I just bought a 1200 renegade x, I only have 6 miles on so far but love it. I'm coming off an 800 etec renegade and wanted something different also. The r-motion felt great for the few miles I rode also, no doubt I made the right choice with the 4 stroke. I'm riding tomorrow and Tuesday so I should have some more feedback soon.

 

I think you won't even look back for a second if you go with a 1200. The torque and handling are miles ahead of the F8 (in similar track configs) weather you go with an XR or XS chassis

But if 100MPH is a must, you better be a light rider and grab a short track, because it will not hit 100 in all conditions.
Then again unless you have a real good F8, I doubt that was 100mph machine (on GPS?)

I tried some F8s once or twice, as well as a 1100 Turbo in the TwinSpar, just couldn't get into that chassis.

 

I have no seat time on the AC or Yamaha you spoke of, but what I can tell you is that I'm the same as you with regard to keeping it stock and just riding. I've come to a point in my life where it's no longer worth it to me to add all kinds of mods. So with that said, the 1200 in my opinion is a flat out great trail sled. Can you get to 100 in the stock form? Yes, but that's about it. The 50 to 70 mile per hour range is nice pace to run this sled at. Mine is an XR and I know the XS is liked even more.

 

you should try to test ride one if possible,maybe you know somebody who has one

 

My thought would be to get a Gade with some good shocks on it. I would also try to get one with the R motion and 15 and up with the RAS 2 front end. I have riden a buddys F1100 NA. I felt better comfort wise on the Doo. From the seat to the way I was protected from the wind. The was no way to compare the two for torque. The 1200 feels heaver on the trail but it will help going over the lumpy crap.
If you can find a person with one ask him if you can ride it, or ask a Doo dealer.

 

yes definitely need to get a little seat time on a test drive. That will answer most of my questions if not all of them. Thanks for the insight so far. Keep the opinions coming

 

hammerlane44---Welcome to the site.

I have four 1200 sleds. as the above posters have said. Tremendous torque. Great all around everything sled.

I can just hit 100 mph in perfect conditions on the speedo. More like 95 mph on GPS.

Do not get your hopes to high thinking you will run 100 mph all the time. Other than that you simply will have a great sled.

The 1200 is not the best sled to go off trail with. It will do it but it's not that good.

Don~

 

"100 mph is necessary for my application" Is or is not ?

 

If you get a test drive on one, welcome to dootalk. LoL

 

I have a buddy who had a Cat 1100 and I traded with him a couple times. In my opinion the Doo 1200 just feels quicker. No way that Cat would run with mine, and I used to be a Cat guy so I'm not dissing them.

My son is 35, been riding for 25 years and he's a darn good rider, yes I would say he is a true "aggressive rider". He just got a 17 1200X Renegade. The last 2 years he was riding a 14 Cat 8000 Sno Pro Limited. He has ridden my 15 several times and decided to make the switch. From what I have heard his 17 will be much better than my 15.

Another friend of ours on here is Skidoodude04. I'm guessing he's 23-24. He has racing in his blood, from go karts to the stock cars he races on asphalt now. He is absolutely one of the most talented riders I have seen in my 40 years of riding. He switched from a 600 to a 1200 2 years ago and this year bought a new one, 1200X Renegade.

What is am saying is if the 1200 fits the riding style of these 2 young guys and makes them smile, I'm sure you will be happy with one.

And yes the 1200 will hit 100 mph. This was all stock with Edrive and Goodwin clutching, no studs, few inches of snow on a hard pack road. I know this is the dreammeter and there definitely was track spin but it's still good.

 

My bad guys on the 100 mph statement. I meant to say that it is NOT necessary for 100 mph. Sure it's nice if it does, but not necessary. I want something that shines from 0 to 80. Thanks Again! More so even at 40 - 70 mph speeds . Take Care everyone.

