OSM 37.2

The CX Jacket & Clutch FX Pant combo packs a serious punch. Ride confidently knowing your suit has true lifesaving flotation technology with F.A.S.T. 3.0™ and Thermal Flex™ insulation.

FXR’s advanced technologies retain your flexibility and warmth, even in extreme colds. When the temps start to rise or your ride pace quickens, regulate your core temperature with our Dry Vent™ technology and stay dry with our high-performance HydrX Pro™ system.

Our Clutch FX Pant’s pre-curved knees offer an excellent fit for stand-up or sit-down riding. With durable shell material and dry knee inserts – withstand any trail with ease.

BOOST POWER

ASSAULTED

Off trail Pah beware. The naturally aspirated 850 Patriot is still Polaris’s most popular weapon for crossing over.

Rider - Logan Skallet

Snowmobile - Polaris 850 Switchback Assault 146

Shooter - T. Willy Location - Off Trail

BALANCED

There’s a little ballerina in everyone. Boncher keeps everything in check with his body language.

Rider - Mark Boncher

Snowmobile - Arctic Cat Riot X

Shooter - T. Tickles

Location - Backwoods Montana

clicked THE RIGHT STUFF

Backcountry

riders make it look effortless.

Rider - Tyler Swarm Snowmobile - Ski-Doo 850 Backcountry Shooter - DT Location - Island Park, Idaho

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President & Publisher: Richard Kehoe

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Photographers: Todd Williams, Rob Alford, Emily Wicklund, Taylor Batch, James Wicken, Rob Alford, Richard Kehoe, Tendra Crossman, Maria Sandberg, Shelby Mahon, Chris Burandt, Brian Caswell, Levi LaVallee, Kristen LaVallee, Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier Archives, Mike Duffy, Andrew McEwan, Brent Geerlings

Contributing Writers: Mark Boncher, Jeff Steenbakkers, Jason Kawczynski, Levi LaVallee, Chris Burandt, Tyler Swarm, Darren Desautels, Maria Sandberg, Rob Alford, Jordan Hammack, Richard Kehoe, Mike Duffy, Andrew McEwan, Brent Geerlings, Jake Hudson

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The Atom SV is the ultimate helmet for long-distance snowmobilers. Includes breath guard and amber inner visor. Available with double or electric quick-release shield. Also includes a quick release micrometric buckle and a removable/washable lining.

Nodoubt

the fall is a busy time for sledders with all the field events and races, swap meets, not to mention the preseason maintenance and of course fall shows!

The swaps we were able to get to this year were good especially Hay Days. Honestly, we had a blast!

In this issue’s “Scene It” feature, we covered the swap and some of the junk at Hay Days incase you yourself missed it. We made sure to include a lot of great photos for you so you could see what you missed, as it’s always entertaining to see what is found in the depths of any swap meet. If you have never been to Hay Days put it on your Bucket list. There is a lot more to do than just the swap. There’s lots of racing, freestyle shows and an outdoor exhibitor showcase.

After Hay Days we start our indoor fall show tour which is back this year. Our next stop on the way to the snow season is the NFP Toronto International Snowmobile,

ATV & Powersports Show, October 21-23, 2022 at the International Centre. The 35th Annual Show is going to be a snowmobilers, ATV and Side-by-Side enthusiast’s fantasy. At the Toronto Show there’s always a lot to do. Not only is it a monster trade show filled with exhibitors and features a live indoor freestyle show. There are other events going like the Yamaha kids ATV test track, ARGO Centaur rides for the lucky, industry celebrities to meet like Blair Morgan, CASI ATV training on a indoor mulch track and of course there is the OFSC’s driver training. These are just some of the events taking place at the Show. No matter where you reside in the snowbelt be sure to get out and take in some snowmobile events that you have been missing for the last few years. You will be glad you did and were able to see some familiar faces. Until next time I’ll be in the shop testing some “shop motivation” for our next issue and of course doing some needed preseason armchair racing.

* as per Jeff Steenbakker STV S21 E07

Motorsports Suspension Specialists

Motorsports Suspension Specialists

TURBO’S AIN’T NEW FELLAStake 7

By OSM’s finest

When it comes to power and the desire for more power out of your engine, turbos deliver it. For twenty years, snowmobile manufacturers have been playing within this field and have not always been successful. In this issue we take a quick look into seven turbo snowmobiles, dating back to the early 2000s.

2005 ARCTIC CAT T660 TURBO

When it came to the T660 line-up over the years, the early bird 2005 edition was the prettiest one of the lot. The candy apple red paint and seat with racing side pads featured a white skunk racing stripe and chrome windshield that stuck out everywhere, and if you didn’t get the early buy, you simply missed out. The naturally aspirated T660s were the original Yellowstone Park four-stroke snowmobiles, and for good reason! They were extremely quiet, easy to operate for the beginner, and had new-at-the-time, trendy, environmentally responsible emissions, not to mention it could safely go long periods without engine servicing. This is what the T660 Turbo ST was based on. The very quiet and smooth T660 Turbo ST was short lived, leaving many in the Cat Club disappointed with most owners holding on to their machines for lengthy periods, and racking up the miles. The engine was what owners seemed to love most; the Turbo 660 was a proven engine and was the same turbo four-stoke, three-cylinder, 110HP engine found in the Suzuki Swift automobile. Running down rail grades or across the frozen lakes, the T660 Turbo ST would give fits to many 700cc class snowmobiles while wheeling by them. However, once they got side by side on the tighter trails, this Cat lost its performance edge and felt heavy. Sadly, by 2005 the snowmobile market was changing and in transition. The arrival of more rider positioned forward, skinnier and lighter snowmobiles were taking over the market, and the T660 Turbo ST found itself alone and outdated.

2006 POLARIS FST

Polaris first entered the snowmobile turbo market in 2006 with two models, the FST Touring and the FST Classic. Both snowmobiles featured a 135HP (@15 pounds of boost), turbo charged 750cc, twin-cylinder Liberty engine. There was some buzz with Polaris’ entry into the turbo four-stroke market, with their media book claiming that speeds of 110+ mph on premium fuel were attainable. Many owners, including OSM can attest that the FST never pulled those digits, even when lighting it on fire and using rocket fuel!

The Trail Luxury, FST Classic came in the sultry IQ chassis with the buttery, FAST M-10 128 rear suspension with a then ground-breaking 1.25” lugged track. The hit list of the FST Classic didn’t end there; it also featured PERC (push button reverse), rider select steering, allowing the rider to choose an aggressive, forward seating position, or rancho relax-o cruiser style with your feet up. This sled was also one of the very first not to come with a pull cord, even for a dead battery backup situation. All-in-all, the FST didn’t exactly meet the performance rider’s checklist, but made its way to star in Polaris’ touring line-up for 8 years, where it then quietly… just went away. We never saw an abundance of FST’s on the trails. Truth is, we saw the most FST’s at one place at one time, and they were all for sale at various swap booths at Haydays 2022. Realistically, I don’t think many of them were runners.

2017 YAMAHA SIDEWINDER/ ARCTIC CAT THUNDERCAT

Looking back six years in the past, one may have forgotten about the progression that became lovingly known now as the “YamaCat turbo”. Charging through boundaries to create the staple four-stroke that was born in 2003 with the RX-1, the excitement that many snowmobilers of the time were craving – paving the way for what was to be today’s modern-day Donald Trump of pure, uncontrolled raw power.

The launch of the Sidewinder/Thundercat was one to remember, allowing the owner a choice. If you were fond of the Yamaha camp, you could choose your Sidewinder in Yamaha blue, paired with a brand-new chassis (Arctic Cat), which wasn’t exactly new, but was in the Yamaha trim. Or if you were more excited with the Arctic Cat brand, you could choose it in a kitty-kat cloak, with a new, super powerful beast of a motor (Yamaha) that came living in an existing chassis. No matter which way you sliced it, the Yama-Cat was born in its current Yamaha 998cc turbo motor, bolted into the Pro-Ride Arctic Cat body.

When it was released, it was grossly under-advertised that the Yamaha 998cc motor was actually only providing 180HP. This number barely eclipsed the competition’s high-horsepower 2 -strokes. The horsepower number was properly increased to 200+, and the Yam-Cat deservingly and quickly was known as an ultra-dependable machine that worked so well, right out of the box.

It seems like it was just yesterday we were all screaming for this motor to be in a sled. It was kind of an unspoken inevitability that a 900 Ace turbo would be featured in the BRP’s snow division catalogue at some point. However, no one knew when.

The 900 Ace Turbo made its way into the Ski-Doo line-up in the Renegade X, X-RS, and the Mach Z models.

