Turbo M8 or Pro Rmk

[Go4broke2stroke]

So the time has come to upgrade and Im stuck between buying '09 turbo M8 or a '11 non turbo pro rmk. From what i've heard the Pro is suppose to be the "next big thing" but is it worth the money when you can buy a turbo sled that is gonna make almost 80 more hp at elevation? Or is the differnce in handling that much better? I mostly ride backcountry and highmark. Just looking for the "experts" to weigh in. Thanks

 

[jakey-boy]

Turbo m8 will run right with if not beat a turbo pro. The price difference is huge. Save that cash and drop some money into the suspension of the m8 and you will be set. That 09 m8 motor is still the best available for boost. The Pro feels nice because it is narrow but in all honesty the handling of the two sleds is very similar and with some suspension under the m8 it would be even closer.

 

[HCM]

Go with the M8 turbo the pro is good but not as reliable as the m8 on boost seen a lot of the pro's getting towed back to the truck this year with engine problems, but they all break down just some more than others. the boost is fun if set up rite. I guess I should not knock the pro I would buy on if I had a dealer close and all my buddy's rode them but I don't so go with what fits your needs and buy the sled that is serviced in your area.

 

[backcountryislife]

I can't imagine there being a choice between a good turbo sled, and an N/A. If you want a turbo... the pro will be a letdown.

I was looking at turbo on either sled, and was heavily leaning toward the pro, but price, and starting to hear about more motor issues (of my buddies it's 30% of them that have lost motor) that kept me in a cat. Plain & simple, the cat 800 is trustworthy, whereas the poo 800 is sketchy.

The pro handles better, hands down, but it's not gonna make up for 100hp.

 

[turboless terry]

I've got both and they both have a turbo. The pro is more fun. I even left my 09 tm8 home and rode the pro stock for a couple rides. They are just fun. I was selling mine to get a pro, since the tpro is my wifes, but I think i may try a new cat. Her pro is on one cylinder at the moment. I think it is an injector. that is the only problem it has had. I wonder if the motor will last using as little of oil as it does. I guess if it was me I would get the pro and save your money and put a turbo on it. The pro is more flickable,better suspension, easier to work on, feels lighter. The tm8 will have more power, reliability, more predictable. You choose.

 

[specialk6r]

Ask yourself if you want a reliable, really fast sled with great handling (hint:TM8) or an unreliable, underpowered sled with slightly better handling (PRO)?

I was in your shoes a month ago and after a lot of seat time on both it was an easy decision. Since I got my BD-PG M8 the only thought I've had about a Pro is buying one of the hundreds with missing cranks and spooning my engine/turbo into it.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I went with the Tm8, I have rode with many pro's and rode a pro a few times myself. I'm glad I did. I feel its more reliable on boost than a stock pro. If you want one I will be upgrading and need to sell mine at some point. I can go anywhere a pro will but the pro can't follow me.

 

[M8Freerider]

Turbo vs. non turbo is easy, there’s no comparison. You’re going to go places a Pro or any non turbo sled will not be able to period. If you turbo the pro bring money… they don’t like boost either. Turbo Cat, Turbo Pro, you will make more power pound for pound with the M8. As for handling there are mixed reviews as you can see, it is similar, but in technical steep trees I would pick the M8, it just works. I have seen the Pro in action and when you’re all geared up and riding the deep stuff they don’t have the power. As for climbing see above. Reliability is huge – if you dig helicopter rides buy the Pro!

 

[twsandrew]

No comparison turbo vs not. Turbo vs turbo I'd say if you have no problem throwing around the M8 it seems to be made for boost and no pro will touch a RG 800 Cat on 14-16 lbs. Cat will be faster at ever boost level. Pro may be a little more fun but at 5k more cost. If you are a smaller guy a Pro may be easier but honestly a 1k 174 feels light to me compared to my apex

 

[swrev]

I ride w/ both. Turbo '08 Cat w/ suspension work and '11 Turbo Pro, stock other than turbo. I wouldn't even consider the the Pro when $$ becomes a factor. Both are great sleds. Neither one will pull the track speed of the my T-XP at the same amount of boost--had to throw that in their case my buds read this. Also the Pro doesn't seem to run any better at 8lbs vs. 6. Silber or Twisted turbo, may be a different story. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

 

[M8Chris]

So the time has come to upgrade and Im stuck between buying '09 turbo M8 or a '11 non turbo pro rmk. From what i've heard the Pro is suppose to be the "next big thing" but is it worth the money when you can buy a turbo sled that is gonna make almost 80 more hp at elevation? Or is the differnce in handling that much better? I mostly ride backcountry and highmark. Just looking for the "experts" to weigh in. Thanks

you might want to ask this question in the polaris turbo section as well.. seems like a lot of the answers are biased here..

