Polaris 850 vs Alpha vs 850 doo on the hill

steevo · Mar 9, 2019

So finally got a chance to try these three sleds on the hill head to head. 2019 Polaris 850 with 163 2.6", Alpha with 165", and a 2018 Doo 850 with a 165 3". Fresh snow on the hill, each sled taking it own track up the hill. Very close between the Alpha and the Polaris, but sorry Doo guys, the 850 Doo was out matched. The Polaris did get the high mark today, but was not by much. Not sure if the Doo was not running right or not, but it was 80' below the mark. It is very impressive to see what these stock sleds will do these days.

mountainsledmania · Mar 10, 2019

i find it hard to believe that the 850 pro could keep up with the 3 inch machines... especially with a 2.6 track. Polaris stock tracks are not short of unimpressive, im not sure im buyin it

ferniesnow · Mar 10, 2019

steevo said:
So finally got a chance to try these three sleds on the hill head to head. 2019 Polaris 850 with 163 2.6", Alpha with 165", and a 2018 Doo 850 with a 165 3". Fresh snow on the hill, each sled taking it own track up the hill. Very close between the Alpha and the Polaris, but sorry Doo guys, the 850 Doo was out matched. The Polaris did get the high mark today, but was not by much. Not sure if the Doo was not running right or not, but it was 80' below the mark. It is very impressive to see what these stock sleds will do these days.

Different riders making different attempts on different sleds or same rider on the same sled?

steevo · Mar 10, 2019

I think that the Alpha's track is what kept it in the game. Very impressive for an 800 machine. The 850 with the 2.6 combination worked well. We didn't have a 3" 850 to test with. As far as riders go, I did ride the 850 Doo, , and the 850 Polaris. The alpha was ridden by a very capable rider that was pretty much the same size as myself. Like I said before, it was very close between the Alpha and the 850 Polaris. Believe it or not, these are the results without brand bias. The 850 Polaris just had a new motor put in it last week, and it has about 6 hrs on the new motor. The Cat has about 300 miles on it.

steevo · Mar 10, 2019

mountainsledmania said:
i find it hard to believe that the 850 pro could keep up with the 3 inch machines... especially with a 2.6 track. Polaris stock tracks are not short of unimpressive, im not sure im buyin it

If you don't believe me, get these sleds on the hill and do the test yourself. My guess is that you will have similar results
.

LUCKY 7 · Mar 10, 2019

we had a similiar outcome last week. A 2019 Polaris 850 (800 kms with 3" track), 2017 Polaris 800 (3100 kms with 2.6" track), and a 2019 Alpha ( 500 kms with 3" track). the owner of the Polaris 850 took a poke at a fairly good hill with all three. The guy is considered a very good rider. The 850 Polaris was amazing, the Alpha outclimbed the 800 Polaris by alot. The climb started from a dead stop with very little run at the hill through some trees. The Alpha had noticeable more power that the 800 Polaris. Afterwards we talked about it and all agreed it was a blast to see

pfi572 · Mar 10, 2019

People have to face the fact that the 16 wide track isn’t required and the 850 Doo is poorly clutched and just not putting out ?
Track angles and design does make a difference??? Lol

sledneck__11 · Mar 10, 2019

154x3 skidoo 850 and 19 cat 154x3 not the alpha, were side by side all day in climbs last time with,without the chasis locked only thing that was obvious is the cats dont hold snow skidoo was packed

LBZ · Mar 10, 2019

I’ve seen all 3 of these machines run together all 165ish and that poo track even only 2.6 worked extremely well. They were all pretty close but the poo edged out the alpha slightly. And I’m not a poo fan fwiw.

Rhodesie · Mar 10, 2019

wait until the expert enters the race!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2280452518644203&set=gm.783576198690638&type=3&theater&ifg=1

pfi572 · Mar 10, 2019

A sled with shorter tunnel and no flap will surely put them over the top for sure ?? Lmao

Rene G · Mar 10, 2019

Ok, I rode a 2019 850 yesterday, very nice sled and a huge upgrade over my ‘15 Pro.

I have a question for all you internet experts

I’ve always been a 155 rider, but am thinking 163, I like to ride trees and more technical stuff as well, since hills, climbs small jumps, ect. Will the 163 be ... not for me? And what track, 2.6 or 3”?

Very interested to hear any and all related, relevant, and non relevant advice! lol

cdnredneck_t3 · Mar 10, 2019

They are all pretty close imo. I know it wouldn't be fair for me to ride a G4 in a comparison to a Poo, I have no instinct to ride the Doo chassis.

I'm going to switch from a 17 axys to a 2020 cat next season. Why? The Poo and Doo may very well be better than a cat, but are they $3500-$4000 dollars better? Not in my opinion.