The motor was (and still is) extremely smooth, quiet, and is the lightest of any 4-stroke turbo that’s mass produced in the sled world. Fuel mileage is good, when you’re not constantly into the turbo. Many of us ride and take advantage of the turbo power and it’s left us surprised when filling up at the pump, with the increased fuel consumption. One of our questions when it comes to the Ace Turbo is why didn’t they come out with enough horsepower to truly compete with the long legs of the 998cc Yamaha Turbo?

Being in the Gen4 chassis, this sled handled the trail bumps as good or better than most, and had many in the wider trail systems loving the mannerisms and characteristics of their ride. Many were never fans of the fly-by-wire throttle system that was easy to push, was adjustable, and was advertised has giving the rider less fatigue. Most performance riders (which is what the ACE Turbo attracted), didn’t really ask for an easier to operate throttle. Over the years, Ski-Doo listened to their customers, addressed this and rectified it. We don’t expect this motor to be disappearing from the line-up anytime soon.

This is the first true factory, big production 2-stroke turbo to enter the market. No question about it, that’s the claim to fame here, and it’s no small feat. Turbos on 2-strokers have been around for a long time, but Ski-Doo was the first to really get the OEM power wars shifted into 2-stroke hyperdrive when they released this sled. Guys and gals from all corners wanted one, trail folks begged for one, crossover people screamed that they were more deserving… and so on and so forth.

A factory 2-stroke was now going to compete both in weight and maneuverability, and in those super steep hill-climb chutes-andladders games the 4-stroke turbo guys had been playing in for years. A naturally aspirated 2-stroke loses roughly 24% of its power when you get to 8,000 feet of elevation. If you do the math on an 850, it’s more equivalent to a 600cc sled at 8,000 feet. With this 850 Turbo, Ski-Doo now has a two stroke that is capable of making the same power at sea-level as it does at elevation.

In ‘22, Ski-Doo is still evolving their 2-stroke turbo offerings, with the help of the competition gearing up to enter the same market. The Gen 4 looks were freshened up with a new, lightweight hood and a super narrow 35.8-inch stance on the narrowest setting, which made this sled a tight tree slayer, AND a big, powder climbing animal.

This move surprised no one. Polaris delivered the Turbo 850 in their popular AXYZ chassis in 2021 in their mountain sleds. This left the flat lander asking why are you leaving us out again…Polaris answered the call. It seemed like Polaris was able to get its middle school revenge on BRP with a fury. Sure, BRP made it to the top of the mountain first, but Polaris will hit the big flat land market with a sonic boom.

Polaris catapulted itself into the lead in the twostroke turbo war with the VR-1 and Assault trail sleds, in the brand new Matryx chassis, that comes in a trio of 129”-137”-146” short track trail animals. While not quite matching the top-end power of the Yamaha built Turbo motors, the lightweight designs come close to the power to weight ratio when screaming across the lake. Polaris was able to hit the mark and spike the ball in the end zone first, giving the die-hard, trail riding, two-stroke enthusiasts more wanted power without sacrificing their ability to throw a sled around, just like their naturally aspirated predecessors.

www.osmmag.com

GOT RISER

tand up and let the loud can bark! At our recent journey to Hay Days 2022, we tasked our starving, striving, and one time only photojournalist Jason Kawczynski, to find a few big risers and sharing his thoughts on why he picked them. We were a bit shocked to see what he came back with. One of them could possibly be the winner of all time.

If you have seen a crazy handlebar riser set up in your neck of the woods send it to us at info@osmmag.com If we use it, expect to find a crispy, freshly pressed OSM t-shirt jammed in your mailbox.

This is as serious as you can get, needing more inches of riser to match your riding style. The riser combined with 6” of the natural Pro Taper Bar rise says it all. The combo got me thinking as to why snowmobiles have bothered to evolve past this. They could have stopped here and everyone would have been happy Brah’.

I know many of you are saying that you could order a 10” riser block with your new sled back in 2013, and this sled should not qualify. This is true, but I wanted to include this riser simply for the sales sticker. In typical swapper fashion the “sticker” price has been slashed from $5,500 to $5,000, to Sunday’s “Make Offer”. This means it will probably be back for sale next year, and hopefully, the owner will be wearing a fresh smelling, free OSM shirt.

The Widescape just made me laugh with Boncher on it. This riser is needed, and this is actually a stand-up snowmobile, making big riser blocks completely required. Photographed here is the kid’s riser, but we think adults would require a minimum of a 12” riser.

And the winner goes to Kale Wainer at the Arctic Insider. This multi-level 6’4” riser/screen combo is the next industry standard. No need to ever think of sitting again, while crushing the deep snow and launching off picnic tables at the KOA in Rochester Minnesota.

The plaid skinned MXZ 800 caught my eye from afar, as it resembled a Christmas tablecloth from the 70s. But when I got closer, it was a little more Franken’Sled than Christmas themed. The 12” riser with 90-degree handle bar hooks looks hard to ride unless you were giving it hard, pulling Supermans all day long in the deep “Pah”. The owner also installed an old Polaris mountain seat on the 136” MXZ, which tells me he isn’t just pulling Supermans in the backyard, but also seat grabs…Bitchin’

Standing up blurping the throttle on this turbo, four-cylinder (we counted the stickered exhaust pipes on the side) Hemi engine could not have been made easier or safer. The builder clearly thought of everything that the industry has been asking for. Now, there is no excuse not to notice what your speed is, or what the turbo Hemi is revving with the 55” multi use screen. Unbeknownst to me, some of the key features of this 6’ 4” riser/screen combo is MapQuest, and the ability to stream old episodes of the Golden Girls.

sceneit

Three Guys Go Deep HAY DAYS 2022

When we arrived at the Pearlie Gates at Hay Days 2022 to set up this year Jason Kawcynski unwrapped his new Nikon and three guys; Boncher, Kawcynski and Kehoe, went deep into the swap, where, no man, no beast has ever gone before… well at least has ever come out empty handed.

They ventured deep into the madness in seek of some of the best deals and some of the best swappers delight for 2022.

If you haven’t been or missed a few years, it’s time to dust off the old work boots and Levi’s for next fall and start planning to head to North Branch, Minnesota. But for now, lean back crack a cool one and check out why Jason is known for writing editorial and not snapping photos.

Arctic Cat unveiled their future moves.

Boncher photo bombs the Polaris intro.

Everyone can look like a hero when the Widescape isn’t moving.

The sexiest trio in the entire swap. A Cougar, a mauve Excel III and an F-III triple triple.

Our favorite sponsored sled at Hay Days.

When

We found the other part on the grill two aisles over.

When you go deep, the deals get better. Even late in the day, our collective math said that 6 Busch Lights are a lot cheaper than $20.

Sometimes we had to leave Jason behind to explain what/why he was taking pictures of.

Arctic pulled the sheets of their new chassis the crowds were there in anticipation.

The nights can make the days very long at Hay Days.

The

Hand painted masterpieces can still be found.

#1 Snocross racer Ishoel’s precision keel cut skis.

Dead giveaway. When a fresh piece of yellow tape is being used as gas cap you know that the gas isn’t fresh.

Argo introduced their all-electric model and allowed the media to test drive it. Kehoe demonstrated that smooth is fast and smooth is enjoyable for the passengers.

vintage section featured monster three cylinder sleds this year and it didn’t disappoint.

Boncher launches the 8-wheeled electric beast off the whoops and tests all the suspension that the tires had to offer. Demonstrating that not being smooth is damn right terrifying for the passengers.

OSM’s rookie wheel man Jake decided we’d all be safer and better off if he rode in the passenger seat back to Canada.

The future is bright. If you have little guys engage them and bring them to Hay Days, there’s a lot for them to check out.

$5 bargains are everywhere.

Free 16th place trophies are not abundant, but we found them. While in the swap remember to steer clear of Free S**T!

At Hay Days, Pie Plates have become the go to for price tags.

BY JASON KAWCZYNSKI

hoices, that’s the name of the game these days in the snowmobile world. Even with only four manufacturers alive in 2023, versus the 250+ since the first single track snowmobile inception in the 1950’s, you still have more model choices than ever to fit your overly specific needs. But if you must pick just one segment for a do-all group of sleds, there is an industry definition that fits perfectly, the crossover market. This might be a contested definition of the segment when you get deep in discussion with your riding buddies. We consider a crossover as a sled that could be your primary trail sled but still get you home safe on those epic snowstorm days… especially while hitting your favorite off-trail shortcut, or even crushing some high elevation powder from time to time.

