This season, thanks to the collaboration of Les Motoneiges Géro, BRP dealer in St-Jean-de-Matha, I have the chance to test the Ski-Doo Renegade Enduro 900 ACE Turbo (130) 2023.
This model is known for its sporty and comfortable ride. As I write these lines, I have covered enough kilometres to share my first impressions with you.
Ski-Doo Renegade Enduro 900 ACE Turbo (130) 2023: Rotax 900 ACE Turbo Motor
Once again this year, I am impressed with the performance of the Rotax 900 ACE Turbo engine even though it has 20HP less than its 2021 predecessor (150HP).
The engine is smooth, powerful and linear under acceleration. The torque felt is excellent at all rpm and the power range is constant.
This engine offers 130 HP, a level of power that is highly sought after by both performance and touring snowmobilers.
I was surprised by the fuel economy of this engine. The fuel consumption of this engine is almost identical to that of the naturally-aspirated 900 Ace engine.
With this turbo engine, whether in standard or sport mode, driving is very pleasant.
Mode Differences
Standard mode offers lively acceleration with a level of response that is predictable. I found this mode very interesting for driving on winding, wooded trails. In sport mode, acceleration is much more lively. This is ideal for an adrenaline rush. It’s my favorite mode in the field and elsewhere. The previous turbo model (150 hp) was too nervous for driving on winding trails. The new 130 turbo, although nervous, has a less hasty response time which allows us to use the sport mode in all kinds of trails.
In addition, the engine’s compression is much lower when decelerating compared to the previous 150 HP version. The ECO mode is also available, but I haven’t used it yet.
Suspension and traction
For 2023, the Renegade Enduro is still offered with the rMotion X rear suspension coupled with an air shock in the rear and RAS X in the front.
The air shock adds comfort to the rMotion X, which is already a great performer. The front suspension, RAS X type with HPG shock absorbers, offers a travel of almost 1 inch more than the RAS 3 and also allows you to change the distance between the skis by offering 3 possibilities: 42.1 – 43.0 – 43.9 inches. Normally, most of the other BRP snowmobiles have a 42.4 inches spacing.
I chose to install the skis at 43.0 inches to start the season.
Pilot TX skis
The Enduro also comes equipped with Pilot TX skis that allow us to change the depth of the runner in the snow depending on our preference and trail conditions. I haven’t experienced any swaying yet. The skis bite very well on the trail without requiring too much effort to turn and do not try to lift in the curves. I find the snowmobile very comfortable and pleasant to ride. The air-controlled shock is a great addition to the r Motion suspension.
It’s really nice to have the ability to adjust the air damper according to our preferences and trail conditions.
As far as traction is concerned, the ice ripper Xt track works very well. I didn’t slip when trying to cross paths and the few ice patches I encountered didn’t bother me.
Various equipment
The snowmobile is equipped with a 7.8″ wide color LCD panoramic display, which provides excellent visibility of the main operating parameters. All the relevant information is displayed, including speed, revolutions per minute, engine temperature, distance travelled, time, etc. Personally, I would like to see the numbers for engine temperature, distance and time bigger.
Choice of displays
We have 3 choices of display: clear for the day, dark for the evening and automatic. Indeed, I found that with the clear display, it was easier to visualize the information during the day.
We can also connect the BRP Connect application which allows us to have the trail map and our position. We install our cell phone in the heated case that is in the glove box, we plug it in the USB plug and that’s it. However, I am a person who takes a lot of pictures with my cell phone and I noticed that I have to disconnect it from the USB plug to put myself in photo mode when I am on the BRP Connect application.
Visibility
On the mirror side, visibility is excellent to the rear. I don’t have to make an effort to check if someone is following me.
The adjustable windshield is very appreciated, I noticed immediately the difference between the low and high positions. Our visibility is not affected at all.
The heated seat is effective, we feel the heat very well. I can make the same observation with the heated handles and the heated thumb.
Moreover, our partner “Les motoneiges Géro”, also installed ice scrapers and I already had to use them on a few occasions.
The snow in the trails was so hard that the slides were complaining and the ice scrapers immediately resolved the situation.
Finally, on the lighting side, the long-range LED headlights installed by our partner make a big difference. I can see much better during the day and at night everything is clearer.
Ski-Doo Renegade Enduro 900 ACE Turbo (130) 2023: Overall driving experience
For my part, I really enjoy my riding experience so far with the Ski-Doo Renegade Enduro 900 ACE Turbo (130) 2023. It’s a sporty, high-performance, very comfortable and economical snowmobile to boot. I can easily rack up the miles and don’t get tired at the end of my rides. The more I ride it, the more mileage I want to get. I feel that my winter will be too short.
I will give you a full report after using it in different conditions.
In closing, I would like to thank Les Motoneiges Géro, a BRP dealer in St-Jean-de-Matha, for the loan of this snowmobile for my long-term test. I invite you to go and meet the Géro team in the store to see the new Ski-Doo and Can-Am off-road machines. Follow us throughout the season to learn more and for our final review at the end of the season.
