Coming to America

It’s the snowmobile that everyone is talking about, the Lynx Rave and its deep snow brother, the Lynx Boondocker. For those who’ve been around this crazy industry a while, it’s finally happened – the Lynx brand is coming to America. While most will see the Lynx as a brighter colored version of a SkiDoo – its parent company. A look beyond the skin reveals a snowmobile that in many ways remains true to its roots. True to a time when the Lynx was a much different animal, engineered and manufactured for the unique demands, terrain and competition found in its home country Finland and neighboring Scandinavian countries. While we won’t dive deep into the history of Lynx (you can watch a very insightful series on the brand called 5 Decades 5 Stories at story.brplynx.com) much of the rationale behind the North American 2022 Lynx Rave can be traced backed to the formidable sleds the company produced for competition during the late 80s and throughout the 90s. Afterall, Scandinavia is the birthplace of snocross. Beyond competitive reasons, Finland’s riding terrain is also vastly different. A network of groomed trails does not exist. Instead, riders travel over natural terrain that inherently gets rougher throughout the season. In other words, banging ditches is child’s play compared to the terrain Finnish snowmobile enthusiasts encounter. Here’s what sets the Rave apart from the rest of the herd and why it just might be the best factory built, nasty terrain buggy ever.

You’ll find and feel the biggest difference of the Rave thanks to this, the PPS3 suspension. The unique rear-arm design allows the system to offer uncoupled movement with a progressive rate throughout.

WHAT IS A PPS3?

We won’t try to spin doctor this one, the truth is much of the Lynx Rave is in fact what you’ve come to know as a GEN4 Ski-Doo. Of course, the marketing folks have put their stamp on it with names like the Radien chassis and the LFS+ front suspension. All the narrowness and active rider attributes we’ve come to know and love with GEN4 are here and riding active is really what the Lynx Rave is all about. The true uniqueness of the Rave is found much closer to the snowpack, at the rear suspension. Dubbed the PPS3, the skidframe is a third-generation design named after Pauli Piippola, one of the most decorated Scandinavian snowmobile racers of all time. It was Pauli and then plant manager Juhani “Jussi” Tapio who transformed Lynx from a utility snowmobile brand to a performance one starting with the iconic Lynx GLS 3300. It was this snowmobile in 1983 that took Lynx from zero to hero in racing. The fully independent design of the PPS3 3500 rear suspension is geared for rough terrain. Unlike a coupled design, the PPS3 allows the front and rear arms of the suspension to operate independently of each other throughout the entire range of motion. While this often sacrifices comfort on “typical” rough trails at “typical” trail speeds, the PPS3 shines when pushed to the limit and ridden with a high level of activity. The suspension is also a true progressive design, which allows it to be compliant over small bumps and then “ramp-up” the “stiffness” for the big ones. According to factory representatives, the latest iteration is nearly 7lbs lighter than its predecessor, and has more controllable weight transfer, meaning you can “wheelie” over trail debris when you want to, and set the skis with confidence in the turns.

Top shelf shocks grace the front of the Rave. These monster sized KYB units have all the adjustability to test your shock tuning aptitude. The Rave comes with an aggressive Ice Ripper XT 137-inch track with 1.5lugs topped with integrated studs. Traction should not be an issue.

NOT JUST RACE INSPIRED…RACE EQUIPPED

If the Rave looks similar to the race engineered MXZx race sled from Ski-Doo, you wouldn’t be that far off. Up front the LFS+ front suspension delivers the same 42.2-inch ski-stance as the black and yellow racer with the easy steer, bump steer eliminating steering rack for predictable handling in the roughest terrain. Supporting the front suspension are premium KYB Kashima coated HLCR shocks. The robust acronym stands for “high speed, low speed, compression and rebound” all the controls you’ll find on these high-end shocks to completely tailor the ride to the terrain and your preference. At the bottom of all this front-end technology you’ll find a Blade XC+ ski, a design that has been engineered to complement the LFS+ suspension. The design is a wide, long ski with three stepped keel shape that brings great directional stability, offering less traction variance in different snow types for widely varying conditions. With Blade XC+ the steering is always predictable and sharp, no matter if the trail is icy, rutted, slushy or covered by fresh snow.

The Blade XC+ ski features a three-step keel design for optimum bite without heavy steering effort in a variety of conditions.

EXCLUSIVELY WICKED

The Lynx Rave is not for everyone. With its racing pedigree and independent rear suspension, it’s a sled for the active rider who seeks out rough terrain versus avoids it. The adage that you have to “push” this sled to enjoy it has never been truer.

But ride quality aside, the sizzle of this red hot-rod sits atop the charts for the 2022 winter season. Owning the Rave will rekindle the “good old days” when new iron would attract a crowd at the local trailside hydration and nourishment joint faster than yelling “free beer.”

Given this is the first “true” North American Lynx snowmobile should be reason enough to love and respect the Rave. Add to this spring only exclusivity, premium components, and a unique rear suspension with a riding experience unlike any other and you have a snowmobile with historical significance before it even speeds across the first midwest snowfall of the season.

While the Radien name is new, the (ahem) GEN4 cockpit of the Rave features all the narrowness and ease of movement we’ve come to love.