Our top 5 wasn’t easy to agree on, but we gave our test riders one simple directive; “Pick a 2023 sled that is your favorite easy riding, do-itall machine.” The only rule was that it must be naturally aspirated, so no turbos or power-adders allowed. Here we go!

Number 5:

Arctic Cat Riot ATAC 8000

This was one of my personal picks as I spent a lot of time on it last season, and for 2023, it didn’t really change a whole lot. For me, Arctic Cat Chassis are somewhat of a different animal compared to say a Ski-Doo or Polaris. The front-end geom etry is unique and takes some getting used to when bouncing back and forth between brands. But after racking on quite a few miles and playing extensively with the Fox Zero iQS shocks controlled by the ATAC adjustable on-the-fly electronic suspension, it was quite easy to dial in the settings without having to get off the sled, let alone break out the tool bag. On

the trail, this sled really shined. The longer track balanced out the chassis nicely, and setting the ATAC a bit stiffer, you were able to rail the corners with little to no ski lift. Jumping off trail, we softened it up a bit and got some more playful response from it.

The new to 2022 Adapt CVT clutching works re ally well in a crosso ver sled, keeping

the belt at a seemingly constant operation, whether you were on a hard packed trail or in deep powder. Before the days of Adapt, we did occasionally run into belt issues when burying some of our Cats in the deep, and smelling that dreaded rubber scent. But with this setup, and running in a lot of different conditions, there was none of that nonsense to worry about.

Of all the sleds in this article, we felt that it was a bit more work to get on edge or power through some of the off-trail terrain. Maybe this was due to the tighter coupling between the skis, as I know of some other riders who swear by a quick disconnect sway bar for their off-trail use. But with the adjustable 41.5-43.5-inch stance and the 7-inch wide G2 Proclimb skis, it’s relatively easy to change on a pre-ride basis, and can make a big difference when you are planning where you will spend the majority of your ride.

UNDER THE HOOD IS CAT’S PROVED 800CC CTEC2 MOTOR.

FOX ZERO IQS SHOCK ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE ATAC ELECTRONIC SUSPENSION.

CONTOURED RUNNING BOARDS OFFER SUPERB GRIP TO KEEP THE RIDER ON THIS PONY.

HUGE REAR GRAB BAR GIVES PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THOSE BIG HANDED, HEAVY LIFTING RESCUE BUDDIES.

Number 4:

2023 Ski-Doo Renegade

If you want a Ski-Doo Gen-5 package in a crossover sled, then the Renegade is the best, and more or less your only option. Outfitted with a 137x15x1.5-inch Ice Ripper XT, she churned through the powder surprisingly well. This track is a good compromise for people that want a bit of hard pack traction, but not the added weight of a full set of studs. The only change we made from stock was to order a set of wider Ski-Doo OEM DS-2 skis, and set the adjustable 42-44-inch spacers to the narrowest setting. Okay, yea this is cheating a bit, but this was kind of a mandatory need for this sled. Considering that BRP makes this extremely affordable as an accessory at time of order for only $339.00, which includes two EXTRA complete skis with loops and carbides, it’s something that everyone should consider from day one.

What do you get with a Gen5? Well, the ride is not too much different overall, but more importantly, it addressed some of the biggest complaints that Ski-Doo was lack ing with the Gen4. First, a standard LED headlight. Sure, many modded their G4’s to fix this, or added the LED auxiliary light bar, but seeing is believing, and this was a huge box to check as a standard option. More importantly, the Gen5 redesign allowed for a more secure 4-point motor mounting which nearly eliminated the annoying vibrations at idle that the E-tec of previous G4 line age delivered. At idle you now have to listen much closer to hear the sled running, and you can read your display and/or GPS much better as the sled isn’t shaking, not to mention that the

huge 10.5-inch screen that is standard on this X-RS package is fantastic.

Our X-RS was equipped with the KYB Pro Smart-Shox which are somewhat similar to the Fox Zero iQS package on the Arctic Cat and Yamaha sleds, with easy adjustments right on the handlebars. Instead of a hard to soft nomenclature, BRP adjustments are more exciting and descriptive… choose your mode, comfort, to sport+. A big difference here that gives the KYB package an edge is that it uses an integrated sensor to provide feedback and on-the-fly adjustment, which was very effective on keeping the sled flat and the skis planted on the corners.

While it might take a bit more talent to plow through the deepest powder, any rider with some seat time on this sled figured it out quickly and was taunting some of the mountain sleds on a few rides with skillful maneuvers, jumping everything in sight.

WHAT DO YOU GET WITH A GEN5? WELL, THE RIDE IS NOT TOO MUCH DIFFERENT OVERALL, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT ADDRESSED SOME OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS THAT SKI-DOO WAS LACKING WITH THE GEN4.

KYB PRO SMART-SHOX GIVE AUTOMATIC ON-THE-FLY ADJUSTMENT THAT YOU CAN’T GET WITH ANY OF THE COMPETITION.

A-LAST…LED HEADLIGHTS ARE STANDARD ON ALL GEN 5’S.

DON’T THROW AWAY THOSE OLD G4 ACCESSORIES, THEY WILL MOUNT RIGHT UP TO THIS NEW G5 CHASSIS.

THE X-RS PACKAGE ON THIS RENEGADE GIVES YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS ALL AROUND.

Number 3:

Polaris 850 Assault 146 with a 2-inch lug

The Assault has always been a popular choice for every one of our test riders, and moving it to the Matryx chassis two years ago just made it better. The 850 Patriot is a great motor, and on season three of production, it’s now proven reliability is a breath of fresh air for Polaris die-hards. Truthfully, we do love the Patriot Boost in this sled even more, so that was in the back of a lot of our minds while riding the naturally aspirated version.

Paired with the 15x146x2-inch crosso ver track, it performed really well in all conditions, even on the trail. Its fully clipped design was a good match for the 850 motor versus the 650, as the 850 turned the larger track and somewhat softer lugs to perfection. Quick note here; we likely

have said plenty about the Ride Command 7S display and the thermostat controlled SmartWarm ers before, so we won’t elaborate too much, especially consider ing this Assault is mostly unchanged for 2023, other than the color choices.

The WER Velocity shock package and the IGX rear suspension aren’t new, but are great for all around riding,

and gives those hardcore riders lots of op tions for fine-tune adjustments. One of the only complaints that we have with this sled is that it has a non-adjustable 42.5-inch ski stance. Being a longer 146 track versus the 136-inch XCR, we wish that it could have been narrowed down a bit. Simply put, the option to order it with the 39-inch front end, like the 2023 SKS 146, would have been appreciated.

STANDARD LED LIGHTING CLEARLY SHINE THE WAY IN THE DARKEST OF NIGHTS.

WALKER EVANS VELOCITY SHOCKS OFFER EASY ADJUSTMENTS AND ELITE PERFORMANCE.

POLARIS OFFERS MANY ACCESSORIES BASED ON THE LOCK & RIDE SYSTEM SUCH AS THIS BURANDT BAG FOR EXTRA STORAGE.

Number 2:

I need to have a disclaimer here; this snowmobile is one of my favorites, and I have personally owned one for the past ten seasons. It might have just been higher than number two on the list, but in 2023, BRP elected to leave it on the Gen4 Chassis when the trail and mountain lineup got bumped up into the Gen5. That was a very interesting decision, as it’s one of Ski-Doo’s big sellers and the flagship of their crossover lineup. However, I guess we told ourselves that it was such a good sled from 2018 onwards into its current Gen4 package, why change it?

One of our favorite features is the narrow-mid width 39-41-inch adjustable front end and the classic DS2 ski. This ski/ stance combination alone makes for a per fect balance between a mountain and trail

sled, and this should be a basic feature of every model across all the different OEM crossovers.

For the huge weight savings and simplicity, the SHOT starting system is an awesome compliment to any sled, and is even more useful in those off-trail days

while leaving the battery weight behind. Also don’t forget those frigid mornings when you are swearing at yourself, wish ing you had also ordered that extra pull start option instead of scrambling to find a jump pack to bring your frozen battery back to life.

Why not the X-RS versus the X package you ask? Well, we loved the looks of the Matte Grey with red accents on the X. Plus, you still get a KYB rear shock and two matched HPG Plus shocks in the front and center that work extremely well; AND, you can save well over $1,000 versus the X-RS, while not sacrificing much in the performance level for a 50/50 crossover. So, while the decision is close, it’s only worth the upgrade to the X-RS if you spend most of your time on super bumpy trails, and always feel the need to hammer down.

FOR THE HUGE WEIGHT SAVINGS AND SIMPLICITY, THE SHOT STARTING SYSTEM IS AN AWESOME COMPLIMENT TO ANY SLED, AND IS EVEN MORE USEFUL IN THOSE OFF-TRAIL DAYS WHILE LEAVING THE BATTERY WEIGHT BEHIND.