 

I just got a 17 Enduro 1200, put 360 miles on it this weekend, coming off a 06 F7, this 1200 is the best sled I've ever ridden, no BS!, and I loved the F7, that was a fast sled, the 1200 is an absolute torque monster, almost to sensitive in sport mode on the tight trails, standard mode is more linear, hit the open trails and back to sport mode I go, its awesome, swapped with my buds viper yesterday, they dont even compare, 5 miles and i said thats a nice sled, I was lying but trying to be a nice guy, couldnt get back on my 1200 fast enough, it is way more torquey, sounds better, handles way better, i made the right choice x10. Saw 96 mph in speedo, still had more, need to check my gps but seemed to be 3-4mph slower than the guage, 40-80 is fast as hell, its getting its 1st service now then I'm headed out for more miles of smiles, I see me on this sled for many yesrs so the sled technology can surpass it, then I'll think about shopping for a new sled. Air suspension is pretty sweet also, 2-3 seem to be my setting of choice and I also like the TS ski's, simple tech but they work well.

 

My bad guys on the 100 mph statement. I meant to say that it is NOT necessary for 100 mph. Sure it's nice if it does, but not necessary. I want something that shines from 0 to 80. Thanks Again! More so even at 40 - 70 mph speeds . Take Care everyone.

40-70 is one of the best things about the 1200! Low end and midrange torque is addicting.

Also, don't worry about all the mods. They are not needed at all. Since the 1200 is so reliable and responds so well to mods, it's all we have to talk about in this forum

 

And don't forget, gas and go. Pump 87 which is easy to find anywhere. No worries about how long that 91 octane at the mom and pop place has been in the tank.

 

To the OP, I agree 100% on the F8, it's one comfy Cattilac! The original XP came with the SC-5 rear suspension and the 08 you rode most likely had the linear rear arm. Doo came out with a progressive rear arm in 09 to help the ride in the stutter bumps. The newer ones with the R-Motion ride much better, similar to your F8 and much better than the Pro-Cross Cat I rode. Course the one I rode was a 141" XF with a float out back and no floating front arm.

 

My bad guys on the 100 mph statement. I meant to say that it is NOT necessary for 100 mph. Sure it's nice if it does, but not necessary. I want something that shines from 0 to 80. Thanks Again! More so even at 40 - 70 mph speeds . Take Care everyone.

Then this IS the sled for you! In the spring of 08 I test rode the new 600 etec and the new 1200 at a Ski-doo demo event. I was on a 600 sdi. I knew after one pull on the throttle that the 1200 would be my next sled. In the past I kept sleds 4 years and traded. I have 7 seasons on the 09' and just bought an used 16'. This motor pulls very hard from 30-75mph. It corners very well and feels planted. My Renegade is studded and I have 6.9" mountain skis on it for the occasional off trail rip. When comparing it to others, many of my riding buddies are on Cats. The 1200 runs very close to a good running 2003 F7. Sometimes he wins, sometimes I win. The race is always to 75-80 or so, not lake racing. The guy on the F7 is 60 lbs. lighter than I am. A 600 has never come within 3 or 4 sled lengths of it. My friend on the XF 800 High Country beats my sled by a few lengths, but his is clutched, lots of studs and geared for hill drags. It is an animal. As others have said, take one for a ride, you will not regret it. My 09' is for sale in Western New York if you are interested. I don't remember seeing if you were looking new/used or what your budget is. Good luck and welcome to the forum. The information here is mind boggling!

 

Welcome hammerlane...for a groomed trail sled, you simply can't beat it. Change the oil once a year, add 87 octane gas and ride. I don't mod any or mess with it, as I really like it just as delivered, bone stock (or than setting the sled up for me, from as delivered condition). It is a very good package that has very predictable handling, great suspension and excellent overall reliability. If you can get one with the rMotion rear skid, do it... it is just better and it doesn't matter what length. I'm on my second 1200 and even sold my 800 etec to get back on the 1200, as I missed the trail torque way too much. As you've probabaly found or read about, the 1200 is treated like the ba$tard

child of Doo and most 4 strokes. It does not simply get it's due, but throw your leg over one and give it a go...it doesn't disappoint on the trail...

