Mid-season analysis : Ski-Doo Grand Touring LE 1200 4-TEC

Friends snowmobilers,

That’s right, the first half of the season is already over and I can tell you that since the beginning, the Ski-Doo 1200 Grand Touring LE has been put to the test in all types of conditions.  Bumps, lack of snow, nice trails, rainy rides, what a difficult start ! But nevertheless, its comfort, its durable design and its riding made me highly appreciate my tours.

 

Let me tell you exactly what I seek for in a snowmobile.  What catches my attention first are the looks and style, then the comfort, the acceleration power and lastly, its riding in trails.  I must say that all snowmobile brands are good but it is up to the pilot’s own needs and preferences.  First, you must set your priorities and you must not hesitate to ask questions to a snowmobiler who owns presently the same machine.  According to the information you collect, make your own opinion.  Then, you will be able to buy a recreational vehicle that will fulfil all your needs.  

 

If you compare the features of various snowmobile brands and models, you will be able to make an informed decision. Here are my comments after riding 3 000 km on the Ski-Doo 1200 cc 4-stroke Grand Touring LE.

 

I mentionned at the beginning of the season that this snowmobile was nicely designed and today, without a doubt, I claim it clear and loud since I rode it on bumpy trails.  I really appreciated the efficiency of the suspension that makes the ride enjoyable.  During this first half of the season, it happened that we rode many kilometers daily and for many days in a row.

 

Once the day was over, I was normally tired, without any pain.  This means that the suspension has been efficient in rough trails.  Finally, if you carry a passenger or some luggage and if you hear some noise when running over a bump, you should know that it is very easy to adjust the suspension.  Put the snowmobile on the side and with the tool supplied by the manufacturer, set the rear suspension tighter; it is done in no time. 

 

The hand and thumb warmers both give off enough heat and it keeps us warm in cold weathers.  It is easy to reach the controls on the handlebar while riding.  The digital gauge displays many data such as the trip duration, useful to know how long it took to ride from A to B, a clock and the speed in kilometers.  The large digits are very easy to read and we can easily select a function from the handlebar.

I think that BRP could have included an adjustable handlebar in the standard features of this snowmobile.  Last year, I had the chance to ride the same machine, in its SE version, and I quickly understood how useful an adjustable handlebar is.  When we ride in various types of trails, it is easy to proceed to an adjustment in order to improve the cornering.  With this feature, we can change our riding position during long tours, so we do not get tired.

 

When we see this snowmobile for the first time, it seems massive and hard to pilot, mostly when cornering.  This idea turns out to be completely wrong; on the contrary, after 800 to 1 000 km of taming, the steering will please you with its outstanding easiness.  Be careful; in a trail, I met the owner of the same snowmobile who had added a corrector after his first ride because he had problems cornering in 4 to 5 inches of fresh snow.  In such conditions, it is obviously difficult to control any snowmobile in turns.

 

Please note that the new owner of this snowmobile likes the comfort in trail, especially his spouse who kept smiling even after a ride of many kilometers.  I would advise you to take your time and get acquainted with the machine before proceeding to any modification.  I did not experience any darting in trail.

 

In mild weathers, the snowmobile burns about 17 l / 100 km.  In colder weathers, it goes from 17 to 19 l / 100 km.  Considering its weight at a regular cruising speed, this sled is very fuel-efficient.  However, we must consider the «ZIP» realized during the ride.

 

At the beginning of the season, I had been told that this type of engine was fragile and could overheat. I also had been told to turn off the engine during at least 1 hour if the temp light came on.  With the weather conditions we had during the first half of the season, this engine should have overheated if it was so fragile.  However, it did not happen.  But this is true for any snowmobile : the engine overheats without a minimum quantity of snow.  During my ride where snow was missing, I just took some snow from the sides of the trail to prevent overheating. 

 

During the first half of the season, the thermometer indicated -34 OC some mornings and I did not have any problem to start up the engine.  Here is an advice if the machine would not start up.  As it is equipped with an electric start, be prepared and buy a tiny booster cables kit.  This can avoid many problems.

 

I have been very impressed by the quick acceleration; we get an immediate response when we push the accelerator.  Because of this, be careful when there are objects or people near your snowmobile.  The engine noise is soft compared with the 2-stroke engine.  I did not hear any noise from the pulley or from any other engine component during acceleration or regular running.  At low speed, we can hear the track rolling, but this is not annoying.

 

It is easy to reach the belt or the tools supplied by the manufacturer, or even to check the oil level.

I end this article with an overview of this snowmobile.  Actually, my expectations as a touring snowmobile fan are fulfilled. The next and final article of the season will be about the comfort, accessories, handiness, 2-up riding versus solo riding, storage capacity, performance and daily maintenance. I will also share my observations following my Ski-Doo 1200 Grand Touring LE trials.