I am trying to decide on next year's sled and am having a difficult time between the Assualt 146 and the Dragon 155. I currently own an 07 700 Dragon 136 X 1.75 and an 08 700 Dragon 155. Each has their place although I think i muddied that when I changed the 136 from 1.25 to 1.75. I think the 1.38 Cobra would have been a better choice. That aside, the question is for 09.

Has anyone ridden the Assualt? I compare it with the XP Summit 146 except the Summit has a 16" track and the assault has a 15" track. I had an XP 146 for 265 miles and hated many things about it but was impressed with how it handled the trails. It would handle the powder well but did not work for me in the jumps and transition type riding. I swapped it for my Dragon 155. The Dragon 155 does not handle the trails well at all due to too much roll and the long track. I believe much of that was due to under inflater WE Airs. Despite asking my dealer to ensure 215 psi, he never did, so I was left with a poor impression of the WE airs. However I've replaced those with the Dragon WE clickers used on the short-track and I'm waiting to try it out.

I do 15% trail to get to the hills. My riding is between 1500-4000 feet. Most riding is off trail in cutdown hillsides. hese cutdown present the usual obstacles that are hard on A-arms but unfortunately also hard on Summit S-modules. I want something that will climb with the Summit 146 and also run with it in the trails. I realize that the flotation of the 146 Summit is closer to the Dragon 155 due to its 16" track. But I'm not sure flotation is most important. Tilling power coupled with handling is most important to me. Does that marry me with the Assault?

I'm also looking for the balance and ease of steering which both my 700's posess. I really like the IQ feel, does the 09 maintain that feel or better yet improve it?

Bottom line, What's the Assault feel like compared to the Dragon 155?

Did I ride w/ you this year?? Fred??

The Assault is a hillclimb back country sled! Think of it as the RR of hillclimbing. For the steep and deep this is the weapon!

One thing about the Assault. The stock track is a VERY hard durometer track. In powder with the stock track it is gonna be one trenching SOB... However, there will be an optional track available that will have softer paddles.

One thing is for certain: the Assault is basically an RR with a 146!

Dealer is suggesting that the race chassis with the new 800 might be my better option knowing how I ride. But the $14K price is a killer!!!!

I'm sure the harder durometer is for the crust and hardpack. That could be good?? Around here, we can deal with a certain amount of trenching as long as the sled can produce enough thrust from the displaced snow (lug height X track speed). Indeed, has anyone actually figured out the thrust value based on those?

Going to the Show in a couple weeks. Plan to make a decision then.

If steep, deep and powder is where you ride... the Assault is not your vehicle. As someone mentioned the track is a competition design with an extremely hard durometer. In powder this track will trench. Ideal conditions for this track include packed snow and spring snow.

I would suggest looking at the 800 RMK 144 Shift. Based on your description of riding conditions this would offer the best of both worlds. The track is a 2" paddle and offers a great combination of trail riding and off-trail powder.

As for your current 155" I would recommend adding a sway bar for your trail riding issues. The new RMK models come standard with a sway bar and greatly enhance trail riding as well as reducing downhill roll off trail.

Hope this helps.

How can you say that the Assault is an RR with 146??
Did i miss some info?, think the Assault is more a pimped RMK or so!

uhhhh, I'll second that. The assualt is no where near an RR. Entirely different tooling on these sleds. That's what Polaris WANTS you to think. They slap some go-fast goodies on it and some "sweet" graphics and everyone thinks it is a race sled.

Got Coffee????

While I wondered why nobody responded to my post for weeks, I most appreciate the subsequent responses. I almost get the impressions that I should just keep my current sleds for one more yeart and see what comes out in2010 as the Assault will not be the total solution I'd hoped..

I'll be visiting the local show to get a first hand impression. I only hope they have a good representation of the real thing!

if it was me I think I would rid ewhat you got and wait till 2010 and see what kind of new chasis Polaris comes out with.

