For your long comfortable rides !
We went with pleasure to Les P’tits Moteurs in Sainte-Croix, a Polaris dealership operated by Mr Louis Jacques and his son Alain. After a warm welcome, Alain described to us the features of the snowmobiles we were going to test. The machines were remarkably clean. Here are the comments gathered by the three test pilots who rode over a hundred kilometers on groomed trails, in respect of the snowmobiling regulations such as speed limits.
The following elements have been evaluated :
- riding, ergonomics
- aesthetics, finish quality
- engine, noise, fume
- track
Modifications
We used Mr Louis Jacques’ personal snowmobile for our tests; he had already transformed his sled in a 1 + 1 model by adding a backrest and a strap. Their design fitted so perfectly, there is no way we could have guessed that the backrest was home made. Maxigrip studs had been added along with SnowTracker skis correctors.
Riding
The Polaris 800 Switchback Adventure is a crossover snowmobile. Like the 800 Switchback Pro-R we had tested, the riding position is perfect, no matter your height. We beneficiated from a perfect protection against wind on the lower body and the upper body too. The one-piece molded windshield fully protects the head and hands. So, muffs on the handles become less needed, except if you have to ride under -25 °C as we did during our test.
All the controls are located on the left handle (brake); we noticed that the thumb and hand warmer controls are small and uneasy to operate even with gloves on. The odometer digital indicator is of a good size and easy to read at a glance. The ergonomic design of the hooked handles allows a good grip on trail as well as off-trail.
The Pro-Ride suspension provides a perfect balance between the front end and the rear end of the snowmobile equipped with a 136 in. track and 1,35 in. studs. We particularly liked its performances on trail due to its smoothness and flickability. It also allows you to ride off-trail some times, thanks to its longer track and Pro-Steer skis with their wider design that increases the flotation on snow.
Aesthetics
The front end design is dynamic and the rear end matches perfectly with the addition of the Adventure Cargo System – Lock & Ride Saddle Bags that you can easily remove when arrived at final destination. The graphics on the hood and the black/white colours are nicely harmonized. The finish is impeccable. It is overall a classy look. Polaris offers many accessories to customize this 800 Switchback Adventure. You can buy skis in many different colours, various sled protection parts or yet, some Burand Signature decals.
Engine
The 2-stroke bicylinder 800 cc engine delivers plenty of power and offers good responses at all speeds. We think that 600 cc would be quite enough for this type of snowmobile (please read our 2012 report for more details). At throttle, the engine produced some fume; we believe it is due to the rich oil adjustment of the break-in period. The track produced low noise on a trail covered with snow hardened by wind and extreme cold.
Conclusion
The 2013 Polaris 800 Switchback Adventure is a snowmobile made for pilots who like long rides. We call it the snowmobile for your long comfortable rides.
SledMagazine.com is sincerely grateful to
Les P’tits Moteurs
359, route Laurier
Ste-Croix (Cté Lotbinière), Qc
Tel : 418-926-3960
Thanks to Kimpex for their appreciated collaboration during this test.
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https://www.kimpex.com/en-ca/home
Effectively, our test pilots wear Kimpex clothing and accessories during every ride and we appreciate it !
Jacques Bélanger
Maurice Fecteau
Jacques Turgeon
Test pilots for SledMagazine.com
