Would somebody try to put in perspective how fragile (or not fragile) the Doo G4 platform is compared to Arctic Cat and Poo? Looking at the chassis photos of each (hard to find for AC), the Doo has a big nose. I've seen the posts of cracked Doo chassis parts. In practice, which sled can take the hits?
G4 & Taking a Hit
- Thread starter robinasu
- Start date
T
One time I seen a guy hit a cedar fence post with a h brace on a cat, if it was my assault at the time or my gen 4 it would have tore off half the front end off. after he was ok he rode off with no damage to his machine
You need to take another hit yourself if you think any of them are made to be crashed...
I think they all can take a lot of riding abuse. The Polaris is probably most fragile, a-arms are very weak, hitting the bumper almost always breaks the mounting tab off the frame, I definately wouldn't hit anything very hard with one of those... The Doo is pretty druable but if you hit something like a rock or stump, you are likely to do some damage. I checked out my buddies G4 after he hit a rock landing a cornice jump. Totalled his G4, hit so hard it pushed the jackshaft and bearing clean out of its mount. The Cat is probably the toughest but I hit a buried log with mine at speed last year. Broke the upper shock mount which means new tunnel/bulkhead.
You can easily wreck any one of them. I definately suggest a better bumper on any of them. My Cat has a big bumper, love it, saved me many times. One buddy just bought a z broz bumper for his G4 after bending up two stock ones...
Good Luck, Don't crash...
I think they all can take a lot of riding abuse. The Polaris is probably most fragile, a-arms are very weak, hitting the bumper almost always breaks the mounting tab off the frame, I definately wouldn't hit anything very hard with one of those... The Doo is pretty druable but if you hit something like a rock or stump, you are likely to do some damage. I checked out my buddies G4 after he hit a rock landing a cornice jump. Totalled his G4, hit so hard it pushed the jackshaft and bearing clean out of its mount. The Cat is probably the toughest but I hit a buried log with mine at speed last year. Broke the upper shock mount which means new tunnel/bulkhead.
You can easily wreck any one of them. I definately suggest a better bumper on any of them. My Cat has a big bumper, love it, saved me many times. One buddy just bought a z broz bumper for his G4 after bending up two stock ones...
Good Luck, Don't crash...
D
DRIVEBYE
Well-known member
Last year on my G4 I hit a rock going about 20 mph came to a dead stop. I flew about 10 feet in front of the sled and bent the handle bars pretty bad with my thigh. I only needed handle bars and an A Arm. This year I hit a tree just under the surface with my left ski. Again a flew forward, I think I hit the left quarter panel with my right leg, it ended up breaking the mounts the side panel snaps into which I know one is a metal bracket. My leg is still very sore to touch 6 weeks later and my right shoulder slipped out of socket. The left ski was turned 45 degrees in...Again just an A arm.
If it matters I am 6'3 240.
If it matters I am 6'3 240.
M
Motorbreath_
Well-known member
Here is my experience..
I've owned all three basically.
2015 Yamaha Viper MTX with ice age rails (Same Arctic Cat chassis as Alpha or any other M8000)
2016 Polaris SKS 800
2017 Ski-doo Gen 4 850 With a bunch of grip n rip braces.
So I hit a buried guard rail on my viper. I was doing about 60km/h (40MPH?) and hit the guard rail and got tossed about 10 feet from the sled. The sled flipped and landed on its side. I thought for sure my sled was going to require some serious work to get back on the snow.. I checked it all out, and all I bent was a tie-rod. I could have easily heated it up and straightened it out.
The Polaris was the manager's demo. So I'm not sure what had happened while he owned it. However I rode it the entire year and didn't hit anything. One day I went for a ride off trail just looking for new play areas, and just taking my time.. not taking any chances as I was by myself. On the trail ride back home my ski went way off to the side.. I stopped and found that the bushing that goes through the bottom a-arm to bolt it on to the frame was broken. I don't know why it fell apart.. I was told I must have hit something.. At this point I was almost afraid to ride it. I didn't hit anything.. and it fell apart. So I sold it, this was just one of the issues I had with it..
The gen 4 was a left over 17. and like you I was afraid after seeing all the carnage online. It was a steal of a deal, brand new from the dealer at 7999 USD 9999 Canadian. So I bought it and immediately ordered grip n rip bracing and and some ice age rail braces. I can confidently say I'm not afraid of hitting stuff with this set-up.
I've done a fair amount of stupid s*** on this sled and its still showing no wear.. minus the crinkled bumper, duct taped plastic and dented a-arm.. I would 100% recommend grip n rip to anyone with a 2017. I know in 18 they added a brace.. If it were me, I'd put the kit on any new Ski-doo gen 4 without hesitation.
So in summary. The Arctic Cat is built stout from the factory, Polaris can't take a hit, and the Ski-doo is bullet-proof after you spend about 200-300 in bracing.
This is all my own personal experience, yours may vary.
I've owned all three basically.
