In early March 2016, I had the chance to attend the 2017 Snow Shoot in West Yellowstone and to test for you more than 60 snowmobiles. It was my first experience and even if I knew it would be incredible, it is hard to imagine all the efforts made by the four manufacturers to prepare these machines.
The advantage of this event is to be able to pilot all the snowmobiles in a short period of time and to compare their performance. After a week of such hard « work », four models stand out from the lineups and I would like to present my observations.
Polaris 800 Rush XCR
2017 Polaris 800 Rush XCR
My surprise of this 2017 Snow Shoot ! After all, it would only be a variation of the Rush PRO-S and PRO-X with a different calibration… I had the chance to pilot these three machines in a short period of time and I can say that even if they are all alike when parked, once moving we see and feel the difference between these snowmobiles that are in three different segments. So that you get a good idea about the nature of the Rush XCR, I am going to talk to you quickly about the Rush PRO-S and PRO-X.
Let’s start with the Rush PRO-S ! This is a real trail snowmobile designed for performance with shocks calibrated for everyday conditions.
The Rush PRO-X is not very complicated, this is THE Polaris machine made for big bumps. It is designed for the pilot who does not want to slow down on trails at the end of the day.
Now, the new 800 Rush XCR ! I asked the Polaris representative if the XCR was at a higher level than the PRO-X and his answer surprised me. In fact, the XCR is not another snowmobile specifically designed to face bumps with a suspension calibration even more aggressive. This snowmobile, offered to riders in general, has rather been calibrated for the cross-crountry type of riding.
On paper, it says that this edition is equipped with Walkers Evans® shocks calibrated for riding on uneven terrain at high speed. The suspension is reinforced and the brake system is improved. On trail, I quickly understood that these are not the only improvements. This edition offers improved stability in curves, it can absorb big bumps and yet it offers good performance on trail. The engine and the clutches calibration, ready for the tests, were just great. Power is available all along the course and responses made the most serious pilots smile.
What also surprised me on the Rush XCR is the power and easiness to modulate the brake system. It is so efficient that sometimes I was braking too early. And there is another factor added to the feedback of this brake system. In fact, this system talks to us… Some riders will like it, others will not, but we can hear the disc working while we brake. It produces a special regular sound when you press the lever and this adds to the feeling in aggressive braking. Just by the sound, you know how the power is applied and when the track stops rolling. Also, this brake system is so efficient that you can easily brake with only one finger.
I have been smiling all along my trial of this edition. Many times I went looking for bumps or uneven terrains to try it out.
2017 Polaris 800 Rush XCR
Ski-Doo MXZ X 850 E-TEC
2017 Ski-Doo MXZ X 850 E-TEC
There are so many innovations on this snowmobile that I don’t know where to start ! Once seated, I noticed right away the new riding position. From now on, it is much easier to move sideways on the narrower seat. The side panels design also gives more freedom to move.
2017 new seat and chassis 2016 chassis
Now, the new forward adjustment riser ! It is so amazing. You operate it quickly and without tools, to adjust the height and fore/aft position of the handlebar according to the pilot’s type of riding and size. Simply WOW !
Handlebar with multiple settings
Handlebar with multiple settings
The open toe holds are another innovation. Once again to provide more freedom of movement. (If you prefer the previous configuration, alternative ergonomic side plates are offered as accessories.) The toe holds are located higher than before. Thus, we can bend even lower in inner curve by swaying sideways and using them as lever. An adjustable toe hold kit is also offered if you want to adjust the height as you like.
Open toe hold
Open toe hold
Of course, I must talk about the new 850 engine and the new clutch. There has been no hesitation of the injection on the model I tested. I can’t wait to test this new engine calibrated for sea level to see its true performance !!! To be continued…
Now, concerning the overall performance of this new chassis, I can tell you that this platform is VERY predictable. No surprises in cornering, braking or acceleration. It obeys to your commands without failure. I was able to throw it in curves without being scared of bad surprises… It is intuitive.
One of the editions I tested was the model with the Ice Ripper track of 129 in./327 cm, with TS skis and Quick Adjust rear suspension. I strongly recommend this track for safety issue and for the extra traction of the short track of 129 in./327 cm. During the test, conditions were changing quickly. With the adjustable TS skis, we could change the runner depth in accordance with the trail surface. I noticed some darting a few times, but nothing that cannot be fixed by some setting. The Quick Adjust system at rear is still very easy to operate. The front shocks can be adjusted only by preloading the spring. There is no rebound adjustment anymore, but it increased the travel by 1 in./2,5 cm. Despite the lack of adjustment, the suspension worked very well in the current conditions. The representatives on the site told me that the suspension had the same valves than the previous shocks of the X models on the old XS platform.
Quick Adjust system at rear
TS adjustable skis
Finally, here is a short story about the MXZ X 850 E-TEC. At the end of a day where I had no energy left, I jumped on the MXZ X to get back, thinking that I would not have to work too hard to follow the group… This says a lot about the new chassis…
2017 Ski-Doo MXZ X 850 E-TEC
Yamaha Sidewinder L-TX LE
Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Thundercat
2017 Yamaha Sidewinder L-TX LE
My last two best picks are the Yamaha Sidewinder L-TX LE and the Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Thundercat, both equipped with the same chassis and engine. I should say missile instead of engine… It pulls so hard that we must reconsider how we pilot. We must anticipate more response time to braking because with such a turbo beast, it is easy to enter a curve at a much higher top speed. Fortunately, the brake system is also very efficient.
Otherwise, stability is great, we feel like riding on rails. Without being heavy, we quickly notice it is not a bicylinder 2-stroke engine, but really a triple 4-stroke turbo engine. It is rather an advantage for this type of snowmobile, we feel it is at the right place and stable. And this stabililty is welcomed considering how quick these machines can reach the speed limits on trail. It remains comfortable at higher speed and we feel that engineers have calibrated the suspensions for fast trails.
Thanks to this new engine, both manufacturers are set apart. These snowmobiles will be a hit among fans of acceleration and top speed who are seeking for pure adrenaline rush.
