Sidewinder or Cat

[jonlafon1]

Check the roll over valve/check valve. Mine was defective from day one. Ran it for 750 without the stupid valve even in it. Ran the best it ever has in the 2300 I have on it. I swear that valve is causing idle issues. It did on mine. If your sled idles up and down a bit 100 rpm that valve is causing it. When I removed mine it idled amazing and wasn't searching at idle at ALL. When I say searching I'm talking after it warms up it will go from 1500 to like 17oo-1800 then bAck down to 1500 and so on. And this is caused by uneven pressures in the oil case because stupid roll over valve is opening and closing. I have to take sled in yet for new valve and oil leak. BUT if idles like #*$&@ it's not going to be run on my winder

 

[jonlafon1]

O and that valve IF BAD causes major pressure in oil case and then blows gasket out

 

[Caveman]

Local dealer in NH said he sold 57 Sidewinders this year and only 1 came in for a blown belt complaint and it was a WOT type rider that they expected to have problems with. After riding both Arctic Cat 8000's and Sidewinders this weekend at a demo, I love the SW power but the steering is way too heavy and the ride uncomfortable on both...compared to my demo rides on a Poo800 XCR and Ski850MXZ.

 

[fatchance]

Caveman just think of the big arms you'll get! Lol! Seriously though. All the SW's came with stock set ups that left little to be desired. Heavy steering is an easy fix. Once the sled is set up properly the steering effort is much less.

 

[Pstn head]

Caveman just think of the big arms you'll get! Lol! Seriously though. All the SW's came with stock set ups that left little to be desired. Heavy steering is an easy fix. Once the sled is set up properly the steering effort is much less.

Yup, dealer test rides aren't usually a good assessment, fun yes, buying decision ? nope, IMO

 

[mooser17]

Caveman just think of the big arms you'll get! Lol! Seriously though. All the SW's came with stock set ups that left little to be desired. Heavy steering is an easy fix. Once the sled is set up properly the steering effort is much less.

Change the skis makes a huge difference !

 

[Caveman]

Caveman just think of the big arms you'll get! Lol! Seriously though. All the SW's came with stock set ups that left little to be desired. Heavy steering is an easy fix. Once the sled is set up properly the steering effort is much less.

Thanks for the heads up on the set up, improved steering and demo ride warnings. I'll keep an open mind on the SW, just can't buy another BRP sled even though I've owned 3. The miles are piling up on the Apex and a couple years away from some new iron.

 

[jonlafon1]

I hated mine the first 500 miles. Now it's just simply amazing. And sick fast

 

[fatchance]

Sounds like the Cat isn't putting the power to the ground from what TD is finding. Stick with blue!

 

[Doowithblue]

Neither sled has perfect clutching. Cats need gears/torsional and softer belt. Yamahas need clutches machined/and or diff belt. Apples to apples the big end would go to yamaha while the holeshot (properly tuned with torsional) would go to tcat. Just my opinion of course based on feedback and hands on.