What makes the Pro get up on the snow so well?

[turboless terry]

Total package. Cat has a coil over and I think the power claw is a good track but, In 12, they trenched about as bad as you could get. Doo trenches a little but I think their worst downfall is the wide chassis and boards and the drag you get because of it. Polaris has the best powder track and the worst in the rest.

 

[gman086]

The rails have a very good/shallow angle of attack and the skid position (in the upper hole vs. Assaults in the lower hole) are the biggest reasons IMHO. Chain vs. belt drive differences would be almost non-existent in a blind test. And the old adage is a pound of rotating mass is equal to 7 pounds of static mass, not horsepower.

Have FUN!

G MAN

 

[Prayn4snow]

Not the belt drive because even the chaincase ones are very good at getting up on the snow.

I'm going to say light weight and the Holz inspired rear coil over suspension. Since 2000 I've been stuffing Holz coil overs under sleds and without an exception their coil over would make the sled trench less and climb up on the snow many times better than stock.


sled_guy

I agree. I bought several Holz coil overs years back, they made a huge difference. Holz must of made a deal with Polaris to almost copy their set up. Holz has been going a different direction it seems lately focusing more on the RZR side by sides then the snow IMO. I also like the stock polaris track for getting up on the soft snow. Ive had good luck with other tracks, but in more "set up" conditions. But to be honest, when I lived in Alaska for 12 years we chased the storms. So we were riding in fresh snow as much as possible. This is where this combination shines. Light weight, angle of attack, suspension, track, gearing, clutching and power delivery. The reason I mention the last three is if your clutching to engage at a higher RPM your setting yourself up to trench easier. Gearing plays a part in that as well. Power delivery: Yes, the Polaris is under power compared to the other brands Ive had, however it was spot on in the low end to mid where your at most of the time in the technical areas.

 

[89sandman]

Don't see where having less hp is a disadvantage at all to poo. They still have more hp per pound than any other sled. Lightweight and a nimble chassis are king when sleds are all in the same hp range, poo has got this figured out and keeps improving on it.

 

[geo]

Holz came up with a great suspension with a large sweet spot for transfer. Too large for high HP.
It took Poo to finally mount it properly in a chassis and teach owners how to tension a track for powder but it's not just the suspention or track (same as `09, '10 ??) that will make the Pro a legend.

Cat has been using the identical suspension design since '08. When they borrowed it, Mark was pissed enough to really retard further development for Cat riders. Don't think there was any discussion. When Poo borrowed, it seemed to not be such a big deal so maybe there was some discussion because he embraced the aftermarket for Pros.
Cat used it with good success in a chassis designed by mountain sledders but since '12 their trail team has tried every mounting hole they could think of but,,, you guys know the story.
Funny thing is Yamaha has got it pretty close (probably as close as that chassis C of G will allow) in just one year with the same chassis. They must test in the mountains.

When Poo worked the Pro into existence, they took care of every detail and IMO took the old school mountain chassis design to the max. A no holdback effort. 20 yrs. from now it will still go through deep snow with ease (something everyone notices) and I believe people will still be enjoying this sled.
From the well sealed, narrow, boat hull designed plastic, to the C of G rotation, to the involute drivers allowing full track support (no track support means no help in floatation from that much of the track) at correct tension (which keeps the angle of attack constant), from driver to rear idlers. Weight, or lack of, is just more icing on the cake.

What makes the Pro pop so well? It's not one or three things. IMO this is a perfect example of where the sum of the parts as a whole is much more valuable than the sum of the parts individually.

I hope Poo doesn't force the mountain team to make changes just to change. Lots of room for tweaks-improvement-innovation (385 and 160 hp with less HP lost like with roller drivers or something sounds exciting eh) with the present package.
If, there is a team that can re-invent the mountain chassis and improve on the pro chassis, it may be this mountain team from Poo.
If they do, IMO they will become legendary too lol.

 

[snowmobiler]

rider forward axys mountain might not pop anymore.

 

[turboless terry]

The new chassis looks really balanced but it would be over balanced to the front in a pro since it has a longer track. I think they will split the difference when they come with the new pro chassis for 16. Seems like they moved the axys 4.5 inches forward. I would bet 2-2.5 for the new pro.

 

[just-pinch-it]

I agree. I bought several Holz coil overs years back, they made a huge difference. Holz must of made a deal with Polaris to almost copy their set up. Holz has been going a different direction it seems lately focusing more on the RZR side by sides then the snow IMO. I also like the stock polaris track for getting up on the soft snow. Ive had good luck with other tracks, but in more "set up" conditions. But to be honest, when I lived in Alaska for 12 years we chased the storms. So we were riding in fresh snow as much as possible. This is where this combination shines. Light weight, angle of attack, suspension, track, gearing, clutching and power delivery. The reason I mention the last three is if your clutching to engage at a higher RPM your setting yourself up to trench easier. Gearing plays a part in that as well. Power delivery: Yes, the Polaris is under power compared to the other brands Ive had, however it was spot on in the low end to mid where your at most of the time in the technical areas.

New HO, engagement at 3500.