Wow, Polaris 2014

[wellfed777]

they played it smart no body else is doing much so why push it
i thought they might coat tunnel and rails i guess i got the rails but wish it was both

i ride with a few 13s and they've been very solid so 14 will most likely be a great sled

2015 is gonna be interesting

 

[nuggetau]

The pics show the old style a-arms and the driveshaft (I'm told) is described in the specs using the same term they used in '11 and '12.

Of course we all know that pictures and brochure description are all "subject to change" by release date.

This is the current description for the 2014 RMK Pro on the website:


QuickDrive™ - Low Inertia System

The QuickDrive™ Low Inertia System is designed to provide quicker acceleration and increased “flickability” through reduced rotating mass. Not simply a belt-drive, it is a complete lightweight drive system — featuring an extruded drive shaft, lightweight brake, RMK®-specific brake caliper and of course the most visible piece of the system — a maintenance-free belt drive that requires no oil or tensioner system. The complete system reduces rotational inertia by 21% which means 5lb. less effort when carving.



Adhesive bonded suspension components

By using technology to improve our manufacturing, we continue to build lighter stronger sleds. Bonded Lower Control Arms featuring forged aluminum ends and steel tubing. This process makes for a set of control arms that are 2 lbs. lighter.

 

[wellfed777]

“flickability” HA HA that word has to go !

 

[550iq]

I give Polaris kudos for taking care of the rest of the snowmobilers out there and putting the steep and deep market aside for a moment. Good, all around usable sleds for the masses. Regain some of the other market shares. 550iq

 

[nuggetau]

they played it smart no body else is doing much so why push it
i thought they might coat tunnel and rails i guess i got the rails but wish it was both

i ride with a few 13s and they've been very solid so 14 will most likely be a great sled

2015 is gonna be interesting

I think you are probably right, they decided to save anything new until 2015 to compete with Cat's new motor, which will likely be a DI 850.

 

[geo]

Problems? What problems? MY 13 Pro has been great and everyone I have ridden with though it was awesome and understood my reason to jump. In fact many might just join me (so i'm glad for the BNG's lol).

I'm not dissin' the guys that had issues and still have but it's not an epidemic. Epidemic is a new design and replacement required or it will break. I think the season has proved it is a parts issue that can be fixed with parts not a redesign like the Poo haters will try to lead you to believe. It's just an issue that when fixed will be a non issue.

Anyhow, when a Doo'er or a Cat'er posts a "carrot" a Poo'er has to post a "rear view mirror" shot.

So there, yin and my yang.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

They improved their a-arms and driveshaft for '14.
I couldn't imagine them coming out with anything new or innovative after the results of their last innovation. It's probably wise to back up a year and start over.
Who would have expected Yamaha to have made the biggest changes?

So, basically just fixed the screwed up crap from the 2013 sled?

No changes for any sleds this season except Yamaha and Cat, but that just applies to the guys that like riding pigs.

I imagine that BRP has something up it's sleeve for a Rassmussen influenced chassis but they don't wanna make the same mistake Poo did by cutting corners and end up sacrificing strength for weight. The big thing for Poo here is DID THEY FIX THAT TIME BOMB OF A MOTOR or are the 2014 buyers in for a letdown also??

 

[geo]

“flickability” HA HA that word has to go !

Here to stay for awhile lol. Doo uses it (although really, how can you call a whale flickable unless your Atlas) and Cat will too,,, when they finally can.

By then Poo will come with an anchor for windy days and the new description of mountain manouverability.
Probably something to do with being nice to your nieghbor and ridin buds.

 

[nuggetau]

Problems? What problems? MY 13 Pro has been great and everyone I have ridden with though it was awesome and understood my reason to jump. In fact many might just join me (so I'm glad for the BNG's lol).

I'm not dissin' the guys that had issues and still have but it's not an epidemic. Epidemic is a new design and replacement required or it will break. I think the season has proved it is a parts issue that can be fixed with parts not a redesign like the Poo haters will try to lead you to believe. It's just an issue that when fixed will be a non issue.

Anyhow, when a Doo'er or a Cat'er posts a "carrot" a Poo'er has to post a "rear view mirror" shot.

So there, yin and my yang.

Really? You don't know about any problems? A short list.

