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2021 Summit X 850 Turbo vs 2021 Pro RMK 850

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It’s time for a good ol fashioned SNOWTRAX shootout! Luke presents his detailed comparison of Ski-Doo’s 2021 Summit X 165 with the Expert package featuring the 850 Turbo engine vs. the 2021 Polaris Pro RMK featuring the Patriot 850 engine and QuickDrive 2 belt drive system.

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THAT’S A WRAP

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KUTVEK GRAPHICS out of Quebec, Canada has an easy solution to give your sled some serious pop in the looks department.

KUTVEK wraps come in a variety of hot designs and are a sure bet to make heads turn on the trails. You can even customize your graphics to include names, numbers and sponsors.

We chose this funky FXR design wrap and couldn’t be happier with the result. It instantly turned our plain-Jane 2015 Cat into a fresh, hot commodity.

The wrap materials are very high quality and required limited trimming for a perfect fit. Ordering your wrap online is straightforward and will be shipped to you (USA and Canada) within days.

Kutvek also makes wraps for ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, PWCs and more.

Call 450-598-1140 and visit kutvek-amerika.com to see Kutvek’s complete selection of wraps for your snowmobile.

RIDING THE EVOLUTION KITTED INDY EVO

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The Indy EVO has been a big success for Polaris. Its super low retail price has attracted buyers, for sure, but there’s also the fact it’s a pretty well-equipped sled, too.

The stock EVO uses a twin carb 550 fan-cooled Fuji twin and has a coupled, short travel suspension so novice snowmobilers can feel close to the ground and safe on it.

Interestingly, the EVO is built on a full-sized Pro-Ride Indy chassis but actually feels much smaller because of its lower ride height and narrow ski-stance. It’s perfect for inexperienced riders, teenagers and petite women who don’t feel confident wheeling around a big sled all day.

It also has a built-in electronic throttle limiter that dumbs down the sled’s top speed to about 50 mph. We have mixed feelings about that – but what do we know? The EVO has been a very strong seller.

Soooo, if you own an EVO and you want more power, more suspension and more ride height because your teenager or spouse is demanding it now they’ve been riding the EVO a while, here’s a great solution: The Polaris EVOlution Kit!

This kit raises the EVO about 4-inches and increases its front and rear suspension travel about the same. It also adds stability by widening the EVO’s ski stance four inches. There are also clutch mods – a new primary spring – and a replacement ECU that allows the 550 to reach its top speed (about 70 mph) when you replace the chaincase gears (included).

The EVOlution kit is not small potatoes. It includes a long list of suspension replacement parts: New upper and lower A-arms, tie rods, spindles and longer shocks up front (also new coilovers). At the rear there are longer shocks, a replacement coilover for the front arm shock, a new, longer limiter strap and new torsion springs.

Whew! That’s a lot of stuff and the price will set you back close to two grand. Although it sounds like a lot of jing, if you balance the low initial cost of the EVO and the price of the kit, you’re still pretty golden with what you have afterwards.

We actually have a kitted EVO in our fleet this winter and despite our initial skepticism about a 65-hp sled’s performance, we are honestly, truly impressed with it!

The kitted EVO rides really well, steers and handles very close to the later versions of this chassis (AXYS) and has great trail power. We’ve put all kinds of riders on it – from pure novice riders, teenagers and even experienced riders and everyone has walked away shaking their heads the industry even has a sled this good in this price range.

Naturally, you could just buy a new 550 Indy and get the same thing as you’d have with a kitted EVO. You’d pay about the same but the beauty of the EVO/Kit is you can stair-step from the base model to a full-on Indy version any time you want.

It allows you to get young and new riders into snowmobiling with a marginal investment and then graduate them into a sled with more power and more long-distance capabilities.

We expect resale on the EVO will be good, too. Number one, because it starts out pretty cheap and number 2, because once you’ve kitted it, almost all the chassis parts are much newer than the sled itself. Win-win deal!

2021 MXZ 600 EFI TOP SPEED

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One of our readers recently asked us what the top speed of the new Ski-Doo MX-Z 600 EFI was.

If you read our recent online story describing our riding impressions of this sled you’ll know how impressed we were with its power.

At a claimed 85-hp, the Sport feels much stronger and is really responsive on trails, easily keeping up with other sleds in the 600 class there. However, we never expected it to run with say, a 600 E-TEC flat-out on a frozen lake – and neither should you. This sled’s strongest point is its bottom end and midrange power.

Since we didn’t report what we had recorded as a top speed for the 129-inch Sport EFI, we thought we should go out on the lake and try a few speedo runs with it. Keep in mind we didn’t use radar for our experiment so the initial top speed we recorded is taken from the MX-Z’s speedometer only.

