My opinion...
I've never ridden the Skinz on a M8 so I'm not sure how much applies here. I guess the basics are the same. There is a couple posts in the 1100 section about the Skinz. Here is what me and another customer have found. Also note we both have Kmod skids.
- the ski pressure is increased a lot, probably less on the 800 but will be more than you are used too. On the 800 the front shock may have enough adjustment to compensate. On the 1100 even the Kmod Raptor did not have enough in anything less than 18" of fresh. The stock Kmod is something like 160/220 and we were running on the edge of that. We both replaced the front shock with something heavier, the 1100 has more weight out front than the 800 obviously. Just for comparison, once the Skinz was on I ran 1-2 clickers less on my transfer block, I never got to try the heavier spring at the end of the year.
- we were both running SPL PP to start. I kept mine, the other guy went to a less aggressive ski. Once we got the skid figured out you could run any ski you are used to I'm sure.
- my Raptors had to be run upside down to clear the external WTA cooler on my 1100. My understanding is they fit the normal way also.
- we already know a coil over rides and handles better, but the handling is substantially better than the 38" stock arms. Between 37" and the relocation 3.5" forward it is much easier to roll over. Both of us thought that it was somewhat less predictable because of that but by the end of the season I was very comfortable on it. Because of the extra weight on the 1100 being all in the front end I'm sure the difference it makes on an 1100 is more noticeable than a m8. If you have a chance to ride before you buy that would be ideal.
Well put Gene, this is pretty much what I found with the skinz setup on my M1100T. I like a very light front end, so I ended up changing the front track shock spring on my Kmod with raptors to a straight rate spring that was a touch longer (and stiffer then the Raptor spring. I also run Polaris gripper skis after trying PPros, Mohawks, and MODS (more of a personal preference, I will be trying a set of 7" Slydogs this season). As mentioned, EXIT shocks will not fit in the lower hole on the a-arms, so I ended up with Evol R's. Ride and handling on the big thumper has improved dramatically - feels more like an 800 then an 1100 four stroke (bear in mind there has been additional weight shaved from the sled, such as a C3 belt drive, C3 carbon fuel tank, Boss seat, and EVO bullet can, and the sled is far from stock hp with an EVO BC Turbo). I do also have a 2013 M800 S/P Ltd, but it is more or less a backup sled - it doesn't get ridden much, so I can't justify spending a bunch of $$$ into it.
In a nutshell, the Skinz product works well, better then stock, but I cannot comment on how it would compare to BDX in terms of handling, as I've not ridden a BDX front end. Hope this helps answer some questions.
