Given the teething issues with the Boost (seems to mostly center around a bean-counter chosen fuel strainer), I'm not sure what to think of the 9R. I definitely wouldn't make it my only sled! My impression of the 850 has been mostly good; despite some poor choices that were fixed after the first year, and a few lingering weaknesses, they seem to work pretty well for most people. If I had the money to burn right now, I'd probably go with a NA 850. I'm pretty disappointed that they've completely abandoned the smaller engine lines: the 650 is a minimal effort, and the other motors available are a 25-year-old fan motor, an AXYS holdover (I think just in the Titan now), and a repurposed ATV motor (ProStar S4).
What they should be working towards is two families of engines: one that's exactly what they're doing with the Patriot right now, and a second topping out at 700cc and 150HP or so. I think people know what they're getting into with the 9R and will generally be happy to get 1000 miles before needing major work (long as it doesn't grenade, really). The smaller architecture would be lower-cost, longer-life, and fill everything from a ~500cc utility role to a mid-range performance. Partly dreaming out loud here, but I do agree that they're pushing hard for the top of the market, seemingly at the expense of everything else. Maybe they have plans and we'll see something in the next few years, but the only remotely new thing aimed at the mid-range is the 650. For the rest of the line, it seems they're content to keep selling old stuff until it's finally irrelevant.
Anyway, my current sled is a Pro with one of your long-rods in it, and it's worked great for me. My budget isn't likely to allow for a new sled in the near future, so my next sled will probably be an AXYS 800. I don't need a ton of power, even the Pro spinning a 163 has all I need. So I'm curious what you think about the 800 HO. You mention the 850 being better than any of the Dragon-to-present 800s, but I hear a lot fewer reports of issues than the Pro or Dragon 800. Biggest issues seem to be TPS and relay related. I get the sense that if they'd put a TPS like the 850 has on it and invested in quality, sealed relays, the 800 HO would have been the one people would be saying Polaris got right. But then, I'm not the guy who's rebuilding motors coming to me in a box of parts on a regular basis!
Pretty much a spot on view of the Polaris line….. and I must say much more elegant then myself.
To address your question about the 850 verses the Dragon/Pro 800
The 2008/09 Dragon had a 3021843 cylinder
The 2010 Dragon had a 3022201 cylinder
The 2011 PRO had A 3022205 cylinder
The 2021 PRO had a 3022352 cylinder
The 2013 thru 2015 PRO RMK had a 3022449 cylinder ( The 2015 Axys flat lander had a 3022554 cylinder ) that had press in fittings that had a falling out problem.
2016 Thru 2021 Axys 800 HO was pretty dialed in ( other then the things you mentioned ) you are correct, they have all little bean counter cheapness problems. ( They never should have litghtened the crankshaft ) hard on clutch parts and motor or mounts.
And with out mentioning all the part numbers the P9laris 800 crankcase has changed many times and most are not interchangeable without custom machine work….. and some are not interchangeable period.
So you have to have hundred & $100,000‘s dollars worth of inventory to keep the customer on the snow with exchange motors. ( And you need a lot of storage area ) for all these big parts.
The 850 has had no changes other then a crankcase groove…. so means much easier to inventory
The 850 has had the same part number cylinder for 4 years. ( This says a lot about the success of the platform )
Referring to the 800 PRO Long Rod motor You mentioned ( Thanks for the business ). The 800 only needed about a 4mm ( Much less then a 1/4 inch longer ) increase in Rod length to increase piston life.
The 850 with a bigger heavier piston needed a much longer increase around 10mm ( a little under 1/2 inch longer ) and we went to a smaller top Rod bore so we can run the 800 Twin ring piston that removes heat from the piston much faster.
The 850 Long Rod with Twin Ring Piston is the most dependable motor I have seen in a very long time.
One of the biggest reasons I believe it is so good is the motor mounts…. compared to the PRO and Axys motor mounts that were a very poor Design.
One other bad thing going on right now for the development of Polaris is the ( Ambassador Program ) This is biggest scam to the Polaris consumer I have ever seen.
The Ambassador program should be called the ( Hush Money program ) Polaris gives all these guys a discount on a sled to be a cheap mouth piece for the product.
You have to sign a contract saying you will not bad mouth the product if it breaks down.
This is such a slap in the face to both the consumer and the Ambassador’s that think they are doing something good.
The program is a screw for both the consumer and the Ambassador ….. Why ?
First - it shelters the truth from the consumer ( Like Facebook ) most bad context is quickly deleted
Second - Polaris gets a Massive amount of Public relation work done for almost nothing ( Without Ambassador’s Polaris would have to hire 5 to 10 People at $75,000 to $100,000 each
Third - The Ambassador’s all get screwed six ways to Sunday with a minor discount
Ambassador’s should get together and create a program together as a Team against Polaris Hush contract ( Its Bull$hit ) and it’s embarrassing and demoralizing to be like a Hush money politician.
Facebook and the Ambassador program is slowing the improvement of the sleds.
Dan
