During my years of snowmobiling, I’ve had the prideful pleasure of taking possession of 32 new snowmobiles. It doesn’t matter how many times you have experienced this thrill; the intense feelings of excitement and anticipation are always the same.
This year is no different, and once again, we are proud to partner with Polaris and Laquerre’s Marine and Sports Center to bring you our 2020 season-long reports.
Happy 40th birthday to the INDY model
In our Polaris Indy XC 850, Our year in review article, we left you with a hint as to one of our 2020 sleds “One of our 2020 Polaris’ will be more and less all at the same time.”
At the end of last season, we also asked our readers to participate in our 2020 Snow Check selection, and you responded in impressive numbers.
Well, the wait is over, and the time to reveal is now!
The more is the new extra length 2020 137” Pro CC coupled rear suspension. Will it be everything that we experienced in our 129” 2019 version and more?
The less is in the engine displacement of Polaris’ Liberty 600cc Cleanfire SDI power plant versus an 800cc or 850cc engine.
Your feature, accessory, and Gray/Orange color combination Snow Check recommendations resulted in an awesome looking 2020 ride. Thank you for your participation in our choice, you did a great job, and we look forward to riding with you always in our mind
Our 2020 Polaris Indy 600 XC 137 is now in the Sledmagazine.com garage.
The introduced in 2019 129” Pro CC rear suspension set up was impressive in all conditions. Selecting the new 137” version was a no brainer. A little more grip, a little deeper snow floatation, and a little more bridging of the bumps for even greater trail control.
A 600 you may ask, yes a 600. We specifically selected it for all of the same thoughts and curiosities that many of you may have running through your mind right now. Will it be, will it have, can it, can you and a bunch more, “will it” questions.
After coming off last year’s high performance 850 Patriot powered test sled, we have the same 600cc performance curiosities that you do, and we are going to find out together.
We are as guilty as the next snowmobiler in picking the latest and greatest big bores. Truth be told, many of us are riding and paying for power and speed that we honestly really don’t need.
We are also excited to highlight the value of Polaris’ very refined and proven 600 Cleanfire engine. The fact is that with identical features, an identical model with the Patriot 850 versus the CleanFire 600 is $1,700 US more. That’s real money, especially if you don’t really need that excess power to enjoy every incredible and unmatched passion of snowmobiling. That’s what we are going to find out. Will it have shortcomings? Will it have benefits? What will they be? Where and when will they show up?
Our 2020 trial will be with 2 groups in mind. The first group is those who may want to consider a reduction in available power for a significant reduction in cost and want to know more about real-world 600cc performance. The 2nd group will be those who already love the 600cc class power range and want to buy the best all-around handling and performing package that they can get their gloves on.
Another big reason for our selection of the XC 600 was to highlight sleds that you can go down to your local dealer, strike up an in-stock winter deal and buy a new ride at any time during the season.
Yes, you can and many do, take advantage of Polaris‘industry leading Snow Check Select program to get a limited edition model and a Patriot 850 engine choice. But Polaris also makes a significant commitment to the in-season availability of a full line of Polaris sleds.
To answer the performance questions of group #1, it would be an unrealistic test if everyone in my riding groups had also moved down the power ladder a step or two. We will be experiencing the performance of the 600 Cleanfire, while surrounded by bigger horsepower riding partners. This reality should give us an excellent reference point from which to report on our 2020 trial.
In a few articles, I have referenced a fear of snowmobiling becoming an elitist sport of only Kings and Queens. For 2020 we are putting this long term trial where our mouth is for $1,700 less. You could take a free trip around the Gaspe and more for that amount!
Stay tuned for initial impressions and observations as we get our 2020 Polaris 600 Indy XC 137 and its 2020 accessories ready for the first of many rides, soon to come.
