Stuff We Learned While Riding Snowmobiles Instead of Sitting at Our Desks

By: Motorhead Mark Lester

The MX-Z XRS is a street fighting snowmobile. If it were human it would hide out in dark allies and jump on unsuspecting pedestrians, stealing their wallets and roughing them up.

There’s no way nice way to describe a sled like this. It is simply the most drop dead serious wannabe racer ever produced. Seems funny to us how Ski-Doo sold Blair Morgan, Tony Haikonnen and Mike Houle ‘Specials’ – nothing more than foo-foo signature models. Then, when the real thing comes along it doesn’t get an autograph?

Someone around here commented that that 138 Powertech mill is making a different 138 horses than anything we’ve ridden before – way faster.

Anyway, this is a no-disappointment sled that practically leaps out of its lightweight hood, carves white top like a carbide tipped chop saw and begs to be lifted off anything with a 30 degree face. Oh, did I say we like it?

As for the Ski-Doo MX-ZX Renegade 600 SDI, this 2007 edition of the original crossover sled gets oh-so-close to perfection with it’s silky, smokeless Semi-Direct Injection mill and a footprint big enough to chase down a 121 and devour it in deep snow.

There’s something so right with the 16 x 136-inch Renegade. It has to do with not feeling a sneaker that big outback. It’s been quite a run at the top for the Renegade 600 SDI but we think there’s bad news in our PR fleet.

Our 600 Clean Fire Polaris IQ can literally eat this well behaved Rotax for dinner in a drag race. If Polaris delivers what we think it should this winter – a limited build 136” IQ crossover (NO – not a Switchback!) Ski-Doo will be forced to go back to the horsepower well.

One more note. There’s only one sled capable of challenging the fuel economy of the 600 SDI in the 120 HP class – that’s Yamaha’s Vector 1000. The 600 SDI for 2007 is a genuine 20 plus MPG ride.

Stuff We Learned While Riding Snowmobiles Instead of Sitting at Our Desks

By:Motorhead Mark

Thought I would give you my thoughts on the Phazer and the Venture Lite. We’ve had copious snow here – I’ve got over 500 klicks on this week! Yahoo!

The Phazer is really impressive and is considerably better handling and riding than the last version we rode in Munising. The sled feels light and the engine’s performance is truly impressive. Kinda freaks me out when I look down and see the tach at 11,800!

Took it on a long pull with a 600 IQ Polaris. Saw 138 klicks (85 MPH) in relatively loose snow. I think there’s a few more in there. The sled really gives a feeling of being “tight” when new and, as it frees up, it just gets faster at the big end.

Ride quality on the FX is impressive and the clickers really make a substantial difference when fiddled with.

I think consumers will be very happy with the Phazer. It turns heads everywhere and people come up and ask questions – kinda like being a rock star. Everyone likes the blue YF-Z colors/graphics even though we originally were taken with the Gen-Y barf colors we like the traditional Yamaha blue better.

When I first saw the Venture Lite I was concerned. Man, is it weird looking. Memories of slow handling in Munising didn’t help either. What a difference!

The sled handles flat, stable and is way comfortable. I’m impressed. It isn’t slow either. While still tight, the sled is pulling 120 klicks in unpacked snow.

The 1.25 out back bites hard and the skis actually come up when you whack it. If people can get past the unorthodox appearance I think they’ll be very pleased. There’s a very strong, subliminal feeling of smoothness and quality from the driveline. It feels like a good watch.

We haven’t had a chance to quantify fuel economy yet. Every time we headed out, it snowed more and deep snow doesn’t tell you anything about fuel economy.

Stuff We Learned While Riding Snowmobiles Instead of Sitting At Our Desks

By: Motorhead Mark

I’m telling you the truth, that 600 CFI is stupid fast. All of us are just shocked at the way the thing hauls. It makes us wonder just how fast can a 600 get? The CFI will raise the bar this year and everyone will have to respond.

Couldn’t help but think as I was railing the IQ yesterday – holding it wide open, backing into turns and throttle drifting on the way out – it was almost sexual (I said almost) – why anyone would need more power. I know, stupid thought.

Had a chance to ride this weekend (180 miles actually) and I am very impressed with the both the 600 CFI IQ and the FST Cruiser.

The IQ six CFI is unbelievably fast. Man, this thing makes other 600’s feel downright slow. Handling is so much like an Indy (totally controlled up front with 100% positive bite, and it just will not understeer.

The ergos with the fixed handlepole are perfect for me. Liked everything about it. There’s something very Indy-like in the profile of the new hood/belly. The thing looks sweet.

Love the weight transfer – it lifts the skis when you whack it at 40 MPH – if there’s traction. Can’t wait to see the fuel economy – seemed pretty good but I haven’t topped up yet.

The FST is so much better than last year you would think it was a completely different engine package. The big end is now impressive and this was a 136 Cruiser!

At 50 MPH the thing gets angry at the world and pulls like a tractor right past 90 per. Sweet. Much better running in warm air as well.

Quality of finish underhood is vastly improved as is the entire IQ body/trim package on both sleds. The FST didn’t BB-Q my right foot either. Can’t wait to squeeze the Dragon.

Stuff We Learned While Riding Snowmobiles Instead of Sitting At Our Desks

By: Motorhead Mark

The 121 inch Jag and the 128 inch 1000 just gobble up bumps. The Arctic Cat suspension guys have done a remarkable thing. We feel a little vindicated here after sticking our necks out editorially all fall and getting lots of hate calls from the other OEMs who figured we were wrong.

Handling appears very good however it’s a little early to draw big conclusions with most riding on less than tramped, ungroomed trails.

The Jag has almost 300 miles on it, the 1000 almost 200 miles. We can’t believe how good the moveable seat and handlebar set-up feels. Everyone likes the seat at least half way up or all the way up, even in twisty trails. The comfort from the higher perch is undeniable.

The Jag’s performance is way, way better than what we experienced last year. The sled will pull a solid indicated 95 MPH and is strong past 90 per. Mid-range squeeze is impressive and just about everyone agreed if they were going on a long ride they would pull the Jag out.

We’ve only been able to do rudimentary fuel economy sampling as a result of the conditions – loose snow. However, I did see as high as 17mpg on a very aggressive, high speed run on the weekend. This thing could get 20 on trails.

The anti-engine brake is one of those things you don’t appreciate until you ride all the other 4-strokes. It really works and in loose snow you can quantify its value very quickly.

The 1000’s engine seems a little soft at lower RPM levels but pulls hard at full whack. We were surprised to see engagement up past 3500 RPM. I thought it was under three grand in Yellowstone – more like an old ZR 900.

Everything about the Jag in terms of comfort and handling applies to the 1000. I haven’t had a chance to get full lake-pulls on either yet.