[Guest]

Does anyone have any input on the 800 twins for high marking and powder riding. I was primarily interested in the Rmk 800,144". But lately i've been hearing several rumurs about the power of the AC 800 Mountain cat. The geometry of the RMK seems to be right on the money for mountain riding. Has anyone actually seen the new cat perform, if it does have more power is it setup properly for mountain riding. Do the power valves work as well as they say? This isn't going to be another AC 700 PS is it?

 

[Guest]

I will get to ride the mountian cat 800 this comming week-end in california, I'm looking at the same two.
the cat looks good in the pics. Will see how the power is.
Jack

 

[Guest]

Jack please let us know after your ride.
Icecube

 

[Guest]

I rode an RMK 800 this weekend that made my RMK 700 mod act like a CAT! This thing blew me away! Cory was there to see it first hand as well.

The only thing that really made my day was when I took the 800 50 feet higher on the hill in fresh tracks than the guy that owned it.

RMK 800 - Awesome possibilities!

Mark
PowderBound

 

[Guest]

Mark,

Was the RMK 800 a 2000 model or 2001? Was it stock???
Just curious as I have snow checked a 2001 RMK 800

Thanks .....Tom

 

[Guest]

It was a 2000 and not stock. I have been on the stock 800's and have not been impressed over my modified 700. The 2001 800 will be a great sled, Piped, ported and 156" it is awesome.

Mark
PowderBound

 

[Guest]

I rode the Mountian Cat 800 sat. engagement was low "3500", carbs were rich,would only pull 7400 rpm still needs
some fine tuning. Motor is real smooth,. it pulled hard to about 95 mph. Had no powder to try it in "Ice/slush"
Rode on ski runs, no problem on steep slopes. I should of taken my 700 RMK to run against it.I think my 700
will keep-up ( not stock though)
Jack

 

[Guest]

Hey Mark,

Lets go ride! I own a cat!

Paul B

 

[Guest]

Bring it on Paul! I have ridden with the best of the best on all brands. My little RMK 700 even keeps up with some of them. If you think that your cat is superior to anything out there, you will be in for a ride. Where do you ride and in what conditions do you believe you are the God of sledding?

Mark
PowderBound

 

[Guest]

Never said I thought I was the "God" of sledding! Just don't like people talking smack. My last post was to see if I would get that response. I did. I just don't like closed minded people who think the brand they ride is the only thing on the mountain that is worth a $hit. The fact is, all the major brands make damn nice sleds. I have many friends that have Polaris, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, and Ski Doo. I've riden them all. What I've found is that with an advanced level of knowledge about his own sled, they all do about the same thing. I, and my friends have put stock Cats, Polaris, ect. in places mods won't go with poor riders, that think they are good. I ride all over Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. I do all the back country. Climbed all the big stuff. I don't think my sled is superior to anything out there and never said it was. I also don't think I'm the "God" of snowmobiling but I think I've met him and I don't believe he said his name was Mark. I'm sure you know that there are a lot of "locals" out there that you have never met that have a love of the sport and because of that are much better than those of you that call yourselves professionals. I ride 5 to 6 times a week, every week. I ride with guys that ride much more than I do. I've met guys that can blow me off the mountain, you may be one of them, I don't believe I've ever met you. To answer your question, I specialize in boondocking and deep powder riding. I also specialize in side hilling, steep stuff. I love side hilling things snow shouldn't stick to, I love the rush. I guess I'm a technical freak when it comes to my style of riding.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I would love to ride with you. Maybe you could teach me a few things. I've never gone out with an expert rider that didn't do something alittle different than I do and a lot of times learn a new, better way to do it. I'm also glad I got that response from you. It lets me prove a point. No, all sleds aren't equal, but don't trash on any one brand, there is a whole world out there you could be missing if you close your eyes and mind.

Paul

 

[Guest]

What's this, AC finally shows up with a big boy toy and demands respect? Where have they been the last several years? I had to go with Polaris when AC took a sabatical from deep snow.
Fact of the matter is, I have owned more brands of sleds than are even on the market today. And two of the very best technical riders I know are on MM 700's. The biggest jerks I know ride Polaris! Probably an ego thing about being on top the most or first or whatever happens to be trippeng them out that particular day. I know better than to ever say that my particular brand is better than anyone elses. Because just when you say that someone shows up and does something to prove you wrong. All of the brands are very close in a stock setup. And yes there is a lot to say about rider technique. I just love to ride with guys that think they are king of the hill. In most cases they find that they are not! Not saying that I am by any means - I just love to ride. And I do it a lot. I don't ride 5 to 6 times a week, but I will put 3000 to 3500 miles on a sled in a year. The best thing that anyone can do is get to know their sled inside and out. Learn everything there is to know about it from how to fix it, ride it, care for it properly and yes - even show it off when you have the chance. What I don't like is the guy that thinks he has a hot sled when it will take him straight to the top of the hill with out ever having to work. I admire the guy that has to take an extra run at the hill and really work the hill to make it to the top. He is a much better rider and the one that I would rather ride with. Too many guys out there have way too much HP. They would be better riders if they would learn to handle their sled better.

