Dustin, can you elaborate on what you meant by "they weren't trying to make it a Pro"? Mostly i'm curious if your impression of the XM (so far) is enough to make it your number one choice for riding on a day to day basis. Assuming you like techincal type riding and Poo's from your comments, then i'm wondering if the changes are impactful enough in it design evolution, or if they left things on the table that could've made it better for the techincal rider, and not sacrifice its climbing abilities?
This is exactly the type of question that really should be asked. Problem is, it depends on what you want out of the sled. Yes, I am a technical rider, and I love the way the Pro hangles in that respect. For me, I need to use the least amount of energy possible because lets face it, I am not in as good of shape as these guys that ride 4 days a week. Get unstuck 4 or 5 times and then your really tired @ 9000 foot. So the less energy I use the better.
The Xm takes less energy then the XP and that is the main reason I feel it is much better than the XP. How much energy does it take compared to the Pro? Well, less in some ways, but more in other ways. I didn't care for the Ski's on the XP, but the new XM ski is much better.....about equal to the Pro ski. I prefer the handle bars of the Xm over the Pro, but I like the Pro steering angle better than the Xm. The Xm takes less effort to steer than the Pro. The new track hooks better than the XP or the Pro except maybe in harder snow on a side hill......still need more time to really tell if the track on the XM bites into the hard snow, or rolls over and slides down so I will wait to form an opinion here. The 2.5 XM track flat out hooks in the deep stuff.....I really like it. The Pro track may not hook quite as good, but it gets on top quickly.
The Xm motor held RPM well, and was very stable over a wide range of conditions and elevations. The pro was a little more variable. I think the Pro transfer's the power to the ground better than any sled out there, but the XM makes awesome power so it pulls really hard. Yes, I know what they all make for power, but I am not going to go there so don't even ask.
Handling.....Ski-Doo doesn't want to alienate their loyal customers who may prefer the more planted, stable feel. They did say that they wanted to make the XM more appealing to a wider audience, and reduce the amount of energy it takes to maneuver the sled. I think they accomplished that. The machine still has a "Ski-Doo" feel to a point......the center of gravity is still very low and you can feel it in the front end a bit. But it is easier to overcome that CG and redirect the momentum of the mach if needs be. It is more predictable for me now, and that is a big deal..."what is the sled going to do over this opsticle". It makes me more confident in my riding ability.
The 2012 Cat kind of fits in the middle.....I like it as well....great motor, love the adjustable bars, but the steering needs more ratio as well as more front end traction. The Powder Claw is an awesome track and is very predictable. The running boards need more traction and could be a tad longer. Of course, I am 6'3" tall so that may not hold true for some. Suspension is good and over all a great sled.
So what it really comes down to is these sleds are close.......the best pickens we have ever had. What would I buy? I honestly don't know. It would come down to a couple things:
Dealer-Which has the best service and will be there for me if I have problems or need parts. Hours of operation, knowledgeable techs, parts guys and do the people actually ride?
Warranty- how long is it, what does it cover and how do they feel about me customizing it to my preferences or modifying it?
Style- What style works for you as a rider? DO you like a more planted feel or do you want it tippy. This is a personally preference.