WE LOVE THE INCOGNITO X DENOTING THIS MODEL ON AN OTHERWISE ALL BLACKED OUT SLED.

SKI-DOO’S DS-2 SKIS ARE STILL SOME OF THE BEST ON AND OFF TRAIL.

GEN4 SLEDS STILL RUN THE STANDARD HALOGEN LIGHTING SYSTEM WHICH NOW ENDS ON GEN5.

FOUR LINQ MOUNTS COME STANDARD, GIVING YOU SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ACCESSORY OPTIONS.

Number 1:

Yes, you read it right, there is a 600 class sled with the shortest track length of all the sleds in this group as numero uno! Let me start by stating that this Polaris 650 Patriot is really a great engine, and besides tearing across a lake, it really feels nearly as powerful as an 850 in most situations… but for some reason, the 650 just has a bit more of a fun factor. One of the other reasons to consider the 650 mo tor is our anticipated long-term reliability. When Polaris engineered the 850 motor, it started with a turbo and built it to withstand all the extra power. Remove the turbo and accessory components and you have the standard 850, but now drop the piston displacement while leaving the majority of every other part nearly the same, and you can make the same assumption that we did about this 650. This just might be

an endurance gem that high mileage, 2-stroke riders are salivating for.

Continuing on our sales pitch on the 650 motor, not only does it save you $1,100 before leaving the dealer, but its cost of ownership could be staggeringly less, considering the economy of its fuel and oil consumption. The 650 runs on 87 Octane, not 91+ Premium fuel, which in recent times, comes at an added 25% cost at most stations. Plus, Polaris claims that riders will get 4-stroke competitive fuel mileage at an estimated 25-45mpg, which should be in excess of 40% more than even its 600 Liberty predecessor, and far less, very costly synthetic oil consumption in the process. Buying one of these might just give you bragging rights on taking one big step forward toward saving the environment... well maybe not.

I DON’T KNOW 100% WHY THIS SLED FEELS SO EASY TO THROW AROUND AND PLOW THROUGH THE POWDER, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT DELIVERS

Riding on a similar WER Velocity shock package as the Assault, the XCR comes with the Pro-CC rear suspension, which is the main difference, but the CC works great. I don’t 100% know why this sled feels so easy to throw around and plow through the powder, but I can assure you that it delivers. You see a drift? Jump it! An untouched field? Rip that pow turn! I can sum it up quite simply – it’s damn fun! Not to mention that it is one of the cheaper packages of all the sleds listed here. Com pared to the Assault, which is technically badged as a crossover by Polaris, and the XCR a trail sled, you save 11lbs., and get a much more comfortable mid-sized riser for an average height rider. Again, we wish that you could get an inch or two of adjustability on the ski stance, but it felt less of a necessity on this more compact and lighter feeling Polaris 136.

Being that our rules were strictly based on the ride, and we disquali fied all turbos, that limits the Yamaha lineup quite a bit. But if you are 100% on the blue team, and a Yamaha own er, we didn’t want to leave you out. While Yamaha also has a Transporter 800 that would fit in the power class mix here a bit more appropriately, the 800 has only one-track option, which is a massive Camso Power Claw 153x 15x 2.25-inch lug track that just doesn’t ride all that well on the trails. The Transporter 400 might be un derpowered for getting tossed in this group, but the smiles somewhat make up for the lack of power. You are get ting a 38-inch-wide ski stance, which is the narrowest of the group, but paired with the super wide Yamaha Mountain skis, she gets you where you need to go off-trail, and you can toss it around with ease. Just don’t forget to keep on the gas! Yamaha doesn’t gear or clutch these 400cc sleds any differently across the track lengths, but by going to a 2.86-inch pitch driver, it uses that to accomplish turning the 146” track length properly. Kind of silly, but we really liked the rear rack. We couldn’t help but strap all kinds of random things such as our camera equipment to it. The rack gives great tie down point for whatever you could imagine you might need for the day’s adventure.

BY MARK BONCHER

or the most part, those of us in the powersports industry have seen meteoric rises in the prices of sleds, UTVs, watercraft, etc. However, there are plenty of good deals on new 2023 sleds that realistically buck the inflation trend when you look at the whole picture.

In this article, we list 22 sleds that all have an MSRP of under US$10k, allowing that some are slightly over that mark, depending on which side of the border you are on. But many/most of these sleds have all the capability and a lot more technology than similar sleds of just 15 years ago. Example - a 2008 Yamaha Phazer was roughly $7,399 brand new. Prices have not changed much at all in roughly 15 years for arguably better entry level sleds. The Phazer’s power to weight performance is similar to say the new MXZ Neo+, but in 2023, you get the latest Gen4 chassis, a better suspension, etc. for a similar dollar amount.

Bottom line, there are still good values in the snowmobile market, and these are those sleds.

Ski-Doo offers options

If you would have told me 15 years ago that Ski-Doo would arguably be offer ing more value and smaller options than any other OEM out there, I probably would not have believed you, but that’s the truth for 2023. There are at least 7 different options in the yellow team lineup this year that come in under the $10k mark, and more if you include the 120/200cc machines that are offered in different itera tions across the Cat, Yamaha, and now Ski-Doo brands (initially offered by just Arctic and Yamaha).

SCULPTED AND SMALL, THE ERGONOMICS OF THE NEO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SMALLER RIDERS TO MOVE AROUND ON

All these sleds are on the new for 2023 ‘NEO’ platform that is similar in idea to sleds that have been brought forth by other OEMs, being that it is a shorter; narrower; lighter; lower power; less ag gressive machine, built realistically for the ‘tweener’ market. The standard NEO has a de-tuned roughly 40hp 600 EFI motor, while the NEO+ has a slightly more power ful 55hp 600 EFI motor. I’ve actually or dered one of these for my family of riders, making their way into full-size sleds, so I’m pretty confident in both the motor, chassis, and suspension. These are efficient, fun, and capable, smaller machines for the ‘tweener’ market.

A major upside in purchasing one of these sleds is that they are significantly less expensive than the similar Blast and Venom sleds from Cat and Yamaha. We are talking a well over $1,000 difference when comparing similar packages. The NEO sleds do have slightly less power, but in testing the jump off the starting line, it goes to the NEO+ and top end is very close. These are 120-inch track sleds, and besides the upgraded motor, the plus models get better shocks, color-way, and a few more add-ons.

Similarly, the Summit NEO and Sum mit NEO+ have the smaller and larger 600 EFI engines respectively. These are 146-inch-long sleds, built to take on more off-trail forays, and the tracks are differ ent between a 146x14x1.6 Cobra on the standard, and 146x15x1.75 Hurricane FlexEdge on the Plus. The Plus also has upgraded HPG shocks and low mountain strap. Pricing is slightly more for the Summit versions, but still pretty reasonable in comparison to other new sleds in this market.

MXZ Sport 600 EFI, Renegade Sport 600 EFI, Backcountry Sport 600 EFI, Expedition Sport 600 EFI

Again, all these start at under US$10k (which was our baseline for this article). Each has the Rotax 600 EFI motor, but power is not restricted, so power is roughly 85hp, per Ski-Doo specs. The ‘Sport’ editions from Ski-Doo are their value or intro line of sleds, and honestly quite fun! The Backcountry Sport is particularly a standout of these sleds, and while the motor lacks the crazy power of a modern 800, many people forget that 85hp was the level of many higher performance machines not that long ago.

The MXZ Sport and all the other sleds here are in the Gen 4 platform, with electric start, reverse, and the RAS X front suspension that are all things in common with more spendy sleds. This is a 129-inch sled with a full 15x1.25 Ripsaw track as well, so there’s no skimp ing on the things that really matter. Shocks, motor strength, and additional features are not top of the line for sure, but this liquid cooled 2-stroke motor will gladly run on 87 octane.

MXZ Neo, MXZ Neo +, Summit NEO, and Summit NEO+

Yamaha quadruplets!

In the late 1980’s Yamaha dropped a bombshell on the small sled market with the introduction of the SnoScoot, and later the SnoSport. They already had the Bravo, but these two smaller, cooler, futuristic looking, motorcycle type sleds were truly something new. I can tell you that as a child of the 80’s, it did not matter how old you were, everyone wanted to ride them! Fast forward through the years of drought in the kids/tweener market, and Yamaha has teamed up with Arctic Cat to offer sleds to the recently minted snowmobile licensees in the market.