 

My bad guys on the 100 mph statement. I meant to say that it is NOT necessary for 100 mph. Sure it's nice if it does, but not necessary. I want something that shines from 0 to 80. Thanks Again! More so even at 40 - 70 mph speeds . Take Care everyone.

Where are you located? I ordered my 15 GSX 1200 never had riden one. I was a bit underwhelmed until I swapped out the beachcomber style handlebars that come on the touring models. My only regret is not waiting one more year and having the Bosch ecu, the XS plastic makes no difference to me. If you are in the area and would like to ride one, you are welcome to put some miles one mine, once we get snow that is

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

40-70 is one of the best things about the 1200! Low end and midrange torque is addicting.

Also, don't worry about all the mods. They are not needed at all. Since the 1200 is so reliable and responds so well to mods, it's all we have to talk about in this forum

X2 ^^^ Well put.

But dont take it from the guys in the forum that are already fans, ya gotta ride one and it'll sell itself!

 

My bad guys on the 100 mph statement. I meant to say that it is NOT necessary for 100 mph. Sure it's nice if it does, but not necessary. I want something that shines from 0 to 80. Thanks Again! More so even at 40 - 70 mph speeds . Take Care everyone.

Then think no longer. Time to act lol

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Sounds like this sled sells itself! Definitely need to give one a try. I'm in MN and appreciate the offers for a test ride. Going to go and do some looking and hopefully demo one. Time will tell. If I do end up on a 1200 I will be sure and let you guys know. Love reading all the wonderful reviews so keep them coming. Thanks!

 

Where in MN? I'm in WI near MN and I'd let you ride it... But mine is far from factory stock and I find it gives guys the wrong idea about what a stocker will feel like!

Not sure I have much to add that hasnt already been said. The beauty of this sled AND the chassis, is that it lasts forever... And the chassis is very easy to keep tight for tens of thousands of miles. Few bushings, few bearings, and you're good as new again.

My point... You can keep a 1200 a long time so a few years down the road you don't feel so bad about spending money on mods and stuff.

I came off a XRS 800 etec, and a Nytro rtx SE before that, and I'd pick my 1200 over either. You mention the Nytro engine.... Well I think the 1200 is a much more fun engine. Low and mid range torque feels much stronger on the doo. My brother still has my old Nytro with 10k miles on it now... So I've swapped between the two plenty.

Make sure to get the Rmotion... It really is the real deal

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I have a 16' Enduro, a 12' MXZ TNT, 09' grand touring all with the 1200. I also have a 09' Nytro XTX. If you liked the engine and pull in the nytro you will love the 1200. Nytro is a ball to ride in the fields but we don't feel it is a great trail sled. The 2016 being the XS is by far the best of all of the sleds that I have. Rmotion, eco sport mode etc. Our 1200's have been bullet proof!!!! Won't be looking to get anything but a 1200 for as far out as I can see.

Good luck with your decision. I think once you ride one like I did you will know why we all go on and on about them. Simply the best sleds we have owned bar none!!

 

X2 on the GSX SE (longer track). Heated seats, air suspension oh the luxury! Bad in the UP last year, lots of cry babies taking breaks off to the side because of the stutter bumps, moguls, etc.....GSX had no issue, waved as I flew by..

On the motor side been said many times, lots of torque and torque = fun. Simple as that, just hammer the flipper = Grin. Its really a great motor and I'm a torque junky so it's a perfect sled. Doesn't feel heavy at all. I have not ridden any of the new ones, the GSX (old man sled ) is discontinued but the Enduro is there with some of the same options I think. Like you said, going for a ride will tell, then you'll buy one.

Speed wise, it's a 100mph sled, getting there is fast and fun and that's what it's all about for me anyway. There is no way in the woods that 2 smokers or anyone else will lose this sled - just isn't going to happen.

good luck!

 

Go for it! I jumped to a 2016 1200X XS model with 129" always had the gade til this one. hands down one of the best sleds made.. I tried my buddies XR model didn't like, but with the new model way better! I put the Talon 1.77 lug track on and it hauls the mail! :ridedoo: