For the price difference.......hard to say no to a turbo. A Boondocker X on a stock motor and you're done. Turn the boost up or down depending on elevation and quality of fuel. No waiting around for pistons, jugs or heads if something does happen.
I don't care what any motor builder tells you, anything less than 1 liter isn't making within 10hp of 200hp. Not only that but for a true 200hp(corrected) motor to have any longevity is asking a lot. My Cutler 1 Liter BB NEEDS new pistons every 1000 miles otherwise the skirts break.(Ya it's a piston design issue, but those are mighty big pistons rocking back and forth on a small ringland. You can't ask for your cake and eat it too with this particular motor.(Not a Doo btw) And I'm not easy on it, it's constantly wicked) I've spent too many late nights drinking beers with guys that have been building BB's to know. My next sled is going boosted. I have a 4 stroke turbo and 3 BB 2s sleds....my next build will be a 2 stroke turbo. They have them down to a science now. Something these big bore engine builders have been trying to figure out for 30 years.
BTW a race gas 872 with 2600 miles and not even a new top end is just asking for catastrophic failure. We can barely get stock 800 Rotax's to live 2500miles before a complete teardown and rebuild is in order.(2500miles is roughly close to 4000km right?) I know the PNW doesn't get much powder so you might not be as 'hard' as we are on motors but you're flirting with the devil(and a tow rope) pushing that Rotax that far. The old Ptecs wouldn't last past 3000KM for us, the Etecs are barely making 4000KM unless they get trail ridden or spring snow ridden lots. I've only seen a handful last past 5000KM without any maintenance that have lived 50/50 easy/hard lives. Maybe we got shatty fuel up here in BC and AB? Either way, a whistle will be on my next sled.
Edit: Oh the majority of this post was a response to old Duncan in the 509 btw. Not looking to get into an argument, just an observation of what our dealer network sees up here.
(Then of course there's those "brand Ambassadors" that are on here once in a while that claim 10,000km without even changing a belt......so hard to tell what's real and what's smoke unless you see what multiple dealers are faced with year in and year out.)
