going to buy a new sled thinking either a d8 or an xp anyone riden both?
xp or d8
- Thread starter nunuexpress
- Start date
thank for the info, i got a d7 right now and am sick of losing to the xp!
Ride them both. then figure out who the best dealer will be.
Ace
Ace
I
IndoubtGASIT
Well-known member
D8 D8 D8
I think im going to snowcheck a 2009 Polaris Dragon 800. I really wanted to go with the XP but they have yet to fix my 07 800r. Im still taking it back to the dealer almost every week for the same issues. I see the new XP has some of the same problems plus some additional ones than my 07. I promised myself that I would not buy another Ski Doo until they fixed mine and they have yet to do it and im soooooo tired of dealing with it every week. Im jumping ship, I just hope its a better sled
tinner, I think you will love the dragon..I love mine..been in the shop once in 800 miles, had them stiffen the frt track shock and replace left handwarmer...has a small burble in the midrange but doesnt affect the ride so is ok till they get the reflash good for low altitude..all these problems should be gone on the 09's...
you will get lots of opinions on here....the only one that matters is your own.
There are lots of both on the hills...take them each for a days rip and then you will know
XP came out with a weak belt...that was replaced promptly by BRP
clutching...good idea to upgrade the secondary to an aftermarket
drive shaft....a few early on had a flaw that BRP dealt with
Mine has had zero issues and flat our rips...its friggen unbelievable actually!!! Best sled I have ever been on!!!
Check out the Poo threads for dragon issues...they certainly have some
There are lots of both on the hills...take them each for a days rip and then you will know
XP came out with a weak belt...that was replaced promptly by BRP
clutching...good idea to upgrade the secondary to an aftermarket
drive shaft....a few early on had a flaw that BRP dealt with
Mine has had zero issues and flat our rips...its friggen unbelievable actually!!! Best sled I have ever been on!!!
Check out the Poo threads for dragon issues...they certainly have some
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i can tell you because i have been their done that, second year sleds will be better, but not perfect... once the few issues have been dealt with, these xp rip hard
the few guys that have the dragon 800 i have been with are not much more than the underrated 700... in my books the 700 was the killer, 800 is a bit of disapointment
i have to ask, how do you like the stabilty of the dragon, for me it was brutal compared to the xp, maybe a lighter guy, it might be the answer
look at service and dealer and make a good choice, they both are fun machines
the few guys that have the dragon 800 i have been with are not much more than the underrated 700... in my books the 700 was the killer, 800 is a bit of disapointment
i have to ask, how do you like the stabilty of the dragon, for me it was brutal compared to the xp, maybe a lighter guy, it might be the answer
look at service and dealer and make a good choice, they both are fun machines
If you like the handling of your Dragon and have all the Polaris-specific tools for it, the D8 would be more of a natural fit for you probably.
D
deepdiver
Well-known member
I think that either sled is a good sled...some have different issues than others and ride differently..so a lot of personal taste comes into play.
I have two friends that have Xp's and I have spent a lot of time on that sled as I had the chance to put quite a few miles in on a 08 XP Demo sled last year. I have owned two different ZX sleds and a 06 REV as well...The XP was easy to ride in about any kind of condition, except I didnt like it for boondocking...always felt like I was going over the bars when going down steeps.
I had bad luck(a boat load of it) with local SkiDoo dealers and jumped to the Polaris D800 this year.
I have been quite satisfied with the Dragon. At first I struggled a bit getting comfortable with the IQ chassis..so I spent a day in medows and low slopes working on the technique that I needed to handle this chassis well. It is different thats for sure after coming from the Doo world.
I think the Dragon 800 is the best "out of the box" sled on the market at this time. The problems are minimal and with any first year design there are those risks that one has to take if you want to be in the fore-front of technology. I dont think you will be dissapointed no matter what path you choose.
Good Luck with your decision.
Both sleds will take a little TLC after you get them. I've rode both chassis, and it took me about 3 days to get used to the XP. When I rode the IQ chassis, it felt very awkward to me. I could easily get used to it after a couple days of riding it, but coming from the XP to it was weird. The IQ was deffinantly easier to tip over, but was not as balanced as the XP. Both were very fun to ride, so pick what ever one you looks better to you, and what ever one you can get a better deal on.
