Caveman
VIP Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2012
- Messages
- 168
- Reaction score
- 27
- Points
- 833
- Location
- New Hampshire
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- Yamaha, Polaris, SkiDoo.
The 25th anniversary of the NH Snodeo was this weekend. We still have a month plus of riding left up north in NH/ME and this is always a great event that hundreds ride into and demo the new sleds. The OEM's bring their haulers and tents and it's a great time to demo anything you may want to purchase down the road. This year Skidoo shows up with 20 sleds to ride - 10 850's and 10 other models. Arctic Cat shows up with 10 sleds, Polaris brings 7 sleds, and because Yamaha was supposedly busy doing a photo shoot in Arizona (makes sense), they don't show up and send a dealer instead with 3 sleds - 2 Vipers and a Sidewinder. Pathetic. The OEM's efforts this weekend appeared to equal their position in the market.
Here's my one line reviews of what I rode - basically back to back to back so it was easy to compare:
Skidoo MXZ 850-rides great, handles great, motor is quick but way too much vibration in bars to ride all day.
Skidoo 900 ACE - quiet, smooth running, but just not enough power, it's a dog.
Skidoo 1200 Renegade Adrenaline - rides great, motor is smooth but the throttle lag/response is pathetic.
Artic Cat High Country 8000 - nice motor, good power, easy to throw around but not comfortable.
Artic Cat ZR8000 153 - same as above, almost flipped it, heavy steering, no interest.
Polaris 800 Rush XCR - awesome sled, by far the best ride of the day. Smooth power, handles great, sticks to the trail, compact, fast - like it.
Polaris 600 Indy SP - great ride, not enough power.
Yamaha Sidewinder LTX 137- obviously big power, handles and rides OK, steering is just way too heavy, heaviest of the day, can't imagine a 200+ mile day in the twistys, like the power but no interest unless they can figure out a way to lighten the steering.
I'll keep my Apex - for now, but that Polaris 800 XCR is one great sled.
Here's my one line reviews of what I rode - basically back to back to back so it was easy to compare:
Skidoo MXZ 850-rides great, handles great, motor is quick but way too much vibration in bars to ride all day.
Skidoo 900 ACE - quiet, smooth running, but just not enough power, it's a dog.
Skidoo 1200 Renegade Adrenaline - rides great, motor is smooth but the throttle lag/response is pathetic.
Artic Cat High Country 8000 - nice motor, good power, easy to throw around but not comfortable.
Artic Cat ZR8000 153 - same as above, almost flipped it, heavy steering, no interest.
Polaris 800 Rush XCR - awesome sled, by far the best ride of the day. Smooth power, handles great, sticks to the trail, compact, fast - like it.
Polaris 600 Indy SP - great ride, not enough power.
Yamaha Sidewinder LTX 137- obviously big power, handles and rides OK, steering is just way too heavy, heaviest of the day, can't imagine a 200+ mile day in the twistys, like the power but no interest unless they can figure out a way to lighten the steering.
I'll keep my Apex - for now, but that Polaris 800 XCR is one great sled.