The lake was really packed down for some pretty long stretches up to a mile in length. Holding the throttle to the bars for about a half mile we recorded 154 km/hour on the Ski-Doo speedometer. For our non-metric buds that translates to 96-mph. Even if you account for 10-percent speedometer error (very common), that still becomes about 86-87 mph.

We’d tell you the speedos on sleds could just as well be out the other way, with the speedometer reading slower than the sled is actually going – but that just never happens!

Over the years, all our radar and GPS testing has shown without exception every OEM’s speedometer to be recording speeds higher than actual. It just never goes the other way, although we have found some are within about 98-percent accurate.

Ever being the skeptics, we were curious to see what the true GPS speed of the 600 EFI was. We hooked up the electronics and hit the lake again. First time down the lake the GPS told us the true top speed of the MX-Z 600 EFI was 77 mph. On the next run it was 78 mph.

The difference between the Ski-Doo’s digital speedometer speed and the GPS actual top speed was 18 mph or 29 km/hour. Although you could argue speeds vary the most at the top end of the speedo, this is still a big difference.

The other thing that makes sense is that an 85-hp sled just doesn’t have enough power to push itself to 96 mph. In actual radar and GPS testing we’ve noted that 125-hp sleds usually are panting petty hard to hit the C-note. It takes most of that extra 40-hp to push the sled up close to 100 mph.

Snowmobiling Algoma Country PART 2

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In part 2 of our special Northern Ontario snowmobile destination ride. Luke and his good buddy Tanner Graham continue their exploration of majestic Algoma Country. This multi-day adventure ride has them touring the scenic trails between Sault Ste. Marie to Dubreuilville. Part 2 follows Luke and Tanner as they explore the scenic trails between Halfway Haven and Dubreuiville along with a stop to visit the legendary Luc – the Groomer Guy.

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Globalstar Canada and CCSO Promote Rider Safety

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Globalstar Canada Satellite Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (NYSE MKT: GSAT) and a leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today announced a partnership with the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations(CCSO) to promote rider safety through the CCSO 2021 Safe Riders program. The partnership coincides with the start of Snowmobile Safety Awareness Week which kicks off on January 16th.

As part of Globalstar Canada’s commitment to snowmobiler safety, riders can access $50 savings off the purchase of any SPOT satellite communications device through March 2021.

“We are excited to be partnering with the CCSO, to promote the importance of rider safety and outdoor winter adventure,” said Jim Mandala, Vice President, Globalstar Canada Satellite Co. “SPOT is a proven and essential part of outdoor safety gear, trusted by thousands of people who work and play beyond cellular around the world. For the growing community of snowmobile riders in Canada, SPOT provides the safety and the peace of mind of staying found and reliably connected via satellite technology to family, friends and emergency services. We join with the CCSO in encouraging all riders to be prepared and to ride safe this winter.”

The Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations is a national not-for-profit organization which provides the unified voice of organized snowmobiling across Canada. It envisions that organized snowmobile trail networks and riding areas provide a lasting legacy of responsible riding experiences that are highly valued, safe, enjoyable, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“Due to restrictions from the COVID pandemic, most Canadians are cancelling annual winter getaways and March break trips south, and instead are seeking outdoor winter adventures here at home,” said Dennis Burns, Executive Director, Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations. “We expect to see an increase in families and same household riders enjoying the more than 121,000 KMs of organized snowmobile trails in Canada according to current public health protocols. Our message to the snowmobile community this winter, including everyone from groomer operators to trail volunteers to riders, is be prepared before you head out with the right safety gear and tools and now you can make riding even safer with SPOT.”

SPOT satellite messaging and emergency technology is used around the world by outdoor enthusiasts and lone workers to stay connected, completely independent of the availability of cellular networks. To date, more than 7,400 rescue incidents have been initiated worldwide with SPOT satellite technology, with Canada comprising approximately 30% of all rescues. Within Canada, British Columbia accounts for the majority of SPOT rescues (38%), followed by Quebec (18%), the North including Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut (16%), Ontario (12%) and Alberta (10%).

Over the last three winter seasons, the number of rescues initiated with SPOT has been steady, averaging 75 rescue incidents per season. The majority of winter rescue incidents encompass activities including snowmobiling and motor vehicle related incidents, medical, mountain sports and hiking incidents. The SPOT Infographic provides a breakdown of SPOT initiated rescues in Canada, by province and incident.

Powered by the second generation Globalstar Satellite Network, the SPOT family of satellite communication devices is trusted by hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts around the world for off-the-cellular-grid messaging, back-up communications, emergency notification, GPS and asset tracking capability.

The centrepiece of the SPOT family is the SPOT X 2-Way Satellite Messenger with Bluetooth wireless technology, a 2-way satellite messaging for reliable connectivity beyond cellular coverage. Connect SPOT X to any smart phone via Bluetooth wireless technology through the SPOT X app and access contacts and communicate easily with family and friends. Contact search and rescue services at the push of a button in a life-threatening situation.

