Engine size

[lenny]

Really enlighten me. My HD has 50,000 trouble free miles.

woodtick, now you went and did it, your a worse trouble maker than me I did say eturd though didn't I

seriously, did cat have recall after recall on the 800, even the non HO 800,,, or the 700. Now we did hear a tad of issues with the 1000 and no one argues that but some doo owners don't own up to the etec issues and brand loyalty is the culprit. I have some extra liking to the poo pro rmk because the chassis is so awesome despite the reputation of crap it earned but it is n ot threatening to me. I don't weigh my self worth or perceived perception from other riders based on my good or bad decision. Often technology adds to the problematic occurrences we see in mechanical items such as the VW Touareg or many high end vehicles, not all but some. Doo is not exempt and has had there share, what is so hard to understand about this. The big question is why do we deny and argue about it. If you love brp and the etec,,,good for you. If it works well and you got a fast light weight sled,,awesome, but no need to ignore history

over and out

 

[ezra]

Really enlighten me. My HD has 50,000 trouble free miles.

isn't that just break in mode for a gold wing.
I think if u dig down deep it is hard to argue the superior motorcycle engineering out of japan. kinda indisputable

 

[paulk]

I have been on a 600 carb and a 600 etec for a while but this year am making the switch to a 800 etec. I decided in 09 that I would not own a etec out of warrenty. To me its just not worth the risk. I am not sure I would own a sled out of warrenty no matter what it was. With as short of a ridding season as we have I want to be on the snow as much as possible not pulling the money together for a rebuild. I am a little nervous about the 800 but I wanted to try it once
and I am not getting any younger or in any better shape.
On the motorcycle topic, Its hard to find anyone that will put miles on. Gold wing or Harley rider. I have put a bunch of miles on Harleys, and Hondas. Average about 25,000 miles a year with a high year or 32,000 (when I was single and in my 20's). Only let down I had was a clutch cable at a toll booth in chicago on a Sunday. That was not much fun. Try finding a clutch cable at about 3pm on a Sunday.

 

[scoot]

HD is the number one selling motorcycle in the US. It's also the most un reliable. Still don't get this brand loyalty crap.

Oh no you didnt....
When I was young I thought that the more you payed for a car, snowmobile or motorcycle the longer it would last. Boy was I naive. My buddies and I all ride metrics, but to show we don't suffer from brand prejudice, we'll stop at the local HD dealer and sample the free continental pastries and coffee. Well, their not really free, the Harley rider that paid three times more for his motorcycle, (and refused to wave on the way over) paid for it.

 

[eagle1]

HD is the number one selling motorcycle in the US. It's also the most un reliable. Still don't get this brand loyalty crap.

Oh boy, now you did it. You just had go and poke the HD gods. Better start new thread.

I have been on a 600 carb and a 600 etec for a while but this year am making the switch to a 800 etec. I decided in 09 that I would not own a etec out of warrenty. To me its just not worth the risk. I am not sure I would own a sled out of warrenty no matter what it was. With as short of a ridding season as we have I want to be on the snow as much as possible not pulling the money together for a rebuild. I am a little nervous about the 800 but I wanted to try it once
and I am not getting any younger or in any better or in any better shape.

Paulk, thanks for posting. Would love to hear some feedback after you get some miles on 800 see if buy 8 over 6 again.

 

[lenny]

I have been on a 600 carb and a 600 etec for a while but this year am making the switch to a 800 etec. I decided in 09 that I would not own a etec out of warrenty. To me its just not worth the risk. I am not sure I would own a sled out of warrenty no matter what it was. With as short of a ridding season as we have I want to be on the snow as much as possible not pulling the money together for a rebuild. I am a little nervous about the 800 but I wanted to try it once
and I am not getting any younger or in any better shape.




On the motorcycle topic, Its hard to find anyone that will put miles on. Gold wing or Harley rider. I have put a bunch of miles on Harleys, and Hondas. Average about 25,000 miles a year with a high year or 32,000 (when I was single and in my 20's). Only let down I had was a clutch cable at a toll booth in chicago on a Sunday. That was not much fun. Try finding a clutch cable at about 3pm on a Sunday.

nice post and great perspective. So you currently own an etec? What has been your experience and what concerns do you have about them?

 

[paulk]

I have had 2 etecs before this 800. First was a used 09 600 with about 4000 miles on it, bought a warranty with it when I picked it up because I did not know what kinda life it had before I got it. It blew up 2 times early in the year, oil pump problems, ecm issue, etc so I switched to a brand new carb tnt 600. Then jumped back into the 600 etec game and had great luck with it. Low oil consumption and great gas mileage. This year I traded that one in on a 800 Etec. I will be happy to give feed back as the year goes on, with how I feel about it and if I would do it again.
My concerns are the cost to rebuild, depending on what goes wrong and having things I can not do myself. Its not like the ol carb motors where I could do it all. I do not like paying someone to work on my stuff.

