Well I did it I bought and picked up last Friday my new demo fst 08, and headed north till Tuesday. Heres what I learned about it.
After setting on it and going for a ride, it sure is completly differant than my 98 xcr. Started up and idles fine for warming up everytime, I would watch the temp gauge to make sure it was warm enough. Takes a while to figure out the gauges but when you do, its well worth it. I am 240 pounds so I will tell you that up front. I set the suspension as light as I could, but it still might be a little stiff. Seat was fine for me. I could really move around on this sled but at times couldnt figure out if it was heavy or me just overriding the sled, witch I seemed to do very easily, the low front windshield didnt help, the air pressure on you at 70- 80 really starts to get strong.
I rode with other guys all week. One of the guys had a orange f7 crossover and it ran side by side down a road. I was on hard pack snow that was froze real hard and goosed it for a while and it almost ripped the handle bars out of my hands. I was going into corners to fast and had to be real careful about being safe. I had a harder time turning this sled to the right than the left, dont know why was just me probably. I did beat a couple other sleds but dont remember the size for sure. It would also out pull a green f7 cat in acceleration. Dont know the years. Slowing down it would backfire almost all the time going into corners and stuff, but I thought that was cool, cant have everything perfect. I couldnt throw the backend around like my 121 inxh xcr. The windshield SUCKED big time and I already have anotherone. Adjustable handle bars worked great. Never built up with snow under neath like the other sleds. Never smelt belt, never picked up the track in the morning to warm it up. Reverse worked just fine. Once at a gas station I cranked on it to start it for 5 seconds and I quit cause it didnt start, did it on the trails one time to, but always restarted.
I picked up the sled with 730 miles on it and one of the drivers weighed about 300, the max speed read 107, I did have it up to 105 and it was still going.
I did run an Apex on the trail in trail snow, I did whole shot him and led him for maybe 600 feet or so then he went by. Then he got about fifteen yards ahead of me and didnt pull ahead any more. My speedo said 93 his said 106 go figure Yamaha gauges. I do not know if his sled is stock, somehow knowing him I doubt it.

All in all great sled, about 15 mpg if you can tell with that 5 inch gas insert in the tank. Would I buy it again, you bet, is it the fastest in the corners I doubt it does it hall *ss oh ya! Is there some things to improve on, yes, secondary clutch kit, wrap the intercooler pipe that gets real hot, might make 1-5 more horse just from that. Windshield. It will scare ya, and it could kill ya be careful, I always said I can kill myself without drinking, just having fun. I will try to answer questions. Bill

Did it feel heavy on the steering?I am coming off a apex which is heavy steering and thinking stong about a fst just don't want another heavy steering SLED.
Thanks Phillip

Yes, but it could have been the runners following everthing else out there dont know. So I bought some Woodys doolys to try, I think that might cure it.

Thanx
Phillip

Glad you're having fun! Enjoy!!!

Check into an 06 widsheld like mine. I think it'l bolt right up..

JM2C

My old man's got an 08 turbo dragon and he loves it to. The thing is kinda unpredictable when it comes to accelerating, some time it'll rip your arm off, some times it just doesn't feel all that fast. I think it's all got to do with weight transfer, and being able to get all 580 pounds all on the track. And for being that heavy I was suprised how light it actually feels. My old man bought a 05 900 fusion and that thing felt way heavier even though it was 55 pounds lighter.

Same here......Pa really likes the power of the FST motor. The ride is pretty good too!

Polaris Kid -

What 08 FST did you get - Dragon, Switchback or LX? Considering one myself.

I have rode a 2006 FST and wow when that boost kicks in hang one it's so sweet to ride and it's really not that heavy either... What is the differences between the 2006 and the 07,08,09's? Anything get upgraded?

I bought the switchback.I was riding this past weekend and here are some more facts on the FST.
Stayed at my place in Seney and rode with the guys staying there. We rode over to Curtis and one of the guys demoed a 09 etec 600 we all rode it and raced it. Racing on the lake 4-5 inchs of snow not frozen. First race etec 600 against 800 skidoos raced 2 of them 2 differant times. 600 would stay right with them or may just barly beat them. I raced my tubo sled and the 600 would pull me by 2 lenghts cause I was spinning bad, when I would start to get traction I would start to gain on it. If I could get traction I could smoke that sled. Top end I was catching him but he quit early, not even a quarter mile long. When I rode the 600 I thought it pulled good but when turning at 20 or higher it turned hard and you felt everthing through the handlbars and the skies made so much noise, it reminded me of a cheap car. I dont want to sit where Skipoop wants me to sit , so I would never own one exspecialy that ugly yellow.
But on another day I out ran a crossfire 700 and the 800 doos on the half mile lake. But I want the clutch kit yayou has over on Polarisfiles.