I am wondering if any has the switchback assault and how they do in the mountains. The one I am looking at a 144 with 2 inch paddles and rmk skies. I know it wont be no high mark sled but I ride the mountains 4 times a year. But I don't ride much trails usually ditch bang and off trail ridding. My question is should I hold out for Rmk assault ? will the SB just get stuck every were. I am also coming off a 2000 summit with a 151 that i did good in the mountains with so would the SB be worse then the summit? Are they hard to boon dock and side hill with? Any input please
Switchback Assault or Rmk assault
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Stg2Suby
Active VIP Member
Really depends your skill level and experience. The SBA wide frontend, sway bar, shorter track, snocross-biased skid setup, snow-catcher running boards, lack of mountain strap on the handlebars obviously all go against the design principles of a proper mountain sled. It will boondock and sidehill but not as "flickable" 
as a narrow mountain sled.
My advise on questions like this is generally a mountain sled makes a better trail machine than a trail sled does a mountain machine. That said the SBA is wicked fun on the trail and in the bumps and I get around just fine with mine in the mountains.
Edit: after re-reading your post maybe the RMK Assault is a better choice if you're always off-trail or in the Mtns. Keep in mind the SBA has the old IQ-style torsion spring skid not the Holz-style coilover skid of the RMK; the SBA clutching is more trail/shorttrack biased and uses a different helix than the RMK. Final comment is there are very few SBA's being used in the mountians compared to RMK's so setup and tuning info is difficult to come by.
as a narrow mountain sled.My advise on questions like this is generally a mountain sled makes a better trail machine than a trail sled does a mountain machine. That said the SBA is wicked fun on the trail and in the bumps and I get around just fine with mine in the mountains.
Edit: after re-reading your post maybe the RMK Assault is a better choice if you're always off-trail or in the Mtns. Keep in mind the SBA has the old IQ-style torsion spring skid not the Holz-style coilover skid of the RMK; the SBA clutching is more trail/shorttrack biased and uses a different helix than the RMK. Final comment is there are very few SBA's being used in the mountians compared to RMK's so setup and tuning info is difficult to come by.
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GranTurismo
New member
I'd stick with with the summit and hold out for the assault! Suby said it right a mountain sled makes a better trail sled than a trail sled makes a mountain sled. If you get the switchback let us all know how it is!!
I had the 2012 SBA 2" last winter. I went to the mountains for the first time, and the sled was on kajiji within 72 hours of me getting home. I have a Summit on order. Nightmare to ride on its edge, worst running boards conceivable for deep powder. It gets around the deep snow if you know what you are doing, I'll give it that.
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GranTurismo
New member
Well if you're going new I'd get a Polaris pro rmk/assault or a 2013 summit xm, my dad has a 12 pro and it's a dream to ride. I'm buying a summit xm this week. I'm a doo guy but those pros are beautiful rides I would be fine if my new doo handled the same way. It's the etec power plant that swayed me that way otherwise Polaris is my next choice hands down. I can't really comment on cat I hate there quads so I would never consider anything cat..and yammi really depends on what kinda money your gonna throw at a nytro, I know stock they're very boring and frustrating..just my 2 cents not trying to bash cat just not a fan
kyle019
Active VIP Member
If you plan to ride in the mountains, even if only a few trips wait it out for an rmk assault in my opinion. Easy to throw around and can stay glued to a side hill. The longer track definitely helps in the hills too
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Ok thanks for all the info guys. i found a 2011 Rmk assault with 1200 km on it for $9600 the guy claims it has been bullet proof but the warranty is up right away. Should i wait a longer till a find a 2012 with some warranty left?? what is a good deal on a 2011?
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
Just don't go any older then the 2011! The older 800cfi were not a good engine
For example, a 2012:
Polaris Pro rmk 155 - Saskatoon Snowmobiles For Sale - Kijiji Saskatoon Canada.
Polaris Pro rmk 155 - Saskatoon Snowmobiles For Sale - Kijiji Saskatoon Canada.
sledneck_03
Active VIP Member
You can ride anything in the flats, but you can't ride everything in the hills. Without the proper sled in the hills you are not having fun nor are your friends pulling you out all the time. Really depends on where you go, some fairly tracked bowls with some fresh on top sure you will have fun on an assault 144. If your more in some bottom less tree pow that 163 stock pros get stuck in? Your going to hate your 144.
enis750
Active VIP Member
kinda was in the same boat as you OP
wanted something that would work for both areas of riding
I too make a few trips west each year and FOR ME - the Freeride 146 was the ticket
will work fine here, and has a long enough track and big anough lug to haul me around out west
and shes all beefed up for ditch jumping and beating the pi$$ out of here here or west
ive always had a 140-something track out west w an 800 and it works just fine
anything else for here (or flatlands in general) IMO, is overkill
if Polaris would put their RMK in a 144 and an 800 I think it would be a great sled (cause the base RMK has the extra cooler up front)
the pro model does not have the extra cooler up front, so even guys out west were having issues w the sled running too hot on beat up trails heading up and home
someone made a good point that a 140-something mountain sled wont be perfect for EITHER area, but will be the best crossver sled
sounds like your buying used, so if your not against doo, try to find a good deal on a 11 or 12 XP 146
wanted something that would work for both areas of riding
I too make a few trips west each year and FOR ME - the Freeride 146 was the ticket
will work fine here, and has a long enough track and big anough lug to haul me around out west
and shes all beefed up for ditch jumping and beating the pi$$ out of here here or west
ive always had a 140-something track out west w an 800 and it works just fine
anything else for here (or flatlands in general) IMO, is overkill
if Polaris would put their RMK in a 144 and an 800 I think it would be a great sled (cause the base RMK has the extra cooler up front)
the pro model does not have the extra cooler up front, so even guys out west were having issues w the sled running too hot on beat up trails heading up and home
someone made a good point that a 140-something mountain sled wont be perfect for EITHER area, but will be the best crossver sled
sounds like your buying used, so if your not against doo, try to find a good deal on a 11 or 12 XP 146
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enis750
Active VIP Member
motor mounts, injectors and there were some issues w wires rubbing and shorting out i think too
all were warranty dealer recalls tho
tho if you run w the VIN w your local dealer, they can confirm if it was done before you buy
$10k seems a bit high .... whats the remaining warranty like?
barleyfarmer
Active VIP Member
Seems kinda pricey!At the end of the day it is a 2 yr old machine that's used!A little more cash and you can have a yr old one with more warranty.More warranty the better because a thousand bucks doesn't fix much anymore!
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enis750
Active VIP Member
find out more about it
were all the updates done, if so where? proof?
what does it have left for warranty?
its not a spring model, so its probably out of warranty or close to
IMO thats too much for a 2 yr old sled w no warranty and w many imprvements for a 12, id try that route
lots of 12 left overs out there man, w warranty and not much more
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