The new shocks might be a pound or two heavier, but they are WAY more durable
I give Polaris credit with the Dragon RMK from ’08-’10 with working hard to offer a competitive product. After all, trying to catch up with the XP on weight was a tough proposition. But the Walker Airs were just a mess.
They were not adjustable for the consumer (like the Fox Floats are) and especially the earlier ones were very prone to seal failure; either from pits or from ice buildup. On our ’09 800 Dragon RMK we had them fail twice in one season. Polaris was good about covering them under warranty, but having an air shock blow out 20 miles from the truck with no spring backup makes for a rough ‘skidding’ ride back.
On the new Pro RMK the Airs are gone, replaced with the new Walker Evans Coil-Over rebuildables. Yes they have springs, which weight junkies will say adds a couple of pounds, but the new units work very well, are completely rebuildable, re-valvable, and won’t leave you riding out on your skid plate if you ever blow one. Kudos to Polaris for this change.
