Brand Loyalty Question

[Tynan19]

Any hardcore Polaris guys or girls switching to a new brand next year. I am not sure I like the Fusions anymore. I really want a 136 so I was thinking of a Renegade X 800 or a 128 SnoPro F7. I love Polaris but just wondering if I should sacrifice my enjoyment to stay brand loyal. :twisted:

[strangeland2]

alot of polaris bubbas seem to like the 144 in switchbacks... to me it seems like just a little to much track but no one seems to mind it... id like to try out a fst switchback id say if you ve had no problems with polaris and still like them you should give it a chance maybe see if higgins allows test rides

but if a switch is in order check out the crossfire ...136 in track and has the same engine as the firecat and there is also a sno pro package and the graphics on the sno pro look awesome

[Tynan19]

Ah yes the crossfire I forgot that one. I really like the snopro and the color schemes on them. The switchbacks are nice sleds but that track to me is overkill. 95 percent of the time I am on the trails. But I do ride a lot of trails first and lots of fields too. I want that slightly longer track just in case for areas like NH and Maine with the occasional off trail ridding.

[strangeland2]

same here im hoping to get a new 07 and i ll be getting a 136 but has to be a 4 stroke

[ewelin]

I had an 03 gade and loved that thing. It was awsome for break trails. Tossed up a great rooster tail on thet trails as well.... everyone hated riding behind me. The 03 gade was still on the ZX chasis and this summer when I was looking to upgrade the REV I couldn't find one resonably priced so I stepped onto a short track. It's really different not having the 136" of track under ya... but so far I like it. Plus I don't do nearly as much ungrommed riding now that I'm here in Cambridge. Most of the time I hit the trail it's already been groomed.

As for brand loyality.. I'm pretty loyal to Ski-Doos... they've always treated me well. I was thinking the 4 strokes sounded pretty good but the SDIs ski-doo is putting out gets about the same gas millage... So until the other manufactures do something to one up the REV and RT rider position and comfort... I'll be sticking it out with ski-doo :-D

[Tynan19]

Eric haven ridden both track lengths which do you like the best?

Funny on the Crossfire and the F-7. I ran into a father and son tonight who had the cross and the f-7. They are both sharp looking sleds.

[ewelin]

well it's hard to compare since the gade was on the ZX chassis and the short track is on the REV. Totally different riding positions and i've only got about 100 miles on the REV. Once i get some more time on the REV I'll let you know. I will say that the gade didn't really fishtail much and I had to learn how to drive without being able to kick the ass end around at all. On the short track I'm still amazed at how short the sled feels and how nicely i can whip that ass end around when i want. If I ever get a chance to try out a gade in the REV chassis i'll let you know.

[strangeland2]

as much as i d love to take an fst switchback for a rip or three... if they put a decent 4 stroke in a crossfire i ll be in some serious debt this time next year :lol:

[Tynan19]

Higgins does have a sweet gade in the showroom I wonder if they would let me take it for a rip. If not I was kinda hoping it will be a left over next year. My brother bought an 05 MXZ this year and saved about 2,000.

[ewelin]

worth a try.. I know a dealer in Rangeley that sells Yamahas that offer to let my father in law take one of their four-stokes out for a test ride... for a weekend. I think part of it was due to the fact that my father-in-law knows just about everyone and was definitely on first name bassic with the owner.

[Tynan19]

I know them pretty well so I am sure I could. We were supposed to have a snowdeo with a demo but it got canceled.

[sledneck]

I have a switchback but its only a 600 HO. I like the 144 but then again I had it less than a week before I put a 144X2" paddles on it. and I ride off trails mostly. Whats wrong with a little overkill? Never hurts in a bad situation.


The brand loyalty queation, I love Polaris. I've always ridden polaris and I don't want to change..but if I change brands I'll be getting a Rev. They look good weigh nothing and go fast

[Tynan19]

Well this weekend riding I ran into a group of 5 guys. 4 of them had renegades. 2 Had the new 06's one 1,000 and an 800. They looked absolutely awesome. They sounded and handled awesome even on some of our tight trails.
I want the Black X 800.

[ewelin]

The Xs are definitely the way to go... just means you have to snowcheck them... unless you are going used. Those 800HOs are damn nice engines... My friend has an 06X (not a gade) and the thing has so much power. its a really nice sled. You do know that the 1000 and 800 and are different chassis right?

[Tynan19]

No. but the 800 the guy had was sweet. Lower front end and sc4 I think. I think a 1000 is overkill for around here.

[ProxJ]

well i ahve lots of imput here. my dad has owened numarous zx renagades and like 4 rev 121 and now he owns a 136 attak. he liked his revs for the handling and the light weight way more then the yamaha but all his 800 liked to blow up around 5000 miles. the pteks are really bad for that. but i really like a 136 sled. handle awsome off trail. iam extending mine to 136 this summer! the yamaha is a dog in deep stuf the attak isnt really ment for wjhat they say it is it needs some hevy hitters and a padle track to do anything in powder. other wise it just trenches.

