SnowTrax 2018 is just around the corner and AJ is here to give you a behind the camera look at the 2018 Ski-Doo Backcountry X 850.
Someone actually asked us this question and, at first, we dismissed it as crazy. But then we got thinking more about it.
Back in 2003, the company made public its announcement to wean 2-strokes out of its product line and only offer 4-stroke engines in its sleds.
This was radical thinking at the time; but over the last 15-years Yamaha has proven it can be done and still maintain reasonable appeal across the snowmobile marketplace.
When that proclamation was made in 2003 there was great fear and trembling about the future of snowmobile 2-stroke engines in general.
Because clean-air technology for 2-strokes was not yet fully developed, it was logical for Yamaha to pursue 4-strokes as the prime powerplants for snowmobiles.
After all, why not take an engine type that was already proven cleaner and bypass all the development costs and time involved inventing 2-stoke induction systems to match the exhaust results of a 4-stroke?
So, it was a perfectly logical decision for Yamaha, an extremely advanced engine builder, to turn its focus away from 2-strokes and put it onto 4-stroke power.
Does this mean Yamaha has a “hate thing” for 2-strokes? Not likely.
What it means is fifteen years of product development and market acceptance has put Yamaha at a point where it feels it no longer needs 2-stroke tech in its sleds.
The problem with this thinking is that there are still hordes of Yamaha enthusiasts who would buy a revisited Yamaha 2-stroke in a heartbeat but have migrated somewhere else.
The company’s footprint in specialty markets like Mountain and Freestyle, and to some degree, Crossover, is relatively small compared to the competition.
With the snowmobile market moving towards longer tracked sleds and multiplicity of purpose, a new, clean air Yamaha 2-stroke could rock the sno-mo-biz.
Yamaha already owns proven direct injection 2-stroke patents and has a stellar history of building reliable, fast 2-strokes back in the days of yore (if anyone still remembers).
Will they do it again? Although it seems unlikely, it would not be surprising for Yamaha to flex its engineering muscles and get back into the 2-stroke business, perhaps just in the weight-obsessed mountain segment at first.
There’s a lot to be gained and not that much to be lost.
So what is a crossover? To me, it’s a sled that performs equally, or at least very close to equally, on and off the trail. It can’t just be a trail sled that is able to go off-trail or a mountain sled that can go on the trial. It has to be capable of doing both, well.
The industry’s best example of a true crossover sled is Polaris’ Switchback Assault – however – this wasn’t always the case. When it was first introduced the Switchback Assault fell into that “mountain sled that could go on the trail” category, and it wasn’t fully evolved. Last season, Polaris made some significant changes to the Switchback Assault and the results were nothing short of amazing.
The most important change is the IGX 144 skid. Plain and simple, on trails, mountain skids ride like crap. They all do, even the best of them. So any sled that has a mountain-derived skidframe is going to have a hard time getting my nod as a true crossover.
The IGX 144 is a hybrid skidframe that includes aspects of a mountain skid that help it perform in deep snow, and aspects of a trail skid that provide excellent ride quality. No, this isn’t just some gimmicky claim by Polaris.
We’ve ridden thuousands of miles on Switchback Assaults the past two seasons and can say with 100-percent certainty, the IGX 144 doesn’t just ride good, it rides great and puts many dedicated trail sleds to shame. Off-trail, it’s equally as good and can hang with converted mountain sleds all day long.
You already know how highly we praise Polaris’ AXYS front end setup and know how much we love how it rides and handles. It’s every bit as good when mated to the IGX 144 skid with its tipped rails that help make it handle like a 136 while still providing the traction of a 144.
But what about off trail? Interestingly enough, even with a full-width trail front end, the Assault is still very capable off-trail. Lets be honest here: A crossover sled isn’t intended to be a mountain sled. Its purpose is to be a capable boondocker and off-trail explorer.
So, while the full width AXYS front end on the Switchback Assault isn’t as good off-trail as a narrower mountain front end, it’s absolutely good enough for powder riding.
The only area we think the Switchback Assault forces a compromise in any way is in the track option department. It’s definitely nice Polaris offers early season buyers the option of a Cobra 1.35 inch or a Series 4 2.0 inch track. But in our opinion, these options are too biased one way or the other. Yes, you can take a 1.35-inch lug off- trail, but you’re sacrificing significant traction in the deep snow.
