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Buyers Guide: Snowmobile Categories
Published: March 19, 2010 
Photo by Kort Duce
BIG HORSEPOWER, top speed, high torque, beefy suspensions, and razor-sharp cornering are leading features on these high-end, decidedly racy, models.
Arctic Cat - F-Series, Sno Pro 500, CFR 1000 and 800, Z1 Turbos and Z1. The F-sleds are Cat's high-performance trail sleds and come in several engine sizes while the Sno Pro 500 is a race-derived machine from the snocross and cross-country ranks with a 500cc liquid engine in it. CFR sleds are lake-racers, while the Z1 Turbo 4-stroke is the highest horse stock trail sled on the market. The non-turbo Z1 4-stroke rides in the same Twin Spar chassis as its big brother and the F-sleds.
Polaris - 800 Dragon IQ, 800 IQ, IQ Turbo Dragon, 600 Rush, 600 IQ, 600 IQ Shift. These are all high-performance trail sleds and all use the IQ chassis that has evolved to be durable and reliable. The only sled not in the IQ chassis is the new 600 Rush, the first sled with a straight progressive-rate rear suspension. Dragon models feature top-of-the-line Walker Evans shocks and other high-performance components.
Ski-Doo - MXZ Adrenaline, MXZ TNT 1200 4-TEC and 600, MXZ Sport 600. Engine options on the Adrenalines include the 800R, 1200 4-TEC (4-stroke) and the new-last-year 600 E-TEC. These all ride in the XP chassis and take corners as if on rails while still being able to crush bumps. E-TEC is the market's first direct-injection and most fuel- and oil-efficient 2-stroke.
Yamaha - Apex GT and standard, Nytro RTX SE, RTX, and standard. Apex rides in the updated Deltabox II chassis and has a 150 FI Genesis 4-stroke powerplant. The 150-horse Apex is for the groomed trail, but Nytro runs in the FX chassis with a 138-horse Genesis engine and is lighter and more suited for rough trails. |
Photo by Kort Duce
ON AND off-trail capabilities, 136- to 144-inch tracks, mountain and trail ergos, good wind protection and a load of versatility describe these sleds.
Arctic Cat - Crossfire 8 Sno Pro, Crossfire 8, and Crossfire 6. With 141-inch tracks and a new 160+ hp engine in the 800s, these Crossover sleds are VERY capable off-trail machines, but still have some trail manners. These are warm and well-balanced sleds.
Polaris - 800 Dragon Switchback, 800 Switchback, 600 Dragon Switchback, 600 Switchback. Dragon Switchbacks have upgraded Walker Evans shock packages, a new matte-finish and are balanced perfectly. With 136-inch tracks though, these can go through plenty of powder and remain nimble!
Ski-Doo - Renegade Backcountry, Renegade X E-TEC and 4-TEC, Renegade Adrenaline E-TEC and 4-TEC, Renegade Sport. Ski-Doo has the most options in this segment, from its new 1.75-inch lugged Backcountry to the 550 fan-powered Sport. Renegade buyers have their choice of 4 different engine options and won't be disappointed in this XP-based crossover.
Yamaha - Nytro XTX. The Nytro is Yamaha's only true crossover. The 144-inch Nytro is the longest crossover in the industry, but is still a good trail sled due to its tipped-up rail system, and the grunty 4-stroke loves the deep snow. You won't be left behind on this one! |
Photo by Kort Duce
THIS SEGMENT is filled with price point, value models with smaller engines (often fan-cooled) that still have all of the technology and many of the amenities of more expensive sleds.
Arctic Cat - F570. At the value end of the F-Series line is the F570. A reliable oil-injected 2-stroke fan engine powers this one, and it now has push-button reverse.
Polaris - 550 IQ Shift. This fan sled comes with a newer performance pipe on it, and there are a ton of customization options available to give the black sled some attitude.
Ski-Doo - TNT 550F, GSX Sport. You'll get an upgraded suspension with aggressive shocks and a bold new paint-job on the lightweight price-conscious Ski-Doo TNT 550F.
Yamaha - Phazer RTX, Phazer GT. These 4-strokes have the most horsepower of any sled in this class and are the most reliable. They sit higher and have a motocross-style feel to them. |
Photo by Kort Duce
COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, refinement, as well as plenty of power, fill this class. You'll get all the gadgets,
gizmos and options on these sleds with an emphasis on ride quality, but they generally aren't quite as racy as some of the high-performance rides.
Arctic Cat - Z1 Turbo LXR, Z1 LXR, F8 LXR, F5 LXR. These get all the goodies of the high-performance Sno Pro sleds without the stiffer FOX shock packages. They also get Cat's Infinite Rider Positioning system with adjustable handlebars and seats. The Turbo's a rocket!
Polaris - Turbo LX, 600 LX. While these have longer 136-inch tracks, the LX models are aimed more at the "cruiser" or single-touring crowd. They are warm, comfortable and bridge bumps well.
Ski-Doo - GSX SE, GSX LE 4-TEC, GSX LE 600 H.O. E-TEC. The GSX line has long been known for its refinement, components, and smoothness. The 2010 GSX 2-strokes are in the lightweight XP and 4-strokes in the XR chassis. These sleds are silky smooth!