A FULL DOUBLE A-ARM FRONT SUSPENSION AND COIL OVER SHOCKS COMPLIMENTS THE CHASSIS GEOMETRY ON THE VENOM

SX Venom and SX Venom Mountain

Both of these sleds feature the 397cc lightweight 2-stroke, fuel injected, singlecylinder motor that also powers the similar Blast sleds from Arctic Cat. The Venom has a 14x121x1.00-inch Camso Hacksaw track, so slightly smaller lugs than the competing NEO trail sleds from Ski-Doo, but like we said earlier, this motor has a little more power. Truly the difference there is that this motor takes a little longer to get its legs under it, but has a longer stride at full speed. Stance is quite a bit smaller than a full-size sled at 38 inches, and it has a full, dual shock, long-travel rear sus pension. The Stryke skis on this one really work well for this application, and turning is light and predictable. Hydraulic twin tube shocks do the job of settling the bumps.

The Venom Mountain has a 146-inch rear suspension, and the great part here is that this is the mono-rail single-beam rear suspension, better known as the Alpha rear skid from Cat. This skid is lightweight, and really gives younger riders a better op portunity to feel what it is like to carve and sidehill. Plus, you get the added advan tage of a full 15x146x2-inch lugged track on the Venom, combined with the Yamaha mountain ski. All these have electric start and reverse as well.

Transporter Lite 2-up

The Transporter light is aimed at the value/utility market, but it is also a good option for an ‘in-between’ younger rider sled that has both on and off-trail capabili ties. There’s a big Cobra track with 1.6inch lugs, and a more utility oriented rear suspension that articulates in the back for crawling over obstacles or in reverse. The rear rack gives it the ‘utility feel’, but doesn’t really have an integrated stor age system to go with it. A big windshield keeps the pilot nice and warm too.

The Transporter Lite 2-up is similarly a 146-inch sled with a 1.6-inch lug track, but the main difference is obviously the 2-up seat. In addition, this rear suspen sion has overload springs in it which allow greater comfort for the added weight of a pas senger. As this is a touring machine, it comes with a nice big windshield and 20-inch tunnel bag to carry additional items for longer rides.

Arctic Cat is an influencer!

Arguably the Blast and Venom sleds re ally were the change-agent in the market, after the intro of the 200cc sleds that revived the smaller sled market. Much of that success is due to Cat, their chassis, motor, and certainly their collaboration with Yamaha. Cat really laid the groundwork with a fully new, purpose-built ¾-sized platform that they have built out to include trail, crossover, utility, touring, and moun tain sleds. These are not diminutive ver sions of sleds that were already in produc tion, so the task (and having the guts to do it) were monumental. 12-year-olds across North America should be thanking the guys and gals that took the steps to bring them a new group of machines, with all the bells and whistles that suit their needs.

SAME AS THE VENOM THE FRONT END OF THE BLAST TAKES THE BUMPS WITH EASE WITH THE HYDRAULIC TWIN TUBE SHOCKS

THE SHORT FRONT END OF THE BLAST IS UNMISTAKEABLE AND ALSO SIMILAR TO THE NEW CATALYST JUST TEASED BY CAT

Blast ZR

If you want a trail sled that anyone can ride, and have a hoot on, then look no further than the Blast ZR. It has been around for several years now, and we can tell you from personal experience that the only thing more fun than a bunch of dads blasting these around the trails is a bunch of dads (and moms) watching their kids having fun in a big group on these sleds. I’ve had the privilege to do both and can’t thank Cat enough for the smiles.

The ease of use for new riders is great with a turnkey electric start, and with push-button reverse, these sleds are easy-on and off the trailer, and the stability is excellent. That was a major concern with sleds like the old Ski-Doo Freestyle, or even the re-introduced Yamaha Phazer over a decade ago. They were more ‘tippy’ for lack of a better term, and that caused some reluctance in buyers. With an ad justable 37.5-38.5 ski stance, and a trail ski with split-dual carbide, this sled turns predictably and stays flat and low. It has a standard 14x121x1.00 lug track, so it is not too aggressive, but still has enough grip. Honestly, I feel that some slide in the rear end is good for beginners to learn how to ‘drift’ corners a bit, and with the stable front end, riders can learn this without too much apprehension.

The same 397cc single-cylinder EFI 2-stroke motor that is in the Venom, also powers all the Blast models, and a CVTech Trailbloc primary with CVTech Invance secondary clutch are mated to it. Braking on all the Blast sleds come from a Hayes Stealth hydraulic master cylinder with lightweight caliper.

Blast LT, Blast XR, Blast XR Touring

Technically, Cat puts the Blast LT in the ‘trail’ section of its lineup, but it is a 146-inch-long sled, so we feel it is really more of a crossover/utility. It has a Cobra 146-inch track with 1.6 lug, so it is really beefy and has off-trail capabilities. Same as its kissing cousin, the Yamaha Trans porter Lite, the Blast LT has an adjustable/ articulating end of the rear suspension. This Xtra-Action skid can be locked into place for more grip, or unlocked for flota tion, or riding/backing-up over obstacles in deeper snow. It gets the same rear rack too.

Also new for 2023, is the Blast XR and Blast XR touring! These are both 146-inch sleds with the 1.6 lug Cobra track with the XR made more for performance trail/cross over riding and the touring, well, obviously a 2-up for you guessed it, touring! The XR has a straight dual rail, dual shock rear skid with 12.5 inches of travel to soak up bumps and provide pretty decent off-trail action too. There is a little less top-end on the trails with the longer 146 length and bigger lugs, but it isn’t too severe. The XR Touring has a wider 40-inch stance in front which helps keep it even more stable, once you put an extra person on the back that changes the roll center dynamic. You also have a swaybar, plus in the rear suspension, there are overload springs to accompany the extra weight of 2 riders. If you are keeping track, this and the Transporter Lite 2-up are extremely similar, but for graphics.

Blast M and Blast M Limited

Featuring the Alpha One single-beam rear suspension, these are the most capable, deep snow ¾-sized sleds on the market. The Limited version has a narrow 35.5-37.5-inch adjustable ski stance up front that makes it even more easy to initiate powder turns and sidehills. The standard Blast M has an adjustable 3739-inch stance which still lets it be ½-inch narrower than the trail blast, where it’s already five inches narrower than a stand ard cat trail sled. Both M sleds have a 146inch Challenger track with big 2-inch lugs, which means more snow churning than anything else in the industry, in this size chassis. The Limited also has an IFP front track shock and even better, upgraded Fox Float 3 ski and rear suspension shocks. The standard Blast M has a 1.3 gallon larger fuel tank, but that is done to cut down on weight for the Limited model sled. Plus the Limited has a lightweight mountain seat. YOU CAN’T STOP SMILING ON THE LIGHTWEIGHT BLAST WHEN RIPPING DOWN THE TRAIL

Polaris pushed evolution with EVO

While other OEMs helped really turbo charge the tweener market back into reality, it was Polaris that was the spark on the smoldering inferno. The Red team launched the EVO line of smaller sleds in 2018. This was following the earlier releases from Cat and Yamaha and their smaller, yet very capable, ZR 200 and SnoScoot sleds. Those 200’s were a shot across the bow, and either Polaris took note, or they already had the EVO in development. Chicken or the egg scenario here, and it depends on who you ask how it all went down. Either way, a ton of credit needs to be heaped on Polaris for finally addressing an issue and attempting to add some much-needed water to the tweener/ novice new sled market desert.

SAME SPINDLES, AND MUCH MORE OF THE FULL SIZE SLED FRONT END IS USED ON THE EVO

THE EVO IS THE FIRST ‘NEXT GEN’ MODERN SLEDS TO TRULY FIT THE BILL AS A ‘TWEENER’ SLED

SUSPENSION

BACKCOUNTRY TRACK ON IT.

Indy EVO, RMK EVO

Two of the most affordable sleds of this large group, the Indy EVO and RMK EVO are also two of the longest offered ma chines. Both feature a twin cylinder 550cc fan-cooled 2-stroke motor (one of the few fans left in any new sled lineup). The Indy EVO is lower, narrower, and has a smaller lug track than the Indy 550 it origi nally replaced. The track is a 15x121x.91 Shockwave, and it is an easy-ride for smaller pilots, with features like compact ergonomics and an ‘easy-reach’ throttle. The sled is able to ‘grow’ with the rider as it is governed at 50mph, but an acces sory stage tuning kit is available to up the power to the full potential of this 550 mo tor. Plus, the ski stance is adjustable from 39-41 inches. IFP shocks all around do the damping, Pro-Steer skis keep predict able on the trail, and there’s 13.9 inches of travel in the rear skid as well. Electric start is also an option.

