First impressions: Renegade 2018 X 850 E-TEC
An Impressive Start
I have done about 500 kilometers on my new 2018 snowmobile. Even though we are at the beginning of the season, I was impressed with the handling of this machine.
It usually takes me several kilometers to be comfortable on a new snowmobile. After only a few kilometers, I was already comfortable.
REV Gen4 Platform
It is obvious that the new platform is narrower and more compact, allowing the rider to move more freely on the seat. Thanks to this new platform, this snowmobile is more manageable and that's why I immediately felt in control during my first ride.
Driver Positioning
An important point is that the driver's position is different on this new platform. The driver must position himself much more forward, which makes driving more aggressive. This immediately tells you exactly what the style of the driver should be in order to feel the thrill of driving.
In a curve, I was impressed by the flexibility and the little effort I put in my position as I entered the curve with a very sharp angle. What a feeling!
Suspension and Shock Absorbers
It quickly became apparent that BRP, when designing the REV Gen4 platform, combined a suspension with high-performance shock absorbers that had already proven their worth in racing.
We know that at the beginning of the season we can spend a few rides making adjustments on our suspension and shock absorber to reach the desired adjustment. To my amazement, it took two adjustments and a ride to find the one I wanted. One point to keep in mind is that adjustments are simple. It is over to put our snowmobile on the side to make adjustments.
850 E-TEC Engine
The 850 E-TEC engine was new to BRP last year and certainly passed the test, according to last season's results. The first time I accelerated, the response was instantaneous and it was due to the addition of the new Pdrive clutch.
According to specifications, the 850 E-TEC engine responds 30% faster than the 800 R E-TEC.
BRP's engineers, met at the Salon National Quad and Snowmobile in Drummondville last fall, mentioned to me that the 850 E-TEC is not faster than the 800 R E-TEC, it's the responsiveness that makes the difference.
Here was a little analysis of what impressed me the most after my 500 kilometers. We must not forget that I still have a lot to learn from this snowmobile.
Don't forget to follow my articles to find out more about this snowmobile.
I want to thank Les Équipements Maniwaki for the loan of this snowmobile. The dealer's secret is service before, during and after the sale.
Nice season to all!
