Sidewinder or 850. What to buy

Thanks for all the awesome advice. In the end I think I would enjoy riding either choice but the pce of mind knowing you have that reliable motor is hard to beat.
 
The 850 is nothing like an 800 etec. Pulls hard from bottom to top, super responsive, snap all the time, and its not much slower on top than a Winder(which I own). If you care, the Doo gets better fuel mileage too. Highest miles I've seen reported on one so far is 4340 with no problems, long term we can't know for a while yet. With the Gen4 you're getting an all new design that feels similar to your current Doo, but everything is better. My Sidewinder is the STX-DX, so the track and the saddlebags are the only differences from the one you're considering. I haven't ridden one with the Fox QS3 shocks but those who have say they make it feel 70 pounds lighter which it could use, a ditch banger it is not. Also the Tuner skis do not turn in soft snow, I replaced mine with SLP MoHawks. I have 3067mi on mine so far, have had the driven clutch rollers replaced, turbo bolts retorqued, and a slight oil leak(loose clamp on hose at bottom of oil tank) repaired, all warrantied of course. None of the above cost me any riding time. My average fuel mileage is 13.4. It is 100% stock, other than the skis. My last six sleds were fourstrokes, which is why I chose the Yamacat; I very seriously considered an 850. And yes I have ridden two 850s, one at least 25 miles, so I know firsthand what they're like. Is the Winder worth three grand more than the Doo? Probably not, in my opinion. Also right now I would recommend shopping very hard for price on a Sidewinder, have seen adds for them as low as 11,999$. Would I buy the same sled again? No, I would save a large amount of cash and go with the 850.
 
Tough choice! I think this 850 could be a great machine. I just didn't want a 2 stroke no matter what, especially a FIRST year 2 stroke. Right out of the box, they're set-up very well. They have a lot of adjusters with big knobs that can be easily adjusted including ski carbide depth & rider weight. Doo has THE best accessories & goodies including a light bar that fits the under the headlight perfectly. My 'Winder took some time to set up, but now i feel as though that 850 has nothing on me anywhere. ESPECIALLY on the big stuff. Tough choice!
 
I also have the stx dx, very comfortable, performance luxury. I run mostly highways around me, or trails out of state, but even in the fields here very smooth sled. Spring bought it and got $1622 off list, 3 yr YES, and the jacket. Put that money back into upgrades to take it to the next level. I have 2 doos, check my username. These sleds are the real deal, some have had a few minor bugs in the first year, easy fixes, making insane reliable power. I was hesitant to switch because my riding buds had prior yams and cats and complained of the weight and breakdowns and went die hard doo. No regrets at all here. Best wishes with your choice.
 
Dont the doo belts cost $200.00??

Thats why I will buy a winder than the Tcat.
 
I don't see a 3000 dollar difference. I paid 1500 more for my LE than a equally equipped 850 and I have way more power and much better shock pkg. the SW crushes the 850 as far as power goes and they have had a lot more issues with it than the SW including blown engines and water pump failures. All this 4 stroke reliability claims and 4 stroke performance claims are fine but if you want all the advantages of a 4 stroke then buy a 4 stroke not a 4 stroke wannabe.
 
ricardo said:
The 850 is nothing like an 800 etec. Pulls hard from bottom to top, super responsive, snap all the time, and its not much slower on top than a Winder(which I own). If you care, the Doo gets better fuel mileage too. Highest miles I've seen reported on one so far is 4340 with no problems, long term we can't know for a while yet. With the Gen4 you're getting an all new design that feels similar to your current Doo, but everything is better. My Sidewinder is the STX-DX, so the track and the saddlebags are the only differences from the one you're considering. I haven't ridden one with the Fox QS3 shocks but those who have say they make it feel 70 pounds lighter which it could use, a ditch banger it is not. Also the Tuner skis do not turn in soft snow, I replaced mine with SLP MoHawks. I have 3067mi on mine so far, have had the driven clutch rollers replaced, turbo bolts retorqued, and a slight oil leak(loose clamp on hose at bottom of oil tank) repaired, all warrantied of course. None of the above cost me any riding time. My average fuel mileage is 13.4. It is 100% stock, other than the skis. My last six sleds were fourstrokes, which is why I chose the Yamacat; I very seriously considered an 850. And yes I have ridden two 850s, one at least 25 miles, so I know firsthand what they're like. Is the Winder worth three grand more than the Doo? Probably not, in my opinion. Also right now I would recommend shopping very hard for price on a Sidewinder, have seen adds for them as low as 11,999$. Would I buy the same sled again? No, I would save a large amount of cash and go with the 850.
Click to expand...


