Im looking at a new Dragon 600 but the lack of outside (side) idlers and just the two inner rear wheels has me wondering. With no outside idlers and only the 2 inner rears, is that sufficient for good track/skid longevity and performance?
Click to view attachment

I have friends with other brand sleds that have added wheels and they roll off a trailer without help. Seems friction would be much higher with even less wheels.

lighter weight and it seems to be very durable. the outside wheel kit is only 25 bucks and they are also going to have some sweet billet wheels available as well.

How did it fair out for you shift riders ?

My opinion is it's a way to save weight and money, mostly money! for the OEM's

oh i hear you on the money savings for them.. weight.. how much do 6 wheels weight?

25 bucks a wheel kit x 4, plus longer rear axle and 2 wheels... $$

I had the dealer install them as part of the deal before it left the showroom. It's an easy add-on.

The outside wheels are needed when studding in the outside lugs. From what the dealer told me there is no need for them. We are so use to seeing them that it dose not look right.

It's more then $35 by the time you add the mounting hard wear. I would guess they saved 4-6#'s. Biggest savings is cost, just like all this light weight stuff. Less material means less money, unless they're using chromemoly or titanium. In good snow conditions the hyfax will do fine, but in marginal condition there going to wear quicker. It might slow the guys on ice/hardpack. Plus its unsprung weight that doesn't leave the ground. Losing wt. under the hood would be better, and from anything that is rotating, besides wheels.

same as the 03 firecats - see FAST

I don't see anything to worry about, firecats had no problems. Ride it and don't worry about it, the sled still has inner idlers.

It's a way to lessen the weight of the sled (by a couple pounds) and make more money (two ways). The sled will not cost less without the "extra" wheels vs. with "extra" wheels, so Polaris "makes" the $ there. Then, when the new sled owner decides the sled handles like shit without the outer wheels, he goes to the Poo dealer and orders the wheels and needed supporting hardware, and Poo makes the $ there, AGAIN.

It's all to Polaris' benefit.

But really... you think it's gonna handle like shit? I think the people that bought them for the shift did so just because they didn't like the looks, or it was in their head that the sled handled worse.

Maybe not like shit...... BUT, I would think the outer wheels would add to the stability when cornering. I saw this in a big way with my buddy and his Firecat. He added the outer wheels, and could corner much flatter, quicker and more controllably. I know the F-cat skid is more narrow, but I think the theory would apply to any width skid.

So, does it NEED them...no. Would it benefit from having them...I think yes. Just my opinion.

I've addressed this topic in more detail in the Polaris Ind. Blog here at HCS. Thanks

Thanks.

looks a hell of alot cooler without them.

I haven't used any outside idler wheels on my rev for 2 years, no issues thus far and my sliders haven't worn any faster than before. Less weight and looks better IMO. I've heard some say you need at least the rear outside wheels when studding, I ran 168 studs up the middle this season without an issue. If you stud the outside maybe, but hardly anyone studs the outside these days.

Its too bad Polaris didn't make the rear axle shorter and run the track adjuster bolts on the inside of the rail, it looks a lot better than having the plastic spacer block on the outside with the tensioner bolts in plain view.

agreed

Awe come on... no link??

I never knew we had blogs here. Top row links!

I've read if you come down on the back krooked it can break the bars in the track or if you run something (stump) over with just the outside of the rear.Also all the magazines I read say they corner better that way.

What magazines, i havent seen anyone say that sled corners better with outside wheels yet. They didnt say anything with the shift other than it looks better. Actually i think it looks cooler without them (cleaner). The Fcat was said to be tippy, but that also had a 13" wide track and was said to be twitchy anyway.

I do understand and is a worry with no outside rears and coming down crooked.

it might have something also to do with performace because all of the arctic cat race sleds dont have them even for cross country racing and some of the major Polaris snocross teams have gone without them in the past also.
Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment[attachment=4504
1:_L7S4170.jpg]

I wonder how many people are going to be studding their RMK's, and the outside of the track as well? My guess? Zero.
Even on a a trail machine it's silly to stud the outside. Asking for trouble.

True.. i wont be studding the outside but also thinking about going to an ice ripper track. Rolling resistance must still be higher though without the wheels.

Everyone said the closed window tracks were going to melt your sliders the first year they came out. Lets ride them first before anyone deems them bad!

No shift owners to give use some pro's and con's ?
Would be nice if Polaris got the build and quote your 09 sled going
so we could see our sleds with different options .

I've been playing with a Pro X suspension under my Apex - so it's admittedly heavy. I've run 1700 miles with it to date, mostly in the great conditions we've had in northern lower Mi this season. It was running the 4 idlers across the back, and only the 2 outside up front - with no unusual slide wear. Recently though, I've melted 2 sets of slides in 400 miles, but the trail conditions I've been running in have changed. Have recently been running late season on well groomed but very set up trails in the UP. Even diving off into looser snow when available and keeping speeds in check, have not been doing well with this setup at all. Have now added 4 more idlers hoping to better my recent luck with hyfax. Hoping to get another chance to see how much/if this helps. Should also note the sled is not studded, and is running a fully clipped Cobra track. Miles above run side by side with an '07 IQ, conventional setup, and no issues regarding slide wear with it.

My thoughts regarding this Shift setup are going to be that wear should be very similar to what I've recently experienced with the rig above. Loose, fresh snow, no problems. Set up snow (or marginal conditions) well that may be a different story. My experience...

"The only issue our team has with the rear suspension (and it’s a minor one) is that we feel having rear wheels on the outside of the rails makes a more stable and better cornering sled. You can buy OEM or aftermarket wheels to put on, so it is a minor point."

Max Sled Snowmobile Review: 2008 Polaris Shift

Mine feels real loose in the back but it may be my imagination cause I think it because them wheels are not there. Plus I need studs bad!

I think it would feel tippy ?

All rider forward sleds are tippy.... look how high you sit. It has nothing to do with the track.

I agree ,just woundering with less wheels if this will feel even tipper .

I don't think I'd say tippy I'm actually very pleased how well It corners. It feels like it wants to slide around on you but it never does. I'm not used to sitting like this yet thoe.