 

[snobuilder]

I guess their is peace of mind for some in extended warranties but to me the cost of the warranty out weighs the need since I do my own work on the sleds.
Family has been on Yamaha 4 strokes for over 6 years and have put on 40,000+ miles collectively between the ones we have
owned in that time.....95% of them miles was out of warranty. A warranty doesn't give back a persons precious short season down time unless it somehow includes a loaner....or a tow back....or cover your trip expenses.....which they don't.

40,000 miles and never needed a tuggie.

And now I totally lost my mind and bought a potential POO 800 time bomb...still will have a Yamaha with me if I need a tow.

 

[polarisrider1]

I guess their is peace of mind for some in extended warranties but to me the cost of the warranty out weighs the need since I do my own work on the sleds.
Family has been on Yamaha 4 strokes for over 6 years and have put on 40,000+ miles collectively between the ones we have
owned in that time.....95% of them miles was out of warranty. A warranty doesn't give back a persons precious short season down time unless it somehow includes a loaner....or a tow back....or cover your trip expenses.....which they don't.

40,000 miles and never needed a tuggie.

And now I totally lost my mind and bought a potential POO 800 time bomb...still will have a Yamaha with me if I need a tow.

you will be fine.

 

[lenny]

I guess their is peace of mind for some in extended warranties but to me the cost of the warranty out weighs the need since I do my own work on the sleds.
Family has been on Yamaha 4 strokes for over 6 years and have put on 40,000+ miles collectively between the ones we have
owned in that time.....95% of them miles was out of warranty. A warranty doesn't give back a persons precious short season down time unless it somehow includes a loaner....or a tow back....or cover your trip expenses.....which they don't.

40,000 miles and never needed a tuggie.

And now I totally lost my mind and bought a potential POO 800 time bomb...still will have a Yamaha with me if I need a tow.

if you dont want to blow up the poo 800 dont squeeze the flipper till at least 100 degrees and turn the oil pump up. Not sure if the oil is slim on the 15's so may wanna check to see it that is the right thing to do but that's what i do and most others, so far so good

- - - Updated - - -

I have had 2 etecs before this 800. First was a used 09 600 with about 4000 miles on it, bought a warranty with it when I picked it up because I did not know what kinda life it had before I got it. It blew up 2 times early in the year, oil pump problems, ecm issue, etc so I switched to a brand new carb tnt 600. Then jumped back into the 600 etec game and had great luck with it. Low oil consumption and great gas mileage. This year I traded that one in on a 800 Etec. I will be happy to give feed back as the year goes on, with how I feel about it and if I would do it again.
My concerns are the cost to rebuild, depending on what goes wrong and having things I can not do myself. Its not like the ol carb motors where I could do it all. I do not like paying someone to work on my stuff.

the 600 etec has a strong punch so I would think the 800 will be crazy strong, I'd love to ride one.

 

[snobuilder]

Thanks for the advice on the temp and oil.
Hopefully the POO 800 will continue to improve in the 2015 HO version as the previous 8 has, which seem to be holding together better in the past
few seasons since the 09 to 11 models....i think.....

if she comes close to the hiccup free POO 6 i put 3k on last season, I'll consider that a good start.

 

[polarisrider1]

Thanks for the advice on the temp and oil.
Hopefully the POO 800 will continue to improve in the 2015 HO version as the previous 8 has, which seem to be holding together better in the past
few seasons since the 09 to 11 models....i think.....

if she comes close to the hiccup free POO 6 i put 3k on last season, I'll consider that a good start.

The 15's have an electronic oil pump. not sure how to turn it up. my 12 was easy to do. oil is cheap even when it is Poo gold compared to a rebuild. I warm mine up to about 118. always run scratchers down on the RMK's. You will want the ones that you don't wreck when you back up. And enjoy. I still have another year on warrenty so no mercy again this year. Also don't run your mtn. clutch weights in MI and vice versa. That goes for any sleds.

 

[polarisrider1]

Next summer I plan to put in those "fancy pants" pistons from Germany as I will have about 5500 miles on my 12 800. They look like jewelry! lol. Guess it is called a reliability kit. Put those into Sledheaddude800's 2010 after it blew. Runs like a raped ape now.

 

[snobuilder]

This '15 SB 800 will probly be totally stock this season. From all I have read and where I ride....UP and N.WI...I should be a happy boy.

 

[EXCESSIVE FORCE]

if yur gonna post stuff like this without a ODO pick....yur LOL believable.[/QUOTE


Suppose i could snap ya one if it would make ya feel better....