You can definitely ride a 2.0 inch lug on the trail, but you better hope you don’t run into low snow conditions or a frozen trail surface or you’ll be melting Hi-fax really quick. If there’s one thing we think could be improved on the Switchback Assault, it would be a 1.6-inch-lug track option. We’ve found this to be an excellent compromise in lug height with few drawbacks either way.
I think the best way to sum up the Switchback Assault is to give examples of riders who make no qualms about how much they love this sled. First up, the Motorhead himself, Mark Lester: Many people wear a suit to work… so does Mark, but his 3-piece includes bibs, an insulated jacket and a Tekvest.
I bet you’ve never seen someone sitting at a computer all day wearing all their riding gear. Mark does, just in case he finds an extra five minutes to go for a quick ride. All of this is to say Mark is a hardcore trail rider and he rides a lot. However, nearly all his riding is on the trail.
I won’t say he “hates” off-trail riding, but he certainly avoids it if he can. Want to know what one of this top two favourite sleds last season was? The Switchback Assault!
Our next case study is another familiar face for most of you: AJ Lester. Anyone who watches SnowTrax TV or reads Supertrax Magazine knows AJ’s idea of a perfect day riding rarely involves any trail at all. He loves off-trail riding and spends most of his time in the deep snow.
Yes, he likes trail riding too, but there’s no question his favorite way to enjoy this sport is back in the woods going where no man has gone before. I’ll give you one guess what AJ’s, hands down, favorite sled was last season… Yup, the Switchback Assault. How is this possible?
The answer is simple. The Switchback Assault is the industry’s first true crossover sled that performs equally as well on the trail as it does off the trail.
In fact, it out-performs many dedicated trail sleds on the trail and many much more off-trail biased sleds off the trail. Its not just good at both; it’s great at both. End of story.
Don’t miss Luke’s full TEST RIDE of the 2018 Polaris 800 Switchback Assault 144 coming up this season on SnowTrax Television!
Working with Supertrax for the past 21 years I’ve had the opportunity to visit, ride and experience snowmobiling all over North America and what a ride it’s been.
One question I’m often asked is, of all the places I’ve ridden, which is my favorite. Most often, my response is, “Québec’s GASPESIE has to be at the top of the list”!
This region has it all, starting snowfall measured in feet, not inches. The on-trail amenities include gas stations, restaurants and full service clubhouses. The hospitality is amazing and the trails and scenic vistas surrounding the Chic Choc Mountains are world-renowned.
Last winter we experienced a 6-day snowmobile tour that would take us through the Baie St. Laurent and Gaspesie Regions. Our ride started on the heels of another major 3-day deluge of snow with over 3 feet of accumulation.
Our trip started in Rivier-du-Loup with an overnight stay at Hotel Universal, which features heated storage, plenty of parking, 24-hour security, gas next door and Trans Québec Trail 85 out the back parking lot. Our mapped-out 275 km ride day ended up being over 300 km (200 miles) as someone missed a trail (that would be me) and because of this, we arrived a little late to our night’s lodging at Domaine Valga in Saint-Gabriel-de-Rimouski.
This beautiful log Auberge is a perfect example of the many hidden gems you’ll find only in Québec. It turns out this is a very popular destination for Timbersledders as well!
On the second day the sky was clear and blue and the trails were freshly groomed. Our 200 mile day had us riding 579 South, 587 South and Trans Québec 5 to Motel Baie Bleue in Carl-sur-Mer and, once again, a full parking lot of sleds.
Day 3 was our shortest, taking us on a 220 km ride to Motel Fraser in Chandler. The Fraser was packed with snowmobilers and interesting enough it was 50/50 split with folks from Eastern USA and Ontario. We had a great night with lots of good-natured banter from the snowmobile fraternity.
We changed things up a bit on Day 4 with a side trip into the village of Perce to check out the legendary Perce Rock, an incredible sight to behold. As we pulled into Murdochville the height of the snow banks from the previous week’s storm was amazing. Our night’s stay was Auberge Chic-Choc.
We were looking forward to our next day of riding through the Chic Choc Mountains and it doesn’t get any better than this part of the Québec Maritimes. Unfortunately, the weather was rainy and foggy with freezing rain – a shame because you’ll have a hard time finding more exhilarating riding than there!
Here’s the good news: The Riotel Matane is just what the doctor ordered. Great atmosphere, great food and a very large clothes dryer just down the hall from our room that inhaled 20 well-spent dollars to dry out all my gear.
