New sled?

[Dahitman44]

I have been on a polaris for years and I am excited to switch to a Ski-doo this year.

I am looking at the Renegade platform but I am not sure of the motor size. 600 ho or 800. I thought about gettting the bigger one for sure but I do a lot of ribnign with my family and young boys.

I have heard the 800 can have trouble going "slow" and can vibrate a lot.

Thoughts?

[Macgyver55]

I've got a 600HO Renegade and have never been disappointed.

It depends on what you are going to do with it. With an experienced rider, the only real place the 800s will out shine

the 600 is out on a lake on the big end or in the mountains if you go there.

Put em both on the trail and it wont be a factor.

[311Hemi]

I agree. I had an 06' 600 SDI Renegade and loved that machine. Set it up with some good clutching and you will be set.

With that said, if I was buying a sled today I would consider the 800 etec....although I have not done any research on the engine.

[Dahitman44]

That is my problem ... part of me wants the thrill of the 800 and its 165 hp ... but my brain tell me that I should get the 600 HO because it will be really quick and since most of my riding (90 percent) will be with my kids (age 11) i will not need to go really fast.

Every review I have read ... everyone I have talked to has said that the 800 is "wicked fast"

That excites me and scares me at the same time

thoughts?

[311Hemi]

If I was mainly riding with my kids I would look at the 600 SDI (or the 600 etec), not the HO (carbed). That 600sdi was a great engine....offered good mileage and started right away no matter the temp.

I mainly ride with my FIL, who owns all 800's now....so you know I have to keep up when dragging across the lake!!! Thus why I would be looking at getting the 800 vs the 600!

[Dahitman44]

yeah that 600 ho is the e-tech now ... i think that may be the way to go.

[Dahitman44]

I hear the 800 sattles and vibrates a lot on your feet area ... is this true?

[Dahitman44]

any more thoughts?

[311Hemi]

yeah that 600 ho is the e-tech now ... i think that may be the way to go.

Ahh...that makes sense then. I haven't been paying much attention over the past year or two.....but I think I would agree.

Can't help you on the vibration part of it for the 800....but you may check out dootalk and do some research there if you haven't already.

[Dahitman44]

Yep I have and I have heard that. I am thinking more and more about the 600 ho ... just ... u know .. the power of the 800 makes me wonder. Not in a smart way either ...

[minneman]

You have a 700 now... whats a hundred more ..?

[Dahitman44]

Minnow-Man --

U r NOT helping.

I want that 800 because it is "wicked fast" but I think I would break my neck ...

Hit

[Dahitman44]

And NO -- if I break my neck u cannot have my sled ...

[Dave S]

If you ride 90% of the time with your kids, go with the 600. The 800 would be too tempting to leave them behind for the sake of "opening it up". If you have no other adults with to stay with the kids, then I'd recommend checking into the reg's about kids under 12 and supervision. Not only could your fun end with a speeding ticket but could also result in another for not being close enough to direct your kids operation of their sled.

I don't intend to be overbearing on the safety or the reg's. But with kids along, it's best to be the responsible one and set a good example.

If you spent more time with "The Guys", then an 800 would be within reason. I know a guy (former supervisor) who's a Ski-Doo fanatic and won't buy anything over a 600 since he's already able to outrun the bigger sleds on the trails.

Personally, I'm a little like you with the thought of the bigger motor/high HP and that straightline acceleration. More of a speed freak myself but with kids in tow, I'd think of their safety first. There's plenty of time to move up to the bigger machine when the time is right. Whatever you choose, good luck and enjoy.

[LightningBG]

So this is where I've been on my sleds throughout the years....

340 Yamaha

480 Yamaha

900 Polaris

1000 Skidoo

And honestly, the Skidoo "feels" the lightest out of all of them, except maybe the 340, but that was a long time ago.

I'd maybe drop down to a 700 or 800, but with how light and agile the ski-doo is (feels), I don't see any reason to.

I ride mostly trails and I'm not having to muscle it through the corners at all. And when I get out on a lake or river...forget about it. My riding buddies get a kick out of it when we're cruising a river at 80, and they give me the go ahead signal and I just take off from the group. She'll do in the 120s (per gps), but it still rides real nice going 5mph.

I think you'll get by just fine with a 600, but you wont be overpowered with an 800. I normally go as big as possible so I'm not yearning for more. The SDI is real nice.

Here is my newest baby.

[mamohr686]

The answer really depends on your riding style. I own a rev 500SS that I've modded. My stock 500SS ran at 94mph on top, and will run with any carbed rev 800 up to 50mph as long as it is still stock. I like the lightweight nimble feel of the skidoo TNT sleds. I'm a ditchbanger at hart, and like the thrill of acceleration. How often you need to run at over 100mph? The fun part is 0-60mph. The longer track will help absorb the bumps and will ride a lot better in the deep snow, but takes a more experienced rider to swing the rear end around in the twisty trails through the woods and ride on icy hardpack. Skidoo even makes summit sleds with lower hp motors and adjust the gearing for the heavier track.

