke City and developes his motor motor kits out there. My 860, once jetted as per his specs, RIPS! Most guys go with the "big" guys, like RK, BMP, etc. for big bores. I prefer a "little/big" guy like Big John. My XP is what I wished it was from the factory-fast!! Maybe not '09M8 fast, but fast
As for the Big John thing, he rides in Cooke City and developes his motor motor kits out there. My 860, once jetted as per his specs, RIPS! Most guys go with the "big" guys, like RK, BMP, etc. for big bores. I prefer a "little/big" guy like Big John. My XP is what I wished it was from the factory-fast!! Maybe not '09M8 fast, but fasti was there and back up everything that has been said. the m8 kicked *** and i ride a doo. if i had the coin i would have an 09 m8 but for now just an 05 summit.
Were all the sleds 153" and 154"? Did anyone have a 162"?
If so, what were the performance differences between the 153" and 162" sleds?
Now you guys have me thinking about what I should do for a new sled for next year.
Do I buy a 2009 or 2010 M8 Sno Pro or a boosted Yamaha. They'd be roughly the same price.
If so, what were the performance differences between the 153" and 162" sleds?
Now you guys have me thinking about what I should do for a new sled for next year.
Do I buy a 2009 or 2010 M8 Sno Pro or a boosted Yamaha. They'd be roughly the same price.
M8 party on dude's
It makes me laugh I do have a 09 m8 162 that is a blast to ride my friends have the 09 ski doo 163's they are very fun to ride too. But when people say set it up right and nothing can touch it that goes for anything. My opinon is run them stock for stock like we did the M will had it to them in the deep but I think the doo's get out of the hole faster on the bottom end. They both got the plus's and minus's but that's whats fun about it.
It makes me laugh I do have a 09 m8 162 that is a blast to ride my friends have the 09 ski doo 163's they are very fun to ride too. But when people say set it up right and nothing can touch it that goes for anything. My opinon is run them stock for stock like we did the M will had it to them in the deep but I think the doo's get out of the hole faster on the bottom end. They both got the plus's and minus's but that's whats fun about it.
All I have on my m8 is a y-pipe and can, i've been riding since october and have roughly 200 miles on my sled(always forget to look) and i'm not saying its better but with stock clutching it rips and I checked my belt and everything tonight and everything still looks brand new, i've had ZERO issues with it...haven't raced a doo cause everyone around here has cats
Running well out of the box certainly matters. hats off to Cat for refining this sled to a point where people are talking about it like this.
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mnsledder
New member
My friends and I have been riding out west for about 9 years now. Two of them are die hard Ski Doo fans, and 3 are Polaris's. About 5 of us have been riding Arctic Cat since day one. In the past year, all but 1 have all went to the M-8's with two of them being Pump gas turbos from BD. (sick azz sleds) They still have there Ski Doo's and Polaris's for back here, but for the mountains, we're all runing all Arctic Cat except one. I believe Arctic Cat does deserve credit for what they have done with their sleds, but overall, if you're out riding, what does anything else matter?
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