The SPOT Gen4 Satellite GPS Messenger is an affordable alternative to SPOT X, a rugged, pocket sized communication device with integrated GPS tracking and emergency notification technology. SPOT is an essential part of outdoor safety gear for everyone who works or travels beyond cellular. Advanced navigation and tracking services through SPOT Mapping is available across all SPOT devices.

SPOT Mapping is an easy to use tool for sharing location positions, storing historical waypoints for reference, setting alerts and creating geofences along outdoor journeys. SPOT Mapping includes mobile responsive and sharable maps, longer data storage, and various map displays, including satellite, road and terrain options.

Users also have the option to view maps in live or history mode, for tracking in real-time or to review previous trips or asset locations.

For complete pricing on SPOT satellite communications devices, visit findmespot.ca. Save $50 instantly by using promo code “SNOWSAFE” during check-out.

About SPOT – SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides affordable satellite communication and tracking devices for recreational and business use. SPOT messaging devices use both the GPS satellite network and the Globalstar satellite network to transmit and receive text messages and GPS coordinates. Since 2007, SPOT has provided peace of mind by allowing customers to remain in contact with family, friends and co-workers, completely independent of cellular coverage and has helped initiate over 7,000 rescues worldwide. Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of Spot LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, visit findmespot.ca

2021 KLIM Frozen Cow Tag Snowbike Ride

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Following the success of last year’s Frozen Cow Tag and their wildly popular Cow Tag Off-Road Ride, KLIM is inviting snowbike riders to participate in a one-of-a-kind event set in their own backyard – the Island Park area in the rugged Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

This unique snowbike-only event will have riders spend a full day on some of KLIM’s favorite local areas, guided by GPS, in search of valuable Cow Tags. Individual riders will be challenged to find Cow Tags and post photos (of you, your bike, your buddies, etc next to the tag) and a winner will be selected to get a $250 KLIM gift card! On top of that, more than $10,000 in prizes will be given away and nine more $250 KLIM gift cards will also be drawn – just show up to the event and get entered to win!

The KLIM Frozen Cow Tag Snowbike Ride will bring together snowbike riders from all over the U.S. to celebrate this rapidly-growing sport with a great time in the Idaho backcountry. KLIM is proud to engineer riding gear for dedicated snowbike riders facing winter conditions, and you’ll be riding some of the same areas that help them develop their gear.

The ride is meant to be enjoyable for everyone and honorable sportsmanship is expected from participants. Please do not participate in or encourage cheating to accumulate more tickets than you fairly earned. This unfair practice goes against the spirit and purpose of the Frozen Cow Tag and discourages sponsors from participating in the future. Those found cheating will be disqualified from participating in the raffle. Ride hard and play fair.

Lastly, 100% refunds will be issued for covid-related cancellations and local health guidelines will be in place.

Registration:

– Registration opens January 15, 2021
– Fees are $125 per person (refundable)
– Registration limited to 150 people

Included:

– $10,000+ in prize drawings
– $30 meal voucher for Pond’s Lodge, Connie’s, Cafe Sabor or The Parlor at Mackss Inn
– Frozen Cow Tag exclusive event t-shirt
– KLIM sticker

Requirements:

– Face coverings during check-in & social distancing is encouraged. Please be respectful and follow local rules!
– Minimum 1 GPS required per group
– Mandatory avalanche safety gear: beacons, shovels, probes (must be shown when signing in)
– Participants must be 18 years or older
– Snowbikes must display Idaho snow registration tags, which can be purchased at High Mountain Adventures (either resident or non-resident tags if visiting from out of state)
– Due to the nature of the Frozen Cow Tag Snowbike Ride, traditional snowmobiles will not be permitted

To register for the Frozen Cow Tag, view the schedule and for more information on event guidelines visit klim.com/frozen-cow-tag.

About KLIM – KLIM Technical Riding Gear is a global leader in designing, developing, sourcing and distributing the most advanced powersports apparel for snowmobile, motorcycle and off-road riding. Utilizing the world’s most premium technologies in waterproof, breathable, durable and comfortable materials, KLIM offers gear for the most demanding riders. Driven by the continual feedback and input from dedicated test pilots and passionate customers, KLIM strives to do one thing above all – enhance the riding experience.

For more information, visit KLIM.com.

2021 Polaris Indy 650 MATRYX VR1 Review

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Motorhead Mark presents his impressions of the 2021 Polaris Indy MATRYX VR1 featuring the all-new and ultra potent 650 Patriot engine.

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OPERATION LIFESAVER

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Funded by the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada since 1981, Operation Lifesaver is an important public education program dedicated to improving rail safety in Canada.

