Snowmobiles

Snowmobiles as we know them took about 65 years to come up with since people first started experimenting with motorized travel over snow in the late 19th century. Cars fitted with tractor treads and skis developed by the 1930s into Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s B7–an early “snocat” with a rounded profile, like a big VW Beetle, and seating for seven people. In 1959, Bombardier introduced the one- or two-seat, open-cockpit Ski-Doo, with wooden skis and without rear suspension. Competitors emerged quickly with their own take on Bombardier’s work.

Today, snowmobile showrooms display machines that can make their own trails through the backcountry, and ones that can accelerate faster than most cars. With scores of models to choose from, the differences become slight for the most part, but occasional innovations spur the market. For example, Paul Germain, owner of Wildwood Sports, says Yamaha revolutionized the industry by making 21 of 23 models with cleaner-burning four-stroke engines since 2003.

This year, Polaris gets all the hype after introducing its new Rush 600. Garth Bromley, president of Rond’s Marine, raves about the Rush’s new suspension, saying that it will change the industry as competitors try to develop systems that match such a smooth and controlled ride. Then again, he expects some manufacturer to introduce another breakthrough in two or three years, to spur the industry again: “Something else will come along for everyone to match up to.”

The impetus for innovation, as always, comes from demand. Ken Goddard, sales manager at Headingley Sport Shop. The first eager riders hit the shop when the new models arrive in October. When snow hits, people storm the shop in growing numbers.

Lindsay Boeve notices the growing ridership, too. “The trails can get crowded,” says Boeve, a salesman at Enns Brothers Powersports. But he adds that many customers enjoy traveling far and wide for a good ride–some customers regularly load trailers with one of two or three sleds they own to match the experience they want.

Manufacturers arrange their machines in various ways, but most still stick to two general categories: sport and touring. Sporty sleds emphasize speed and handling, while touring sleds tend to focus on endurance and comfort, often coming in a “two-up” configuration for a passenger.

Polaris 600 Rush
The Rush 600 provides rear suspension that continually adjusts itself at every point of compression. Traditional models of snowmobile rear suspension have prevented manufacturers from making sleds with true “progressive rate suspension,” such as motorcycles have. For the Rush, Polaris changed snowmobiles as we know them: they put the Rush suspension outside the chassis, towards the rear, not within the chassis under the seat. Local retailers love it.

“It lets you get into a comfort zone really quickly,” says Goddard, remembering a promotional dealers’ test ride last winter. The same test ride sold Bromley on it, too: “It dominates the whoops and I didn’t bottom out once,” he says, expecting other manufacturers to come out with similar systems.

Ski-Doo MX Z TNT
Ski-Doo introduced its first “track ‘n’ trail” model in 1969, with a consumer model influenced by racing sleds. Ski-Doo still takes ideas from racing sleds for their consumer models, and reviewers have called this machine “a powder keg of fun.” Riders who know the machine also note how easily they can flick the lightweight machine for late turn-ins. As one wrote: “This sled’s forte isn’t so much speed getting to the corner, but speed getting around it.”

Arctic Cat F8 HO
According to Transcona Trailer co-owner Terry Bromley, the 2010 F8 HO is the best universal machine due to its power, performance, ride and handling. Arctic Cat has always been known for its performance sleds, and despite falling off the map the past couple of years, The company’s back on track with the new HO motor. The 160+ horsepower machine has air shocks on the front suspension that is adjustable to any rider’s weight, has adjustable handlebars which Bromley says no other machine can offer, and an adjustable seat to get a smooth ride with less pressure on the back no matter the bumpiness of the trail. The flat-riding Twin Spar chassis ensures the machine is balanced and 
therefore easier to steer.

Polaris FST IQ Touring
The Polaris FST IQ Touring sled weighs in at nearly 300 kg, but a turbocharged 4-stroke engine delivers 140 horsepower with enough performance for a smooth, quick ride on trail. One enthusiastic reviewer liked FST IQ Touring because “smoothness with an infusion of testosterone counts...when the long corridor trail stretches out ahead, this rider likes a little muscle flex from his throttle thumb and the Polaris turbo provides it with good on-the-move acceleration.”

Yamaha RS Venture GT (206)
Germain says this sled has a solid ride with very comfortable riding positions for one or two people. The rider-forward seat puts the driver high on the chassis for easy transition from sitting to standing position, and close to the steering column to reduce arm-strain over long distances.The resulting upright position–straight back and squared legs–mimics a touring motorcycle ride. Long-travel suspension–nine inches in front and 12 inches in back–adds the the ride’s luxury, flattening out the bumps on a 120-horsepower ride. 

Ski-Doo Grand Touring SE
Ski-Doo is known as a company that respects the needs of people on long snowmobile trips, producing smooth-running, two-up machines you can ride for miles and miles. With an improved rear spring, the Grand Touring SE makes a plush ride plusher. It has a heated seat, not uncommon in this category, four-position adjustable steering, and the on-the-fly suspension adjustment makes one reviewer “wonder if the passenger is even on the back of the sled.”