I know a few guys that have blown 800 HO engines up because they rode at the same throttle position for too long. At some throttle/rpm position around 45mph where the RAVE valves start to change position, is a lean spot that can cause burn down. You should always be thumbing them and burp the throttle when you are slowing down.

Skidoo is going to have a new chassis/line-up in 2013 so you may want to wait until next year to sping order a sled if you going to buy brand new from a dealer. The XP models will lose value faster after the new sleds come out.

Artic cat actually has some sweet new sleds this year. Lots of stuff that has come down from the racing circut is showing up in the factory production sleds.

I'm going to keep my rev for a few more years. My fall project is to add a 1.5" intense track and change out the gearing, so I don't get stuck as often in the deep powder.

[RangerJack]

Screw Minnesota riding, come ride with us in the Sierra Madres with a brand new Pro-Rmk..you'll never look at riding the same way.

my two cents

[Dahitman44]

Lep --

Yep that is what makes it hard. "I have the need ... the need for speed ..." Yep that was Top Gun

It does make it harder with the kids, but man I think about what is being said about "wicked fast" and it gets me all "goosey"

[Dahitman44]

My 700 has been altered and drives like a rocket ship. It engages at like 3500 rpm and is NOT fun to ride with the kids, but man is it QUICK and sneaky fast but it weighs a TON -- I added elect. start and rev.

[Dahitman44]

Ma Mohr -- good point on the new body style. I have thought about that angle too but I love this body style n my wife gave me the ok so I gotta run with it!

[Dahitman44]

HERE IS A GOOOOOOODDDDDDD QUESTION --

Since I do not care if a sled can go 110 or 135 mph ... and quickness in 0-30 and 30-60 is very important, should that factor in at all?

Is a 600 HO a lot slower than an 800? or is it close in "quickness"

Remember I am going to get the Renegade

[Macgyver55]

Remember, once you get past a certain amount of horsepower, traction is the limiting factor determining acceleration. Both the 600HO and the 800 are past that point.

I ride regularly with a guy that has a piped 800 Switchback, I have a Renegade 600 HO.

It is virtually a dead heat in every run we ever have from 0 to 70, where he then starts to slowly pull away.

If you haven't experienced riding a longer tracked deeper lugged sled you will be amazed at the difference in acceleration and braking ability.

I will pass 14000 miles this year and hopefully make 15,000 on my Renegade and I still don't want to give it up. It has absolutely been my favorite sled, and I had my last one for 13,000 miles.

[Dahitman44]

Mac --

That was the best way to explain it. I do NOT want to give up the 0-70 and that is all I care about in speed.

Well it looks more and more like the 600 HO ...

Yet, the 800 stills pulls me a little!!!

[Moe Szyslak]

I am on my third XP sled right now. First was a 09 TNT (600), Second a 2010 800R, and now a 2011 MXZX 600RS.

2009 TNT: Best sled by far to this point. Very light and nimble, could throw it around any way you want. Easy on gas. Great acceleration to 90MPH+ (I dont usually go faster than that). Only downside is lack of power in deep wet snow conditions it will struggle. Easily fixed by gearing down one tooth on top gear.

2010 MXZ 800R: 35 lbs heavier than TNT. Power to no end, it just keeps pulling. Plenty of power to anything you get in to. Would suggest a longer lug track as soon as you buy it, or stud 100+ on the stock track. You essentially spin in any condition as long as you want. Pretty good on gas for an 800. Always used %25 less fuel at fillups compared to my cousins 2009 Sno Pro 600.

2011 MXZX 600RS Race Sled: Not ridden yet...

I actually chose to go back to the 600 because in my opinion the 800 isnt needed in ditches and on trails. Only needed for lake racing and mountains in my opinion. If I dont like the race sled I will be selling and buying another TNT 2009/2010 carb.

Personally not interested in an etec at this point. No one has cracked the computer module to date so any engine or HP mods will be automatically de-tuned by the PC. Clutching and traction is essentially only mods.

My 800R had the vibration in the handlebars. Honestly never understood the complaints. Big deal, so it vibrates a bit at idle and certain RPM ranges. Never bothered me. My BB car steering wheel vibrates more!

600 TNT is my suggestion if you can afford an XP sled.

600s are just as fast and can EASILY be made faster than stock 800s from 0-70. 70-1XX 800's will almost always win.

[Dahitman44]

Personally not interested in an etec at this point. No one has cracked the computer module to date so any engine or HP mods will be automatically de-tuned by the PC. Clutching and traction is essentially only mods.

Not sure what you mean here?