The RMK EVO sits on a 144-inch rear suspension and has a 15x144x1.75 Backcountry track on it. While not as beefy as the Cat/Yamaha Blast/Venom moun tain tracks, this one still does quite well. Couple that track with the RMK ski and mountain handlebar with grab bar and a learner sled for the deep snow starts to take shape. The RMK has slightly less travel up front and in the rear suspension, which is noticeable on the trail, but allows the sleds to initiate turns in the powder better. Both EVO’s include PERC reverse too, so being nimble in the parking lot is a lot less stressful.

Indy Sport,

550 Voyageur, 550 Indy LXT, Switchback

Sport

The Sport versions in the Polaris lineup somewhat mirror the Sport line of Ski-Doo, in that they are all full-size machines, but just with the value powerplant. Polaris con tinues to use the Liberty 550 fan 2-stroke engine that has been tried and true, seem ingly longer than Keith Richards has been alive. The Indy Sport has IPF shocks all the way around, and a small 15x121x.91inch Shockwave track. This is a staple of MANY rental fleets in the Northwoods and across Canada.

The 550 Voyageur is a more utility and crossover focused machine that Polaris has in its ‘recreational’ line of sleds. The front suspension is the RMK adjustable, so you get some additional offtrail capability there, plus it comes with a 15x144x1.0 Energy track.

It’s got the standard IFP shocks as well, and a utility rack on the back, but basically, this is a longer trail sled with some more goodies. Similarly, the Indy 550 LXT is a 2-up version with the 2-rider seat and the same track as the Voyageur. The Pro-Ride suspension is up front for stability, and you get both mirrors and the utility rack.

Finally, the Switchback Sport is basically the same as the Voyaguer, but without a rack and with a deeper lug 15x144x1.35 Cobra track. There’s no rack or mirrors or anything like that, and it has the ProRide, more stable front suspension. It’s a great option for a first crossover sled for new riders.

SWITCHBACK SPORT IS A GREAT ENTRY CROSSOVER SLED WITH A 144-INCH AND 1.35 LUGGED TRACK FOR PLENTY OF FUN ON AND OFF THE TRAIL

THE RMK EVO SITS ON A 144-INCH REAR

AND HAS A 15X144X1.75

THE RMK ALSO COMES IN A 144-INCH LONG EVO VERSION, WITH A 1.75-INCH LUGGED TRACK

2024 Catalyst is ready to feed.

BY JASON KAWCZYNSKI

Ever been to a mosh pit? If you were at the release of the brand new Arctic Cat chassis at Haydays this year you would have gotten a taste of the fever the Cat faithful have been waiting for. The pictures don’t do it justice as there were literally thou sands of people smashed as close as possible to get a glimpse of the new sled. This event is the un-official start of winter season here in the Midwest, so it was fitting to show the big bling that has been many years in the making. The summer-like weather did not stop snowmobilers from coming out in droves and the biggest news of the weekend by far was the Cat announcement. Hon estly, you would have thought AC/DC was coming out of retirement judging by the amount of security and buzz around the 2pm unveiling.

s an insider of sorts, we have been teased with tiny tidbits of info for the past couple seasons that this was in the works, but finally seeing it materialize and being able to poke and prod both the machine and engineers was way beyond exciting. Keep ing secrets is hard when you are a fanatic especially when your family wants to know what is coming just as much as anyone else! Imagine getting your sled license at 12 years old and finding out that your par ent’s ordered you a brand new snowmo bile for Christmas, but you can’t let them (or any of your friends) know you know. Embargoes are like this. Then, when you do finally get that sled you want to scream excitement to the world! Everyone we knew that bleeds green was

pressing beyond belief to shed any info, so it was a powder keg when folks finally got to lay eyes on it.

Textron engineering delivered some thing that might just shake up the industry and even the other OEMs were happy to see new life from another one of the big 4 manufacturers. The Catalyst comes with

Boom goes the dynamite!

Wait for it, wait for it, breath in, hold it, and release! If we had to describe the marketing theory on this sled that is how we would do it. We were as frustrated at not being able to see things sooner as everyone else, like having your birthday party delayed a couple times, but then having a massive blow-out bash like none-other!

Living in the Midwest, not too far from Cat’s Thief River headquarters, there are a lot of Arctic fanatics in our area, and they are some of the most die-hard loyalists around. Much of this was built on the past and their domination of race circuits like cross-country and snowcross for quite a while. Couple that with their chassis that defined much of the industry in the late 90’s to early 2000’s. Plus their ProRide/ ProClimb chassis that was released in 2012 has stood the test of time to be a de pendable option, but it always seemed to be slightly lagging behind the fast pace of new innovations from other OEMs during its eleven-year tenure.

At last month’s pre-release, Arctic Cat challenged their riders to pick a name for this new chassis in their August teaser. We

humbly submitted several requests such as the ‘Lion’, ‘Liger’, ‘Beast’, and a few we can’t mention here… but we wanted this new cat to be, to have a name that said ‘King of the snow jungle’. However, we were unfortunately over-ruled, and/or laughed at, and the name that they landed on was the CAT-alyst, (or “Catalyst” prop er). This was actually statistically done and numerous names were in the top 3 (yeah, in retrospect ‘Liger’ was a poor choice) but Catalyst was proposed multiple times and the folks that did propose it were recog nized by Cat.

It’s all about the chassis!

This is a lightweight aluminum subframe with some post frame components such as the footwell that is comprised of composite material. The design consists of far fewer parts overall, which is how they were able to shed off the estimated 10% of weight from its predecessor. Engineers claim that not only is it lightweight but it also it is extremely durable. The chassis is more rigid and flexes less, but things like the running boards in particular are more durable and retain shape longer. The boards have a thin metal frame with com

LIVING IN THE MIDWEST, NOT TOO FAR FROM CAT’S THIEF RIVER HEADQUARTERS, THERE ARE A LOT OF ARCTIC FANATICS IN OUR AREA, AND THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST DIE-HARD

KEY DESIGN CHANGES SUCH AS THE BELT-DRIVEN DRIVE SYSTEM AND EASILY REMOVED PANELS MAKE SERVICING EASY.

IN A 146” RIOT VERSION WITH A VERY IDENTIFIABLE ORANGE-RED COLOR SCHEME.

ERGONOMICS

posite overlay that can easily be switched out if there is an issue, or we are guessing in the future for customization.

One of the most interesting features of the new sled is that is it utilizes a belt drive system. This is similar to what Polaris used on their high end mountain lineup in years past but Cat has designed theirs to be in numer ous models of the Catalyst chassis, which is an industry first. Not only is the design simpler, but it eliminates the need for chain case maintenance, carrying and changing oil, and far less parts that can break.

So how does it handle? Well, we have not had the chance to throw a leg over this pony, but we talked extensively with Textron engineers who have had many hours of seat time. They expressed that jumping on this new platform isn’t going to be a completely unfamiliar ride to what folks have gotten used to before. It is not as big of a jump for example from riding a trailing arm sled to a rider forward design. However, the new Catalyst does have multiple improvements that we personally felt were urgently needed when compar ing the former chassis to the latest and greatest from other OEMs. The geometry changes will give the rider more reactive control which results in easier steering and not having to force the sled to turn as much. This results in easier cornering, bet ter bump and chatter control, and a more forgiving and agile ride for whatever you decide to throw at it.

Another interesting aspect (which honestly most people don’t talk about that much) is the fuel tank… more importantly the actual fuel IN the tank. That fuel load is a big piece of the weight control of the machine and affects the ride when it is moving around in turns, on the trail, on edge in the powder, climbing hills, etc. The redesign was able to eliminate much of the weight shift during these maneuvers and so you do not have 70 pounds of fuel fight ing you while trying to do your best David McClure maneuvers in the POW.

For 2023 this new chassis will be available in three different models only. The ZR 137-inch trail version, the Riot 146-inch crossover and a M-Series 154-inch moun tain sled featuring the Alpha one single

beam rear skid. Besides the obvious skid length differ ences, each of these chassis have a unique steering system that is designed specifically for its riding segment, but the Catalyst will be completely capable and will certainly be compatible for use across the market segments.

Motor Choices? They are coming!

Ok, I know that everyone was asking what’s up with the new sled coming with only an updated 600 Ctec2 motor. Well, the short and skinny is there is not anything wrong with it… sure, we want a bigger motor or a big 2 or 4 stroke turbo just as bad as you do! But this is year one, and this 600 is one of the most reliable around, delivers an ample amount of power, and in the new frame it will have incredible power to weight ratio after shedding so much baggage. We also don’t consider our readers to be kool-aid drinkers, and we are pretty sure everyone can read between the lines here. There is almost certainly a larger motor that will be paired with this chassis in the future for anyone without a crystal ball.