Driveshaft
QD belts
QD bolts snapping
Improper QD bolt torque(pulleys falling off)
Bearing failure on jackshaft
Bearing failure on driveshaft
Hot start bog
On/off throttle bog
Long pull, let off and back into throttle bog
A arm failures


Yes, I could write an equally long list regarding any of the other manufacturers. If we don't demand quality as customers, we can have no expectation that we will ever get it from the sled manufacturers. There are way to many apologists for poor craftsmanship and quality. I just can't understand acceptance of mediocrity. Aspire to be better and do better, greatness never comes from an attitude of " eh, good enuf".

The last paragraph was aimed at no one in particular!

 

[RMK935VA]

Nuggetau, I will grant you some of what you wrote above as factually correct. However, the bog issue has never been an issue with my 13 and I have not had any other problems either. Everything works very well. My 13 is light years better than my 11 was in all regards. It feels like a mod motor and holds 8300 to 8400 rpm consistently on long pulls in deep snow. My biggest concern of those you mentioned above is the possibility of an A-Arm failure on the trail or coming down a big hill at speed.

 

[metallicat]

Interesting thread to read, but i now think back to previous years. Last year at this time in particular. Everyone was complaining that, "Oh great! a new belt drive and 417# and new awesome boards!?! Now my 11/12 Pro resale just went in the crapper!" Which way do you want it? Do you want the biggest best EVERY year and your resale to "go down" on your one year old sled? or do you want them to refine (hopefully) what they have every once in a while and make things right in an off year? I think i know the answer most will have to that and that is to have it both ways which i think is unrealistic. i just think there are many people that will bitch about ANYTHING they put out. On a sidenote, do you see ANY other automotive/recreational distributor making even close to the strides every year that the snowmobile industry does? Most models of vehicles don't change a darn thing for about 4-5 years at a time and we still shell out cash for those!?

 

[geo]

Maybe you don't get it Nug. There's nothing mediocre about my Pro. From my perspective it has been outstanding and exceded my expectations in perfomance and quality from the very first ride.

Just lucky I quess but I do my maintenance and I do my tuning. It starts everyday, set a new benchmark for mountain performance that I will never drop below again for me and got me back to the truck with a grin because of the ride and doesn`t ask to be "freshened up" when back home to perform the same tomorrow.

I aspire to be better rider everyday. The sled lets me and i still haven't found it's limits. Knowing what I know about it's condition today and comparing to my past experiences, I have no problems riding it another year if I decide to. I ride by myself 75% of the time.

So what more should I or could I ask from my sled or it's builder.

 

[nuggetau]

Nuggetau, I will grant you some of what you wrote above as factually correct. However, the bog issue has never been an issue with my 13 and I have not had any other problems either. Everything works very well. My 13 is light years better than my 11 was in all regards. It feels like a mod motor and holds 8300 to 8400 rpm consistently on long pulls in deep snow. My biggest concern of those you mentioned above is the possibility of an A-Arm failure on the trail or coming down a big hill at speed.

I try my best not to judge a sled by just the few I know about, small sample sizes say nothing regarding quality or craftsmanship. Just because I haven't had a problem or my riding group hasn't doesn't change that others are having the problem. I have all 3 bog situations, none of the other problems listed above.

It really chaps my hide when someone (not you) chimes into a thread and says " my Poodooyamicat has 300 miles with no problems". That is like saying your newborn baby doesn't have osteoporosis yet. Bragging that a new sled with almost no miles on it has no problems is nothing short of moronic, I want to scream "come back when you have at least 3000 miles, then you have something to say on the subject." The last statement was not directed at you or anyone in this thread.

My point being, our expectations for quality are so low that people do actually brag about owning a new low mile sled that hasn't broken down yet!

 

[Flygti32]

So what is everyone gonna say when you visit the showroom next fall, lay on your back, and find a driveshaft with a collar on it in the new 2014 sled??? Because you all know your gonna do it. Hell i am.

 

[Dam Dave]

Problems? What problems? MY 13 Pro has been great and everyone I have ridden with though it was awesome and understood my reason to jump. In fact many might just join me (so i'm glad for the BNG's lol).