Its mission is to prevent rail crossing and trespassing incidents that result in needless loss of life and injuries. Each year, more than a hundred Canadians suffer serious injuries or die due to trespassing or taking chances at railway crossings.

Operation Lifesaver’s goal is to create safety-conscious attitudes toward railways, promote safe driving skills, and encourage Canadians to take railway signs and warnings seriously, which is not always the case amongst snowmobilers.

Operation Lifesaver Canada wants to remind you that we all have a part to play when it comes to preventing tragedies on railway tracks and property.

Let’s work together to make this winter a safe one by learning—and living by—these simple rules:

• Keep Off Railway Property and Equipment: Railway yards, tunnels, bridges and equipment are all private property. If you’re caught trespassing on them, you could be fined up to $50,000—or worse, you could lose a limb or your life.

• Obey All Railway Signs and Signals: Warning signals and signs are there for a reason, to help save lives. So, obey them!

• Never Go Around a Lowered Railway Crossing Gate: An activated gate means trains are coming.

• Never Try to Beat a Train: Trains are much faster than you think. They are also unable to stop quickly enough to save you.

• Only Use Designated Railway Crossings: Trying to cross tracks anywhere else could be deadly.

• Stay Off the Tracks: Never walk, cycle or drive on or along railway tracks—and never use them as a shortcut or a recreational path.

For snowmobilers, here are some other important tips to remember:

• Stop. Look. Listen. Whenever you approach a rail crossing on your snowmobile, be sure to come to a complete stop. Look both ways carefully and also listen for the sound of an oncoming train. Operation Lifesaver even recommends turning your sled off and removing your helmet to be extra sure. It may seem like a cumbersome routine, but your life and safety are worth the few extra seconds this takes.

• Take extra care at night and when it’s snowing. You don’t get a second chance with an oncoming train so when visibility is reduced, take extra precaution.

• Don’t ride alongside tracks. Trains can overhang the rail line significantly and can also kick up a lot of snow dust, reducing visibility.

• Remember; younger riders are watching and learning from your behaviour. Obey the rules and so will they.

Visit operationlifesaver.ca for more information.

SLED TECH THAT COULD CROSS SEGMENTS

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Snowmobiles are split into several segments: mountain, trail, touring, utility, crossover and so on.

In each of these categories there have been unique technologies developed over the last decade or more. Some of those technologies have transferred from one category to another – but there are several that have remained unique to the class they were invented for.

So, is there any hope some of this technology could potentially transfer over to another category?

Some of our readers have been asking this question for a while – and it’s for that reason we’ll look at a few well-known technologies and estimate whether they could transfer somewhere else.

1. SINGLE BEAM SKIDFRAME

Arctic Cat introduced the Alpha One single beam skid a couple of years ago and it’s been a very successful hook in the mountain marketplace. The idea is that, in deep snow, a flexible track wrapped around a single slide rail running down the middle of the sled allows the snowmobile to pivot faster in powder and also to sidehill with less effort than a 2-rail setup.

Possibilities

Could a single rail work on a trail sled? The truth is, this tech is pretty much designed to work in powder and not so much on trails and hard pack. Although it could be slightly lighter – even a simpler design to manufacture, with a few less parts than a normal skid, we just don’t think the single rail skid will cross over to trail use. Why? Our experience suggests there isn’t a trail handling upside to a narrower skid.

2. SHOT

Ski-Doo’s SHOT batteryless starting system has been introduced into the mountain and deep powder end of the biz – and works extremely well, eliminating the need for a battery. Energy is stored up in a capacitor system and once you’ve pull-started the sled at the beginning of your day’s riding and built up sufficient charge, you just hit the SHOT button on the handlebars and the sled uses the stored charge to fire the engine.

Possibilities

Although this system works really well on mountain and some crossover sleds, we’re just not sure the tech will transfer over to trail riders. Certainly, some riders would like to shave a few pounds of weight, but the convenience of electric start and not having to pull start a sled – ever – is pretty attractive.

3. STORAGE

The new Polaris MATRYX has some interesting storage innovations this year and it’s surprising how many riders we talk to absolutely hate the fact their old sled just doesn’t have enough places to stow things. The idea of uber-storage actually comes from the utility sled market and utilizing some hidden corners on the sled, like behind the instruments and under the seat, to stash goodies seems like a no-brainer.

Possibilities

This seems like such an obvious innovation, we can’t believe the market has avoided it for so long. Although those big 20-wide workhorse sleds use a flip-up seat to gain extra storage space, the MATRYX has set the bar higher for onboard storage for trail sleds and even for crossovers. We’re pretty sure new designs from every OEM will include some new, eyebrow-raising tech to ensure riders can haul their gear onboard – and that includes on mountain sleds.