Switch from SRX to Rev 800?

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wiski

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Oct 13, 2003
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56
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Central Wisconsin
I don’t know what is the correct forum for this, but since I ride an SRX, I put it here…

I am thinking of selling one of my SRX’s and buying a clean 04 Rev 800 HO. I currently have both a 00 and an 01 SRX that are an absolute blast to ride when the trails are in good shape. Basically trouble free from day one, and reliable too. I don’t have a lot of trail miles on the Rev style sleds, but have ridded both a 05 600 HO and a 03 800. I know that comfort will be improved on abused trails, and I think I can get used to the riding position, but am wondering about performance. Specifically, what can I expect out of this Rev 800 ho, and on average, how do they do against the SRX’s and other “modern” sleds on fast trails and on the lakes. I suspect that with ideal conditions that the SRXs will smoke the Rev on the lake? What have you experienced or seen with the Rev 800’s? any advice would be great.

I will probably keep the other SRX forever, as they don’t seem to be worth much anymore, and are such fun to ride on Tuesday thru Thursday trails.

Thanks Gents.

Edit: Does there exist a web-site dedicated to Skidoo sleds that even comes close to this awesome site? (doubt it...) Somewhere that I can checkout and ask all sorts of questions about the Rev?

Thanks again
 
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Dootalk.com It Is A Good Site ...

On A Side Note , Those 600 Ho Will Run Side By Side With The 800 Ho Till The Higher Speeds ..
 
MrSled said:
If you are truely trying to sell your sled this should go in classified...I can move it there if you like.
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Thanks Mr. Sled, but I am really just looking for advice and info comparing the two sleds at this point. Gotta make up my mind on buying this Rev or not by Friday morning... and thanks again for such a great site!

===========================

Dootalk.com It Is A Good Site ...
On A Side Note , Those 600 Ho Will Run Side By Side With The 800 Ho Till The Higher Speeds ..

B2SO, thanks for the link. I will check it out. I heard the same exact thing about the 600ho, they seem to run strong in the mid range as you stated. M
 
800ho is a nice sled, you wouldn't be sorry if you got one, it's made for a completely different purpose than the SRX, but it does it's job VERY well, probably the best big bump sled there is at the moment
 
They are good sleds, I was impressed with the 600HO, although I don't like the riding style and I would DEFINITLY need the knee pads. I rode with a newbie sledder and we were HAULING down the trail and I was going to lose him, but it took a LOT more effort then I first thought, I was riding my Viper as hard as I could and I coudl barly get away form him on trails with hair pin turns and max of 50mph before your on the brake hard. He never lost control or felt like he was close. He is a 1st year rider vs me for over 20 years including a small stint in racing. I attributed most of it to his 600HO.
 
03 800 doo,s are horrendous on fuel & a lot slower then the newer 800 power teks.The newer 800 doo,s get better fuel mileage too. Some 05 600 doo,s still have the flaking ring issue....they changed about 1/2 way thru the season. They do take the big bumps well tho. A good bud of mine owns a doo dealership & during the middle of the season his "SICK BAY" is absolutely full of doo,s with issues & 3 or 4 full time mechanics working like dogs.
 
I was in the same boat last year. Both my brother and I bought rev renegades. Brother bought a 04 600ho very fun sled to ride but a little under powered in the deep stuff. He has now just put in a rktek 734 kit. And I pick up a 05 800power tek very fun sled to ride. I think all the 03,04 and some 05 have had some ring flaking issues and they need to be changed. I have been told the 800 pt motor has the chrome rings already in it. All in all a very fun sled to ride. But I still have the wifes viper to ride when I want.
 
Turk said:
03 800 doo,s are horrendous on fuel & a lot slower then the newer 800 power teks.The newer 800 doo,s get better fuel mileage too. Some 05 600 doo,s still have the flaking ring issue....they changed about 1/2 way thru the season. They do take the big bumps well tho. A good bud of mine owns a doo dealership & during the middle of the season his "SICK BAY" is absolutely full of doo,s with issues & 3 or 4 full time mechanics working like dogs.
Click to expand...

Amen to both statements there. The 800 non-powerteks are horrible on fuel and not impressive in power for 800's, and the '05 600's can still have the ring problems, as my cousin's mxz 600 did this last winter with 3000 miles. I don't feel they are quite as reliable as they used to be, still better than cat and polaris.
 
I know a doo mechanic and he tells me they have many many issues.
They have a big shop and cant keep up with the repairs. Not minor stuff either. Seems in the last few years they are having some problems.
They are a nice ride when they work.
 
RANGER said:
I was in the same boat last year. Both my brother and I bought rev renegades. Brother bought a 04 600ho very fun sled to ride but a little under powered in the deep stuff. He has now just put in a rktek 734 kit. And I pick up a 05 800power tek very fun sled to ride. I think all the 03,04 and some 05 have had some ring flaking issues and they need to be changed. I have been told the 800 pt motor has the chrome rings already in it. All in all a very fun sled to ride. But I still have the wifes viper to ride when I want.
Click to expand...

Hello Ranger...
When did the power tek engine come out in 800cc? 04 or 05? Does the 05 800 engine have the "updated" rings? From another post, it shouldn't be too hard a job to change them out (did it once on an old Polaris RXL) And I never thought I would ask this question, but just how bad is the 04 800ho on fuel? Can you get 100mi range?

The sled I am considering buying has 1400mi (48hrs) on it. I will take my compression tester along tomorrow when I look at it.

I will ask at my local Skidoo dealer about warranty on the rings. Does the sled just start dropping off in power when the rings start going, or is there a catastrophic failure with lots of noise and other damage in the cylinders too?

