Technically the Ski Doo is a CanAm, so I figured I could post this

Went snowmobiling today for the first time, we were riding 2 passenger Artic Cat's with a 660 engine. We happen to run into a couple guys that one of the group knew. They were riding Ski Doo 800R machines and offered us a test ride.

All I can say is Holy Cow!!! 160hp on a machine like this with a top notch suspension. I was riding along at a little over 20 mph and gave it about 1/2 throttle and the front skis came off the ground. This thing was a rocket. It was nice to be able to see what a real sled could do compared to our underpowered worn out rentals.

As fast as they were, the guys told us that they were geared for climbing and topped out at 80MPH, of course it got there in about 4 seconds, they said their buddies Polaris RMK didn't accelerate as fast but would hit 110mph...

Has anyone else experienced these machines? I found this all pretty interesting....a new world to me. And no Cabman, I'm not buying one so you can borrow it.

To tie this into a ATV topic, the suspension on these was so darn good...super smooth and responsive, it made me wonder why the heck they didn't put a great suspension like that on my ATV!!! Kinda of tees me off!

My 2001 800 had about 165 horses and yes it would raise the skis off the ground at about 35 miles per hour. Some that is because of he way the suspention is setup, rest is due to the power. Mine would top out around a 100 but with the long (156 inch)track it held it back some. But I wanted it for the powder. That suker took me places I had no bussiness being. I had told the guy that bought it that it would do that, he came back a couple weeks later. First thing out of his mouth was WOW that suker takes me places I have no bussiness being.

DOO makes a nice sled I haven't snowmobiled for a couple years and things really have changed just since then.

DOO came out with the first real MTN sled that was manufactored for the powder. I used to watch them and eat my heart out they were playing in the powder and we were stuck on the trails, if we had hit the powder we would have been stuck there.

quote:

Originally posted by ATVer:

And no Cabman, I'm not buying one so you can borrow it.

...I was even gonna offer to store it for you!

Yeah, the guide had a AC Mtn machine, we were on "Touring" machines. He could go a lot of places we couldn't....LOT of them RMK's running around.

When I bought my first sled I was open for any thing no matter what brand. POOPSIE and I headed to VAIL PASS, we had a OLD DOO two up machine. Didn't take long to relise we weren't going to make it on one sled. She would be riding and me siting in the truck knitting scarves and hats for her so she could keep warm. I told her that what ever machine that we seen the most of, would be what we would buy. It was the POLARIS XLT TRIPLE hands down winner I'll bet 2-3 to 1 of all other brands.

Yes i have a bit of experience with the sled industry. The new sleds out by all makes r great machines, just depends on the type of riding you do and the power-to-weight ratio you want. My 07 Skidoo Summit 800R 144 will rip your arms off if you can hold on to it. The factory say they make 151hp. A sled magazine dyno'd them at 156.5hp at altitute ( can't remember the how high up). But all i know is it will take me anywhere i want to go. Just my 2 cents!

By the way there are places that replace their rental sleds yearly and they don't detune them either. Let me know if i can help for your next trip!

Gosh! That brings back memories from riding powder machines on the Grand Mesa a few years ago. Those things made some power.