Our final day of riding back to Riviere-du-Loup is more lowland riding along the St. Lawrence River. It’s fast paced and a hoot to ride and a great way to end another fantastic Québec Maritime ride.
I love riding here and never tire of telling snowmobile enthusiasts to experience this incredible region. Am I going back to the Québec Maritimes? Without a doubt!
I have yet to visit and ride the COTE-NORD Region on the north side of the St. Lawrence River, and it sounds like a great place to ride this March and one more to check off my bucket list.
For more information visit snowmobilequebecmaritime.ca
Stay warm, comfortable and looking great out on the trail this snowmobile season.
Enter to win here:
Congratulations to Justin Bloomgren for sharing his REACH FOR THE SUMMIT experiences! Justin picks up the Cyclops GEAR CGX2 4K Wi-Fi Action Camera! A great camera for capturing your experiences!
Justin writes:
I started riding when I was 5 or 6 on my Grandpa’s 1970 ski-doo Nordic 399e. It was just in a stubble field under his supervision, but I fell in love with the sport. It was a family outing that we did every weekend.
Not having much money growing up we rode 1970 sleds that didn’t have much power. In 1980 my uncle bought a Yamaha enticer. That was a big change!
As the years went on, I got married and introduce my wife to the sport and she loved It! We now have a daughter who is now 12 and also loves the sport. Last year I rode 3 days with Bret Rasmussen to improve my backcountry skills. I have passed down the knowledge to my wife and daughter to make them better riders.
I am excited for this year to try out the new 850, it’s going to be a blast. Living 40 minutes from good riding in the Bighorn Mountains is awesome! It would be a lot of fun to ride with all of you in British Columbia!
Submit your story at at supertraxmag.com/summit and you could WIN an all expense paid mountain riding adventure at CKMP (Carl Kuster Mountain Park) in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
While there you’ll not only enjoy 5 star accommodations, you’ll also get to hang out and ride with Ski-Doo Mountain Ambassadors Carl Kuster, Rob Alford and Tony Jenkins!
The lucky winner will also star alongside Luke and AJ Lester in a feature story on SnowTrax Television and be the focus of an article in Supertrax Magazine.
The Snow-Bike epidemic the marketplace has witnessed over the past two or three seasons has seen this culture adopted by mountain snowmobilers as well as flatland freeriders.
This season, TimberSled has made its biggest leap forward with its new ARO kit that now punches an equal size track width as the front ski at 12.5 inches.
This design has totally changed the way the snowbike works, allowing the track’s path to already be packed in, so you get more traction and better stability.
Other kits run smaller width front skis and, believe it or not, cause the rear track to ride to one side or the other of the narrower ski path and this reduces stability. Sure the width of a front ski on an ARO looks like a kid’s toboggan but it works great and really makes for the best possible experience.
Another great feature of the ARO kit is the included pre-bled brake system, including the brake lever. Older kits and competitive products don’t include this and struggle with very vague-feeling brake actuation requiring you to drag the brake to keep a firm lever.
Taking it one step further, the ARO kit has a shield around the rotor to keep snow out and reduce ice build-up. Exposure to snow will cause the brakes to actually freeze up, leaving you in panic mode when you grab a handful of brake and all you get is that lever-squish to the bars.
The front TRIO Fox shock on the ARO kit is another area where TimberSled is pushing the limits. Stock snowbikes with motocross spec’d forks dive continually. Your alternative is to buy the highest poundage springs you can find and have your forks rebuilt to gain the most stiffness up front possible. This is costly and in the end, if you plan to ride your bike on dirt at the end of the snow season, you need to have them rebuilt again.
The TRIO offers a fully adjustable front add-on shock that gives you the benefits of heavier springs, adding responsiveness and the ability to tune the front end where your heavier spring set up would not.
Polaris has an entire team doing endless research and development for TimberSled kits all year round. These folks dedicate themselves to making first-class snowbike kits that continually push the limits of performance.
We still like the lightweight carbon fiber Yeti kits and the single rear rail Camso design, but TimberSled’s ARO kit is making the riding experience so seamless and confidence-inspiring, it would be my first choice any day.
Best known for its skiing and as host to the snowmobile hillclimb world championships, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, can now add snocross to its list of premier events.
Race organizers built a challenging, half-mile track set at the base of Snow King mountain, complete with an uphill run and a mix of turns and jumps. The track, combined with the 6,000-plus foot elevation, made the race tough for racers and crew members alike.
