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XP vs D8 vs M8

F

Flakey

Free Member
Ok, not sure if this is already a thread. Probly is but...

I can't decide, I'm buying a sled this fall but I'm not sure which one. I'm really wondering about handeling Characteristics .

First off, I come from ski-doo (04 rev 800) I know ski-doo's and am familiar with the way thay handle.

The Polaris D8, I LOVE the way this sled feels standing on it. The bars, and seat and tunnel are perfect. But I've never ridden one. How do they compare to the cat?
Sat on the XP and liked it except for the super wide tunnel, you have to stand bow legged just to straddel that wide beast.

I've ridden a M7, didn't like it. Just felt weird to me, came over almost to easy and ergos are not what I like, ie not rider forward.

So, If the D8 is halfway between the xp and the M8 as far as handeling goes, thats what I'm leaning twards. HELP ME DECIDE! :)
 
This otta be a gooder Munch Munch:beer;
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It's been said over and over, try to ride each before buying one. IMO to each his own. I've ridden all 3 and for me, it's the D8 or the M8.
 
skibreeze said:
It's been said over and over, try to ride each before buying one. IMO to each his own. I've ridden all 3 and for me, it's the D8 or the M8.
Click to expand...

second to that... xp is just a expensive belt eater... new 160hp m8 is intresting, lets see if its durable .. D8 great chassi and handling but not the same HP as 2010 Ac m8... i think new Ac m8 is a winner 2010 mountain sleds
 
The "super wide" xp tunnel is the same width as your Rev. Ski-doo still has reliablilty issues, I don't like the narrow Poo running boards but they handle nice and the 163" works good in the deep, the '09 m8 was a nice alround sled and the '10 looks better. Gotta go with the '10 M8
 
the day i tryed my friends 09 d8, that made me switch over to it, the handling from that sled is amazing
 
Depend how you ride. If you ride tech riding, tight trees, steep and nasty ground I would highly recommend a 163 XP. When you learn to ride the chassis, they just get through the back country a bit better than the others. My group is represented by GOOD riders on all brands...the 4 top guys week in, week out are all on XP's. They work the trees wayyy better than the others with equal riders on all platforms.

JMO

Get the XP. It has the most forward riding position (read: most control!!) and is the lightest. Why wouldnt you buy it?? The 2009 cat was probably a bit more reliable, but we havent had any serious issues with the Doo's. And a Polaris D8 set new standards for most burn downs in a year. Way worse than Doo ever was.

Jake
 
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From what I have experienced the Xp is the sled of choice bar non. My buddy has a d8 nice sled but was in the shop with problems most of the winter. Road an M8 last winter was gutless compared to my Xp but 2010 is a new motor, rider position is not my style on the M8 to laid back. The Xp is very rider forward and not a big adjustment from the rev. All of these sleds will defiantly get the job done, its all rider preference.
 
if you didn't like the M7 you won't like the M8. confused don't see how you could like the iq chassis and not the M???? they are as close to the same i think as 2 different brands can get...
 
89sandman said:
if you didn't like the M7 you won't like the M8. confused don't see how you could like the iq chassis and not the M???? they are as close to the same i think as 2 different brands can get...
Click to expand...

xx2^
we see a lot of cats and poo's in this area and in the saddle they handle a lot alike. don't have a lot of time on an xp so no good input from me. the dealers we have for the poo are some of the best and the cat dealers are getting better around here but we are way short on good doo dealers. so I would go with the one that fits best AND is supported by a good dealer that is close to you!
 
89sandman said:
if you didn't like the M7 you won't like the M8. confused don't see how you could like the iq chassis and not the M???? they are as close to the same i think as 2 different brands can get...
Click to expand...

^^^x2 I go from my xfire 153 to my buddies 08 dragon and they both feel pretty similar. I could see not liking either but liking one and not the other seems odd.
 
Love the XP(never burned a belt,never had problems with my 07rev or 08XP,04rev blew a motor but had it fixed at no cost in one week,still runs like a raped ape 5000 miles later),have ridden the D8 a little and liked it.Needed more saddle time though.Heard the AC 160hp is at the top end only?
 
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89sandman said:
if you didn't like the M7 you won't like the M8. confused don't see how you could like the iq chassis and not the M???? they are as close to the same i think as 2 different brands can get...
Click to expand...


.................

Ok, ok, I said I've RIDDEN the M series but have only SAT ON the D8

That was basicly the question at hand, does the D8 handle like the M8. And I guess the answer is yes eh?

I may just stick with doo.
 
I am coming off of the same sled as you. Sold my 04 800 REV this summer. I went with the M8.

My experience: I drove a 900 RMK before the REV 800. It was a bit differant sled and took some time to get used to it. But once I got it I loved it. My wife has an M7 which I drive on occasion and I have to say it was easy to get use to driving it because it was so much like the RMK I had. One thing I hate about the Polaris is the narrow running boards. My boots are always straddling the edges. But I did not base my purchase off of that just one factor. I have driven many XP's I have to say it is a hole differant machine, even from the REV. Each time I ride it though I get more and more use to it. Reliability had a big part to do with my purchase. Our skidoo dealer is probably one of the best. Our Polaris dealer is new but I like the people that work there. Our AC dealer is a joke and I have to travel 100 miles to the next dealer which is who I chose. But with the problems with doo and Poo i chose to look at Cat. When they released the new engine with more HP I knew what sled I was getting. I hope the reliability thing does not bite me in the butt with the HO lol.
 
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Flakey said:
.................

Ok, ok, I said I've RIDDEN the M series but have only SAT ON the D8

That was basicly the question at hand, does the D8 handle like the M8. And I guess the answer is yes eh?

I may just stick with doo.
Click to expand...

the D-8 handles similar to the M-8 but they are different..the D-8 feels more rider forward then the M as well as you sit up higher as well..all 3 are good sleds and you really need to spend a good day riding each to see what feels right for you..I love my dragon..but I dont care so much for the M-8..it just feels different to me..the XP is great but I feel like I am too stretched out on it......(but I have only spent a total of maybe 1 hr riding one too)I am sure I could between adjustments and time learn to like it........
 
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