Here is the question. At what point on a curve does weight vs. horsepower cross and one become more important than the other? Example, I weigh 275 lbs, like to ride in the powder, boon docking in the trees and a little hill climbing. Will the lighter weight of a machine like the M8 perform better for me than the extra power of the M10 or will the horsepower of the M10 make up for the difference in weight? I currently ride a 2004 King Cat 162” and am looking to upgrade to a new machine. I don’t want to compare one brand against another at this time, I just want some experienced opinions on this matter. I am in my late 40’s and finding that man handling a machine is getting harder and harder each year.
Weight vs. Horsepower
- Thread starter Richard 1
- Start date
Take your body weight, the ready to ride weight of sled, and any extra weight you will carry with you on the hill (extra gass, tools, etc etc....). Take that total combined weight and divide that by the horsepower of the sled; M8 or M10. Then you should get pounds per horsepower, that should give you the rough answer on what sled to buy.
Example:
total combined weight; lets say 750lbs / 150hp(M8) = 5lbs per 1hp
Example:
total combined weight; lets say 750lbs / 150hp(M8) = 5lbs per 1hp
We used to run into this with the RT 1000 it had less horse power per pound of it's weight than the REV but by the time you added your weight into the equasion you had more hp per pound with the RT.
439 pounds XP / 151 hp = 2.90 pounds per horse power
450 pounds M8 /148 hp = 3.04 pounds per horse power
500 pounds m10 / 169 hp = 2.95 pounds per horse power
Add a 275 pound man
439 + 275 = 714 pounds / 151 hp = 4.72 pounds per horse power
450 + 275 = 725 pounds / 148 hp = 4.89 pounds per horse power
500 + 275 = 775 pounds / 169 hp = 4.58 pounds per horse power
So in the long run you end up with more horse power per pound (in your case) with the larger motor and heavier sled.
Hope this makes some sense.
439 pounds XP / 151 hp = 2.90 pounds per horse power
450 pounds M8 /148 hp = 3.04 pounds per horse power
500 pounds m10 / 169 hp = 2.95 pounds per horse power
Add a 275 pound man
439 + 275 = 714 pounds / 151 hp = 4.72 pounds per horse power
450 + 275 = 725 pounds / 148 hp = 4.89 pounds per horse power
500 + 275 = 775 pounds / 169 hp = 4.58 pounds per horse power
So in the long run you end up with more horse power per pound (in your case) with the larger motor and heavier sled.
Hope this makes some sense.
If you already ride a king cat then I would stay with the M10...the new chassis will fell so light compared to what your riding it shouldnt even be a choice...if you go down to the M8 it will feel severly under powered...I ride the doo RT1000 151 and prefer it to the Rev 800 151, jsut because I have the body wght to throw it around and the 800 just seems to lack that grunt in the powder with my extra wght on it...My .02
I weigh 170, and ride a m8, it has all the power i need, have a buddy that weighs 250 also on m8 and he does just fine. the elevation you ride at weighs on the sleds performance as well. i think a m8 would work but you might be happier with a m10. just my opinion.
You also mentioned that its getting harder to "man handle" the sled, I find that true especially once your stuck. I'm over 50 now and whilel I can still handle the heavier sleds having a lighter sled when its stuck is nice! That's the biggest reason I went with an XP, for the weight savings for when its stuck. All the new sleds do great but if you really ride them your gonna stick it.
R
Ron
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Leave out hill climbing in deep powder-then the ultimate may be a heavy Tnytro.
For a lot of riding conditions the floatation, track design & sled handling are more important than HP. The newer 8's would all do fine & you still manhandle the weight of the machine so lighter is better. Agile is easier on the bod. One lightweight sled may seem harder to carve with than a heavier one.
The only way for you to decide is to get with some dealers and arrange for a demo ride. HP to weight looks good on paper but it's a sled that fits you that's going to be the one. Don't get too hung up on all the talk about "you have to ride the sled for a few days". Trust your instincts first, everyone has some bias.
For a lot of riding conditions the floatation, track design & sled handling are more important than HP. The newer 8's would all do fine & you still manhandle the weight of the machine so lighter is better. Agile is easier on the bod. One lightweight sled may seem harder to carve with than a heavier one.