Extra to love

In addition to the new chassis, Cat is also offering up other upgraded goodies. You’ll get full LED lights (if you’re a Ducati rider you’ll like them), ATAC electronic sus pension, a completely new quick change accessory mounting system called ATACH, and a really mean looking front end. The lights are unique in that on low beam one side lights up brighter than the other, and the dispersion on hi beam is just fantastic. The ATACH system is also something long needed to compete with the systems from Polaris and Ski-Doo. It is easy on and off, has full locking capability, and the fit and finish is high quality. This is not just a ‘quick fix’ system to stay in the game and seems to be well-thought out.

Again, unfortunately our only ‘ride’ experience was talking to Cat engineers, sitting on the sled, moving it around, etc. We are hoping that as soon as the snow starts piling up that we can get our pilot goggles on and finally light that fuse we’ve been waiting on for so long. Maybe we can bust out the advent calendar early as Christmas riding time on the Catalyst can’t come soon enough!

ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE NEW SLED IS THAT IS IT UTILIZES A BELT DRIVE SYSTEM.

24TH ANNUAL KELLY SHIRES BREAST CANCER SNOW RUN

As you are reading this, our Event Committee is enthusiastically planning our first in person event in 2 years, to say that we are excited is an understatement! The 24th annual event takes place on Feb 3-5, 2023 at Hidden Valley Resort in Huntsville, Ontario.

Over the past 23 years you may have heard about this awesome all-women snowmobile event but you may not know how it all started or what the event is really all about so keep reading to find out more.

The story starts just over 23 years ago with our now guardian angel Kelly Shires. It was around this time of year in1996 when Kelly Shires found a lump on her breast. Kelly no procrastinate, she immediately visited her doctor and it was determined quickly that she had breast cancer. At the time of diagnosis Kelly was in the early stages of pregnancy with her first child and the doctors deemed it necessary to terminate the pregnancy. Crushed at the decision she began a whirlwind of surgeries and on-going chemotherapy. It was just the beginning of what she would endure.

Kelly experienced first-hand the realities that come along with a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Immediately she wanted to help others in the same or similar situation. She was a force to be reckoned with and there was no way that she wasn’t going to take this situation and turn it into something good! Early into Kelly’s journey, she noticed that there was a need in the system for financial support during a treatment/diagnosis period (23 years later this gap still exists and so does this disease). This is where the idea for the ‘Snow Run” was born and when Kelly and Suzy Stenoff teamed up and launched its first Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run for Fun in January 2000.

first annual event began late fall 1999 with its inaugural event set to take place January 2000. Taking on an event like this (23 plus years ago) was a huge undertaking and not one that was without some big challenges. Mother Nature decided to throw in a little extra f and un and decided that the end of January was the perfect time to rain! The first “ride” was officially “rained out”, but this did not deter Kelly nor the 55 participants who signed up for this inaugural adventure. From the first-year people quickly realized the importance of this event, so even with no snow and no open trails the ladies forged through the weekend. Instead of riding their sleds however, the ladies rode the route on a bus, where at the designated lunch spot they were treated with live entertainment and fun contests. The entire group who attended had a fantastic time and the first annual event raised $10,000!

Things have changed considerably since that first year, the momentum for the charity continues to grow over the years. Kelly’s cancer was in remission for a short time but then came back and this time also moved into her bones and liver. She never stopped her chemotherapy. There was no way that Kelly was going to let cancer stop her love of life, she fought back hard. 2004 was the last event that Kelly rode in, she wasn’t feeling well but she never let that get in the way and was always smiling no matter what. Not only did she ride in this event, she led one of the teams and at her last Snow Run she would see it raise over $250,000. A big leap from the $10,000 raised just 5 years earlier. On October 31, 2004 Kelly lost her long hard

battle with breast cancer but continues to be an inspiration to us all. Losing Kelly was devastating to everyone around her but it was also a lesson in determination, strength and that together we can accomplish anything.

Over 23 years, this “small” volunteer driven charity along with the enthusiastic snowmobilers who participate, the incredible sponsors and an amazing, dedicated group of volunteers have raised over $7.9 million dollars to help financially assist those battling breast cancer across Canada. The charity exists and is run through the hard work of dedicated volunteers and just one part-time paid employee who helps manage the applications received for assistance from breast cancer patients. Expanding Kelly’s dream. In 2010 an ATV Jamboree event was added to the annual list of events in support of the charity (www.trax4bc.com). The 13th annual TraX4 Breast Cancer event will take place in the spring 2023 – details to follow and is open to both male and female riders.

This past February, The Ontario Snow Run event raised over $375,000.00 thanks to the hard work of our participants and generous Sponsors. It has become apparent over the years that so many people do not realize how expensive a diagnosis/treatment can be, it is a commonly believed that private or public health care systems will cover all your costs, and this is not the reality. We all know that stress is not healthy and that is where the charity can help alleviate the financial stress so those who are fighting for their lives can focus on their recovery.

Kelly’s dream pulled together 3 incredible aspects. Firstly, an opportunity for female riders to have their own snowmobile weekend, secondly raising breast cancer awareness with such a unique event and thirdly, raising much needed funds that directly assist those battling breast cancer. Although the theme is “women helping women” there are ways for everyone to get involved. We are most fortunate to have the support of amazing male volunteers. They who work tirelessly in the cold to ensure that we have a fantastic day on the trails. Everything from helping to park truck and trailers, load and unload sleds to topping up our fuel at the lunch stop is taken care of –they treat all the riders with VIP status and we are so lucky to have their support. Some have also come up with some very unique ways to help raise money for the cause because they realize breast cancer isn’t a battle one fights alone. Helping someone through their journey

Kelly’s vision was to have an all-women snowmobile ride in support of financial assistance for breast cancer patients. The concept and planning for the

takes a team of people from their medical team to their family, friends, and co-workers rallying around them with support – it affects us all.

Come help us celebrate our 24th annual event!

We are thrilled excited to announce that this year’s theme will be a football theme – “Kelly’s team tackles breast cancer”. There is also so much excitement surrounding or theme and how much fun the riders have with it! We cannot wait to see how creative you are with this year’s theme!

Don’t miss out on our 2022/2023 Raffletickets are still available at Royal Distributing locations for only $10 for your chance to win:

1st prize - 2023 Ski-Doo Renegade 600 R (donated by BRP/Ski-Doo & Factory Recreation, Midland)

2nd prize - $500 Gift Certificate for Royal Distributing (donated by Royal Distributing)

3rd prize – Stay for 2 at Hidden Valley Resort, Huntsville (donated by Hidden Valley Resort)

In honour of all those who we have lost to breast cancer, all the courageous warriors currently battling the disease and in memory of Kelly, we are going to continue doing this Kelly style and that means “‘Dancing like Nobody’s Watching”.

www.breastcancersnowrun.

org For information on the financial assistance program please visit www. kellyshiresfoundation.org

We are not funded by the government so we rely on the generosity of our donors, if you cannot make it to one of our events and would like to support the cause, we would welcome any donations through our secure on-line donation forum at www.kellyshiresfoundation. org. Thank you for your support!

Other events:

13th Annual TraX4 Breast Cancer ATV Ride (open to male and female riders) Spring 2023 www.trax4bc.com

Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run DONATION FORM

VISA MASTERCARD AMEX

SCORPION HELMET EXO-AT 950

The EXO-AT950 was designed to play in the snow! Scorpion has designed this helmet by following the demand from the snowmobile market. From people taking their beloved off road-EXO-AT950 and converting it themselves for the snow, Scorpion Exo made this helmet with the needed corrections. Some changes Scorpion made to make the EXOAT950 suitable for winter was add an aeroskirt, Cold-weather breath box, an electric visor, and a warmer liner. Scorpion also came out with multiple colors in this helmet to match almost every rider’s style. Also having an oversized eyeport the visibility in this helmet is second to none. The EXO-AT950 also has pockets for a communication system so there is no discomfort in the helmet. Take a closer look at this newer module helmet from Scorpion at www.scorpionusa.com

PRESCRIPTION GOGGLES

BY PRO-VUE

Do you wear glasses to ride, and have trouble finding the right Goggle setup? Can we suggest you look at Pro-Vue… They have been building prescription goggles for people across North America since 1989. The newest is the 100% Accuri2 OTG goggle, which is available in five frame colors and about a dozen goggle lens tints. The prescription lenses are available in a variety of options and prices, with a complete goggle start at $229US. The prescription goggle is also compatible with Pro-Vue’s exclusive Snap Lens System which allows you to quickly change the lens from the frame quickly and efficiently. You can see everything Pro-Vue has in their full line-up at www.pro-vue.com or you can call 507-534-1247 with any questions.