2015 Yamaha Viper MTX with ice age rails (Same Arctic Cat chassis as Alpha or any other M8000)
2016 Polaris SKS 800
2017 Ski-doo Gen 4 850 With a bunch of grip n rip braces.
So I hit a buried guard rail on my viper. I was doing about 60km/h (40MPH?) and hit the guard rail and got tossed about 10 feet from the sled. The sled flipped and landed on its side. I thought for sure my sled was going to require some serious work to get back on the snow.. I checked it all out, and all I bent was a tie-rod. I could have easily heated it up and straightened it out.
The Polaris was the manager's demo. So I'm not sure what had happened while he owned it. However I rode it the entire year and didn't hit anything. One day I went for a ride off trail just looking for new play areas, and just taking my time.. not taking any chances as I was by myself. On the trail ride back home my ski went way off to the side.. I stopped and found that the bushing that goes through the bottom a-arm to bolt it on to the frame was broken. I don't know why it fell apart.. I was told I must have hit something.. At this point I was almost afraid to ride it. I didn't hit anything.. and it fell apart. So I sold it, this was just one of the issues I had with it..
The gen 4 was a left over 17. and like you I was afraid after seeing all the carnage online. It was a steal of a deal, brand new from the dealer at 7999 USD 9999 Canadian. So I bought it and immediately ordered grip n rip bracing and and some ice age rail braces. I can confidently say I'm not afraid of hitting stuff with this set-up.
I've done a fair amount of stupid s*** on this sled and its still showing no wear.. minus the crinkled bumper, duct taped plastic and dented a-arm.. I would 100% recommend grip n rip to anyone with a 2017. I know in 18 they added a brace.. If it were me, I'd put the kit on any new Ski-doo gen 4 without hesitation.So in summary. The Arctic Cat is built stout from the factory, Polaris can't take a hit, and the Ski-doo is bullet-proof after you spend about 200-300 in bracing.
This is all my own personal experience, yours may vary.
The G4 is super strong. I’ve seen guys smack 6-8 ft boulders head on, come to dead stop, go flying off the sled. Zero damage.
At the same time had a friend slightly tag a rock under the snow while on edge with his 17 and SHATTERED the cast bulkhead. Which skidoo partially warrantied for him. He received the “updated” cast bulk head, which is what the 18’s and newer have. The 17’s bulk head had some casting issues.
So it totally depends on how the “hit” takes place. I feel any of the newer sleds are way stronger than any of the old trailing arm stuff of years gone by.
At the same time had a friend slightly tag a rock under the snow while on edge with his 17 and SHATTERED the cast bulkhead. Which skidoo partially warrantied for him. He received the “updated” cast bulk head, which is what the 18’s and newer have. The 17’s bulk head had some casting issues.
So it totally depends on how the “hit” takes place. I feel any of the newer sleds are way stronger than any of the old trailing arm stuff of years gone by.
P
powdermuncher
Well-known member
Any of them can be messed up if you hit stuff wrong. 2017 G4 had some issues that could be corrected with grip and rip braces -- I run 2 of them and hit my share of stuff without a problem they are tough. Cat is just tough Polaris is the weakest but usually just a matter of A arms and of you go. That is not necessarily a bad way to go either.
Never make you buying decision based on what you think can take the hardest hit. At the end Your own Body is the weakest part when it comes to a serious impact.
I rather have a A arm crumble than brake a bone myself.
We are just repairing a snowbike where the rider hit a frozen in bolder in a turn -- the of camber hit on a solid object sheered the fork clamps clear of and he walked away wit no injuries at all. At the same time I hit a creek bank after an ice bridge collapse with such force that it bend the forks but the clamps were fine.
So it is not as easy as saying tough is better or this is tougher.
Never make you buying decision based on what you think can take the hardest hit. At the end Your own Body is the weakest part when it comes to a serious impact.
I rather have a A arm crumble than brake a bone myself.
We are just repairing a snowbike where the rider hit a frozen in bolder in a turn -- the of camber hit on a solid object sheered the fork clamps clear of and he walked away wit no injuries at all. At the same time I hit a creek bank after an ice bridge collapse with such force that it bend the forks but the clamps were fine.
So it is not as easy as saying tough is better or this is tougher.
My ‘17 took a ghost ride down the hill this winter. No bracing, skid plate, nothing.. hit a tree square on the right side a arm. Slid down to my sled not even wanting to know. Bent an a arm. Was still able to ride it another day and a half no issues. They can take plenty.
Greatest Hits
These are some great war stories- hopefully we get some more! They make me feel better about the Doo. Plus, the 850Etec seems to be universally loved.
These are some great war stories- hopefully we get some more! They make me feel better about the Doo. Plus, the 850Etec seems to be universally loved.
S
Sheer
Well-known member
I hate to go agenst the grain and say ski doo would be the weakest, after my xm and my gen 4 if you hit anything with those the s module would break and it was a huge pain to replace... the 2 axys sleds ive had have been good, one of them i hit the bumper on a tree and broke the mount tabs, they make a replacement/ fix kit for that so you can do that and its pretty cheep and easy... it also looks like those are made to break if you take a good hit...but i know the a arms and upper ball joints are ment to break before it breaks the bulkhead.... also something to think about replaceing the axys bulkhead is like 100 times easier than the s module on a ski doo, its just bolted together and comes apart in halvs, instead of a million giant rivits and just 1 piece on the ski doos.
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