I don't believe that I have a closed mind on the subject. I am just loyal to the manufacturer that I believe is making the right changes that fit my riding preferance. I have tried every major manufacturer out there today and keep comming back to Polaris. That doesn't mean that I am saying anything bad about any brand. I have seen both of these new sleds now and know first hand which one I am choosing for my new sled next year. And no, I will never take my powder special where I will take the RMK 800. It simply will not make it. Not in 100 trys at the hill. And when we jump off the top falling 30 feet I would much rather be on a Yamaha for the landing. I would love to have a different sled for every kind of riding we do, but that really is not practical now is it. I own four sleds, three of the four major brands right now. I will most likely ride the RMK 800 most of the time next year.
How many brands do you support? Or should I say, which of all the brands you own are supporting you?

Mark
PowderBound

 

[Guest]

Let me just start out Mark, with, the only thing I disagree with in your last post. Arctic Cat never left the powder market. For a while they did not make a real great all around big bore sled for powder. The thundercat was way to bulky and heavy in the deap stuff and would dig a trench a mile deep if you tried to crack the throttle open in the trees. But while all this was going on they did make one of the very best all around sleds on the market. The powder special 580 is still one of the best powder sleds out there. It was a sled that never required much tunning out of the box and would take an advanced rider into some really incredable areas. This is one of those sleds that as you said, may not run straight up a hill the first or second run but what a great sled for all around mountain/powder riding. Great sled for the 600 class. I still have one as bone stock as the day I bought it with a few accessories installed (mountain bars, running board grips from the p.s. 700, and a couple of other little things like that). I take it out every once in a while just for kicks.

I do agree with you about the rest of your post. I believe that most riders out there need to go back about 3 mods ago and learn to ride a snowmobile that takes some skill to make it that that back country bowl or make it to the top of that ridge. Learn what a real side hill is and how to stair step a mountain face to get to the top. To many people are caught up in the hp of these new sleds and get themselves in bad situations that a skilled rider could get out of on a lesser sled and these guys are finding themselves stranded overnight and need search and rescue to come find them. I've seen some real bad acceidents caused on steep mountain terrain by riders that have sleds that can get them there and no skill on how to handle it once they do get there.

As far as what brands I support. I like them all. I grew up riding cat and therefore I have an owner loayalty love for them. The P.S. 700 I ride, has a certain "feel" in the type of riding I like that makes it the best fit sled for me. Although I will say I enjoy the feel of the 670 Summit X for much the same reason. It is probably the best side hilling machine out there. I am considering the 2001 800 summit X next year. I want to ride all three before I make my choice. The new Mountain Cat Has some things I really like about it as well, and I've heard such good things about the polaris I would be stupid to not try it. The last Polaris I had put a bad taste in my mouth because it blew a crank everytime I turned around. (96 XLT). The same can be said for my P.S. 700 because of the problems I have had with it. The difference is the way Arctic Cat handled the problems compared to the way Polaris handled the XLT nightmare. Arctic Cat really earned a lot of loyalty over the last two years because of the way they did not forget the consumer. Though I will admit it took some pushing of the right buttons to get them to cover some items.

Next season will hopefully be a lot better and maybe the differences between the sleds will be more defined as snow conditions improve. This year has been one of the worst I can remember. Much of the year a nicely tuned 600 would have been more than enough.

Mark, where in Idaho are you?

Paul

 

[Guest]

Been in the Boise area now for a year. Relocated back here after 10 years in Orem.

It's good to be back!

Mark
PowderBound

 

[Guest]

Both have about 135hp but the RMK has about 15-20 more lbs of torque which is a lot in a sled when most only post under 100. I've heard a lot of that engine and it is unbelievable in power, more than a cat. Go with the trusty brand, too.

 

[Guest]

I was once a polaris boy, and I know they make a great sled. However I have herd a few things about this new 800 engine from AC. I am not trying to lay any smack down, but next year is going to be a hell of a ride for all the new 800 twins. Can't wait to line them up. P.S my first sled ever was a Ski Doo the worst piece of garbage ever made. In my opinion they make it to run for a short time, not a long time. Icecube

 

[Guest]

You are crazy to think the Polaris motor has that much more torque. I don't know where you are getting your number, but Polaris and Cat are both claiming around 100 ft-lbs, with Cat claiming a few more ponies.

Corey in Utah

 

[Guest]

Okay, here's what I know from mostly magazines. AC has 140HP and 100 ftlbs. Ski-doo has 140hp and unkown torque. Polaris has (2000 model) 127HP and 120 ftlbs. Someone on this newsgroup was saying that Polaris has tweaked their engine (CDI and ?) to produce about 130 HP. mrpwr is correct concerning that much torque for polaris cause snowtech magazine dynoed a 800 in last fall/winter's magazine.

Trails are made for flatlanders.
/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif

 

[Guest]

Do you really believe that the Polaris has that much more torque? The mags I have seen say Polaris is just under 100...

Corey

 

[Guest]

Buy American!! If you plan on keeping your sled for any length of time and plan to modify it, the new 800 twin parts are cheap!!
Complete motor with 800 clutch, 40mm carbs, recoil housing, cdi etc... ready to bolt into a sled($2400 /-). I did snow check a 01RMK
and have been a Polaris rider for 4 years. I test rode both the 800 himark and the MC 800 and decided they were very close to the RMK, any advantage going to rider weight/ability . Being a mod person, I thought that going with the USA built twin is best! Were splitting hairs comparing these 3 models.

 

[Guest]

I heard 10hp on the 01RMK for the re-programmed cdi box and their new head design(different squish angle and 15 more psi).
136-138hp with these changes, we will see soon enough....