I understand I did not ride the sled, so I was thinking about not making any comments about the sled until I did so...so just take my opinion for what it's worth. I understand the sleds a proto, so some of my criticism may be corrected come production.
I was up at my dealer in NH getting the sleds summerized when I heard an XP was going to be up there. I was told the sled was going to be in the showroom, but as I arrived, the sled was gone. The dealer said someone was riding it.
I was pretty bummed about not being able to see it. While I was tooling around the showroom, I saw an XP side panel. Man, was that thing light. A LOT lighter than a REV panel and with a little glossier finish (easier to clean). About 20 min. later, the dealer informed us the sled had burnt down (way to go Doo). They went off to pick it up.
When the sled arrived back at the dealer, although inoperable, I spent some time with it.
1. The look is OK. You know how some things look better in person than they do in pics? In this case, the sled looked the same in person as it did in pics. I was not surprised anywhere in this area. If anything, I would say the sled was a little overdone, with all the sharp edges, etc. The headlights are cool. The all yellow look looked a little cheesy, but it seems to look much better than the slate panels. I prefer the look of the black/red GSX more. The gauges looked nice, although I didn't get to play with them.
2. When I went to open up the side panel, the disappointment started. When I unlatched the rubber latch (there's only one VERY flimsy one), the side panel fell pathetically into my hand. I'll admit it was light, but cheap cheap cheap came to mind. Everywhere I looked, I see cheap, thin plastic. The rewind handle feels cheap, the hood feels cheap, the bumpers feel cheap, the snowflap flapped cheaply, EVERYTHING. I don't know if it will stand the test of time and wear, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't.
3. The sled was light. The back end was very light. The running boards looked flimsy.
4. I hopped on the sled. THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE FLIMSY. YES- THEY FLEXED. I am 130 lbs (not a heavy rider by any means), and if I hopped on the running boards towards the outside, they flexed noticeably. If anyone is saying otherwise, they're downright lieing. I hopped on a REV in the showroom, and no flexing whatsoever. The problem is that they have the slits in the boards right where you put your feet; in the widest, most vulnerable area to flexing.
5. The seating position was excellent. It felt very comfortable. The cab seemed more compact than the REV, and it felt more open. It was possible to sit back as well as scoot right up on the tank. It also was easier to lean into one side as the panel is not in the way of your knees. The knee position is also different. On the REV the knees are bent forward and your shins are against the panel bent forward. On the XP, your legs make a 90 degree angle and make no contact with the panels.
I'm sure the sled is a blast to ride, and most likely if I rode one, my opinion would be different. Until then, I rate it 6/10. The sled does not feel like a $10k sled...it felt downright chincy...Ski-Doo probably saved money on all the cheap plastic...they should charge less for the thing. JMO
I was up at my dealer in NH getting the sleds summerized when I heard an XP was going to be up there. I was told the sled was going to be in the showroom, but as I arrived, the sled was gone. The dealer said someone was riding it.
I was pretty bummed about not being able to see it. While I was tooling around the showroom, I saw an XP side panel. Man, was that thing light. A LOT lighter than a REV panel and with a little glossier finish (easier to clean). About 20 min. later, the dealer informed us the sled had burnt down (way to go Doo). They went off to pick it up.
When the sled arrived back at the dealer, although inoperable, I spent some time with it.
1. The look is OK. You know how some things look better in person than they do in pics? In this case, the sled looked the same in person as it did in pics. I was not surprised anywhere in this area. If anything, I would say the sled was a little overdone, with all the sharp edges, etc. The headlights are cool. The all yellow look looked a little cheesy, but it seems to look much better than the slate panels. I prefer the look of the black/red GSX more. The gauges looked nice, although I didn't get to play with them.
2. When I went to open up the side panel, the disappointment started. When I unlatched the rubber latch (there's only one VERY flimsy one), the side panel fell pathetically into my hand. I'll admit it was light, but cheap cheap cheap came to mind. Everywhere I looked, I see cheap, thin plastic. The rewind handle feels cheap, the hood feels cheap, the bumpers feel cheap, the snowflap flapped cheaply, EVERYTHING. I don't know if it will stand the test of time and wear, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't.
3. The sled was light. The back end was very light. The running boards looked flimsy.
4. I hopped on the sled. THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE FLIMSY. YES- THEY FLEXED. I am 130 lbs (not a heavy rider by any means), and if I hopped on the running boards towards the outside, they flexed noticeably. If anyone is saying otherwise, they're downright lieing. I hopped on a REV in the showroom, and no flexing whatsoever. The problem is that they have the slits in the boards right where you put your feet; in the widest, most vulnerable area to flexing.
5. The seating position was excellent. It felt very comfortable. The cab seemed more compact than the REV, and it felt more open. It was possible to sit back as well as scoot right up on the tank. It also was easier to lean into one side as the panel is not in the way of your knees. The knee position is also different. On the REV the knees are bent forward and your shins are against the panel bent forward. On the XP, your legs make a 90 degree angle and make no contact with the panels.
I'm sure the sled is a blast to ride, and most likely if I rode one, my opinion would be different. Until then, I rate it 6/10. The sled does not feel like a $10k sled...it felt downright chincy...Ski-Doo probably saved money on all the cheap plastic...they should charge less for the thing. JMO