After a great start to the season in Duluth, Pro rider Logan Christian (doc/AMG Peterbilt/Arctic Cat) came out charging Friday. After going 3 and 4 in his heats, Christian jumped off the line in the final near the front of the pack, working his way from third into first place where he lead for much of the race and finished in the 2nd position.
The next night he came back and swept his heats, finishing 3rd in the final, eighteen seconds ahead of fourth place.
“Jackson went great for the team,” said Christian. “The crew worked hard and our sleds were great at the line and on the track. I’m feeling confident going into the break and I plan to work on some things on the practice track and come back faster for Canterbury.”
Christian Brothers Racing rider Jacob Yurk had a career weekend in the Pro Lite class at Rounds 3 and 4 of the snocross championship, taking his first ever victory Friday night and backing it up with a third place finish the next day.
Yurk (Country Cat/TDS Equipment/Arctic Cat) kicked off the weekend with two Top 3 heat finishes. In the final he took a massive hole shot lead and never looked back, leading the race flag to flag to take his first career Pro Lite class win. The next night he came back and swept his heats then nearly won again, running as high as 2nd place before eventually finishing 3rd.
“Jackson was exactly what I needed,” said Yurk. “I knew I could do it, but right now I’m able to ride on the edge yet stay in control. Jackson went well for the entire team, with all of us earning multiple podium finishes. We are all pretty confident and excited!”
Coming off a huge weekend at Rounds 1 and 2 in Duluth, Anson Scheele (Country Cat/Speedwerx/Arctic Cat) narrowly missed the top step of the podium at Jackson Hole, taking 2nd place in Sport Lite and 3rd in Jr. 16-17.
After four rounds Christian sits 3rd in Pro points while Yurk is just three points out of the lead in Pro Lite points.
Christian Brothers Racing also gave away its second Troy Lee Designs Helmet to Teagan Cronquist. As the drawing winner, Teagan took home a Troy Lee Designs SE 4 Youth Factory Helmet. In addition to Troy Lee Helmets, at every event, race fans also have the chance to enter to win an Arctic Cat ZR 200 snowmobile.
The giveaway is open to fans 17 years old and younger and they must be signed up by a legal parent or guardian. Only one entry will be allowed for each eligible fan per event. The winner will be drawn Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the ISOC Lake Geneva Grand Finale in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and need not be present to win.
Next up for Christian Brothers Racing is the Canterbury Snocross, January 5-6, in Shakopee, Minnesota.
For more information on Christian Brothers Racing visit christianbrosracing.com.
Face it, for time eternal the question will be asked why Arctic Cat would introduce an all-new 800cc 2 stroke engine one year after Ski-Doo carpet bombed the market with an 850 E-TEC.
Frankly, I asked this question myself, however, I was able to ask it to the right people almost three years ago.
Okay, when I asked it I didn’t know Ski-Doo was working on an 850. However, I did discern Arctic Cat was experiencing a vendor issue of key components for the new Dual Stage Injection 800 mill when it was a long way into the development process.
RELIABILITY versus TIME
The issue in short, was whether Arctic Cat should move to another vendor for these key engine components and stay on the original timeline for release of the 800. That timeline would have seen the 800 hitting the ground just ahead of the 850 E-TEC and as a result would have stolen considerable thunder from the Ski-Doo 850 intro.
In what I personally think was a wise move, the Cat braintrust decided it would not take a chance on delivering a new engine without adherence to a strict regimen of testing and validation of parts from a new vendor. That was definitely the right decision, however it would have been a lot easier to justify the delay if the engine had ultimately arrived as an 850.
NO GOING BACK
Arctic Cat’s introduction of new powerplants, both 2 and 4-stroke, over the past five years has been exemplary.
Specifically, the introduction of the 600 C-TEC2. These USA assembled, potent 600 engines have proven bulletproof. We’ve run the wheels off a number of copies and talked to many of you who own one and are convinced the 600 DSI has tangibly elevated Arctic Cat’s rep for quality.
If the company waffled on the intro of the 800 by sidestepping developmental protocols it would have reflected poorly on both the 800 and the 600 too. Hindsight being 20/20, Arctic Cat did the right thing.
WAS IT WORTH IT?
If you’re a rabid Arctic Cat aficionado you’ll say the extra wait for the new DSI 800 was worth it. From my perspective I’ll say this: The new 800 DSI is a jinormous step ahead for Arctic Cat in the 800/850 segment.
This engine is more powerful, both in measured torque and peak horsepower than the Suzuki 800 and is infinitely crisper and vastly more linear in its delivery of power.
