It’s already time to give you our first impressions on the Ski-Doo Summit SP E-TEC 800R 154" ! Both pilots assigned to this machine have met together and here are our comments about the first kilometers on this snowmobile !
We must mention that Gino pilots a 2011 Summit 800 146" with the old platform. So, we will be able to compare the REV-XP and the REV-XM platforms all season long. Also, Gino’s machine is equipped with the tMotion suspension.
It is sad that bad conditions at the beginning of the season did not let us pilot this snowmobile to its full capability in off-trail riding. However, we were able to test many new aspects of the REV-XM platform and the E-TEC 800R engine.
REV-XM platform
Firstly, both our pilots have been impressed by the new running boards mounted on the 2013 models. Snow is almost completely evacuated so that we have plenty of space to move from side to side when riding off-trail. Also, as our feet are in a forward position, we saw quite a difference on the riding. Effectively, we feel more in symbiosis with our snowmobile !
We also noticed that the seat is very different. It is much more easier to move from side to side !
Moreover, as the controls are not on the handlebar anymore (now located directly on the snowmobile), we do not hit them accidentally anymore during our maneuvers !
As said earlier, due to the lack of snow, we could not really test the Summit SP in off-trail conditions. We can’t wait to be
able to report more about the Summit SP performances in its natural environment.
E-TEC 800R engine
The E-TEC 800R engine has impressed us right at the beginning of the Summit SP trials. The new engine programming allows the machine to deliver instant responses when we ask for more. Compared with the 2011 programming, it has impressed us and given us quite an amount of adrenalin !
We also found that the engine was rather silent. Effectively, as we rode on trails a lot, we noticed that our engine was more silent than many trail snowmobiles, even with our 2,5" stud track !
Regarding the oil consumption, we did not notice any difference compared with the 2011 engine. We will be able to report on the fuel consumption only in our next article because our snowmobile is still in its break-in period.
… not forgetting !
Do not think that we are reporting about the 2013 Summit SP without talking about the famous tMotion !
- How does it perform on trails ?
- Is it better with the tMotion when riding off-trail ?
- What do you think about it ?
We were asked so many questions before we even had tested the machine yet !
Again, it is sad that there was not enough snow to really test the suspension in off-trail conditions. However, we did escape a few times in secluded places just to get a taste of the famous suspension !
In the Bas-St-Laurent region, if we want to ride off-trail, we must previously take a trail. Sadly, the concept of the tMotion has this effect : when we turn left, for example, the machine tends to flex right. So, it takes some time to get used to the tMotion when riding on trails.
However, when we finally get off-trail, the effort needed to incline the snowmobile is quite reduced. It is much more easier to flex laterally in powder snow with this suspension !
Finally…
So, those were our first comments on the 2013 Ski-Doo Summit SP 154" ! We just can’t wait to really test the tMotion in true off-trail conditions. It’s up to Mother Nature now ! We are also eager to test the famous Link cargo attachment system. So, we invite you to read our next article about this snowmobile; we will present more comments based on a longer period of riding ! The Summit SP odometer shows only 425 miles !
Many thanks to Matane Motosports, to Jean-François and Claude who made this trial possible ! Thanks to them, this 2013 Ski-Doo Summit SP 154" is available for the SledMagazine.com / ZoneXtreme.net Team.
