Over the past few weeks I have been demoing sled after sled and here are my thoughts on the new stuff out there.
First a bit about me:
5'4, 150lbs (pure muscle ) coming off a 2004 Rev 800 151 track, Back Country experience 4 of seasons.
Sleds tested:
- 2013 M800 Sno Pro 162 with Boondocker Turbo, tested in Cranbrook, BC
- 2013 Pro RMK 163 stock, tested in Revelstoke, BC
- 2013 Pro RMK 155 stock, tested in Revelstoke, BC
- 2012 Pro RMK 163 with HM Turbo, tested in Revelstoke, BC
- 2013 Ski-doo XM 154 stock, tested in Revelstoke, BC
Thoughts heading into this:
I am not a brand loyal person, I firmly believe they all have something to offer. Going into this experiment and thinking on what sled I want to buy come snow check time I had in my mind #1 would be pro, #2 would be XM and #3 would be cat.
Breakdown:
2013 M800 Sno Pro 162 with Boondocker Turbo
I found this sled rode similar to my Rev, it wasn't a bad set up but I found it more awkward to ride. Wasn't able to just hop on and go, there would be a learning curve involved. The seat height was a little tall for me, but better than the pro seat height. I didn't ride this for that long so tough to give a very good review on this sled.
2013 Pro RMK 163 stock
Difficult to ride, length was too long for me, I found it hard to tip over. You seem to have to ride this sled wrong foot forward versus just being able to lean and use your body weight to carve. Steering seemed awkward, seat height was WAY too tall for me, I had a hard time hopping over. I would need to lower the seat for sure. I didn't ride this for that long so tough to give a very good review on this sled.
2013 Pro RMK 155 stock
Similar experience to the 163, however I enjoyed this track length a lot better. I feel as though I would need a few days to be able to get used to this sled and how it handles. It was not a "hop on and ride" sled, there would be a learning curve for me coming off my rev. Seat again way too tall. I didn't ride this for that long so tough to give a very good review on this sled.
2012 Pro RMK 163 with HM Turbo
Rode excellent. Easy to maneuver, was able to lean and not have to wrong foot forward to turn this sled all the time. I found this sled actually rode better than the '13s which was surprising. Could be the turbo set up, but this sled was stock otherwise. Turbo kit was extremely smooth, loved the power and response. Seat again way too tall.
2013 Ski-doo XM 154 stock
This sled is extremely rider friendly, I was able to hop on and ride this sled very easily. Actually fell over the first turn because it was that easy to turn over, with the sway bar in. Light, nimble, and powerful. Amazing throttle response, worked excellent in the deep powder. Seat again is a bit tall, but not as bad as the pro IMO.
Summary:
In summary coming out of this and riding sleds for less time than I had originally planned on, the XM comes out on top. HOWEVER I think with a couple full days on a pro and learning the sled I think it would be a contender as well. I am hoping to bring an XM and a pro and hop on and off both throughout the day to compare them side by side as well as spending a couple full days on a pro to learn the completely different chassis and steering style. I haven't written the pro off as my next sled, but as it stands now, XM is the winner for me.
I am only posting this as I have had a lot of people curious as to my opinions on the new sleds, this isn't me trying to stir the pot or start another brand bashing thread so please take this as nothing other than a non-biased girl going out and riding some of the new sleds out there and sharing with you. Either way I had a lot of fun and rode with some amazing people. Sledding is a great sport with great people. I consider myself very lucky to have this as a sport I do, see the scenery I do and meet some of the friendliest funnest people out there.
PS. During the last two weeks the cat broke a jack shaft, and the stock polaris broke the bolt for the drive belt as well as another friends polaris broke his jack shaft and had drive belt issues. No known mechanical issues happened to the XM. Other than the recall for the fuel line. My rev worked fine!
First a bit about me:
5'4, 150lbs (pure muscle ) coming off a 2004 Rev 800 151 track, Back Country experience 4 of seasons.
Sleds tested:
- 2013 M800 Sno Pro 162 with Boondocker Turbo, tested in Cranbrook, BC
- 2013 Pro RMK 163 stock, tested in Revelstoke, BC
- 2013 Pro RMK 155 stock, tested in Revelstoke, BC
- 2012 Pro RMK 163 with HM Turbo, tested in Revelstoke, BC
- 2013 Ski-doo XM 154 stock, tested in Revelstoke, BC
Thoughts heading into this:
I am not a brand loyal person, I firmly believe they all have something to offer. Going into this experiment and thinking on what sled I want to buy come snow check time I had in my mind #1 would be pro, #2 would be XM and #3 would be cat.
Breakdown:
2013 M800 Sno Pro 162 with Boondocker Turbo
I found this sled rode similar to my Rev, it wasn't a bad set up but I found it more awkward to ride. Wasn't able to just hop on and go, there would be a learning curve involved. The seat height was a little tall for me, but better than the pro seat height. I didn't ride this for that long so tough to give a very good review on this sled.
2013 Pro RMK 163 stock
Difficult to ride, length was too long for me, I found it hard to tip over. You seem to have to ride this sled wrong foot forward versus just being able to lean and use your body weight to carve. Steering seemed awkward, seat height was WAY too tall for me, I had a hard time hopping over. I would need to lower the seat for sure. I didn't ride this for that long so tough to give a very good review on this sled.
2013 Pro RMK 155 stock
Similar experience to the 163, however I enjoyed this track length a lot better. I feel as though I would need a few days to be able to get used to this sled and how it handles. It was not a "hop on and ride" sled, there would be a learning curve for me coming off my rev. Seat again way too tall. I didn't ride this for that long so tough to give a very good review on this sled.
2012 Pro RMK 163 with HM Turbo
Rode excellent. Easy to maneuver, was able to lean and not have to wrong foot forward to turn this sled all the time. I found this sled actually rode better than the '13s which was surprising. Could be the turbo set up, but this sled was stock otherwise. Turbo kit was extremely smooth, loved the power and response. Seat again way too tall.
2013 Ski-doo XM 154 stock
This sled is extremely rider friendly, I was able to hop on and ride this sled very easily. Actually fell over the first turn because it was that easy to turn over, with the sway bar in. Light, nimble, and powerful. Amazing throttle response, worked excellent in the deep powder. Seat again is a bit tall, but not as bad as the pro IMO.
Summary:
In summary coming out of this and riding sleds for less time than I had originally planned on, the XM comes out on top. HOWEVER I think with a couple full days on a pro and learning the sled I think it would be a contender as well. I am hoping to bring an XM and a pro and hop on and off both throughout the day to compare them side by side as well as spending a couple full days on a pro to learn the completely different chassis and steering style. I haven't written the pro off as my next sled, but as it stands now, XM is the winner for me.
I am only posting this as I have had a lot of people curious as to my opinions on the new sleds, this isn't me trying to stir the pot or start another brand bashing thread so please take this as nothing other than a non-biased girl going out and riding some of the new sleds out there and sharing with you. Either way I had a lot of fun and rode with some amazing people. Sledding is a great sport with great people. I consider myself very lucky to have this as a sport I do, see the scenery I do and meet some of the friendliest funnest people out there.
PS. During the last two weeks the cat broke a jack shaft, and the stock polaris broke the bolt for the drive belt as well as another friends polaris broke his jack shaft and had drive belt issues. No known mechanical issues happened to the XM. Other than the recall for the fuel line. My rev worked fine!
Last edited: