We can’t help but think the decade from 2000 to 2010 brought about the greatest changes in the snowmobile industry and was the most revolutionary time span in snowmobiling’s history. This series explores some of the most revolutionary advancements this sport has ever seen…

SUSPENSION FOCUS

The arrival of new suspension technology dramatically affected snowmobile ride quality in the Golden Decade.

Yamaha introduced its revised single shock skidframe in the 2006 Apex and it set the industry on its ear. In the first years of its use in the Apex and later in the Vector an Ohlins skid shock and a remote, tunnel mounted compression adjuster was used. The system was slick and the sled delivered a ride still considered a benchmark in the industry.

Ski-Doo continued to produce variants of their SC series skids in the Golden Decade and then intro’d what would re-define snowmobile suspension ride quality – the iconic rMotion. rMotion continues in full production to this day and there’s little doubt this masterfully engineered suspension is the standard by which all others are measured.

Polaris stuck with its Indy Edge-derived twin shock rear end throughout the Golden Decade until it shifted the paradigm with the first Pro-Ride external shock system later.

Arctic Cat dabbled with some suspension tweaks to a long-in-the-tooth skidframe that employed Torque Sensing Link technology and high quality Fox shocks.

The net effect was the company did not have a class leading rear end design until the innovative ProCross chassis with its Slide Action rear arm emerged in 2012.

We can’t help but think the decade from 2000 to 2010 brought about the greatest changes in the snowmobile industry and was the most revolutionary time span in snowmobiling’s history. This series explores some of the most revolutionary advancements this sport has ever seen…

DEVELOPMENT OF 4-STROKE SLEDS

When Arctic Cat introduced its latest innovation in 1999, the ZR-based Yellowstone Special, no one was sure it was a viable idea.

The sled was a conventional 2-up sled that looked, except for a deep gray paint job, exactly like a Panther. However, shoehorned under the hood was a naturally aspirated (EFI) 660cc 4-stroke 3-cylinder Japanese automobile engine.

The sled used conventional Arctic Cat CVT clutches and although it only produced about 60-horsepower, turned out to be a pleasant, comfortable conveyance.

Most noticeable was its lack of power, but in the pre-EPA days owners loved the fact it sipped gas and didn’t require 2-stroke oil. There was absolutely no exhaust smoke and the media claimed this engine was so durable “it would probably outlast the snowmobile chassis it was planted in by 20 years.”

Arctic Cat’s new 4-stroke started a landslide of experimentation by the competition to get onboard with super-clean 4-stroke power. Within a year every OEM had at least one 4-stroke on the drawing boards and soon after put them into production.

The 60-hp Polaris Frontier, Ski-Doo’s V-1000, and by 2003, Yamaha had made the bold proclamation it was going to build nothing but 4-stroke snowmobiles.

We can’t help but think the decade from 2000 to 2010 brought about the greatest changes in the snowmobile industry and was the most revolutionary time span in snowmobiling’s history. This series explores some of the most revolutionary advancements this sport has ever seen…

RIDER FORWARD

No other event more vividly describes the Golden Decade than the advent of Ski-Doo’s REV snowmobile. First introduced in model year 2003, the earliest version of the REV looked incredibly different than anything ever seen on snow. Doubters went crazy proclaiming it would never be successful.

The REV positioned the rider far differently than before. The seating position was higher and moved forward about eight inches, the handlebars were situated more forward and the rider sat with his back upright and knees bent at 90-degrees – almost exactly like sitting on a motorcycle or ATV.

The intro of the REV was a bold, gutsy move captained by BRP CEO, Jose Boisjoli. The only known fact limiting Ski-Doo’s exposure in the final decision to go all-in with the REV was that the new layout really worked!

With the rider seated forward, handling and ride were noticeably better, the rider was much more comfortable and sitting-to-standing transitions were far easier than with a sit-down sled.

Saying it was one thing, but Ski-Doo had already proven how much better the REV’s layout was on snocross tracks for a full season before production models entered showrooms. In those few months of competition, the REV proved unbeatable and those who sampled it vowed to never go back to conventional rider positioning.

Within three years the whole industry moved ahead with rider-forward snowmobiles in nearly every class.

We can’t help but think the decade from 2000 to 2010 brought about the greatest changes in the snowmobile industry and was the most revolutionary time span in snowmobiling’s history. This series explores some of the most revolutionary advancements this sport has ever seen…

EPA CONFORMITY

This issue – exhaust emissions – may be the most significant distinctive of the Golden Decade. Why? Because the introduction of EPA emission standards for sleds changed the modern snowmobile and consequently the entire snowmobile industry.

4-strokes arrived because of EPA mandated emission standards. In-port, fuel injection systems like SDI and E-TEC arrived in an effort to save our beloved 2-stroke engines from extinction. Significant fuel economy gains actually became a reality – not a dream.

Last, but definitely not least, retail prices for snowmobiles shot up disproportionately during the Golden Decade. Prices had to go up when faced with the possible extinction of the 2-stroke engine.

Its only hope was to change the design to get more fuel into the engine before the exhaust port closed without pumping unburned fuel into the pipe. Carburetors just couldn’t do this. Expensive electronics could.

Ski-Doo’s ultra-high-pressure direct injection system, E-TEC , arrived in 2009 and set the bar for 2-stroke emissions – actually rivalling and exceeding 4-stroke cleanliness in key categories.

Polaris moved its mainstream 2-stroke engines to its proprietary “Cleanfire” SDI system while Arctic Cat continued to navigate EPA standards with a mixture of EFI 4-strokes and 2-stroke throttle-body EFI systems with pipe sensors.

The shift to electronic 2-stroke fuel injection systems and 4-stroke engines is now met with enthusiasm a decade after the Golden Decade.

Just remember; during the Golden Decade mandated emission standards were this industry’s most formidable challenge.

***ADVERTORIAL***

Polaris has done it again. It has changed the rules and raised the bar in the snowmobile business for MY 2021. The all-new Matryx platform is the biggest news since the arrival of the revolutionary AXYS.

HOW?

Polaris’ calling card is industry leading handling. The low CG, controlled roll center, plush-acting variable castor independent front suspension used on the new INDY VR1, INDY XC Launch Edition AND Switchback Assault 146 models on the Matryx platform closely mirrors the original design with important upgrades designed to enhance the benchmark in snowmobile handling and control.

All-new forged IFS spindles and radically altered rider ergonomics contribute to even better handling. The rider’s perch is fully 4.8 inches narrower through the gas tank and seat junction while the seat itself has been lowered one full inch.

The result is near-telepathic initial turn-in followed by confidence inspiring mid-turn bite due to the platform’s laser level posture which keeps both skis in contact with the trail – whether the riding surface is whooped-out with ruts or freshly groomed.

The rider simply has more control over the chassis as a result of the unique ergonomics.

Visit snowmobiles.polaris.com for more.