Every now and then we like to take the new snowmobiles out and do some random tests—not necessarily the “head-to-head” comparisons that we try to do in extreme riding conditions … but simple things that might shed a little insight on their designs.
This past season we conducted a random turning test to measure the width of the circumference of the turn. The idea was to get some indication of two things: first, how far the skis actually turned from one side to the other; and second, how effective were the skis in carving the turn on flat snow with no rider influence (we tried to keep our weight neutral and both skis flat throughout the turn).
The idea behind the test was to see how tight a particular sled would turn if you were easing through trees. The reality of a turn, however, is usually based on two things: how far you lean and how you use the throttle to set the track during the turn.
Regardless, here’s the basic information we extracted from this particular test. Our test sleds were the 2019 Ski-Doo Summit X 165 and the 2019 Polaris Pro-RMK 850 163.
The Polaris turned tighter than the Ski-Doo. It had a left turn radios of 24-feet-6-inches and a right turn radius of 32 feet. (It likely turns better to the left because the rotating mass of the clutch is on the left side and would fight against a right turn.) The Ski-Doo had a 30-foot left turn radius and a 35-foot right turn radius.
In actual riding conditions, the Polaris rides higher in the trees and can be a little harder to get from one side to the other. When you go to make a turn on the Polaris, you need to set the track with the throttle. Whereas, with the Ski-Doo, that sled allows you to roll a little softer into the turn.
The Ski-Doo is a little lower in ride and has a more stable platform. The Ski-Doo is more comfortable in single-track trails and through the trees … but rides the best in fresh snow.
The Polaris cuts through the ruts and trenches on the sidehills the easiest. It also holds its line the best. Although the Pro-RMK is 22 lbs. lighter than the Summit X, the Ski-Doo feels lighter to ride. However, when they are stuck, the Polaris feels a lot lighter when you’re trying to roll it out of a hole.
When you are climbing, Polaris stays better anchored to the snow and easier to hold your line. The Ski-Doo tends to tail-walk and it’s a lot harder to hold your line when you’re trying to balance the sled on the track when the skis are off the snow.