[ncapster]

What the heck, might as well throw my opinion in with next to no experience LOL. This is based on owning a 1200 for 3 years and a G4 850 for 2 years and doing short demos on a Thunder Cat & 900 Turbo.

Doo's got the quality. The Tcat would steer lighter & corner flatter. Take your pick.

And they both have plenty of power.

 

[Xrsphil]

My buddy must have got a good tcat. he runs stuff as basic and stock as you can, when I say basic he sets the suspension on medium and doesn’t touch anything else. When I rode it, it handled like it was on rails and soaked up the large moguls better than my xrs. I honestly have a hard time keeping up with him even in tighter trails, when we get on open sweeping trails in the UP, forget it!

 

[Pulpfriction01]

From factory I feel like the 998t is set up for trails way better than the XRS. But the XRS can do stuff they can't do either. That's why if you dial in the XRS, you have a pretty sweet package in my opinion. Those yamacats are pretty darn good in the trail until things get really tight and they show their weight. They are great for UP trails.

Our group has 3 998's, some Polaris, and cats. I'm the only ski Doo sled. I don't think they are envious of my sled at all. And I'm not envious of theirs either.

It's all about what you want. I want 2 stroke performance in a 4 stroke platform. The 900t is the closest snowmobile on the market to that. I can tell you that my XRS was not able to keep up with their 998's in the corners and it had nothing to do with the motors. Those guys are really fast period (one was a semi pro snoX racer), but not fast enough to make me struggle like that. That's because the XRS stock is just not dialed in for fast trail riding. It should be much better this year.

 

[Q. Arrius]

I actually HAVE a Sidewinder, but NOT a 900t. I rode a friends 1200 Enduro and it felt jittery.....but I didn't conclude it was junk.

It really wouldn't matter what I rode or tried....unless I own it for a while and can fine tune the suspension, I would assume it's gonna ride like crap. Maybe it's because I'm only 180 lbs....but one small adjustment can make it ride like a rolling death wagon, or a smooth Ferrari like machine.

Who's jumping on their buddy's sled and spinning knobs and pulling limiters in, to ride for an hour? Yeah, I forgot.....experts and professional riders don't adjust 'nuthin.

Not flaming and not looking for a purse fight.....they simply all have pros & cons, and each seems to have a use. I've taken the Sidewinder off trail, but only in late March. Otherwise it would sink like a rock. I've had a Cat run like a B26 bomber I couldn't destroy for anything. I have a Renegade...not bad, but not the end all to end all.

I will say this: If I ordered a part labeled "anti fog kit" for my Sidewinder, and Yamaha sent me a silica bag and double stick tape, I sure as heck would take a hard look at why I'm buying the brand. I mean seriously? You have to pay to fix a fogged up gauge, and they send you a bag of silica?! That's jacked up.

Brand new 2020 BC 850 sitting in my shop, .1 mile.....I can't wait to try it out, but first need to find out if the brakes are faulty and needs to go back to the dealer. Yeah, right out of the box quality. Still happy with my decision, but I absolutely know that until I get the suspension "dialed in," it's gonna ride horrible. I will blame only myself, until I've exhausted every suspension option.

Just my 2 cents.

Q. Arrius

 

[Skandic Wide Track]

I gotta a chance to ride my buddys sidewinder last year and it is bone stock, meaning my buddy bought it and just rides it. No adjustments, and right out of the box that thing just eats up corners! Much more rail feeli then my rene x but i did feel it being heavier but not to the point it was overbearing. I was also very surprised how well it performed off trail. Loves to stand up and rip outta the deep with ease.

 

[Pulpfriction01]

I actually HAVE a Sidewinder, but NOT a 900t. I rode a friends 1200 Enduro and it felt jittery.....but I didn't conclude it was junk.

It really wouldn't matter what I rode or tried....unless I own it for a while and can fine tune the suspension, I would assume it's gonna ride like crap. Maybe it's because I'm only 180 lbs....but one small adjustment can make it ride like a rolling death wagon, or a smooth Ferrari like machine.

Who's jumping on their buddy's sled and spinning knobs and pulling limiters in, to ride for an hour? Yeah, I forgot.....experts and professional riders don't adjust 'nuthin.

Not flaming and not looking for a purse fight.....they simply all have pros & cons, and each seems to have a use. I've taken the Sidewinder off trail, but only in late March. Otherwise it would sink like a rock. I've had a Cat run like a B26 bomber I couldn't destroy for anything. I have a Renegade...not bad, but not the end all to end all.