This is perhaps the most honest comparison thread between two sleds of different brands I have read since I've joined this forum.
I have an XP, but even my dealer recomended a D8 if I didn't like the XP.
I have an XP, but even my dealer recomended a D8 if I didn't like the XP.
not not not
G
ghost rider
Well-known member
D8 & Xp
I own both sleds, they both are great sleds!!
The Polaris is the best handling sled I have ever ridden, and i have rode doo's forever. It will side hill like no other sled and will turn with a step of the foot.
The XP is a better handling sled than the 07 and will side hill much easier than the 07' but still doesn't compare to the D8 in the handling department.
Regardless of what you hear on the forums the XP will highmark the D8 any day any snow condition (naturally aspirated).
The XP has a hps can, venting and clutch work.
The D8 has slp pipe, can, y-pipe, venting, reeds, and clutch work and runs very well compared to any other D8's we have ran against. The D8 has great bottom end and mid range but seems to lose power/torque on top. The XP is much more consistent all the way through. Both sleds haven't burned a belt in over 500 miles.
So it you want to be the highmark buy the XP and if you want to ride an effortless sled the D8 is fantastic.
True Story!!!
I own both sleds, they both are great sleds!!
The Polaris is the best handling sled I have ever ridden, and i have rode doo's forever. It will side hill like no other sled and will turn with a step of the foot.
The XP is a better handling sled than the 07 and will side hill much easier than the 07' but still doesn't compare to the D8 in the handling department.
Regardless of what you hear on the forums the XP will highmark the D8 any day any snow condition (naturally aspirated).
The XP has a hps can, venting and clutch work.
The D8 has slp pipe, can, y-pipe, venting, reeds, and clutch work and runs very well compared to any other D8's we have ran against. The D8 has great bottom end and mid range but seems to lose power/torque on top. The XP is much more consistent all the way through. Both sleds haven't burned a belt in over 500 miles.
So it you want to be the highmark buy the XP and if you want to ride an effortless sled the D8 is fantastic.
True Story!!!
The XP800 146 made it over several hills the D8 163 couldnt get over in this years Snowest Deep powder challenge. I love both the chassis of both sleds.Set up propery they both run great. I always say dealer support should be first on your list of priorities.
I think it's quite simple.
If you like an older style/feeling sled, go with the D8. But if you can get used to the XP it's a complete blast to ride. Mine took 4 rides to get used to coming off a kk900 (xp 163 800) but the d8 i was at home with it at first ride. Felt alot like the kk but not at all like the xp. Xp is more futuristic.
The nytro and the xp type chassis are the sleds of the future imho. Nice and small.
Chaz
If you like an older style/feeling sled, go with the D8. But if you can get used to the XP it's a complete blast to ride. Mine took 4 rides to get used to coming off a kk900 (xp 163 800) but the d8 i was at home with it at first ride. Felt alot like the kk but not at all like the xp. Xp is more futuristic.
The nytro and the xp type chassis are the sleds of the future imho. Nice and small.
Chaz
How can you argue with that^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^I fully agree
now pick one and GET ON IT !!!!!!
It's been said several times, I just want to support the suggestion. Ya already have the model you want pretty much picked out, what ya need to do is go shopping for a dealer. Find a dealer that will be honest with ya and treat ya like you just bought a 10,000 dollar chunk of metal, plastic and aluminum...you got a winning combination (there are some exceptions, if you are in the shop literally every weekend you could have the best dealer in the world, it still is a non-desirable sled to own).
I am in the same "decision" boat your'e in, I am mixing in an M1000 with the XP and D8 though. It will depend on which dealer can be straight up with me and deal with me as though I have an IQ higher than a 12 year old.
I am in the same "decision" boat your'e in, I am mixing in an M1000 with the XP and D8 though. It will depend on which dealer can be straight up with me and deal with me as though I have an IQ higher than a 12 year old.