Just my .02 cents

How can the Assault be a hillclimb sled, it has a 146". In hard pack snow maybe, but in steep and deep riding the Assault ain't highmarking the Dragon 155".

That's what I thought. Hey how are you feeling? Good enough to buy a new sled!?

I rode Mikes 800 RR! The thing is a wheelleeee machine!! Way too much vibration for a normal day ride, not for Mike tho.

For the riding we do get the Assault. Walker Evans shocks, adjustable skis...Maybe see you at show.

I'm thinking about the Assault also, but I don't know how it would work in the UP. I hardly ever ride a trail but have to hop on it everynow and then. Most riding is off-trail and in the fields. Do you think it would be worth it? How will the track hold up if you grab onto a stump, log or small rocks when riding?
Todd

Hey bud, it's been a wild year but I feel great!!! Seems you've heard some stories. Probably all true.

Started with a moose hit. 600-700 lbs of moose laying in my arms with no way to get it off. Thank GOD for TEKVEST. Saved my life. As the ad says "If you have to be somewheres Monday morning, wear a Tekvest on the weekend." Believe it!!!!

Since then, despite my somewhat extreme nature riding, my downfall was my own driveway. On Feb 22, fell, hit my head and had a major cranial hemorage. Was within 5% of quadropalegic!!!! Major rework later and I'm just getting ready to ride. Took the 155 out tonight and must confess, "I didn't remember it being such a wheelie machine. And when the skis did touch down, the W/E clickers (replacing the WE's air destroyed in the top of hill corkscrew (Ask Anthony for details)) did a fine job. Miss a weekend, miss a story.

Got to be aware of my condition, but ready to start riding again. Looking for a few sensible riders to keep me focused. Would you volunteer?

Hey, I thought that very thing about the 800 RMK 144 Shift, perfect sled, looks great, just what I want, and LIGHT too!!! (477lbs) BUT, dealer gave me a great price of $8700 and then talked me out of it, saying it wouldn't suit my 50/50 on trail off trail style. The 50% on trail would destroy the track instantly over 80mph. Come on, I ride my 600 over 80mph regularly and now I am going to have a 800 154hp and can't use it all when on trail. Also said NO studs once so ever. To much track deflection at speeds and it will shread, also studs hitting tunnel then? I thought that is what tunnel protectors were for. Comin' off of all short track machines my whole life and want to get into some longer railed machines. Help me out here please.
Also, hope that I get more reliability out of a 800 as my 600 HO CFI is getting its THIRD engine right now. I do take care of my stuff as it is to expensive not to, but come on....

polaris says its build for competition hill cross and hill climb. not steep and deep hill climb/high marking.

I realize that and I agree, but somebody on the first page said that the Assault was the perfect sled for "steep and deep hillclimbing" which is not true.

We're on the same page.

In Maine our steep and deep is like a hill cross. We have only 3500 ft, but very steep elevation changes. Rocks, trees, clear cuts, stumps, logging trails, back country. In one ride we can be in full powder, and back to hard pack between 1000ft and 3500ft. Short tracks just are not enough, but full length is too big for technical riding in woods.

I ride with this guy, and for the way we ride the Assault is the "Weapon"

Out West for the steep and deep, no replacement for displacement and big track all the way.

I think your dealer is crazy - the RMK should be exactly what you want - it is essentially the pre 136" Switch. Its a 144" with Tipped rails and uncoupled - I think with the 1.5" track it will be a great cross-over sled for the UP. Not sure where you dealer is getting his information.