Yamaha - Apex LTX GT and LTX, RS Vector LTX GT, RS Vector GT. The LTX sleds have longer 136-inch tracks, and are labeled "trail versatility" sleds by Yamaha. The Vector GT runs on a 121-inch track with a new 125-hp FI Genesis engine. The Apex LTX GT sleds feature upgraded Öhlins shocks and all ride in the ergonomically sound Deltabox II chassis. |
Photo by Stephen W. Clark
LIGHTWEIGHT SLEDS with super-long tracks and generous power rule the roost in the performance-oriented mountain segment.
Arctic Cat - M1000 Sno Pro 162, M8 HCR 153, M8 Sno Pro 162, M8 Sno Pro 153, M8 162, M8 153, M6 153. The segment leading M-sleds continue to lose weight for 2010, and Cat offers three engine choices as well as the Hill Climb Racer (HCR) which is made to compete on the hillclimb circuit right out of the box.
Polaris - 800 Dragon RMK 163, 800 Dragon RMK 155, 800 RMK 155, 800 Assault RMK, 800 RMK 144, 700 RMK 155, 600 RMK 155, 600 RMK 144, Trail RMK. Polaris offers mountain models with either 800 or 600cc engines, plus one 700cc. The Assault (like the HCR) also is hillclimb competition ready. RMKs are well balanced.
Ski-Doo - Summit X, Summit Everest 2-stroke, Summit Sport. The Summits come in 163, 154, and 146-inch track lengths and with 800R or 600 E-TEC engines. New suspension calibration and ride refinements for 2010 have helped improve transfer and manueverability for easier boondocking.
Yamaha - Apex MTX, FX Nytro MTX SE, FX Nytro MTX SE 153, FX Nytro MTX, Phazer MTX. Yamaha takes a huge step forward for 2010 with its FX Nytro MTX SE as its lineup continues losing weight and becoming very competitive with the 2-strokes. Nytro gets a new Pro Mountain Air rear suspension with Fox shocks. |
2-UP TOURING
IF YOU WANT to take along a friend, spouse, kid, or maybe even a pet, or if you just want to cruise the trails in ultimate comfort, the touring segment is for you.
Arctic Cat - TZ1 Turbo LXR, TZ1 LXR, TZ1, T570. Cat makes some of the comfiest touring sleds on the market, even offering heated seats! Its TZ1 Turbo isn't any speed slouch either … with 2 people aboard it'll still outrun many smaller performance sleds!
Polaris - FST IQ Touring, 600 IQ Touring, Trail Touring. The IQ Tourings come with Polaris' own Rider Select easy steering column adjustment and all these ride on bump-bridging 136-inch suspensions. FST is a turbo, so it offers some pop too!
Ski-Doo - Grand Touring SE, Grand Touring LE, Grand Touring Sport. With quiet "SilenTrack" technology, tilt steering, heated seats, and more on the ultimate Grand Touring SE, as well as plenty of goodies on the LE and Sport, this group of 2-ups is tough to beat.
Yamaha - RS Venture GT, RS Venture, Venture Lite. Venture GT has more wind protection than any sled on the market and all of these are luxurious, while also coming with Yamaha 4-stroke engine efficiency and reliability. Passengers and drivers in this segment like being exhaust-free at the end of the day! |
UTILITY
PUSH, PULL, drag, carry… if you've got a job, or need to carry a passenger plus a load of gear, these sleds are designed to get any outdoor job done.
Arctic Cat - Bearcat Z1XT, Bearcat 570 XT, Bearcat 570. The toughest looking utility sleds in the industry, the 4-stroke Bearcat Z1 and its smaller 570 fan brethren are perfect sleds for the active outdoorsman.
Polaris - 600 Widetrak IQ, Widetrak IQ (4-stroke), Widetrak LX. The track on the Widetrak IQ is a full 20 inches of snow-gripping rubber. Like a stubborn mule that doesn't know when to stop pulling, these sleds won't quit until the job is done. There's a hi-low transmission too.
Ski-Doo - Expedition 1200 4-TEC, Expedition 600, and Skandic models - SWT, WT, SUV, Tundra LT, Tundra Sport, Tundra. With the most comprehensive and flexible utility line on the market Ski-Doo caters to its customers of hunters, trappers and fishermen. This year Tundra drops 23 lbs. moving to the REV-X chassis.
Yamaha - RS Viking Professional. With a 120-horse Genesis 4-stroke, huge 20-inch wide by 156-inch long track, and a lot of comfy driver room, the Viking has plenty of "Pros" when it comes to working in the snow. Primary among them is a dual-range hi-low transmission. |
YOUTH
EVERYONE REMEMBERS their first snowmobile and the little 5 horsepower, 120cc 4-stroke sleds from Cat and Polaris are built for the little guys and girls that are just starting out in our sport. Premier Industries is the newcomer in the youth and "tweener" market, offering slightly larger 200 and 300cc 4-stroke sleds with most of the options available on full-sized sleds.
Arctic Cat - Sno Pro 120, 4-stroke
Polaris - Dragon 120, 4-stroke
Premier Industries - Enforcer 200 and Enforcer 300, 4-stroke |
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