Hello Everyone,
Just had a chance to compare the Axys, Doo 850 and Doo 800. The Axys was a 163" x 2.6" track, 850 was a 165" x 3" and Doo 800 was a 163" x 3". There was about 18" of fresh powder with good base. Some areas were harder where the wind had blown most of the fresh off. Let me start by saying I have always been a Polaris guy but have a open mind on what my next sled is going to be. I really like the Axys, but I have several concerns.
1. I cannot stand the Axys running boards!!! I have a size 13 Klim Arctic boot that absolutely doesn't fit for crap on the running boards. It is the same width as the running board without snow built up on it. Once snow is on it, it is a bear to just stay on them. I get that Polaris wants narrow boards for not hanging up in the snow on a side hill. I think the Axys is truly built for smaller framed people. Both Doo boards are much better to stay on the sled.
2. When facing downhill towards a nasty creek bottom, the Axys is much harder to take a hard right or left to get out of trouble. The Doo's are absolute cake to get the sled on its side and to get out of these situations. It almost seems that the Walker Evans front shocks are so stiff that it doesn't allow for the shock to compress in this situation. The Doo's shocks are much softer and I believe this helps the Doo's in this type of scenario.
3. I think the Doo 850 motor pulls stronger through the midrange and top end. The Axys actually feels just as good if not better on the bottom. This Axys motor is no slouch at all, and really is capable of holding its own with the Doo 850. I think the Axys motor is much stronger than the Doo 800. I have heard that the Doo 850 is just as light as an Axys but it isn't! Period!! You can tell that the Axys rides lighter and maybe that makes the motor feel better than it is. The Axys feels taller and narrow while the Doo 850 is lower and wider.
4. The Doo 850 gauge is an absolute JOKE! It is always covered in snow and should have been angled to even try and see it. Polaris did a great job on how their gauge sits.
5. After a couple of hours of continuous riding, we stopped and had lunch. When we did this I opened both the Axys and Doo 850 side panels and felt the clutches. I was amazed that the Axys clutch was barely even warm. The Doo 850 was slightly warmer which surprised me to say the least. The Doo 850 did have some Frogskin vents on the side panels on the clutch side and had the clutch cover "hacked" up. I was expecting the Doo 850 to be smoking hot but it wasn't.
6. On the gas and oil side of things, they were almost dead even. I knew the Axys would do great because of past Axys' I have been around. I was surprised that the Doo 850 basically did just as good as the Axys. We did about a 40 mile round trip with about 3/8 of a tank left in the two sleds.
I have been wanting to stay with Polaris, but I truly can't take the running boards. Let me know if anyone has a better solution for the Axys. Also, why are the Doo's better in those harder snow situations when facing down hill and have to go hard one way or another?
Please don't think I am trying to bash. I truly am giving you my 100% truthful experience with these sleds from yesterday.
Thanks!
Just had a chance to compare the Axys, Doo 850 and Doo 800. The Axys was a 163" x 2.6" track, 850 was a 165" x 3" and Doo 800 was a 163" x 3". There was about 18" of fresh powder with good base. Some areas were harder where the wind had blown most of the fresh off. Let me start by saying I have always been a Polaris guy but have a open mind on what my next sled is going to be. I really like the Axys, but I have several concerns.
1. I cannot stand the Axys running boards!!! I have a size 13 Klim Arctic boot that absolutely doesn't fit for crap on the running boards. It is the same width as the running board without snow built up on it. Once snow is on it, it is a bear to just stay on them. I get that Polaris wants narrow boards for not hanging up in the snow on a side hill. I think the Axys is truly built for smaller framed people. Both Doo boards are much better to stay on the sled.
2. When facing downhill towards a nasty creek bottom, the Axys is much harder to take a hard right or left to get out of trouble. The Doo's are absolute cake to get the sled on its side and to get out of these situations. It almost seems that the Walker Evans front shocks are so stiff that it doesn't allow for the shock to compress in this situation. The Doo's shocks are much softer and I believe this helps the Doo's in this type of scenario.
3. I think the Doo 850 motor pulls stronger through the midrange and top end. The Axys actually feels just as good if not better on the bottom. This Axys motor is no slouch at all, and really is capable of holding its own with the Doo 850. I think the Axys motor is much stronger than the Doo 800. I have heard that the Doo 850 is just as light as an Axys but it isn't! Period!! You can tell that the Axys rides lighter and maybe that makes the motor feel better than it is. The Axys feels taller and narrow while the Doo 850 is lower and wider.
4. The Doo 850 gauge is an absolute JOKE! It is always covered in snow and should have been angled to even try and see it. Polaris did a great job on how their gauge sits.
5. After a couple of hours of continuous riding, we stopped and had lunch. When we did this I opened both the Axys and Doo 850 side panels and felt the clutches. I was amazed that the Axys clutch was barely even warm. The Doo 850 was slightly warmer which surprised me to say the least. The Doo 850 did have some Frogskin vents on the side panels on the clutch side and had the clutch cover "hacked" up. I was expecting the Doo 850 to be smoking hot but it wasn't.
6. On the gas and oil side of things, they were almost dead even. I knew the Axys would do great because of past Axys' I have been around. I was surprised that the Doo 850 basically did just as good as the Axys. We did about a 40 mile round trip with about 3/8 of a tank left in the two sleds.
I have been wanting to stay with Polaris, but I truly can't take the running boards. Let me know if anyone has a better solution for the Axys. Also, why are the Doo's better in those harder snow situations when facing down hill and have to go hard one way or another?
Please don't think I am trying to bash. I truly am giving you my 100% truthful experience with these sleds from yesterday.
Thanks!
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