arctic cat with a turbo has been proven great sled handles great.

pro rmk handles better then the m8 holds a sidehill better then an m8. if you plan on boosting the pro later on down the road by then there will be more turbos on pros with tests. adn the pro does like the silber turbo. get the pro why get the outdated chassis?
coming from a guy who rides a 10'm8

 

[WyoBoy1000]

The pro does not necessarily handle better than a m8, There are aspects that are better and some that are not, and hands down it will not hold a line like a m8 setup right. The pro will do sidehill uphill downhill transitions better. There is almost to much counter steering going on with the pro. I do really like it but if you are going to say something is the next best thing, maybe you should try the new cat first.

 

[SSWIM]

I have an 09 OVS RG Tial M8. I also have a 2011 Pro. I rode the Polaris many more days this year. My TM8 is set up well and runs hard. The Polaris, in my 02, is more enjoyable and easier to ride. It WILL hold a sidehill where the Cat won't. Just simple physics on that one. The Cats side panel won't let it stick. No, it is not a HUGE difference, but it is. Why would Cat have introduced a new sled if it did not improve mountain riding, ie. sidehilling?

Bottom line. Tough choice. Both are great sleds. Can't go wrong with either one in my 02.

Sam

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I would sure like to see a pro out sidehill my M8, Most of the time I only run 6lbs of boost and outweigh the pro by a lot with tools, gas, and overall weight. I have rode both, maybe someone else needs to show me something I might be missing. Don't forget I have an aftermarket rear suspension that makes this sled capable of much more than the stock setup. But I would also put my modded m1000 against it as well, but the pro's strong points would stand out ie its light.

 

[Go4broke2stroke]

you might want to ask this question in the polaris turbo section as well.. seems like a lot of the answers are biased here..

arctic cat with a turbo has been proven great sled handles great.

pro rmk handles better then the m8 holds a sidehill better then an m8. if you plan on boosting the pro later on down the road by then there will be more turbos on pros with tests. adn the pro does like the silber turbo. get the pro why get the outdated chassis?
coming from a guy who rides a 10'm8

---I put the same thread up in the pro ride section of polaris and there has been only 1 reply??? This somewhat leads me to believe that even the pro rmk guys are thinking that a tm8 is a better sled cause their not even saying anything.

 

[hatchers]

how many pros have bent a crank at 1000-1500?....oh i know of 3

my 08 M8 is on its 4th year of boost, same bottom end, never had a bad top end, zero issues this year and shes run flawless all year....now go find a polaris 800 or bigger product that can say that, good luck

 

[twsandrew]

I really like the Pro and if I can ride a Silber kit at 15lbs and see it pull mid 70 track speed with reliability that will be my next project but I am waiting because for me the only place the Pro is easier is doing a u turn when going downhill and for me I only did that stuff before I had a turbo. Cat is proven, makes more power (Silber claims his will run with a M1k at 16lbs but I want to see it) and is 5k or more cheaper. I want a Pro but I haven't felt the need to pull the trigger until I see one make a lot of power

 

[treedocker]

i have a pro and a m8 these are both stock now and the pro will SIDEHILL BETTER THAN ANY CAT, thats my opinion, the pro uses less energy to ride it and it will outclimb my m8 ya with less horsepower it does it because its such a better chassis than the cat, and i have 1400 miles on my pro and 300 on my cat i also ride with turbo pros with 1300 plus miles with no problems they flat out rip. i would go pro

 

[WyoBoy1000]

i have a pro and a m8 these are both stock now and the pro will SIDEHILL BETTER THAN ANY CAT, thats my opinion, the pro uses less energy to ride it and it will outclimb my m8 ya with less horsepower it does it because its such a better chassis than the cat, and i have 1400 miles on my pro and 300 on my cat i also ride with turbo pros with 1300 plus miles with no problems they flat out rip. i would go pro

Could you come prove that to me, maybe you can ride better than me and my friends, I could us a lesson. I prefer the stock pro to a stock m8 if reliability is not an issue. But to compare a tm8 to a pro is no comparison.

 

[summithd]

Like several others commenting on this thread...I am on the last leg of the 3rd season on my 09 M8 PGT. Never a problem with it. Most reliable sled I have ever owned! I typically run 8-11lbs of boost on 91 with one gallon of 110 (just for piece of mind) from 7-11k'. Sledding just doesn't get any better than this!

I know of a handful of pro's that are down or have been for the past couple months.

Yes, I have ridden several stock pros for more than a couple minutes...they are good sleds, but no turbo! Doesn't even compare.

Anyhow...my 2cents