I'm not dissin' the guys that had issues and still have but it's not an epidemic. Epidemic is a new design and replacement required or it will break. I think the season has proved it is a parts issue that can be fixed with parts not a redesign like the Poo haters will try to lead you to believe. It's just an issue that when fixed will be a non issue.

Anyhow, when a Doo'er or a Cat'er posts a "carrot" a Poo'er has to post a "rear view mirror" shot.

So there, yin and my yang.

I can say the very same thing about my Cats, no issues on mine.....no epidemic of issues for any of the brands really........I may wave a carrot but I wont drink the coolaid so there

 

[nuggetau]

Maybe you don't get it Nug. There's nothing mediocre about my Pro. From my perspective it has been outstanding and exceded my expectations in perfomance and quality from the very first ride.

Just lucky I quess but I do my maintenance and I do my tuning. It starts everyday, set a new benchmark for mountain performance that I will never drop below again for me and got me back to the truck with a grin because of the ride and doesn`t ask to be "freshened up" when back home to perform the same tomorrow.

I aspire to be better rider everyday. The sled lets me and i still haven't found it's limits. Knowing what I know about it's condition today and comparing to my past experiences, I have no problems riding it another year if I decide to. I ride by myself 75% of the time.

So what more should I or could I ask from my sled or it's builder.

Would you still be as happy if you were the one experiencing all the problems others have had?

A sample size of 1 says very little about quality.

Why do you not expect better quality for all of us?

 

[geo]

Has your 13 been a bad one Nug? No help from your dealer?

I'll offer you some help. Bring it to my place and I'll make it a good one by switching the parts out from mine. Then I'll find the bad parts and warrantee the new parts and put it on mine.

It'll be a win win situation for both of us!

 

[Jaynelson]

Just rode all the 2013's the other day and Pro is still my top pick for technical riding. The 2013 would be a very worthwhile upgrade from my 2011....much more so than I expected. Not giving up anything to Ski Doo, IMO. Cat will close the gap with their lighter 2014 and I think that will be a good sled. Polaris 2014 will be a refined 2013 and they'll button up the 2013 issues. I think 2013 proves the motor has been improved....much less reliability complaints on here and it FEELS like an entirely different mill from my 2011.

That all said, I think a powder coated tunnel would not have been too much to ask lol

 

[ndC7M8]

I try my best not to judge a sled by just the few I know about, small sample sizes say nothing regarding quality or craftsmanship. Just because I haven't had a problem or my riding group hasn't doesn't change that others are having the problem. I have all 3 bog situations, none of the other problems listed above.

It really chaps my hide when someone (not you) chimes into a thread and says " my Poodooyamicat has 300 miles with no problems". That is like saying your newborn baby doesn't have osteoporosis yet. Bragging that a new sled with almost no miles on it has no problems is nothing short of moronic, I want to scream "come back when you have at least 3000 miles, then you have something to say on the subject." The last statement was not directed at you or anyone in this thread.

My point being, our expectations for quality are so low that people do actually brag about owning a new low mile sled that hasn't broken down yet!

So you can base a snowmobile manufacturer's credibility and determine the longevity of their snowmobile models based on 40-50 failure cases that you read about here on SnoWest, tell people they know nothing about the subject when they have less than 3000 miles on a sled that has been in their possession for 7 months or less. You rag on people for having machines that more than likely don't have problems and aren't going to break down.

Then, in the next breath, you say "I try my best not to judge a sled by just the few I know about, small sample sizes say nothing regarding quality or craftsmanship."

Do you realize how many units Polaris sells, and how "small of a sample size" they regard these failures as? And do you really believe that EVERY SINGLE 2013 IS GOING DO FAIL? You're stirring the pot and being a huge fawking douche bag. Go ahead and give me bad rep for this post too, you frickin jerk. I urge you to quit snowmobiling and get out of our forums if you have nothing constructive to say.

 

[trackvs2wheels]

Would you still be as happy if you were the one experiencing all the problems others have had?

A sample size of 1 says very little about quality.

Why do you not expect better quality for all of us?

Nuggetau - I know maybe you're not stoked about them not coming out and saying directly that they had small issues in 2013, but what makes you think that behind the scenes they are not actively working to correct the "quality" issues they had last year? You are condemning them for "quality" issues on the 2014's before they even start to think about building next year's sleds...

Just a thought is all