The only way for you to decide is to get with some dealers and arrange for a demo ride. HP to weight looks good on paper but it's a sled that fits you that's going to be the one. Don't get too hung up on all the talk about "you have to ride the sled for a few days". Trust your instincts first, everyone has some bias.
R
Remmy
Well-known member
Us big guys definetly have it a little different in the deep stuff. One of the reasons I ride a TApex. Rider to sled weight ratio is probably close to the same as my 150 lb. buddy on his summit LOL. Definetly go for the M1000 unless you want to slap a turbo on that M8. I can tell you from first hand experience that those M8Ts go good.
I
IRONMAN
Well-known member
I have seen it a few times were bigger guys 275+ all gear and that just dont go far on a sled that is lite weight but low on power. After you add the weights together you really need the sled with the larger hp#. Thinkin you would be happiest with the M10/turbo! haha JMO
i think the people who say combined weight of rider/sled is really where the calculation be done from.
i think a larger heavier sled with more HP is better for the bigger guys. im maybe 165 with gear on and i ride a DOO rt 1000 thats gutted down to a little under the weight of a m1000 with pipe and a can. the weight is a tad much for me to "throw around" but the combined weight of me plus the power takes me places that are pretty sweet comparitively.
i think the m1 will fit you better as its overall closer to your size. rider to sled size is really important, i miss my super light rev 738 144 because it was so easy to ride, but the grunt of the big sleds really helps getting going and riding slow.
i think a larger heavier sled with more HP is better for the bigger guys. im maybe 165 with gear on and i ride a DOO rt 1000 thats gutted down to a little under the weight of a m1000 with pipe and a can. the weight is a tad much for me to "throw around" but the combined weight of me plus the power takes me places that are pretty sweet comparitively.
i think the m1 will fit you better as its overall closer to your size. rider to sled size is really important, i miss my super light rev 738 144 because it was so easy to ride, but the grunt of the big sleds really helps getting going and riding slow.
Great thread and good posts. I think a bigger guy benefits from a sled that makes big torque. Also consider track size for the "snowshoe" effect. Im 235 and Ive found bigger motors and bigger tracks favor my size. At what point you ask? I dont know, but if I was 275 Id be on an M1000.(plus a bunch of mods)
View attachment Power_Weight.zip
Here is a graph of the lbs/hp for different rider weights. You can see the XP and M1000 line cross, but at a very low rider weight. The hp of the M1000 starts to make up for the increasing weight. Maybe this is why heavier riders feel better on the M1000 than the M8. The lower the weight, the less difference between the M8 and M1000, although a small difference. The difference between the XP and M8 remain pretty constant. These power to weight ratios are close, so the heavier sled will still be the toughest to yank around, but when the flipper is mashed they will all feel similar power wise.
i think like rockymtn.kris said, torque is what matters with the bigger rider. thats why diesels are so freakin fast, they aint light, but they still haul arse!! torque is king. hp is good, but with all that weight, it takes a lot of grunt to get that thing up and moving.
M1000 162 is the only choice for the larger framed dudes. I've seen some pretty big dudes ride in some pretty amazing stuff on M1's when the smaller lighter sleds had to really work. The M1 is amazing with major room for improvement! Now that's scary. Enjoy your new ride 
I am 275 and jumped from a king cat to an 09 m1000 in December. They had to pry the king (still have one more as a loaner/backup) out of my hands, but I absolutely LOVE the m1000. I have had an m7 and an m8 for my wife, there is no way I would be happy on the M-8. My 09 1000 162 handles lighter than the 05 m7 153, the HP pick it up and gives it an extremely nimble feel.
I am getting an 09 m-8, but it will be hers.
I am getting an 09 m-8, but it will be hers.
M
MEAT
Member
Weight isn't everything. Power curve and handling are also important. One of my buddies just bought an 09 XPX 154 this year and it goes like hell but he only weighs about 185. I ride a heavy Apex which is stock and he is amazed where it goes. I weigh about 280 with all my gear on and lets say the sled is 700 ready to ride thats almost a thousand pounds that has to get up the hill. I said to him your sled is around 530 ready to ride and you weigh 185 which takes us up to 715, do you think you would still highmark me with a 275lb dude on that XP with you? hell no was his answer.