[Tynan19]

Thanks for the reply J. So your dad likes the rev gades but he didn't like the issues with the motor correct? I have heard this before on the forums.

[artiksno340]

I've got two friends with 06 renegade 600 sdis. They average anywhere between 18-21 mpg and absolutely love these sleds. Have next to zero complaints. If you don't want to switch brands, why don't you just longtrack the 700? 8)

[Tynan19]

I realize now that I shouldn't pass on any sled just because I am or was loyal. I should ride what I want and what makes me happy right. I rode Eric's Rev in Maine and I had a little time on my Bro's 05 Mxz and I really liked the ride. I did feel a little awkward at first but I am sure I can get over that.

[ewelin]

seriously it took me about 100 miles to get comfortable on the REV. It's just so much of a change in riding position and everything. Hard to get used to quickly.

ProxJ the 800 PowerTEK in gades was only release last year i believe.... I know there isn't a ton of chagnes from the 800HO but still a new engine is still gonna have it's bugs

[ProxJ]

the power tek was released in 05 my dad had a 03 blair moregen rev 800 ho still running stong he just had the rings changed his friend bought it. the 05 was aprently better then the o6. do has the powertek's on back order thats how many blew up. i mean i love skidoo but com on. this year will be the 3rd year for the powertek. i said he had like 4 rev 121 sleds i dont know when the power tek came out in the gade though.

[ewelin]

I think the 03.5 blair morgan was the best sled ever.... that thing fly and was setup great from the factory. Then the lower ride height and new skis on the 06s were a huge improvement over the 05s.... One of my best friends 06 ptek with no issues. Sure he hasn't hit close to 5k miles yet but it's been treating him well.

I did do some digging you're right.. the ptek was out in 05..... I think by 08 the ptek will be replaced with the 800R anyways. that motor is mightly impressive.

[ProxJ]

i toatly agree the blair morgen was the best sled in 03 and o4. then when they came out with the sc4 rear suspion the 05 that is the best year so far in my book because it has the high suspion for jumping adn handled really good. just needed to change skis, persion are ****. power tek has been a pretty good motor excpete for the blowing up. aslong as you got warente you good. i think there going to bring the 800 r motor in to the flatlander sled the 800 xrs and make it a liquide cooled case i think thats it? my dads friend is a regestered brp mecanich and he said they will maybe do that. he has the 2007 summet x on order with the big 800 r motor thats gonna be fun to drive.

[ewelin]

I think I'd still go with a 03.5 BM with some updates. One of my friends has an 800 BM and the other has an 800Ptek X and the BM beats the 06 off the line and stays about a half to a full length in front of the 06 the entire time. Those sleds were just really setup so well out of the factory.

And I wouldn't say the precisions are complete junk.... they were awsome on the ZX chassis but just didn't transfer well onto the REVs. ;-)

[ProxJ]

i toatly agree about the zx part but on the revs they arnt that great. on my dads bm he had reds, red spacers, the handle bar riser kit, it was clutched, team roller secondary, i think it had winsco pistions, and had a big wheel kit plus it was blue and black it was fast read 120 on spedo.

[Tynan19]

I want a rev damit. :revsrule:

[Tynan19]

What are the chances of finding a new XRS in the fall? Maybe find one in the spring.

[ewelin]

in the fall... hard... probably harder than finding a new X... but it could be done. There just like the Xs in that they are special order.... Depending on how long it takes for snow to fall you may have a better chance as some ppl back out of their spring orders.

After the season has started and coming to an end you'll have a better chance of finding one as riders who upgrade every year look to unload it. Finding a new one next spring will be pretty hard if we get any decent amount of snow :-P

Either way it'll probably take quite a bit of calling around. If you're going for new I think I'd wait til the 08s come out.... I think there's going to be some big changes.

[artiksno340]

^^^^ Agreed. It will be pretty hard to find an 07 come fall, especially the XRS. Either wait til after the winter to pick one up or buy a new 08. I've also heard big changes are due for the doos in 08

[Tynan19]

Big changes huh? Man how can they make it better? That would be a good idea to wait. I think I will see what the financial situation is this fall and see what is available. Then make a decision.

[ProxJ]

if you get a rev you will love it i want one for my next sled!

[ewelin]

well skidoo hasn't really changed that much on the REV since 04... they did come out with the 800R engine for the summit this year and I think by 08 it'll be in the trail sleds as well. I think they've got something else though as i don't think skidoo has the paint and stickers mentality.

[artiksno340]

I agree again, I think they wanted to test out that engine in a limited fashion to make sure it would be reliable enough for trail riding (since they sell many more trail sleds). I don't know, maybe I'm thinking the right way!?!