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Why don't you ride a 600?

Would like to try and start a discussion about 600 vs 800 mountain sleds. I am starting to believe there are more positives to riding a 600 than an 800.
Few Reasons why:
1. Brings some challenge back to most days when there is 18" or less of new
2. 600 sleds are much less maintenance intensive
3. The added challenge will keep more riders from getting into the deep backcountry when it's 2-4 feet of fresh. From what I have seen most of us riders don't have the safety equipment to really address a serious emergency in those conditions.
4. More demand for a 600 class sled might persuade a mfg to build a super lightweight 600. Lower cc's puts far less strain on drivetrain components which might allow for lighter components.

Share your thoughts please.
 
I ride an 800 for all the reasons you listed.

600 is under powered for anything deeper than 18"

I want to be in the backcountry when there's 2-4' of fresh not struggling to get off the trail. I'd rather use common sense and experience to keep myself safe than trusting a smaller engine to keep me out of Avalanche terrain.

I don't care if manufacturers build a better 600, see above reasons.
 
This imo greatly comes down to riding altitude. If I'm riding the thing anywhere above 4000ish feet it better be an 800. I do half of my riding in the UP of michigan, and half out west anywhere from Colorado to Idaho, and altitude is a power killer. If I never left the Midwest there's a decent chance I'd be on a 600, especially if polaris did the "800 ho changes" to the current 600 mill ��
 
Good comments so far.
What are the two things that keep you coming back year after year?
For me:
Challenging myself
Riding with buddies

Today's 600's go more places than the 800's from the 7-10 years ago.
Do today's 800's make it too easy for most to get into the backcountry?
 
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I selected the 8 because in the Polaris there's not a weight savings by going to a 6 and the resale market for a 6 is significantly less it seems. I agree at lower elevations the 6 would be a great sled! At elevation it'd feel a little light on power.
 
Because the weight difference is nill & the 600 isn't enough power when your 10K/above in deep snow.
 
Because power is addictive. If you're bored on an 800, you're not trying hard enough. Plus, we ride high altitude around here, that's a big power hit.
 
Because it's dumb to buy a mountain sled that basically weighs the same with less power. Even the stock 800s are under-powered at high elevation in deep snow.
 
All I can say is I rode one last year and loved it. Will be riding it again this year. Not one issue with it's performance. It is a loud little sob when the cans out of the snow. My only real complaint is doesn't have the topend speed an 800 has.
 
I rode a 600 for years in the mountains. With that said, an 800 is definitely the best way to go. It's all about horsepower to weight ratio. And considering that the 600 actually weighs 4lbs more than the 800, well....

At elevation, a sled loses 1/4 to 1/3 it's horsepower. When I ran a 600, I dug myself out a lot. With my 800, I shake it out or roll it out. Rarely ever need to dig. A 600 doesn't have the snort to shake out. So, an 800 isn't gonna give me a heart attack.

You could lighten a 600 with reduced strength parts, but then the reliability you want would suffer. And I'd say the new 800s are incredibly reliable. It's also impossible to sell a 600. Not sure why they even make 600 mountain sleds anymore....
 
I rode a 600 iq with a 162 2.5 track foe several years. It was fun. Would have been better if I was 40 lbs lighter and 20 years younger.
 
I own a 600 pro and 600 axys rmks there great sleds if your light and don't ride high altitudes.
 
The only thing I keep asking myself...is why I didn't start adding boost to the 800's years ago.
 
I ride 0 to 3000' and have 13 600 & 15 800. Both are a hoot and not a big difference at low altitude. 600 seems a little more nimble/ slightly quicker to spool. At altitude i think the drop in power would be noticable but at low level not so much. No difference in maintainence so far and not a big difference in fuel. Went 600 originally because of concerns with the 800 but all seems fine now.
Lots on 800s that would be fine on 500's!
 
I'm a fatass and my 800 is doing all it can to drag me around unless it's a hero snow day. No way would a 600 cut it for me in the steep an d deep not to mention it would limit me to a 154ish length. I ride a 163 3" and am looking for more power on the deep days with longer pulls. If I had the option I would consider a 600 146 for spring season.
 
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