Anything else specific to look out for?
Thanks for the replys.
 
usually it is pretty much just a loss in power, but if any pieces come off it can have some more catastrophic effects.
 
wiski said:
Hello Ranger...
When did the power tek engine come out in 800cc? 04 or 05? Does the 05 800 engine have the "updated" rings? From another post, it shouldn't be too hard a job to change them out (did it once on an old Polaris RXL) And I never thought I would ask this question, but just how bad is the 04 800ho on fuel? Can you get 100mi range?

The sled I am considering buying has 1400mi (48hrs) on it. I will take my compression tester along tomorrow when I look at it.

I will ask at my local Skidoo dealer about warranty on the rings. Does the sled just start dropping off in power when the rings start going, or is there a catastrophic failure with lots of noise and other damage in the cylinders too?

Anything else specific to look out for?
Thanks for the replys.
Click to expand...

The power tek 800 was new for 05 and not all the 800 for 05 came with the powertek. From what I have been told the 800pt motors have the new chrome rings. It is not a big job to change rings , but I would say if you buy it you should change them right away if they have not already been changed. Better to get it done now and not when its riding time. I put on about 1400 miles last year and got anywere from 15-18 mpg and that was not babied miles by no means. I do not know what the stk ho got for milage just the pt motor. I had to have the clutches aligned because it destroyed two belts and adjusted the oil injection other than that gas and go. I think the only true way to tell if the rings are flaking is to pull the y pipe of and inspect them to be sure. I think you will be happy with the sled. just my .02
RANGER
 
i have a 03 800 rev got it new and i have a 98 srx 700.the rev has 8000 hard kms on it,no problems .you will love it !!!!! not bad on gas and it had 149 lbs comp all 3 years. it will do 190 kmph + on speed o in near perfect con,they love to be readen hard and you will looking for bumps.on the lakes and long strs the srx will get there first but every were other then that the srx don't even get a sniff.
 
I have been on www.Dootalk.com and www.Snowest.com for a several years now, and have read a lot about engine issues and low power on the 800 HO. I also have several cousins who have had ring and other engine problems with brand new 800's. That is the bad news, now for the good . . . There is a company called Cudney Racing that specializes in addressing these problems. I suggest calling Bill Cudney for advice, and also searching the forum histories at www.Dootalk.com for sure, and possibly www.Snowest.com. Be ready to do a lot of reading as there is enough to fill an entire forum on this engine alone.

In 2004 the Rev chassis was undoubtably the best available at handling rough riding conditions. Like posted above it is built for a different riding style than the SRX. It is very easy to throw around and control, as the rider forward design maximizes driver input. However it takes a lot more attention to keep it planted and doing what you want it to do. The SRX is much better at cornering flatter unless it gets really bumpy.

If it is a 2004 800, then it should be either an Adrenaline or a X package. It should have the SC10-III with HPG rebuildables which is an excellent skid. It may have DPM, and should have RER. It should have Precision skis which are excellent except for a tendancy to push in loose snow.

However . . .

It is NOT a Yamaha!!!

If you wrench on sleds, you will see what I mean.
 
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The 04's and up are alot better on fuel.The 800ho is a nice sled and they really fly if the clutching is dialed in.
 
New REV owner... me

Well, I bought the REV. Compression was 125 and 126 on my gauge. Consistant from cylinder to cylinder, but a bit low from what I have heard/read. I guess I will have to test another sled with known “good” compression for a comparison with my tester. Sled has the remainder of the warranty till mid Feb 2006, so that is a good thing with this ring issue uncertainty. Good idea on pulling the exhaust and Y-pipe to take a peak at the rings. Spoke to the local dealer and confirmed that there are 2 different part numbers for rings for the 04 vs. the 05, but the computer stated that they are interchangeable. Looks like I will slap in a set of 05 spec improved rings before the warranty expires.

Looking under the hood, or side panels I guess, some things look a lot easier to get at, and others look much harder. After wrenching on nothing by Yamahas for the past 4 years, this is going to take some getting used to. Here’s to nothing major going wrong.

It is the Adrenaline pkg, with DPS and reverse. Got some extras too (passenger seat, cover, 144 studs, skid plate, tunnel bag). Now I got to decide on which SRX to sell, the 2000 or the 2001.

Thanks for all the replys and advise gents.
 
last winter i talked to a guy that had the rings go in his 04 800 HO rev and the dealer wouldn't warranty it because he didn't run SPX in it.
 
kinger said:
They are good sleds, I was impressed with the 600HO, although I don't like the riding style and I would DEFINITLY need the knee pads. I rode with a newbie sledder and we were HAULING down the trail and I was going to lose him, but it took a LOT more effort then I first thought, I was riding my Viper as hard as I could and I coudl barly get away form him on trails with hair pin turns and max of 50mph before your on the brake hard. He never lost control or felt like he was close. He is a 1st year rider vs me for over 20 years including a small stint in racing. I attributed most of it to his 600HO.
Click to expand...


100% accurate!
You WILL be a faster rider on a Rev and not even realize it. I did the same thing. Sold my SRX and got a Rev. Next thing I new, I was out-running guys that in the past I was unable to do. And I don't attribute it to the engine. I believe the riding position, handling and suspension (once you get use to it) produces a comfort level that allows you to stay on the throttle a little longer than the traditional sleds.

I also have seen guys that were average riders improve on a Rev.

But! I just couldn't live without that sweet yami tripple. Sold the Rev for near what I paid, picked up a deal on an 04 Viper. Adding an Expert X, highrise Boss seat and risers in hopes of creating some of that Rev riding style I once had. And I still have $1k in my pocket.

Time will tell.
 
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