At last, the moment I was expecting has come : time to present my first impressions! Moment of the trial where we validate the expectations we created in automn, before we put our sled to test. In fact, it is the moment where our dreams come true or become a nightmare. Concerning the Freeride, no need to say that expectations were very high since it is the major feature in the mountain category at Ski-Doo’s, as the X-RS is to the MXZ and Renegade. As there is usually less snow when the season begins, I mostly noted my observations about the Freeride performances on trails, often on harder or bumpy surfaces. Even if some enthusiasts already go snowmobiling off trail, I chose safety first and I will ride off trail on the second part of winter. I also took notes about some optional equipments graciously offered by the manufacturer this season.
Designed for extreme mountain snowmobilers, the Freeride 146 is equipped with the powerful Rotax 800R E-TEC that develops over 160 hp, the only engine offered for this model. You can check the specification sheet in the Buyers Guide of SledMagazine.com. Soon after our first ride during the breaking-in period, our partner TY Moteurs, Ski-Doo dealer on south shore of Québec City, called us for an update of the E-TEC electronic system. It took only 10 minutes but this update was necessary to avoid possible problem with the spark plugs under extreme cold weather. Great, because I was about to leave for two weeks in Monts Valin during the Holidays and effectively, temperatures dropped to -35 °C some mornings. That’s what I appreciate from a qualified dealer : he doesn’t wait and proceeds to the required adjustment as soon as he becomes aware of it. With his customized approach, Patrick Beaudoin, the Service Manager, contacted me right away to correct the situation before the problem occurs.
Performances on trail
During this first part of the season, I chose to use the removable sway bar and to have a 1019 mm / 40,1 in. ski stance for an optimal stability on trail. Since the 3705 mm/ 146 in. track has a profile height of 63,5 mm / 2,5 in. and is mounted on the tMotion suspension that flexes laterally by 4 °, I thought that the beast would be less docile in turns on trail. After increasing the front springs preload and the rebound damping, I was ready to ride over a thousand kilometers to test its performances. It is obvious here that it is not a touring machine and that the goal of this part of the trial on trail is not to convince you to put away your MXZ. The point is that with 3 000 or 4 000 kilometers on this type of sled, we can easily ride half of it on trails or hard surfaces to reach our favorite playground. So, it is preferable that the snowmobile performs « correctly » on trails and ideally, with a minimum comfort.
It has been my first nice surprise. Even if we must adapt our riding to this type of machine and that it may take some time, I have been impressed by its stability on trail and its predictability. In no time, we find the point of stall in turns and we can easily control our vehicle, which does not always happen with mountain snowmobiles. With minimum changes of position on sled in turns, you further increase its stability and performances on trail. It confirms that the 3705 mm / 146 in. track is the right choice for riding in the Province of Québec and for my own needs. It may be noisy on trail, but that’s what it takes to get great traction.
The other great surprise until now was in bumpy trails. The comparison with the X-RS makes sense here. The comfort of the snowmobile is very impressive due to the very efficient tMotion suspension that absorbs big bumps. I do not remember having tested such a robust mountain snowmobile that can absorb so much energy underneath while remaining comfortable for the pilot above. Many other mountain snowmobiles are robust but the pilot has to be as much robust to keep on riding, as shocks are mostly absorbed by the rider. This is not what happens on the Freeride; to my greatest joy, it makes the very bumpy trails pleasant to ride on. Also, the traction of the track combined with the available power allows the pilot to jump from one top of bump to the other as the KYB PRO 40 shocks work very well. Do not hesitate to try the different adjustments of the shocks; it is easy to do so and it can really change the performance of the suspension.
Adjustable handlebar riser block
Height of the handlebar has always been a personal problem on a mountain snowmobile. The standard riser blocks are always adjusted for in-between (sitting and standing) and I am never totally comfortable in both positions, as I am 1,83 m / 6 f. tall. This is why I really appreciate the addition of the new riser block of 115-175 mm; it gives me the chance to be perfectly at ease during trail / sit down riding as well as during off-trail / stand up riding. When I saw the adjustment device, I had some doubt about its rigidity as it is locked only by a small lever that secures the two mobile parts together. I ran many tests in bumps that really stressed the handlebar and the adjustment lever remained firm and it its position. Furthermore, it does not seem to loosen up over time and it still works very well. The advantage of this system is that it is so easy to use that I have been able to adjust the position even when I was riding at low speed. Personally, I think that this riser block is now a must on all mountain snowmobiles.
LED auxiliary lights
As I mostly ride in forest, I am always unsatisfied with the performance of snowmobiles standard lights during my night rides. So, I wanted to test the new LED auxiliary lights and hoped to get the luminosity I need. As soon as my first tests, I knew that the LED light is definitely answering my wishes in matter of visibility. Its luminosity is clearer, whiter and more efficient. So, in my case, the addition of optional lights is an advantage because it considerably increases short-/medium-distance visibility. However, it does not really improve the long-distance vision (high beam). Effectively, the brightness of the LED lights produces a kind of screen that reduces the efficiency of usual lights over long distances. Also, the combination of both colors (traditional and LED) becomes somewhat annoying. But, until the LED light becomes standard equipment, the advantages of this optional feature are obvious and I strongly recommend it.
Protection against cold
As already mentioned, I mostly ride in northern Québec and Saguenay areas where temperatures get very low. The standard low windshield of the Freeride had to be replaced temporarily until milder temperatures of March occur. Also, the Freeride standard equipment does not include any hand guard; so I had to find a solution. I chose the mid-size windshield with lateral windshield deflectors in order to protect my body and my hands against cold. Well, I got half of a success. My body was very well protected against cold but not my hands. So, I added new handlebar muffs (#860201144) that you can install with or without hand guards. I was concerned that they would interfere with my riding, mostly off trail. But it has been an instant joy because not only do they provide a very efficient protection for the hands, but also they leave all the space you need for the riding and the manipulation of controls. The upper part of the muffs are made of clear plastic that allows the pilot to see the controls. Finally, you can take the muffs off in a few seconds thanks to the velcro bands; this way, you get full freedom when riding off-trail. Once again, there are many small details that make the BRP accessories so effective.
Conclusion
It is still early in the season and I am going to ride many more kilometers. Snow is quickly piling up in mountains, which announces great fun for the second part of my trial, off-trail snowmobiling. I am totally sure that I made the right choice with the 3705 mm / 146 in. track as a compromise between riding on trails and in powder snow. But how will the 2015 Freeride 800R E-TEC 146 perform in powder and deep snow? Will the compromise make me regret the 3923 mm / 154 in. track that was also offered? Our next tests will concern this issue as we are going to evaluate the performances in different conditions and types of terrain. Also, I still have more very useful accessories on the Freeride that I want to try out. I will by happy to present further impressions that will please you, I hope.
