Real World 1500 Mile Low Down of new Ski Doo XR-S 900 Turbo vs. SideWinder

[XP123]

So far i am real happy with the 900t. The electronic throttle is a little funky at first but i am used to it now. I have a buddy with the same sled and he hates the throttle. He thinks its dangerous in sport mode and will not change it out of std mode.
I flipped the throttle around and plan to give it a try as a finger throttle this season.
I am happy with the power on the sled. It really has some good low end grunt. It also has the ability to pull the skis cresting bumps which my viper seldom did.
I weigh 240 fully dressed. My buddy weighs 200 fully dressed and rides a broke in 2019 850 xrs.
We raced them a few different times this season. Both are stock clutching and no studs.
We run almost dead even to 80 almost every time. I mean it almost dead even. No matter the conditions.
I might get 1 length on him. He might get 1 length on me. Its always dam close. Both of us normally quit around 80-90. I really dont like side by side racing at those speeds now that i am older. Top speed on radar has been 106. Speedo read 113
My clutches run so cool its incredible. They are so cool that i could just barely warm my hands on them after a good hard run.
Its an xrs and the suspension is pretty darn good. The front is well planted and steers pretty light and accurate with the stock skis and 6inch studboy shaper bars
The rear sucks up some pretty good bumps and is pretty cushy. Towards the last few rides i could feel the suspension getting broke in. It was just starting to bottom. I have already sent them to hygear for a revalve and if they need a little more i will get the dual rate spring.
Storage is great. I really really love the glove box up in front of the gauge. Its perfect for my wallet, cellphone and a few snacks, i just wish that compartment got more engine heat. It stays cold so i am thinking about throwing a 25 watt silicone heat pad in there and see how that works.
Underseat storage holds a large Gatorade and a thin pair of gloves.
Service is incredibly easy so far. Hood comes off with 4 screws. Access to the oil filter is incredibly easy. Filling with new oil is also easy.
Chain tension is easy to adjust with a tool provided. No parts need to be removed. Just pop open the panel and turn the screw. Done.
Oil changes are easy. Theres a drain plug and a huge rubber plug that is removed to fill.
Theres a fill plug to check the level. All bogie wheel bearings are sealed on both sides from the snow. Pretty nice set up.

I had the hurricane 205 tune installed this spring with a new clutch kit just because. Lol, so it should be a lot of fun this coming winter.

I still have my apex and still hang out here. Just dont comment as much.

If theres anything specific you want to know, just ask, pm me.

I feel pretty much the same about my 900t. Great reliable trail sled but by no means a sled to compete with the Winder as far as power. I know a few guys who own both 850's and 900t's and they say they pretty much are neck and neck performance wise. Once you tune the 900 it will walk the 850.

 

[RTX]

I feel pretty much the same about my 900t. Great reliable trail sled but by no means a sled to compete with the Winder as far as power. I know a few guys who own both 850's and 900t's and they say they pretty much are neck and neck performance wise. Once you tune the 900 it will walk the 850.

Yup i agree.
I dont want the winder guys thinking i am bashing the sled because i am not. I think the sidewinder is an incredible sled and a performance monster.
but it still has some major weak points to be worked out. The chaincase needs some work for more reliability, oh and a drain!!! That goddam oil tank needs to be a stand alone unit for easier service and better oil cooling. Clutching could use some help. And finally the cooling hose in the tunnel needs to be addressed by cat. NOT the customer or aftermarket companies. It is a major design flaw and in no way should ever be the customers responsibility to protect it.
I have seen 3 different winders go down just riding around maine because of this issue. Its a total screw up and i was unwilling to tear apart a brand new sled with no miles on it mid season to fix that issue. It was that issue for the most part that pushed me to the 900t.

Maybe in a year or 2 i will be buying 1. But right now it is not the sled for me which is really too bad because if a few of those easy to fix issues were actually fixed, my fat #*$&@ would be riding one.
For right now, i think i made the right choice for me. But i will still follow this forum closely so i know when to buy, lol

 

[ClutchMaster]

Well global temps fell by a lot in the last few years. Last time they fell that much the Climate scientists where claiming a new ice age was upon us.

 

[VX1R]

I wonder if anyone wants to get back to the HP vs. Torque debate? That was some pretty entertaining reading from a few pages back.....

 

[Doowithblue]

No thx I'm good.

 

[VX1R]

No thx I'm good.

You're probably right. That ship has sailed.........time to move on

 

[ClutchMaster]

You're probably right. That ship has sailed.........time to move on

Hopefully it has sunk!

 

[Sasquatch]

I wonder if anyone wants to get back to the HP vs. Torque debate? That was some pretty entertaining reading from a few pages back.....

View attachment 148869

Clutchmaster bater does you can tell, I don't post for a while so he prods a bit so I will. Torque is King! HP is the result! Sidewinder is the proof!

I think he misses me.

 

[VX1R]

Clutchmaster bater does you can tell, I don't post for a while so he prods a bit so I will. Torque is King! HP is the result! Sidewinder is the proof! I think he misses me.

Here we go...........

 

[Sasquatch]

https://globalnews.ca/news/5408801/clean-air-act-coal-plant-rollback/
Coal & oil companies will be manipulating the next elections to keep Trump in next term , not the Russians... lol
Might even be a Yamaha 2 stroke on the horizon with all the EPA cut backs .

I guess some have missed the biggest fear from the climate change side and that is that the warm ocean currents are slowing. This has the possibility of bringing on much colder winters and warmer summers. So yep more coal and oil.

 

[ClutchMaster]

I guess some have missed the biggest fear from the climate change side and that is that the warm ocean currents are slowing. This has the possibility of bringing on much colder winters and warmer summers. So yep more coal and oil.

Told you it was true! We have photographic proof!

 

[ClutchMaster]

Clutchmaster bater does you can tell, I don't post for a while so he prods a bit so I will. Torque is King! HP is the result! Sidewinder is the proof!

I think he misses me.

Yea miss ya almost as much as that boil I had on my a$$ last week.

 

[VX1R]

I wish I was here right now....

 

[Shagnos]

Me too!

 

[cobrajet ltx dx]

Give or take!!! Depending on individual location.