Being in Saskatchewan and having an 11% sales tax will also save me an extra $374 in tax. I think these machines are to the point now how ever you decide you can't really go wrong.

Rene G · Mar 10, 2019

cdnredneck_t3 said:
They are all pretty close imo. I know it wouldn't be fair for me to ride a G4 in a comparison to a Poo, I have no instinct to ride the Doo chassis.

I'm going to switch from a 17 axys to a 2020 cat next season. Why? The Poo and Doo may very well be better than a cat, but are they $3500-$4000 dollars better? Not in my opinion.

Being in Saskatchewan and having an 11% sales tax will also save me an extra $374 in tax. I think these machines are to the point now how ever you decide you can't really go wrong.

I totally agree. I feel really awkward on a Doo, I haven’t ridden a G4 yet, but xp was terrible for me, and was a bit better, cats felt normal and I’m really leaning that way with the price difference.

All I wanted was for you to tell me what’s best m! lol

cdnredneck_t3 · Mar 10, 2019

Rene G said:
I totally agree. I feel really awkward on a Doo, I haven’t ridden a G4 yet, but xp was terrible for me, and was a bit better, cats felt normal and I’m really leaning that way with the price difference.

All I wanted was for you to tell me what’s best m! lol

LOL. What's best for me isn't what's best for you. Back to your original question I had a Pro 163 2.4. I was thinking when I switched to an axys if I should do a 155x3 but ended up with a 163x3 and like it. Maybe a little more push when doing zero turns in the trees but I think overall the 3 inch with the axys is much better than a pro. My brother in law has a silber on a 15 pro 163 and it does a few things with the extra power better but overall a naturally aspirated axys is the better machine in both our opinions. I have not rode a 2.6 track but lots seem to like them.

With the way things are going with the short tunnel I'd get the 155. If you think you want the 163 then get rails and a track and then you have a Burandt approved mod lol.

Teth-Air · Mar 10, 2019

Rene G said:
Ok, I rode a 2019 850 yesterday, very nice sled and a huge upgrade over my ‘15 Pro.

I have a question for all you internet experts

I’ve always been a 155 rider, but am thinking 163, I like to ride trees and more technical stuff as well, since hills, climbs small jumps, ect. Will the 163 be ... not for me? And what track, 2.6 or 3”?

Very interested to hear any and all related, relevant, and non relevant advice! lol

I was very worried about going from the 163 x 2.6 AXYS 800 to the 174 x 3 AXYS 850. I found my buddies 163 x 3" AXYS pushed too much for my liking so for sure the 174 would be worse?? But no I was wrong. The 850 spins the 174 track so well that it does not push too much and force me into the objects right in front of me. With the track spinning it is easy to pull tight hooks. The only time it is noticeably harder to deal with is in off camber set up snow. I would like to see a 174 x 2.6" track with a 3.5" pitch.

Rene G · Mar 10, 2019

Teth-Air said:
I was very worried about going from the 163 x 2.6 AXYS 800 to the 174 x 3 AXYS 850. I found my buddies 163 x 3" AXYS pushed too much for my liking so for sure the 174 would be worse?? But no I was wrong. The 850 spins the 174 track so well that it does not push too much and force me into the objects right in front of me. With the track spinning it is easy to pull tight hooks. The only time it is noticeably harder to deal with is in off camber set up snow. I would like to see a 174 x 2.6" track with a 3.5" pitch.

Thanks, the 850 I rode had a 2.6 155, I don’t know if it was the clutching, or the track, but it don’t hook like I was hoping it would. Maybe it spun too easily and the 850 needs more track?

maxwell · Mar 10, 2019

Did you guys plug in the other spark plug on the skidoo?

Teth-Air · Mar 11, 2019

pfi572 said:
A sled with shorter tunnel and no flap will surely put them over the top for sure ?? Lmao

Only if Maxwell is riding it.

Pink-Inc · Mar 11, 2019

Rene G said:
Ok, I rode a 2019 850 yesterday, very nice sled and a huge upgrade over my ‘15 Pro.

I have a question for all you internet experts

I’ve always been a 155 rider, but am thinking 163, I like to ride trees and more technical stuff as well, since hills, climbs small jumps, ect. Will the 163 be ... not for me? And what track, 2.6 or 3”?

Very interested to hear any and all related, relevant, and non relevant advice! lol

Personally I think the 155 would be better....just my thinking here. 163 will be easier to tree ride, which in my opinion isn't a good thing. I ride the 155 and tree ride. Took a demo 163 for a weekend and without a doubt was easier to ride. I find the 155 challenges you more and in the end will make you a better rider. Again just my opinion but I'll be holding off on a longer track for as long as I can

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