850 decked out apples to apples might save you $1500.....based on your own example...if you ran 3100 miles on that doo.....how many gallons of doo oil? more expensive belts? and the kicker...when that 2 stroke doo has 3100 miles and you go to sell it (until they prove its a 15-20,000 mile motor) you will get your #*$&@ kicked....whatever you saved will more than be gone....for a high miler like yourself.....its a shell game....

not withstanding all of this...this year reports on the doo have been rods through block from poor assembly.....water pump failures...many belt blowers on the order of the original procross cat....and even the sales manager of my dealer took one out west....first day of riding...blew fuel injector unit....stranded ..your sidewinder is just barely broke in....wont strand you
 
ricardo said:
The 850 is nothing like an 800 etec. Pulls hard from bottom to top, super responsive, snap all the time, and its not much slower on top than a Winder(which I own). If you care, the Doo gets better fuel mileage too. Highest miles I've seen reported on one so far is 4340 with no problems, long term we can't know for a while yet. With the Gen4 you're getting an all new design that feels similar to your current Doo, but everything is better. My Sidewinder is the STX-DX, so the track and the saddlebags are the only differences from the one you're considering. I haven't ridden one with the Fox QS3 shocks but those who have say they make it feel 70 pounds lighter which it could use, a ditch banger it is not. Also the Tuner skis do not turn in soft snow, I replaced mine with SLP MoHawks. I have 3067mi on mine so far, have had the driven clutch rollers replaced, turbo bolts retorqued, and a slight oil leak(loose clamp on hose at bottom of oil tank) repaired, all warrantied of course. None of the above cost me any riding time. My average fuel mileage is 13.4. It is 100% stock, other than the skis. My last six sleds were fourstrokes, which is why I chose the Yamacat; I very seriously considered an 850. And yes I have ridden two 850s, one at least 25 miles, so I know firsthand what they're like. Is the Winder worth three grand more than the Doo? Probably not, in my opinion. Also right now I would recommend shopping very hard for price on a Sidewinder, have seen adds for them as low as 11,999$. Would I buy the same sled again? No, I would save a large amount of cash and go with the 850.
Click to expand...

Not much difference in top end? Either I call BS or your Winder is a bad one.......Everyone has said the 850 and 800 are close to the same for top end. I can pull those fairly handily with my dialed in Attak too. I know for a fact the Winder pulls mine with ease. Sorry but I don't buy that piece of internet talk.
 
If you really like the 4-strokes I'd stick with the Sidewinder. Doo lost several 1200 lovers to that sled, but several 1200 lovers jumped ship to the 850 and absolutely LOVE those too!
I hear over and over how FUN & PLAYFUL the new 850 is...they almost had me spring checking one.
I'm giving my 1200 another chance though.
We had 6 sleds go out West in Jan. My 2016 1200 broke down, (coil pin) a new 2017 Poo XCR broke down, (clutch spring & exhaust valve cable) AND a new 2017 850 puked a water pump. They all break down, even the new ones!
 
wowchad said:
If you really like the 4-strokes I'd stick with the Sidewinder. Doo lost several 1200 lovers to that sled, but several 1200 lovers jumped ship to the 850 and absolutely LOVE those too!
I hear over and over how FUN & PLAYFUL the new 850 is...they almost had me spring checking one.
I'm giving my 1200 another chance though.
We had 6 sleds go out West in Jan. My 2016 1200 broke down, (coil pin) a new 2017 Poo XCR broke down, (clutch spring & exhaust valve cable) AND a new 2017 850 puked a water pump. They all break down, even the new ones!
Click to expand...

But you didn't mention a Yamaha breaking down..;)
 
journeyman said:
But you didn't mention a Yamaha breaking down..;)
Click to expand...
Hahaha so true and I'll be the first to admit I see the least amount of Yamaha engine cores come through here and we do A LOT of cores!!
(18 in the last two days, we send 2 skids about every other week up to Quebec)
Part of that is the small market share and the other part of that is no doubt a great engine.
 
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