I will say this: If I ordered a part labeled "anti fog kit" for my Sidewinder, and Yamaha sent me a silica bag and double stick tape, I sure as heck would take a hard look at why I'm buying the brand. I mean seriously? You have to pay to fix a fogged up gauge, and they send you a bag of silica?! That's jacked up.

Brand new 2020 BC 850 sitting in my shop, .1 mile.....I can't wait to try it out, but first need to find out if the brakes are faulty and needs to go back to the dealer. Yeah, right out of the box quality. Still happy with my decision, but I absolutely know that until I get the suspension "dialed in," it's gonna ride horrible. I will blame only myself, until I've exhausted every suspension option.

Just my 2 cents.

Q. Arrius

Every sled is going to have their issues. Ever vehicle really. To be honest, the 900t was about the most successful trouble free release I have seen so far. The two biggest issues are a crappy secondary spring and some people don't like the throttle. Neither is getting you stranded. That's a big win for a new snowmobile.

Obviously the 998t has it's issues too. A little worse than the 900t so far. Turbo bolts backing out, gasket problems. The overblown chaincase issues. I guess it's overblown until it happens to someone who owns one anyway and leaves you stranded. If your biggest issue is needing Silica gel, although annoying, then you have a good snowmobile.

 

[snowrage]

I currently have a 16 xrs 800. Been a great sled and I love it, but it's time to snow check a fresh one. Most in my group have 850s and love them, but I want the piece of kind of the 4 stroke longevity. One buddy is a Thundercat, rode it once and was very impressed with the light steering, shocks were great, and the motor was smooth and fast. I've always been a skidoo guy, but the reasonable snow check prices cat has currently are making it a tougher decision. Skidoo it better fit and finish wise, but the cat has better shocks imo, led headlights and the ability to get a 230 trail friendly tune for pretty cheap.

If skidoo added a slightly higher hp options, led headlights, and a better track option, my decision would be easy lol... oh and taller spindles would hurt either.

I would really like to hear opinions or guys that have ridden both, good and bad of both sleds.

Artic Cat chain case has big issues ( junk ) and Cat"S not updating , I have moved to Ski - Doo

 

[snowrage]

Every sled is going to have their issues. Ever vehicle really. To be honest, the 900t was about the most successful trouble free release I have seen so far. The two biggest issues are a crappy secondary spring and some people don't like the throttle. Neither is getting you stranded. That's a big win for a new snowmobile.

Obviously the 998t has it's issues too. A little worse than the 900t so far. Turbo bolts backing out, gasket problems. The overblown chaincase issues. I guess it's overblown until it happens to someone who owns one anyway and leaves you stranded. If your biggest issue is needing Silica gel, although annoying, then you have a good snowmI

I was in UP on week long trip and machine wouldn't comeout of forward into reverse . Parked machine and rode buddies machine rest of week . Got home tore apart and oh yea bearing on top gear worn out , good I didn't run because if I would have ran it and it not went fully into gear BAM BAM very poor design .My wifes F1100 turbo had the same failure the year before, Ran machine to get homeand guess what WAS NOT GOOD . Very expensive repair .

 

[Pulpfriction01]

I was in UP on week long trip and machine wouldn't comeout of forward into reverse . Parked machine and rode buddies machine rest of week . Got home tore apart and oh yea bearing on top gear worn out , good I didn't run because if I would have ran it and it not went fully into gear BAM BAM very poor design .My wifes F1100 turbo had the same failure the year before, Ran machine to get homeand guess what WAS NOT GOOD . Very expensive repair .

Ya, I forgot about the bearing too. Welp, I guess that shows why the yamacats have a bad rap for reliability lol. Things like the chain case glass falling out killing the chain case, leaking oil. Those failed bearings taking out the chain case. Even caused motors to go bad from taking the oil tank with them. Can't say the 900t has had anything close to those issues. That's gotta count for something lol.

 

[snowrage]

A little background.. I sell used sleds and toys. I've rode and sold them all.

I've had a T Cat as my demo with boosted with 265HP.. Fast in a straight line but I couldn't keep up on junk rough trails... Too heavy..

I had a 900T last winter.. I loved it except the throttle.. Otherwise great handling. The power stock is decent overall. Might actually handle better then 850 Renny X... but not as playful as the 850

The Cat and Winder turbo are heavy pigs!

X's 2

 

[snowrage]

My buddy must have got a good tcat. he runs stuff as basic and stock as you can, when I say basic he sets the suspension on medium and doesn't touch anything else. When I rode it, it handled like it was on rails and soaked up the large moguls better than my xrs. I honestly have a hard time keeping up with him even in tighter trails, when we get on open sweeping trails in the UP, forget it!

