A nice season driving the 2018 Renegade Enduro 900 ACE
The 2018 Renegade Enduro 900 ACE
Another snowmobile season already completed. There is nothing more pleasant than discovering all the different regions with a snowmobile. This winter, I had the chance to drive the 2018 Renegade Enduro 900 ACE provided by our partner Les Motoneiges Géro in Saint-Jean-de-Matha.
We had a winter with a lot of different temperatures, which allowed me to analyze and try this snowmobile in different conditions.
First of all, I can tell you that it is one of the most pleasant snowmobiles I had the chance to drive and you will understand why by reading my comments.
It is available with 4 engines choices: 600 H.O. E-TEC, 800 R E-TEC, 900 ACE and 1200 4-TEC.
The Renegade Enduro is primarily for trail riders, but who occasionally like to go off the beaten track.
ITC Accelerator
The ITC (Intelligent Throttle Control) electronic wireless accelerator is remarkably soft for the thumb. Plus, you can rotate it to drive with your fingers instead of your thumb.
The progressiveness of the accelerator is very different from a conventional cable accelerator. The answer is faster especially in sports mode, I’ll talk about it further. Moreover, when you release the throttle, you no longer have an accentuated compression effect that slows down the snowmobile.
To return to the ITC system, it allows you to use 3 performance levels.
In Sport mode (full power), the snowmobile is more nervous, the revivals are done without hesitation. Accelerations are fast enough to satisfy most of snowmobilers. It is only at high speeds that accelerations become more linear.
In standard mode, accelerations are less aggressive. You have to put a little more pressure on the accelerator to get faster accelerations.
On bumpy trails, I sometimes used the standard mode to get a less nervous snowmobile, otherwise, I used the sport mode.
ECO mode reduces fuel consumption and snowmobile performance. It is a little less efficient than in standard mode and the maximum speed is around 70 km/h. This is not a mode that we will use frequently since this snowmobile is already economical with the other 2 modes.
Concerning the engine, no matter the temperature, it always started without hesitation and never overheated.
It can be operated with an octane rating of 87, but BRP does not recommend this rating if there is ethanol in gasoline. In the user's guide and on the fuel cap it is indicated to put super gasoline if there is a maximum of 10% ethanol in the gasoline. The engine will accept it, but it's not recommended.
Depending on trail surface and speed, fuel consumption is estimated at between 7.5 and 9.5 km per liter.
Accelerator and switch for the 3 modes
Transmission, silencer, and traction
The Renegade Enduro 900 ACE 2018 is equipped with the IDrive 2 transmission and it is well calibrated with the pulley.
The silencer does an excellent job, you hardly hear the engine. It has a beautiful sound that is not disturbing for the environment. At a certain speed, you can hear the wind more than the engine.
The snowmobile comes with the Ice Ripper 137 X 15 X1.25 track.
There is a difference compared to a conventional track. Better traction and braking. I had to open trails after a big snowfall and the snowmobile responded very well.
We must not forget that this is a trail snowmobile that allows us to go off trail or in deep snow. For those who think of going more often into deep snow or off the trail, you can install the ICE Cobra track of 137 X 15 X 1.6.
The ice did not cause me any problems. You feel safer with this type of track (ICE Ripper).
The Ice Ripper de 137 X 15 X1.25 track
Comfort and suspension
There is a difference with the driving position of the Grand Touring. We're sitting a little higher, with a good angle.
The seat is wide, a little firmer than the Grand Touring SE, but still very comfortable. The fabric used is strong enough to keep a good posture. You can also move more quickly on the bench in more sport driving or to better absorb a bump.
Moreover, the finish of the bench is very beautiful, there is the word Enduro molded in the seat.
However, snow sticks to the seat, but it is quite easy to remove.
Plus, the seat is heated, very useful at the end of a cold day.
Legs angle in seated position
Having already driven a Grand Touring SE snowmobile with the rMotion with air-controlled shock, I was eager to see the performance of this suspension on a Renegade Enduro.
This suspension is as powerful on the Renegade Enduro which is 62 lbs lighter than the Grand Touring SE 900 ACE. With the same calibration, I entered less deeply into the bumps. I was driving really comfortably. With the Grand Touring SE, to get the similar performance I had to change the calibration.
The front suspension is the HPG Plus shock absorbers. It allowed me to calibrate the front so the skis remain to the ground.
I tried it in very rough trails and I really enjoyed it. It seemed to float on the bumps.
RAS2
rMotion and shocks absorber
About the XL chassis, I was afraid that it would be colder than with the XM chassis. The small deflectors located under the windshield and the 18'' high windshield are very effective. As standard, the Renegade Enduro comes with a 15" high windshield. In previous years, I had tried a
Renegade with a medium windshield and noticed that it protected the upper body well at normal temperatures, but at very cold temperatures I would have appreciated a higher windshield.
However, I noticed that the upper arms and shoulders were less protected than with the XM chassis. This did not make my rides unpleasant, but I noticed that this part of the body was less protected.
Also, since the windshield is higher, you'll see a whirlwind of snow coming down on the dashboard when you're driving in deep snow, but you'll still appreciate it in cold weather.
Switches
The switches of the snowmobile have an effective positioning. Heated thumb and handle switch is easily accessible and you can read the temperature on the digital gauge. As for the suspension adjustment, you have to move your hand slightly to reach the switch on the top of the handle that activates the adjustment and then make the changes with the heating handle switch. In addition, it’s backlit and I enjoyed driving at night not looking for the switches and staying focused on the trail.
There is nothing to correct with the mirrors, they are firmly attached to the deflectors, and there is no vibration. They offer an excellent view on each side of the snowmobile and are adjustable.
Pilot TS skis
You can adjust the skis to the trail conditions. I tried it in all conditions and noticed that in the deep snow, where the other snowmobiles will understeer, I managed to find the right calibration to really hold well to the track. It was interesting to see the other snowmobiles understeer while I was sticking to the trail. On hardened snow trails, you have to adjust it close to the minimum to avoid or minimize sliding.
With experience, you get to know the ideal adjustment for every trail conditions and you don’t want to ride without the Pilot TS skis afterward. One point I would like to add is that you can also use your shock absorbers to help you stick more to the trail. The more you compress the shock absorber, the more weight is transferred onto the skis.
Front headlights
It is very easy to adjust the angle of the headlight beam. All we have to do is open the trunk above the multifunction gauge and the adjustment lever is in front of us. Very useful, because the angle of the snowmobile will change depending on your adjustment. However, the lighting insufficient. I recommend adding different bulbs or adding the LED lighting system that BRP offers.
Accessories
Our partner Les motoneiges Géro put on the snowmobile :
- The Link system was very useful. In addition, all Link accessories for XS chassis are available for the Enduro.
- Ice scratchers with replaceable tips. It is very efficient.
Ice scratchers
Without Ice scratchers
With Ice scratchers
Conclusion
I noticed and appreciated the smooth riding of this snowmobile. It is very quiet and easy to handle on winding trail. It is really well calibrated.
Moreover, it is very economical, it has a great autonomy. Driving without wondering if you're going to run out of gas is appreciated.
It is very comfortable, no matter the trail conditions, I had fun driving.
I am now a huge fan of this snowmobile.
For those who drive with someone, you can install another seat.
Finally, I would like to thank Les Motoneiges Géro, BRP dealer, in Saint-Jean-de-Matha that made my long-term test possible.
Daniel Sasseville the test driver
Les Motoneiges Géro in St-Jean de Matha