I got a quick 10minute test ride on an Assault yesterday, I did not have opportunity to take it into the deep powder but I was able to find a quite bumpy trail. I must say that I was quite impressed with the stock rear suspension, it is by far the best stock shock calibration I have seen on a Polaris sled ever, it did not feel too stiff but did not fall through/bottom out either. Usually stock polaris sleds are soft as h*ll. The front needs some work but was ok. I´m at about 400metres above sea level, (about 1000-1200 feet or??), and for this altitude the gearing might be too low, might get a better acceleration towards the maximum 80mph if geared a little higher and clutched different.

not trying to sound rude but y dont u go onto the polaris website and watch the videos of randy sherman testing the new assult, the riding conditions hes in are from deep pow, to big jumps, just a thought

The videos on there website are only going to be whats good to sell the sled. There not going to show you something thats negative or looks bad, thats just bad advertising. That said i did think to myself in one of the videos of him hitting some medium sized moguls that the sled was jumping side to side alot more than i would have thought it would.

I had the chance to ride the Assault and 09 Dragon RMK 155 over the weekend at Arctic Man. Both are awesome sleds and I would buy both if I had the money. The assault wins in the suspension department. I was worried it would ride really rough at slows speed stutters and while it is not a 200 mile a day cruising sled, I would not call it rough at all. The shock setup is almost perfect. Comfortable enough at low speeds and can still take big hits without spilling your coffee. The track is very impressive it REALLY hooks up. We rode in some snow soft and deep enough to get stuck in and the RMK did float better but I am not sure if that was because of track length because the Assault did not have anymore trouble in deep snow than my 800 RMK 144. The Assault does feel tippy in the corners but a sway bar should fix that. So if you ride in bottomless powder and do a lot of climbing I would go with the RMK but if you want the best of both worlds I would get an Assault……I ordered mine today.

subzro,

Would you say the Assault floats as good as an Edge chassis RMK 144" or better? How about compared to an Edge chassis RMK 151"? I currently have a Pro-X 800 144" and thinking about upgrading to a RAW chassis RMK next year. I know I want something that floats better, probably about like a 151" but I'm not sure if the Assault will be enough track for me. The 155" RMK is a little too long but I might just have to live with it. I love the suspension on my Pro-X(just not the attack angle of the track). If I had a better attack angle the sled would get up on the snow much better. Is the Assault easy to carve with? Much harder than the RMK since it has the wider front end?

Here's a question for yah. I don't think the skid is coupled, is it ?

^^^OK, went to the Poo site, don't see any coupling blocks or anything, guess I answered my own question. Guess it's just like the RMK susp.

I would say it floats about the same as an Edge 144" but not better. I have not been on an Edge 151" so I cannot answer on that one, but the Dragon 155" does feel like it is floating better than the Assault 146". The RMK 155” would out climb the Assault in deep powder. Then Assault is basically a 2009 version of your Pro-X 144". The Dragon RMK suspension is really great but the Assault suspension is better on a rough trail. I have not ridden a Pro-X and a new RMK back to back but I would bet the newer front suspension on the RMK is better in the bumps than your Pro-X (not sure about the rear, yours is probably coupled). I forgot to check to see what they set ski center distance at, so they might have been set really close together because they carved about the same. The RMK can go narrower than the Assault so I would say it would be the better carver. I went with the Assault because I wanted something that take a rough trail and go in the mountains. A coupled 121" will be better in the bumps and a RMK 155” will be better in the mountains, so it is a compromise. You sound like you would probably be happier with the RMK.

I think you're right, I would be happier with the RMK I think. I rode a pre-production 2008 RMK 800 155" in West Yellowstone at the Expo and was happy with the rear suspension(Pro-X took stutter bumps better when going fast but RMK suspension was better at low speed, equal at medium speed), the front suspension on the RMK was amazing, kinda heavy steering but Powder Pros should fix that. I like my Pro-X but I want something a little more mountain oriented. I also thought the Assault would probably be about like my Pro-X, which is one reason why I'm leaning towards the RMK instead. Plus all of my riding buddies are on 151" sleds and longer so a 155" RMK would fit with the group and our riding style better.

Thanks for the info subzro.

Now I just gotta decide if I should sell my sled now to a friend that wants to buy it and buy a leftover '08 or ride it for another year and buy a leftover '09 next year. I think I'm gonna wait to buy the '09. It will be hard but it's worth the wait I think.