We can say that Polaris worked very hard to become the leader in the mountain snowmobile industry a few years ago with the introduction of the PRO-RIDE chassis. However, when we saw the introduction of the AXYS chassis in the Rush and Switchback models at the end of the 2013-2014 season, we knew that this chassis would also equip mountain snowmobiles in the coming years. And this is exactly what happened for the 2015-2016 season.
This is why this year, the web magazine SledMagazine.com will test the 2016 Polaris 800 PRO-RMK 155. Lots of components are attractive on this snowmobile and it will be interesting to look at them during the season, in matter of chassis/engine as well as accessories.
First, as I said earlier, the famous AXYS chassis : many persons have studied its performance during the last year. Like them, SledMagazine.com team members have seen personally that Polaris had worked very hard to achieve this chassis. So, it will be interesting to see this chassis in off-trail riding and in highly technical situations.
Our team will ride a Polaris PRO-RMK equipped with a track of 155 in./393,5 cm with lugs of 2.6 in./6,6 cm. Considering the snowmobiling conditions in the Province of Québec, I believe that 3 in./7,6 cm lugs would not have made a difference. We also chose the medium-height handlebar.
I can’t wait to use the easy adjust Walker Evans shocks. Effectively, we only have to turn the screw above the suspension to adjust it.
In matter of accessories, there are two bags, one on the handlebar and one on the tunnel. Good news, these bags have been approved by Mr Burandt himself ! Also, the odometer is displayed on the 4.3 in./10,9 cm screen introduced on the 2015 snowmobiles. This screen displays not less than GPS and Bluetooth informations along with many other functions and data about the engine.
This was my pre-ride analysis of the 2016 Polaris 800 PRO-RMK 155. I am eager to share my observations on this snowmobile and its characteristics in my next article, the mid-season report. However, I wish for many snowstorms because as I am writing this article, there is no heavy snow in the Province of Québec.