Let me know how it's doing with about 4000 mile's on the machine

 

[Belldog]

I had a 16 zr 9000 aka 1100 turbo. Same basic chassis. First off it handled and rode great out of the box with zero adjustments. My xrs 900t took quite a bit of adjustment and some snowtrackers to get it close to where I wanted it. As far as reliability the zr didn’t have any issues that weren’t created by the dealership who studded the track(long story). I put 4000 miles on it. The only thing that was a flaw was the antifreeze overflow dumping in belly pan when it got warm. This equals a drip on the concrete all summer. 900t 2800 miles needed a new secondary spring and throttle block. Pick your poison.

 

[**sj**]

Ive owned and tuned the 998s... other than the motor... they are mostly junk... Chinese crap which is riddled with issues

 

[bar549]

There are alot and I mean alot of ridders dumping the Yamacats/Cats for many reasons. There are also hundreds of left over Yamacats/Cats, those two things tell you alot about a sled. Great motor, but rest of the sled is not up to current quality and durability stanards compared to the other sled manufactures. This is why Cat is where it is today. High H.P. and Top Speed Dogs, but I want to ride and get back home, not be stranded and working constantly on my sled to keep it going and at the end of the day, I do not want to feel like I have been wrestling a buffalo all day.

Bob

 

[KnappAttack]

There are alot and I mean alot of ridders dumping the Yamacats/Cats for many reasons. There are also hundreds of left over Yamacats/Cats, those two things tell you alot about a sled. Great motor, but rest of the sled is not up to current quality and durability stanards compared to the other sled manufactures. This is why Cat is where it is today. High H.P. and Top Speed Dogs, but I want to ride and get back home, not be stranded and working constantly on my sled to keep it going and at the end of the day, I do not want to feel like I have been wrestling a buffalo all day.

Bob

Every time I see one of these post from you I feel bad for you. You don't get out much do you? Have you checked the left over Doos? They are more plentiful that the Cat/Winders for certain. The left overs are always the in season models with cheap shocks on them no matter the brand.

The Cat chassis rides and handles awesome and requires nothing to get it to work like it should, yes its heavy, but still out handles and steers easier than the Doo, along with riding just as well on the rear suspension. Nope, the Cat is not built as well and needs some mods to the driveline that the consumer shouldn't have to do, but once done, its a reliable machine. Doo really does have better engineering, bearings and things like that, but still has a poor front end on it. They both have their flaws.

If there were really "lots" of guys dumping the Cats/Yamahas, I'd think I'd see them over here talking about it, but I really don't see many people at all bragging up the 900t on this forum. No where even close to the happy owners that were on the 1200 forum when the 1200 first came out. Everyone loved the 1200, not too many on this forum in comparison to that, I've seen a "few" and very few that have switched to the 900t from the Cat chassis, but only a couple fellows that brag up the 900t.

I have a buddy with a XRS 900t and been a Doo guy myself for years and LOVE the brand, but I'm certainly not impressed with the 900t from Doo. It rides rougher up front and the front is no where up to the level of the Cat, not even close! Its also one slow machine next to the Cat. Only one of my group of riders has a 900t and eight of us all ride Cat or SideWinder Yamaha turbos, its only myself that "maybe" would switch to a turbo Doo and only if they fix the flaws. Don't see where "lots are switching" myself.

That said, I want so badly to order a new sled for next season but the 900t is lacking in so many areas, power and speed being the biggest, throttle and the sub par front end need work. If they could fix these issues, I might order one. As of right now with what is out there, I think I may order up a new Thunder Cat. for 2021. Doo messed up bad not sticking with the 1200 engine for turbo and fixing their lousy front end. There is no machine out there right now I really want bad to be honest. I like my Winder but it's getting long in the tooth, I'd like to try something different, but Doo is making it hard not stepping up their game on their poor front end and that wimpy 900t engine.

I've never been left stranded on of the 1200's or the Winder. Except the one time I had a PB80 cup break on my 1200 Doo, but I can't blame Doo for that.

 

[Pulpfriction01]

Every time I see one of these post from you I feel bad for you. You don't get out much do you? Have you checked the left over Doos? They are more plentiful that the Cat/Winders for certain. The left overs are always the in season models with cheap shocks on them no matter the brand.

The Cat chassis rides and handles awesome and requires nothing to get it to work like it should, yes its heavy, but still out handles and steers easier than the Doo, along with riding just as well on the rear suspension. Nope, the Cat is not built as well and needs some mods to the driveline that the consumer shouldn't have to do, but once done, its a reliable machine. Doo really does have better engineering, bearings and things like that, but still has a poor front end on it. They both have their flaws.

