How reliable is the new ski doo air suspension?

dickmsp

New member
What experiences has everyone had? Does it freeze up in below zero temps? Anyone have trouble because air compressor and teeny tiny air hoses are 3/4" away from drive belt? Best ride out there? Worth the extra money??? Covered under warranty? ??
 

whitedust

Well-known member
GSX SE 4tek is good handling & riding sled like any XP & 137 air shocks =smoooooooth ride. Don't know about air compressor but FAST has done that too so hoping it is trouble free. GSX SE 4tek is on my sled short list too but 130 HP & 15mpg disappointing during my use. Yam does much better than doo with their 4s engines power & mpg but could lose some design weight. Then on the other hand my Apex 150 just turned 8,000 trouble free miles & never let me down & they adjust shock with EC ohlin no air compressor. I had very bad luck with doo 800 2s froze the crank at 3000 miles so would not buy a doo 2s but 4tek maybe? 2013 models will release soon so I would wait to see what everyone does. Poo may also finally update 4s platform & doo has to be thinking GSX turbo & non currents will have to sell so look for incentives. Good luck all new sleds pretty good these days.:)
 

dickmsp

New member
Thanks for the info.. what year 800? Had left cylinder burn Downs on new 05 renegade 600 SDI at 1700 miles and 05 GSX limited 600 SDI at 2300 miles. Both were from bad crank seal on PTO side. both used fancy ski doo synthetic oil. Kinda gun shy of ski doo!!
Just want the best ride out there.. so far I think the ski doo GSX SE and the ski doo GTX SE would be the smoothest.
 
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G

G

Guest
The on board compressors have been around for a few years. I would think that they have the kinks worked out by now. If Yami does not come out with something new and different pretty soon I will be checking out the other brands also. Both poo and ac have some pretty good trail cruisers out. Poo due for an updated 4 but after riding my heavy Yami I would not rule out a reliable 2. Poo actually seems to have a 800 that stays together. And as stupid as the Rush looks it has gotten better every year. Decisions, decisions.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Thanks for the info.. what year 800? Had left cylinder burn Downs on new 05 renegade 600 SDI at 1700 miles and 05 GSX limited 600 SDI at 2300 miles. Both were from bad crank seal on PTO side. both used fancy ski doo synthetic oil. Kinda gun shy of ski doo!!
Just want the best ride out there.. so far I think the ski doo GSX SE and the ski doo GTX SE would be the smoothest.

2003 doo 800 & replaced with 2005 doo 800 engine then bought Yam 4s. I'm done with 2s not good for power cruising UP & big miles just too risky for me. So far Yam has been best sled ever for me but they need to design weight out just for horsing around trailer. Apex rides well on trail but 4s weight wars are being won by AC & Doo. Yam Apex XTX probably the smoothest riding of all sleds out there but you pay for it. Any of the snomo mags will recomend Apex XTX as best ride out there but about $12,500 new. Pat's in Greenland will let you demo any Yam sled & going to be really tuff to demo GSX Se anywhere you would have to buy blind & I never ever do that.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Better off with dealer demo ride so you can ride the trails the way you ride & have buddy on current sled so head to head comparo with demo. This is how I do it works for me. Factory rides are good thing but limiting in what you can do. IMO
 

mjkaliszak

New member
Better off with dealer demo ride so you can ride the trails the way you ride & have buddy on current sled so head to head comparo with demo. This is how I do it works for me. Factory rides are good thing but limiting in what you can do. IMO

Yea.... LOL
Not sure they would appreciate my " lack of skills " when testing their sled.... the guides would crap their pants. I seem to like to take things to the " edge " and then look down...... I always seem to test out " rentals " real well, then get my checkbook out and pay for the collateral wear.... you COULD say !
 

dickmsp

New member
I agree with no more blind purchases.. I want to ride it first before I buy, and research here what other folks like or hate..
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Really not a problem to get dealer test ride in WI northwoods & UP. For me no ridee no sellee not even worth talking to dealers that do not offer me a test ride. Just crazy to shell out $12-13K on a blind sale!
 

dickmsp

New member
Exactly.. bought a used 98 Taurus in 04 with 19,000 miles on it for $6500. Still have Taurus, 5 or 6 snowmobiles purchased since 04 all were more money than Taurus.. went on a few Yamaha demos first year they demoed power steering, beautiful machines, but when i got home, Polar Chev had new Chevy Malibus on sale for $1000 more than the yamis!!! Any more experiences with the ski doo air suspension? ??
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Doo been at a long time with air suspensions also on GTs in late 90s & they were big heavy triple mules. So really not new tech with them.
 

skidoowi

Member
I have an 09 GTX SE with air ride and 1,200 miles with no issues but never out below 10 degrees (family sled)

Road a 12 GSX SE 1200 at VIP Demo Ride on Wednesday in Minocqua and the air ride went down in the 3pm group. Guys from Skidoo said it has gone down twice this year. Rubbing on something that breaks the line and they have to replace it.

