The MotorGuide Tour Pro and the Minn Kota Ultrex were designed with a single purpose in mind: to give bass anglers an ultimate fishing machine.
Both the Tour Pro and the Ultrex offer similar thrust levels, precise cable-steer control, and advanced GPS features.
In this article, we discuss both trolling motors and compare their features side-by-side.
Let’s get started!
Tour Pro and Ultrex Compared
| MotorGuide Tour Pro | Minn Kota Ultrex | |
| Pricing | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
| Highlights | Breakaway Mount PinPoint GPS | Universal Sonar 2 i-Pilot |
| Thrust | 82lb (24v) 109lb (36v) | 80 lb (24v) 112 lb (36v) |
| Shafts | 45" | 45", 52", 60" |
| Steering | Cable & Electric | Cable & Electric |
| Wireless Remote | ✔ | ✔ |
| Variable Speeds | ✔ | ✔ |
| Use In | Freshwater | Freshwater |
Similar DC Motors
MotorGuide and Minn Kota give slightly different ratings to their 24v and 36v motors.
When comparing different models, you should take the thrust numbers as rough guidance rather than absolute truth.
Both motors come with a variable-speed controller, which delivers power smoothly forward and in reverse. No energy is wasted, and you get more run time off your battery.
The Tour Pro, as well as the Ultrex, can both run on lithium batteries.
Different Shaft Options
The Tour Pro is available in only one shaft length of 45″, next to the three shaft choices on the Ultrex: 45″, 52″, 60″. This makes the Ultrex more suitable for boats with high bows.
We like the Tour Pro for its 360-degree breakaway mount, preventing damage to the motor and shaft if you hit an underwater object.
Minn Kota, on the other hand, offers a lifetime shaft warranty on the Ultrex. That means the company will pay for the replacement if it ever gets damaged, no matter how it happens.
Cable Steer Motors
The Tour Pro and the Ultrex are premium cable-steer trolling motors, extremely popular among bass anglers.
The main characteristic of cable steer trolling motors is that there is a direct link between the foot pedal and turning the motor.
This makes them very responsive and popular with bass fishermen, who need to maneuver around shallow cover quickly.
An added benefit is that you always know which way the motor is pointing with cable-steer, which is extremely useful when fishing.
Lighter Steering on the Ultrex
Both motors have an excellent cable-steer system, but we believe Minn Kota has the edge over MotorGuide:
The Ultrex has a superb hybrid steering system, combining cable and electric steering, making steering pretty much effortless.
You get the responsiveness and precision of cable control plus the electric power steering with a remote—the best of both worlds.
The Tour Pro has a more classic cable-steer system, which has a different, stiffer feeling and requires a bit more effort to spin your boat around.
i-Pilot vs PinPoint GPS
Minn Kota’s i-Pilot and MotorGuide’s PinPoint are GPS trolling motor systems that you can control with a wireless remote.
With both GPS systems, you can steer, control speed, spot-lock onto fishing spots, and “jog” in any direction, just by pressing a button.
The Ultrex comes with an i-Pilot as standard, but you can upgrade to an i-Pilot Link.
i-Pilot Link can do everything i-Pilot does but offers extra features, including integration with a Humminbird fish finder. Unlike the standard i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link comes with a touchscreen remote.
Sonars and Transducers
What’s great about these motors is that the transducers are fully integrated with the lower unit. The wiring runs through the shaft, and the connectors are shielded to minimize interference.
The Ultrex includes a Universal Sonar 2 as standard. As the name suggests, you can use this sonar with various fish finders such as Humminbird, Lowrance, Garmin, and Eagle.
You can upgrade your Ultrex to MEGA Down and Side Imaging for additional features.
The Tour Pro doesn’t have any transducer in its standard model, but you can order one with HD+ universal sonar.
The Tour Pro can be controlled using a Lowrance fish finder. For down imaging, you can use more brands: Lowrance, Humminbird, and Garmin.
Easier Lifting On The Tour Pro
Minn Kota tries hard to make stowing and deploying their motors as easy as possible.
The Ultrex has a stainless steel nitrogen gas spring which makes lifting and otherwise heavy motor much easier.
The Tour Pro comes with a Zero-G lift assist, which MotorGuide claims to be 40% easier to use than the systems used by the competition.
Conclusion
Both the MotorGuide Tour Pro and the Minn Kota Ultrex are excellent cable-steer trolling motors.
Taking all the features into account, the Tour Pro is slightly better than the Ultrex, mostly thanks to its accurate PinPoint GPS, Lowrance compatibility, and the breakaway mount protecting your investment.
However, if you prefer Minn Kota i-Pilot GPS, especially i-Pilot Link, and are a fan of Humminbird fish finders, you will love the Ultrex!
