2017 Summit 850 165" vs 2017 Yamaha Sidewinder MTX 162"

[Barry Barton]

I haven't spent any time on an 850, but I've ridden doo, polaris, etc. Current ride is a 2017 King Cat (which is a 2018 Sidewinder in disguise). I can tell you the sled handles great in powder, not that great on hardpack. Will out perform buddies 163" XM in the trees, handles better then my 2013 Cat 925 with Exit suspension and a skinz front end. I'm almost 50 years old with two shoulders and a knee that requires surgery, and I can ride it for four days straight in good snow, keeping up with my friends 2018 174 Axys 800 with a sidekick turbo on it in the trees, but it takes a bit more effort on my part. Getting unstuck is no worse then any other sled. Fully fueled and ready to ride a King Cat is 660 lbs - 90 lbs heavier then my wife's 2015 Pro RMK 155 with a MNTK auxillary cooler and tunnel braces - there is a post about sled weights in Snomobile chat, I weighed the King Cat, an M1100T, a 2013 Cat with a 925, and the ProRMK. Anyway, suspension setup is critical on any sled, more so when it's a heavier unit.

same as oler 1234 my son rides a 2015 xm T3 and i'd like to see you ride with him.

 

[Barry Barton]

Well, was hoping this post would make the decision on what to get easier, but if anything, I think it has complicated it further lol. I've gone from just trying to choose between a Sidewinder and an 850 to now I'm taking another look at pretty much every mountain sled. I looked up some pricing on Kijiji to see what deals there are on new sleds and this is what I found.

2016 Arctic Cat M8000 162" - $8,499
2018 Arctic Cat M8000 162" - $13,000
2017 Yamaha Sidewinder MTX 162" - $15,999
2017 Polaris 800 163" - $10,900
2018 Ski-Doo Summit 850 165" - $12,499
2016 Ski-Doo Summit 800 174" - $10,878

Also found a very lightly used (271 km's on it) 2014 XM 163" with a few mods for $8999.

The '16 Cat seems like a phenomenal deal, but how does the '16 Cat compare to the '18? I know they made some improvements for 2018, but are there enough improvements to justify a $4,500 price difference between a '16 Cat and an '18 Cat?

I run a 2016 xm 174 T3 and I'm 61 and I find it a great sled But I found it a little slow in the tree's ,so I geared it down 1 tooth and it woke it up. Very reliable sled with a good history and on a hill climb it will go as high as a 850 just a little slower out of the hole and the way I have it set up it comes over real easy and I ride tree's all day long. If I was you I would look at a 2016 xm to restart and give the other sleds time to get some history.

 

[catrutt]

What was wrong with your 850?

Just sold my 850 and am now looking at a sidewinder or 2018 cat 162 ! I have rode the sidewinder and did love it but just not sure yet if the added weight is going to get to me ! If anyone has a sidewinder or 18 cat for sale! Let me know! thanks

 

[bjd68]

What was wrong with your 850?

nothing! Currently but for some reason it has me worried! I have never been on another brand since I started riding mountains 7 years ago but I figured it just time for a change and I’m looking for a sled I can keep longer than two years without worrying about having issues down the rd ! Seems like the cat 800 is a solid dependable machine and so is the sidewinder !
Every doo I’ve owned I have had issues with some major complete engine failures! The 850 was good so far but only had just over 1000 Kms on it!