Manufacturers Recognize the Power and Influence of “Average Joes”

MICHAEL KEITH

State: Michigan Sled: 850 Indy XC 137 Favorite Place to Ride: Baldwin, Michigan Mike fell in love with snowmobiling 38 years ago at the age of 14 when his family relocated from Southern Indiana to west Michigan. Mike enjoys riding with family and friends. He lives for the ever-changing scenery and passion snowmobilers share. Mike typically rides 3,000 miles a season and has ridden almost all of Michigan’s trails. Mike is hoping to get back out to Pennsylvania and northern Ontario for more riding adventures soon. Snowmobiling is Mike’s way to social distance from the world and get away from life’s everyday distractions. Mike is also a member of MISORVA, Michigan’s state snowmobiling and off-road vehicle association, and two local clubs where he helps maintain the trail system and operates a groomer when mother nature cooperates. A trail rider that likes covering a lot of distance, Mike often is taking pictures of various sights so he can share his passion for snowmobiling with others. Many friendships have been made at continental breakfast talking snowmobiles and safety so we can all ride another day. Sharing his passion for Polaris snowmobiles and discussing future snowmobile adventures is always part of Mike’s agenda. In the off- season Mike enjoys spending time with his family, dogs, camping, fishing, and hunting.

MATTHEW CHIMENTO

State: Minnesota Sled: 850 Switchback Assault 146 Favorite Place to Ride: Northern Minnesota Matt has been riding for over 25 years and has been obsessed with Polaris since he got his first XLT scale model toy. He grew up riding the woods, swamps, and fields of Minnesota’s Iron Range region on an Indy 440; a sled he purchased at the age of 15 after saving his money from mowing lawns during the summer months. Looking to expand his riding passion beyond Minnesota, Matt took his first trip to West Yellowstone and became hooked on backcountry and crossover riding. Today he tackles the terrain on what feels is the best crossover to fit his riding passion, a Polaris SKS 146. Matt loves the feel of crisp cool air, the faint smell of 2 stroke smoke, and the sense of adventure that every snowmobile trip brings. An active member of the Hamel Sno Runners and the Northwest Trails Association of Minnesota, his passion for keeping the sport of snowmobiling vibrant and getting others in the community involved in building the trail network around the Twin Cities metro. An engineer by day, Matt also enjoys sharing his passion riding the trails on weekends with his wife Kathy or doing endless circles around the yard with his twins and their Polaris XC 120.

Social media has turned everyday folks from across the globe into recognizable influencers. In the snowmobile industry, such awareness was once formerly reserved for high profile racers and record-breaking explorers. However, that’s all changed as more riders like you and me are taking center stage as manufacturers and aftermarket companies alike recognize the power of everyday enthusiasts.

MATT DOWNEY

State: Upper Peninsula of Michigan Sled(s): Backcountry X-RS 850 146, Summit X 850 154 Favorite Place to Ride: Upper Peninsula Backcountry When Matt isn’t pouring concrete, operating heavy equipment, or moving dirt for a landscaping project, you’ll find him wherever there’s snow. A native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Matt Downey appears to be the ideal Ski-Doo ambassador. “Being on a snowmobile is one of the best feelings in the world,” Matt said. This mindset would explain why you rarely find him “not” on a snowmobile. As soon as riding conditions permit, Matt is carving up the backcountry both here in the midwest and all places west as well. Matt has parlayed his summer work ethic into a snowmobile guide venture called Keweenaw Snow Expeditions which keeps him busy guiding, filming and coaching riding clinics. “I do enjoy riding the backcountry of the U.P. of Michigan,” Matt said. “The terrain varies quite a bit here, from logging roads to meadows to steep hardwoods. The U.P. offers plenty of deep powder days and steep, technical tree riding. But in my heart, the mountains will always hold a special place. To me, that is where the real riding is at.” Still, no matter the terrain or the company, Matt can’t stop grinning when he’s on a snowmobile. “The thing I love most about snowmobiles is the camaraderie and teamwork that is involved for every ride to go smoothly. The friendships and relationships that are created from sharing the passion for snowmobiling is unlike any other.”

TROY OLESON

State: Wisconsin Sled(s): 2021 X-RS Renegade 900 ACE Turbo & Summit 165 Favorite Place to Ride: Logging the miles on overnight trips in the Wisconsin northwoods. Troy was born and raised in the northwoods of Wisconsin – home to good old fashioned midwestern winters. The snowdrifted ditches are deep and the trails through trees are tight, but the beauty is often something to behold. Originally from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Oleson is a third-generation SkiDoo rider who cut his teeth like most riders in this area of the snowbelt – with his grandfather at the age of five. Someone who enjoys the people of the sport almost more than the ride, you’ll always find a smile under his helmet, and more than few miles clicked off his odometer. A former snocross racer on the WSA National tour, Troy enjoys midwestern trail riding, but he still can’t get the bumps of snocross out of his system. “I love a 200-mile plus day on the trail with a combination of freshly groomed trails as well as some really whooped out sections to keep pushing me to be a better rider.” While the thrill of the ride is what attracted Troy to the sport, it’s the people and places that have captured his heart. “When I’m out on my sled, whether it is trail riding with my family or exploring the mountains with friends, you can’t wipe the smile off my face. Exploring new places and meeting new people… that’s what it’s all about.”