Many enthusiasts who purchase the SKS series from the Minnesota manufacturer do so in the spirit of getting a vehicle with good off-trail capabilities, but with certain qualities that are unique to hybrids. The reasoning is not bad, but it should not be forgotten that the SKS specifications are those of the RMK just three years ago. They have shortened the width of the skis of the RMK and Pro-RMK mountain series to give them better handling in powder snow. As a result, the SKS has retained the “old-fashioned” ski spacing, positioning itself in the range of vehicles as more versatile on the trail than the RMKs. But let’s be honest, the SKS 155 is a mountain snowmobile that can’t completely hide the origins of its DNA. That said, the beginning of the season is the perfect time to evaluate a vehicle’s true “hybrid” abilities.
Trail Behaviour
The early-season conditions have not been very conducive to testing vehicles off the beaten track, but I was still able to drive in some areas that had 3, 4 and even 5 feet of snow on the ground. In reality, we had not had any mild spells, but the danger of colliding with obstacles in the forest was omnipresent, so it was difficult to really test the vehicle. So, I focused my analysis its capacities on harder surfaces, and especially on trails, even if I allowed myself a few timider outings. The first thing that has stricken me on my rides is the “relative” ease with which the vehicle can be driven on trails. I mention “relative” because it must be understood that we are not talking about the behaviour of a 137-inch trail snowmobile as an example. But I have driven many mountain snowmobiles over the years, and many are unpredictable on the trail, especially in bends. The advantages of very narrow ski gaps in deep snow render the vehicle naturally unstable on trails. With the SKS 155, we quickly find our footing on the trails and understand the vehicle’s reactions in the bends. Ski-lift is controllable, and most importantly, it is predictable allowing the driver to manage different situations. Steering precision in bends is very impressive for this type of vehicle, as this is not the primary objective. Even with the 155x15x2.6 track, the trail and turning behaviour is very respectable when compared to other mountain snowmobiles. It goes without saying that ice scratchers are essential to keep the engine at the right temperature and to protect the track runners.
Comfort
On the comfort side, it’s probably where we understand the quickest that this is not the main purpose of the vehicle. Yes, the seating position of the AXYS chassis remains, for me, one of the best driving positions making the driving more comfortable and above all, very efficient. The seat offers good support, but the foam is rigid, and it is specifically designed not to interfere with standing maneuvers. The Walker-Evans shock absorbers that equip the front and rear suspensions of the SKS, RMK and Pro-RMK are very effective in deep snow. But combined with the springs, they provide a very stiff trail experience, even when adjusted to the softest position. I believe that a softer shock absorber option offered at the spring sales would be very much appreciated by SKS buyers and would give the series another distinctive feature. Why not provide the Fox QS3 shock absorber option, which is already available on the Titan series and is very popular with everyone? Naturally, protection against the cold is minimal, although the standard for this type of vehicle. The hand-guard option is required for those who do trail riding. However, let’s be honest, this is not a vehicle for long trail rides that is built for comfort. That said, I think Polaris would have everything it takes to offer a more comfortable suspension and thus make trail riding more enjoyable just like when you’re looking for powdery snow areas. Why not for 2021!
Performance
Released last year, the powerful Patriot 850 engine was in its break-in period during my first tests. Nevertheless, it’s a good time to try it out on the trails since the available power of this engine is clearly enough for the trails, knowing that I’m in a critical period for the engine. As mentioned by the team at Pro-Performance, a Polaris dealer in the greater Quebec City area, it’s important to do things right when you break in the engine to give yourself the best chance of longevity. Respecting the warm-up period at start-up, regular engine speed changes for the first few kilometres, use of quality oil and petrol are all essential to avoid problems in the short and long term. The Patriot’s responsiveness is well known and is quickly felt when you hit the throttle, as the reaction is instantaneous, as are the throttle blips. It’s at top speed where I realize most that the computer protects the engine because performance is limited for the first few hours of its life. The same is true for oil consumption, which is higher, again to ensure optimal break-in. That said, we already know that we have more power than we really need on the trails with this type of vehicle. The real test will be done during my next outings in the powdery snow where all the available power can make the difference in several situations.
What’s next?
The 2020 season is officially launched, and I can already draw some conclusions on hard surfaces such as snowmobile trails. However, I still have a lot of outings to do until the end of April, and I am now starting the most challenging portion, the off trail. It goes without saying that I will have to find suitable places to test the vehicle in deep snow and thus be able to carry out my next observations on the Polaris 850 SKS 155 2020.