If there were really "lots" of guys dumping the Cats/Yamahas, I'd think I'd see them over here talking about it, but I really don't see many people at all bragging up the 900t on this forum. No where even close to the happy owners that were on the 1200 forum when the 1200 first came out. Everyone loved the 1200, not too many on this forum in comparison to that, I've seen a "few" and very few that have switched to the 900t from the Cat chassis, but only a couple fellows that brag up the 900t.

I have a buddy with a XRS 900t and been a Doo guy myself for years and LOVE the brand, but I'm certainly not impressed with the 900t from Doo. It rides rougher up front and the front is no where up to the level of the Cat, not even close! Its also one slow machine next to the Cat. Only one of my group of riders has a 900t and eight of us all ride Cat or SideWinder Yamaha turbos, its only myself that "maybe" would switch to a turbo Doo and only if they fix the flaws. Don't see where "lots are switching" myself.

That said, I want so badly to order a new sled for next season but the 900t is lacking in so many areas, power and speed being the biggest, throttle and the sub par front end need work. If they could fix these issues, I might order one. As of right now with what is out there, I think I may order up a new Thunder Cat. for 2021. Doo messed up bad not sticking with the 1200 engine for turbo and fixing their lousy front end. There is no machine out there right now I really want bad to be honest. I like my Winder but it's getting long in the tooth, I'd like to try something different, but Doo is making it hard not stepping up their game on their poor front end and that wimpy 900t engine.

I've never been left stranded on of the 1200's or the Winder. Except the one time I had a PB80 cup break on my 1200 Doo, but I can't blame Doo for that.

There are parts I agree with. I do think you miss the lack of 900t love though. The vast majority of guys who have or had 1200's and got the 900t are big fans of the 900t. 900t is a hit outside of a few exceptions.

I think the 900t is light-years better than the 1200 in every aspect minus the motor potential. Even that is starting to get better. You won't be taking down a 998t in a drag race but you can build them to over 300hp pretty easily if you want.

For what you like in a snowmobile, the 998 is the better option. You love the glued to the trail feeling. And the 998 does that very well. Best in the business at it. With a very good motor for out in the open.

But it's kind of like the old 2 stroke debate but reliable with more power potential. The 900t has more fun factor than the sidewinder. Lighter. More nimble. Not all the power. But I would easily take a well set up 900t at 300hp over a sidewinder at 500hp. That has nothing to do with reliability. Just the fun factor. Very fun 4 stroke. I'm big on having some flexibility. If all you do is long fast trails or only off trail in deep powder, that gets old. 900t is more flexible. You can make the 900t handle like the sidewinder in the trails. It's a lot harder to get the sidewinder to be as flexible and nimble as the 900t.

 

[saybyebye]

It seems like a lot of you will never get it..... SkiDoo did not build the 900t to compete with the SW/TC. Do you really think Doo couldn't put a 300hp sled on the snow if they wanted to and mop the floor with the SW? Theres just no money in it. The MAX HP market is small and always has been, and shrinking too. The die hards that want a 130mph sled to take out to the lake and race each other are an aging population. Performance trail riders, boondockers, mountain riders and high milers are the customers that make the company money.

Doo took their bulletproof and lightweight 900 ace and strapped a turbo on to make it comparable to 800-850 performance, which is acceptable for 99% of the buyers out there.

Those of us that want more power have options courtesy of the tuners that put the time in, but wanting more doesn't mean that we necessarily need 300hp either, a lot of us just want to match the performance we're used to on previous 2-smokers.

Doo owns the sled market, Polaris is the closest thing to competition (but not really) and Yamacat ONLY has the 998 motor to entice buyers. that's why they are struggling to sell their antiquated lineup.

 

[bar549]

I get out plenty! Sorry to ruffle your feathers, it's my opinion and what I am seeing out there. For me and many others, top speed is not that important. I always enjoy your posts.

Bob

 

[ditchbanger64]

I think 205hp on tuned 900t would be plenty. I almost bought the Doo turbo this year but just wasn't sure if they had the throttle and couple other little issues worked out. A 4 stroke will be in my future for sure. Maybe Polaris....

 

[bar549]

I have 2 guys in my ridding group that have owned higher H.P. Sleds than the Doo 900T and they are very impressed with the sled. I have ridden the 900T, awsome sled, I do not believe you would be disappointed, especially after you have it set to your liking.

Bob