There’s no comparison, zip – nada, between the way the old Suzook 800 accepted throttle and this new DSI 800. No gurgle, no coughing, no smoking after warm-up and a measurable (and impressive) improvement in fuel economy. This motor is good, really good.
BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION
All accolades aside, is the new 800 DSI C-TEC-2 enough to stem the tide of buyers (from every brand) considering the Ski-Doo 850? Here’s my straight-up answer: If you can’t show up with anything less than the biggest gun then only the 850 Rotax is going to do.
However, if you’re looking for a hard hitting, big bore 2-stroke ride with everything but two or three percent less peak jam than the 850, you’ll be extremely satisfied with every attribute of the new 800 DSI Arctic Cat engine.
Tucker Hibbert continued his win streak at rounds three and four of the ISOC National Snocross tour in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Hibbert looked at home on Snow King Mountain’s fast hillside track winning three of his four qualifying rounds and both Pro finals.
Friday night’s Pro final was one for the record books. After a 12th place start in the 15-rider, 22-lap main event, Hibbert put on one of the most exciting comeback rides of his career. Pushing hard early, he moved into ninth but then struggled to find opportunities to pass or make up time on the group in front of him. Something clicked on lap 10 and he started dicing through the field.
With three laps to go, he passed for second and had leader no. 43 Logan Christian in sight. He followed Christian closely for one lap and in the final corner of the final lap, snuck underneath him at the top of the hill, made the pass stick and charged down the hill to the finish to take the win.
Hibbert had the race he was looking for Saturday night. Second off the line in the 15-rider, 22-lap main event, he took over the lead in same corner he passed Christian the night before, and was never challenged to complete the weekend sweep.
Hibbert now has a 25-point lead over second place in the points championship.
The snocross tour takes a break for the holidays and fires back up January 5-6, just outside of Minneapolis, at Canterbury Park. Stay up-to-date with Hibbert and his preparations for the rest of the season by visiting tucker-hibbert.com.
Tucker Hibbert – Duluth National Results
Friday, December 8 – Pro Round 3
Round 1 Qualifying: 1st
Round 1 Qualifying: 1st
FINAL: 1st
Saturday, December 9 – Pro Round 4
Round 1 Qualifying: 2nd
Round 2 Qualifying: 1st
FINAL: 1st
On his win Friday Night:
“I got great starts in my qualifiers so I was planning to get a great start in the main event. I was late on my reaction time and got shuffled to the back. It was a really challenging race to have to pass that many riders and deal with the snow dust and roost. The track changed a lot. Halfway through the race I was able to pick up on some really good lines, got my momentum rolling and started reeling in the lead group. I didn’t know who was in the lead then I got a pit board to pass no. 43 on the last lap. I still didn’t know I won until after I crossed the finish line. I just kept pushing and tried to pass as many riders as I could.”
On his win Saturday night:
“Tonight’s main event was a lot less hectic for me and easier. Starting up front, I didn’t have to deal with passing all the riders and eating all the snow dust and roost. I was pushing really hard when I didn’t have people in front of me but when I got around lappers, I’d be cautious and take it easy. I was managing the race based on what was in front of me and going on.”
On taking the weekend sweep and being undefeated this winter:
“I’m really happy to win all the main events so far and having a good points lead going into the break. It gives us (the team) a lot of confidence and the motivation to push hard so we can carry this momentum through the rest of the season.”
On his welcome back to the Jackson Hole area:
“I kind of knew that a lot of my friends and family from this area would be here but was a little surprised by all the people who showed up. It was awesome to have that kind of support and see all the people I don’t usually see at the racetrack.”
2017/2018 ISOC National Snocross Tour Schedule
Duluth, MN // November 24-27, 2017
Jackson Hole, WY // December 8-9, 2017
Shakopee, MN // January 5-6, 2018
Deadwood, SD // January 19-20, 2018
Salamanca, NY // February 16-17, 2018
Mt. Pleasant, MI // February 23-24, 2018
Dubuque, IA // March 9-10, 2018
Lake Geneva, WI // March 16-17, 2018
Tucker Hibbert, 33, entered his first race at the age of eight and today stands as the most decorated snowmobile snocross racer in history. He’s a two-time FIM World Snowcross champion, 14-time X Games medalist and 10-time national snocross champion. Now in his 18th professional season, he holds 131 Pro National victories.
For more information on Hibbert, visit tucker-hibbert.com
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