2018 Ascender platform vs the Skidoo 850.

[skegpro]

Pro/cons between the two?

Sway me, I am in the market.

 

[Bnorth]

Pros for cat: don't need to wear yellow jammies or brand blinders
Pros for Doo: probably won't light on fire

Basically a toss up IMO, ride both and report back.

 

[Allseasons]

I've ridden an 18 cat, a 17 axys, and ridden beside an 850. I love the new cat, wasn't impressed with the axys and wowed by the 850, which didn't pull away from or really do anything better than the cat. I bleed green, always will, but have no problem saying that if you find the stance of a Doo comfortable, I think it's the best sled on the hill. And that 18 cat flat out rips and Seemed to climb a touch better than the Doo, but oddly enough at 270 with gear, I weigh less than my buddy lol

 

[mountianguy]

I rode both last season and both are very good. I rode the Doo 165 in 2/3 feet of fresh, the Cat 162 e/r in more hard pack conditions, you could find small pockets powder.
I like the seat better on the Doo and found it easy to ride. I jumped on it and it felt good to me.
It did blow a belt at 350 miles and it did give the odd surprise when climbing, {skis coming up} it could have been the setup but i didn't like the unpredictability.
The Cat was very predictable and also easy to ride. I would say the Cat was a bit easier to ride just because of the conditions. I did not ride the MC so no first hand experience with the new shocks.
The Cat's only glitch was the oil light would come on sometimes, I did clean the water from the connection added dielectric grease and it stayed off.
I won't sway you either way as you really need to ride both preferably back to back, whats good for me might no be good for you. Both machines are flat out good. I spoke to a Cat dealer at the show and was told he ordered a demo MC, he said it should be here in Nov, that may be a good way to get some seat time.

 

[Teth-Air]

I agree, after being spoiled with narrow tunnel machines the Doo does feel fat between my legs. I was on Doo for many years so I would likely get used to it again. Can't imagine how short legged people deal with the Doo's girth but many do and don't complain.

 

[tmo1620]

I agree, after being spoiled with narrow tunnel machines the Doo does feel fat between my legs. I was on Doo for many years so I would likely get used to it again. Can't imagine how short legged people deal with the Doo's girth but many do and don't complain.

Thsts my biggest gripe with the doo, 16 wide track makes it feel way to wide where you stand, im only 5’7 and i feel way to bow legged on them, plus hate the steering and the shotty rear skid design, time for doo to get with the times on that rear skid

 

[assaultn]

I had an 850 last year and liked it a lot. Had been on a doo for the previous 4 years and cat for 12 and 13 so was familiar with both chasssis. I had a chance to demo the 18 cat last year and was very impressed. When the demo was offered to me I actually turned it down thinking it would be the same old cat with a few refinements as they look fairly similar to the proclimb. Ended up taking it out and was very surprised. I would say the improvements on the ascender are comparable to the level of handling improvement of xp to xm. They kinda look the same but one just works that much better.

Should be a win with either sled you choose but if I was getting back on 2 skis I would get the cat. Just fit me right and was easy to ride. Usually takes a little bit to settle into a differnt chassis but 5 minutes into the ride I was right at home on it and seemed to be using less energy throwing it around.

 

[chickenman]

I had to shake my head and make sure this is Snow and Mud... Not one Doo, Poo or cat guy on this thread yet bashing or complaining. Nice and calm here in the cat section with just great comments and fun to be had! might have to buy green in escape the drama! lol

 

[cattechsummitrider]

Had the privilege to spend a week riding both, Found the cat frt end a little wonky on a rutted side hill the cat seamed to pop out of the snow better,,, clutching both could use some work,,, doo rode better, spent one day trying to find a way to a new area following a creek,, Doo was easier to throw around ,,,, also depends what you want to do,, each has pluses and negatives,, and also with the changes that both have made going into this year ( shock calibrations, clutching ecm changes ) it will be different again
Find a dealer that you can get along with and has great service and you should be happy on any one of them,,,,,,, Or just buy both and give the rest of us your opinion

 

[AGGRESIVEZEBRA]

Have yet to try the 850 but have rode the new cat last season. Looks can be deceiving it looks very similar to the old one but trust me it is a whole new sled. my mountain cat should be showing up in the next couple weeks and the day it does i plan on hitting the road to the nearest snow pack. I am really curious to see how this new QS3 suspension works and how the valving is for a lighter guy like myself. hopefully i can meet up with a doo guy and swap him for a minute to see the differences.

 

[skegpro]

How are the running boards on these sleds?

Are you continually boot****in to keep the snow off the boards?

Are the cat pro mountain boards worth it?

 

[AGGRESIVEZEBRA]

getting rid of the stock boards is a must! they will pack up like no other if there is any little bit of moisture in the snow.

 

[skegpro]

getting rid of the stock boards is a must! they will pack up like no other if there is any little bit of moisture in the snow.

So are you running the cat ones or the Racewerx ones?

(Can the cat ones only be used with a certain bumper?)

 

[skegpro]

Some sort of instead like this might work.

Real shame a guy has to put boards that evac snow on a mountain sled.

 

[skegpro]

These proliferation boards look awesome, but good god, what a surgery.

https://youtu.be/ABZS54BpjRU

 

[AGGRESIVEZEBRA]

on my 13 i run the racewerx boards but my 18 i am installing the cat ones. it is for sure a long process to install but well worth it. arctic cat make just the insert as well but it is the same price as the whole running board just easier to install. racewerx are nice but dont have the 2018 product for another couple months last i checked. as for as fitment with bumpers i am not 100% but i can see why some bumpers wont work with the top tunnel support. i will find out when i get them installed and the skinz rear bumper. they will for sure work with all the cat bumpers. it was a hard choice between the skinz and the cat MTN PRO bumper. i only went skinz because it is a new brand to the shop and would like to give it more exposure on the demo sled.

 

[skegpro]

on my 13 i run the racewerx boards but my 18 i am installing the cat ones. it is for sure a long process to install but well worth it. arctic cat make just the insert as well but it is the same price as the whole running board just easier to install. racewerx are nice but dont have the 2018 product for another couple months last i checked. as for as fitment with bumpers i am not 100% but i can see why some bumpers wont work with the top tunnel support. i will find out when i get them installed and the skinz rear bumper. they will for sure work with all the cat bumpers. it was a hard choice between the skinz and the cat MTN PRO bumper. i only went skinz because it is a new brand to the shop and would like to give it more exposure on the demo sled.

The black diamond extreme boards look good to.

I didn't realize cat mad inserts, might do that sounds easy.

 

[Eldereldo]

I got the Cat mtn boards and bumper on mine, haven’t got out yet but other than using the plastic traction cleats instead of the molded in ones that they used to use, they look a lot like the ones I installed on the 2014. And those cleared snow well.

 

[skegpro]

I got the Cat mtn boards and bumper on mine, haven’t got out yet but other than using the plastic traction cleats instead of the molded in ones that they used to use, they look a lot like the ones I installed on the 2014. And those cleared snow well.

How bad is the installation?

 

[Eldereldo]

I had the dealer do the new one, on the 2014 it was time consuming. I looked at how the 2018 are installed and rather than put rivets from inside the tunnel, they go in from under the lip left after you cut the original boards off. That should make it easier as I had to remove the skid on the 2014. On the 2014 it was tricky because the tunnel is a double layer so you need to drill two different sized holes and put in spacers.