Sleds at Cruiserfest from Skidoo (at least this was the lineup on Wednesday for the VIP Demo ride)

600 ace MXZ
600 ace Renegade
1200 GTX SE
1200 GSX SE
1200 Renegade
1200 TNT
600 etec XRS
600 etec MXZX
800 etec Renegade Backcountry
800 etec XRS
800 etec MXZ

Best sleds were the 600 ace Renegade and the 800 etec XRS with Ice Ripper Track.
Got the GSX 1200 SE up to 105 on the digital on the lake
600 ace topped out at 75 but a very fun sled on the trails. Sounds like a four stroke ATV
 
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RVR RNR

Member
I was on the 10:30 ride yesterday in Minocqua. My fav. ride was the 1200 GSX SE. I couldn't honestly say that the air ride skid was any better than an SC-5 was [at least in those conditions- hard,icy & lack of moguls]. Wish it had the R-MOTION; awesome. Was not impressed w/800 e-tec; loud,more vibes than the 600. Wanted to try GSX 800 but, the air shock was out of it- literally- and they didn't say why. LOVE the ICE-RIPPER track on the XRS!
 
L

lenny

Guest
2003 doo 800 & replaced with 2005 doo 800 engine then bought Yam 4s. I'm done with 2s not good for power cruising UP & big miles just too risky for me. So far Yam has been best sled ever for me but they need to design weight out just for horsing around trailer. Apex rides well on trail but 4s weight wars are being won by AC & Doo. Yam Apex XTX probably the smoothest riding of all sleds out there but you pay for it. Any of the snomo mags will recomend Apex XTX as best ride out there but about $12,500 new. Pat's in Greenland will let you demo any Yam sled & going to be really tuff to demo GSX Se anywhere you would have to buy blind & I never ever do that.

you are absolutely correct, Pats will let you run them. I just rode with Yamaha for 2 days on the new Nytro FX and wow, the 1.75 back-country track along with the tuner skis (both stock for 2013, there are 2- 2013 FX's at Pats now for demo's) is an incredible machine. We rode em like we stole em and I cannot say enough good about them. I have to admit I was wrong in the other Yamaha ski thread, those skis rock. Our sleds did have clicker shocks and we softened them up for a real good feel in the bumpy corners. The factory shocks with not be adjustable so that will change the ability to change with the conditions.
 
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dickmsp

New member
I was on the friday 1 pm ski doo demo ride in minocqua. I rode the GSX SE with the air suspension, 1200. Very nice, and I got there a little early and one of the techs showed me how easy it is to change the oil. very easy. and 1200 doesn't have any external oils lines to fail. Have to take muffler off, but easy with the long spring puller. It steered nice on the icy corners due to a little extra weight over the skis. Great low end torque, and fast and smooth across the lake.
Rode the 600 E-tec with the R motion, but of course trails were perfectly smooth, so I couldn't see what this suspension is capable of. Drove the Ace powered renegade, and it has lotsa low end torque, faster than i thought, top speed about 75. Had a nice ride, just about as nice as the air ride gsx... I also drove the GTX SE, the 2-up with the air ride suspension... I dunno, it's a Renegade with a big windshield and a couple lunch boxes on the back.. I think I liked this the best. I saddlebag alot, and finally, I could carry plenty of stuff. I'd take off the passenger hand grips, I kept snagging them with my boots and for sure would trip over these and fall flat on my face shield as everyone at the hoop n hollar would be watching my dismount!! The GTX is probably just a tic heavier than the GSX, it's still fast and handles great..
Now, the air suspension... The red GSX SE 800 E-tec was broken down, from a previous post here I guess it was the air suspension.. That's my biggest fear, that the air suspension is going to be troublesome. I'm not brand loyal at all. I'm trying to find a sled that rides as nice as the air ride ski-doos--but without the extra cost, possibly unreliable air ride suspension..
I'm grateful that the manufacturers are giving demo rides. It's still going to be a tough decision!!! Let us know what you guys and gals find out there!
 

67rs

Member
if you are buying a 2 stroke, check out the polaris adventure!, i also was going to buy the gsx se, after the doo dealer would not take my 05 in trade i went over to polaris and ended up with a adventure, 600 miles, just under half a tank of oil left, ride is second to none, fuel mpg 13.9-16mpg, corners awesome, my friends rode it and both traded in the 09 and 10 ski doo's and bought the pro r 600 sleds the next week, and another member is rideing a 02 touirng do and needs to update and she also is torn between the gsx se and the rush, she likes the red doo a woman thing, happy with the polaris, but i am shure i would have been happy with the doo if the dealer would have worked with me, let us know what you buy and how you like it.
 

dickmsp

New member
Thanks for the heads up.. I did go on the polaris demo tour last year in two harbors mn, and the rush and adventure did have nice rides.. was the same story though, perfectly smooth trails!! how have the engines been? The previous polaris 800's were known to be troublesome and had lotsa burn downs.. I think the new 600's and 800's should be ok.. I do like the 4 strokes though, was on a 6 day saddlebag trip this year and it was a bit of an issue buying 2 stroke oil all the time.. But, I'll go for ride quality first!!
 
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