 

[Skylar]

NOT! Remember Doo's 03 04 and early release 05 600 HO's? Ring problem, what ring problem? LMFAO, I put two sets of pistons and rings in my 05 mid release 'gade SDI 600 HO, and my brother put two sets in his 04 SDI 600 HO. On our dime! LOL.

true but from what I see they at least own up and doo the right thing for the most part.
I have seen nothing like it out of the other 3 when they know dam well they have a issue

 

[whitedust]

NOT! Remember Doo's 03 04 and early release 05 600 HO's? Ring problem, what ring problem? LMFAO, I put two sets of pistons and rings in my 05 mid release 'gade SDI 600 HO, and my brother put two sets in his 04 SDI 600 HO. On our dime! LOL.

Doo never admitted to ring problems on 03 800s either ....my dime too.

 

[ezra]

I was talking about the last 5 yrs or so.

 

[lenny]

My buddy Doug has an 03 beaver tail 600. That thing was a fast awesome handling machine when it ran. He always ran out of gas every trip to the UP. It would run like 91 miles a tank and we'd haul him in. He ran it for 2 years till it started burning coolant. The case would fill up with anti freeze. We tore it apart and jug, head would not seat properly. A shop rebuilt it and it blew up, rings! Mr. Freeze jumped ship from Yamaha to Doo and said if he could get a year out of his new Doo he would be a believer and 6700 into the first season crank bearings went on the 800 ptec,,,,,blewy. Machine was in Houghton for 30 plus days so for a guy who ride 10k a season, he was ticked. He dumped that sled and bought another vector and ran that machine till 31,000 and sold it last season for over 3 grand. Last season OMDave blew up his 09 600 etec at 7600 miles, than sold his 600 etec 2012 gade for a 1200 4s, fear of blowing up again. We see many reports of this same thing happening. Maybe some get 10k miles but it's probably not the norm. No fancy head up display to tell people your compression is low and move your legs aside so when shrapnel is flying your not mammed. All that said, doo still probably has the best handling fuel efficient sleds out there. Sounds like they are improving like the poo 800 but track record is important and naturally there should be a period where we gain the confidence that some others have earned.

Anyone, am I wrong? Please correct me. I understand my little circle of friends and experiences doesn't represent the masses but IMO my friends experience, reports from doo dealer tech seem fairly consistent with what else I read and hear. I have no ax to grind with doo. Doo is smart to have non- etec 2 s motors because tey have to. If they did like cat and ran exclusively the same motors in all their sleds we would have class action suits against BRP. Thanks God for the Ace motors and the 600 non etec, they need them

 

[momoney2123]

My buddy Doug has an 03 beaver tail 600. That thing was a fast awesome handling machine when it ran. He always ran out of gas every trip to the UP. It would run like 91 miles a tank and we'd haul him in. He ran it for 2 years till it started burning coolant. The case would fill up with anti freeze. We tore it apart and jug, head would not seat properly. A shop rebuilt it and it blew up, rings! Mr. Freeze jumped ship from Yamaha to Doo and said if he could get a year out of his new Doo he would be a believer and 6700 into the first season crank bearings went on the 800 ptec,,,,,blewy. Machine was in Houghton for 30 plus days so for a guy who ride 10k a season, he was ticked. He dumped that sled and bought another vector and ran that machine till 31,000 and sold it last season for over 3 grand. Last season OMDave blew up his 09 600 etec at 7600 miles, than sold his 600 etec 2012 gade for a 1200 4s, fear of blowing up again. We see many reports of this same thing happening. Maybe some get 10k miles but it's probably not the norm. No fancy head up display to tell people your compression is low and move your legs aside so when shrapnel is flying your not mammed. All that said, doo still probably has the best handling fuel efficient sleds out there. Sounds like they are improving like the poo 800 but track record is important and naturally there should be a period where we gain the confidence that some others have earned.

Anyone, am I wrong? Please correct me. I understand my little circle of friends and experiences doesn't represent the masses but IMO my friends experience, reports from doo dealer tech seem fairly consistent with what else I read and hear. I have no ax to grind with doo. Doo is smart to have none etec 2 s motors because tey have to. If they did like cat and ran exclusively the same motors in all their sleds we would have class action suits against BRP. Thanks God for the Ace motors and the 600 none etec, they need them

I dont think ur far off. If u run 10k a season you have no business owning a 2 stroke of any brand. Its not rocket science a 4 stroke is much better suited 4 long distance long time ownership. Personally If I had any 2s at 7500 miles id be taking the top end apart for at very least an inspection. Checking crank runout and repacking with isoflex. There is a reason some people never have problems and the same people have all the problems IMO. Its not luck or magic. Having reasonable expectations and doing preventative maintance goes a long ways. Not buying a 2 stroke and just gasing and going beating snot out of it for 10k miles. Then yes its prolly a coinflip whether that sleds lives to 10k, whether its cat2s, poos 2s or doo2s. If u want to run tons of miles and keep ur sled 5 years its easy get a 1200 or 900 ace from doo or a yamaha. Dont buy a large bored 2 stroke 800etec and say its junk because it only got me 7500 miles on orginal pistons , thats the frustrating part.