SLEDBRITE METAL POLISH

While the sleds are still parked and the cold months haven’t hit us yet, it’s time to get in the shop and start polishing all the metal. Bergstrom Skegs sells a great metal polish made by Biokleen. The Biokleen Metal polish brings out a brilliant, mirror finish that we’re all looking for. The Sledbrite polish helps to clean the metal and gives it a great looking safe finish. Check out the Sledbrite metal polish and a bunch of great other cleaning products at www.bergstromskegs.net

WAHL BROS RACING V-FORCE REEDS

Are you looking for a little extra power out of your machine this winter? Or have you had troubles with your older machines fuel delivery? Take a look at a set of V-Force reeds from Wahl Bros Racing. With the best advancement in reed technology, their new Snap-together cage uses symmetrical reed petals, eliminating the need for different “Inner” and “Outer” replacement petals. The new reed tip shape accelerates air mixture, ensuring increased airflow for increased power. The new design has completely eliminated the need for screws, making their system extremely low maintenance and a great investment. Don’t get caught this winter messing around with the fuel set up on your snowmobile and get yourself a set of V-Force reeds at www.wahlracing.com

THE TITIAN TRAIL AND BACKCOUNTRY

Ride long distances on the trails with the CKX Titan Original, the only fully configurable snowmobile helmet. Not only does it adjust to your riding style, but it is also easy to customize for your level of activity or weather conditions. Specially packaged for the trail in the box, you need only remove the insulation parts and replace the goggle frame (included) to have a helmet suited to active backcountry driving. You want to converse with your riding buddies or stop for a drink on the trail? No need to remove your helmet thanks to Titan’s unique removable muzzle. Take advantage as well of an exceptional field of vision with the 210° goggles. The shape of the goggles matches the helmet’s opening perfectly to provide additional protection against the snow and cold. You want it with a heated lens? No problem. You purchase the transformation packages or go directly for the Black Titan Electric Combo which includes the heated lens. Get yours before the winter arrives at www.CKX.com

RIFT JACKET BY KLIM

Klim has stepped up their game this season by releasing the new Rift Jacket. Using a new flotation foam with perforated holes acting like GORE-TEX this coat helps you stay on top of the water if a rider ever broke through the ice. Klim is calling this system Ascent Float System (AFS). They have released this coat as a trail coat being one of their warmest coats they have out yet. Klim was able to keep their great GORE-TEX protection material which makes the product so renounce. The GORE-TEX helps the coat to be breathable but at the same time waterproof. Also, the Ascent Coat has a snow skirt keeping snow and wind from coming up the coat making the person cold. Klim has also updated their zippers putting 3 layers of fabric over to help with cold zippers. Also, Klim has added drainage vents inside this jacket to help moister escape to effectively keep mold and dampness out. Coming in four sharp colors this coat would be a great investment and may even save your life one day. Get yours today at www.Klim.com

ROUSKI GEN 3 RETRACTABLE WHEELS

Please save your carbides!

Kimpex is offering the Rouski Gen 3 Retractable Wheels that can help you maneuver in gas stations, roadways and garages, saving you from hearing that horrible carbide scraping sound. Kimpex made these wheels easy and effortless to use with a handle on the back of the wheel to pull up and a self-retractable mechanism, so when you lift a ski off the ground the wheel retracts. Kimpex stands behind their product offering a 1-year warranty on the whole assembly. There is no need to be pulling your snowmobile around gas stations and hotel parking lots anymore... You’ll just drop your wheels and roll in like a professional. Check out www.kimpex.com for more info.

Snowmobile – Motoneige NB

“Like many, my love of snowmobiling began doing laps around a field. My first machine was a 1979 Yamaha Enticer named “bullet” and I would only stop if the sled broke or ran out of fuel. My father was my pit crew, he spent many hours pulling on skies and lifting the track.

As the years passed and my skills improved, I purchased a 1995 Arctic Cat Z440 and was introduced to the groomed trail system. This allowed me to experience the beautiful scenery and comradery that comes along with the sport. In the early years, the sleds were not as reliable as they are today. Luckily, if issues occurred there was always someone who would gladly stop and lend a helping hand, I in turn would show the same courtesy.

With my love for the power sports industry and admiration for the people involved, I decided to pursue business management in college and turn my passion

encouraged as the sport continues to grow.

Involved with many events, fundraisers and volunteering, I understand the amazing work my predecessors accomplished to achieve this growth. As your new Executive Director, I plan on keeping this momentum going and hopefully making snowmobiling an even better experience in our province. I am really looking forward to meeting all the club presidents and volunteers that make this all happen.

These are exciting times with the evolution of apps, social media, expanding trail systems and product improvements. With a young family that has the same passion for the outdoors and snowmobiling I do, it’s very rewarding to watch the future of the sport grow!”

Snowmobile-Motoneige NB is proud to introduce to you our new employee, Executive Director Jeremy O’Brien. Jeremy may be just starting in this new position, but he is not new to snowmobiling! In his own words:

into a career. I was hired by a powersports dealership in their early years and was able to watch the sport of snowmobiling and the business evolve. After working for 19 years at this dealership, which grew to 3 locations, I am

RUSH HOUR 24/7

Featuring over 200 races from around the world and right here at home. REV TV is your 24/7 home for motorsports. REV TV showcases all forms of high-octane racing, such as MotoGP, Monster Jam, World Rally Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, World Endurance Championship, Indy Lights, WorldSBK, the Isle of Man TT, and much, much more.

We’ve also got DIY, behind-the-scenes, news, interviews, and other motoring lifestyle programs such The Inside Line (Formula One), Winged Nation (Winged Sprint Cars), and PASMAG’s Tuning 365 (Cus tom Cars and Culture). We also have a slate of original programming including REV Culture with Todd Lewis that features interviews with motorsports luminaries and up-and-comers, All North Racing which focuses on grassroots racing, and more programs added all the time.

Rapport

Snowmobile-Motoneige NB est fière de vous présenter son nouvel employé, le Directeur exécutif Jeremy O’Brien. Jeremy commence peut-être dans ce nouveau poste, mais il n’est pas nouveau à la motoneige ! En ces propres mots :

« Comme bien d’autres, mon amour pour la motoneige a commencé en faisant des tours de piste autour d’un champ. Ma première machine fut une Yamaha Enticer 1979 appelée « bullet » et j’arrêtais seulement si la motoneige tombait en panne ou manquait de carburant. Mon père agissait comme mon équipe de course ; il a passé bien des heures à tirer sur les skis et à lever la chenille.

Au fil des années, mes compétences se sont amélio rées ; j’ai acheté une Arctic Cat Z440 1995 et on m’a introduit au réseau de sentiers surfacés. Ceci m’a permis de faire l’expérience du paysage magnifique et de la camaraderie qui font partie du sport. Durant les premières années, les machines n’étaient pas aussi fiables qu’elles le sont aujourd’hui. Heureusement, s’il y avait des problèmes, il y avait toujours quelqu’un alentour qui voulait bien s’arrêter pour prêter main-forte ; à mon tour j’offrais la même courtoisie.

Avec mon amour pour l’industrie des sports motorisés et mon admiration pour les gens impliqués,

j’ai décidé d’étudier la gestion des affaires au collège et de transformer ma passion en une carrière. J’ai été embauché par un concessionnaire de sports motorisés durant les premières années et j’ai été capable d’observer l’évolution du sport et de l’industrie de la motoneige. Après avoir travaillé 19 ans chez ce conces sionnaire, qui avait maintenant 3 entreprises, je suis encouragé de voir le sport continuer à croitre.

Ayant participé à plusieurs événements, plusieurs levées de fonds et en tant que bénévole, je comprends bien le travail fantastique accompli par mes prédéces seurs pour réaliser cette croissance. En tant que votre nouveau Directeur exécutif, je prévois continuer cet élan et j’espère faire en sorte que la motoneige soit une expérience encore meilleure dans notre province. J’ai vraiment hâte de rencontrer tous les présidents et les bénévoles des clubs qui rendent tout cela possible.

Ce sont des périodes excitantes avec l’évolution des appli, des média sociaux, l’expansion des réseaux de sentiers et les améliorations des produits. Avec une jeune famille qui a la même passion pour le plein air et la motoneige que moi, c’est vraiment gratifiant d’observer l’ampleur de l’avenir de la motoneige !»

You wanted it. You named it. Now discover how Catalyst delivers on everything you’ve been asking for. With this revolutionary, all-new platform, the rider is the deciding factor in how it corners, cuts and handles, so you feel at one with the machine. Start exploring the platform we created just for you.