Ski-Doo 2024 don’t

BY MARK BONCHER

bet on Ski-Doo falling behind this year, or next! Other than the brand new chassis from Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo has the most new stuff to talk about in model year 2024. Every year we replay the same broken record and the theme song is titled “Ski-Doo Is On The Gas”. The Gen 5 chassis that was released last year has made its way across the lines and been refined even more this season, there is more turbo tech, a ton of interesting updates and changes, plus BRP has the Lynx group of sleds available again this year.

If you are a loyal ‘yellow team’ fan then you shouldn’t have anything to complain about right now as Ski-Doo continues to innovate, have great riding sleds, and offer more in styles, trims, gadgets, and new colors than any other OEM. Let’s start with the juicy sauce, the new turbo!

The next hyper-sled

This is what we trail guys were hoping for when the Mach Z returned, finally, a 2-stroke OEM turbo with some real cajones! What we got was a 4-stroke that, while it did have the very cool launchcontrol, seemed to not be quite the dominating muscle sled some of us were expecting. That all changed for 2024, as the newest Gen 5 platform machine, the new MXZ X-RS with competition package, is now the true king of the 2-strokes in the trails! This baby comes with an upgraded direct injection 850 with a water/methanol injection system pumping out 180 horsepower. Consistent high power was the goal here and using the water injection too cool through the throttle bodies when the temps start to rise is key. There is an extra tank behind the seat to fill and one tank is supposed to last 5 tanks of fuel. At WOT there is enough XPS ICE (Intake Cooling Enhancer) for 24 straight miles. Now, I know what you are thinking, some of the lakes you ride might be 10-20 miles long and you might do that 5 times in a day, so most likely the amount of ICE needed will change from rider to rider when comparing tanks of fuel. The ICE product is anticorrosion, anti-foaming, and anti-freezing so straight water will not work.

This lightweight X-RS Competition machine comes with all the race-inspired goodies like a taller ride-height, Kashima coated coil-over KYB Pro 40R ski shocks, rMotionX rear suspension, 2-ply track, and there’s launch mode on this turbo too!

This pre-heats the exhaust pipe similar to what the 600 Race Sled does, and you get all that 180hp now in an instant. There’s a new Brembo 4-piston brake caliper and master cylinder as well so it’s just jam-packed with new things, and the X-RS also comes with an optional 600R motor. Oh, and optional adjust-on-the-fly smart shox!

Also in the trails Ski-Doo has changed up the Renegade and MXZ offerings a bit. The MXZ sleds will be 2-stroke only (600 and 850) while the Renegade will be, for the most part, a 4-stroke lineup with several ACE based motors and the 600r. The MXZ will obviously have the narrower plastics and body to accommodate the 2-stroke motors and the Renegade will have only the 1.95-inch wider plastics and body to embrace the 4-stroke motors. MXZ will be available in 129 and 137-inch versions and the Renegades will only be available in 137. The Gen 5 chassis permeates all the MXZ Adrenaline, Blizzard, X, and X-RS models as well as the Renegade. In addition, the in-season Blizzard and spring-only X and X-RS models get the rack-steering system (straight from the race sled), while all others get the standard forward steering, and on the X/X-RS there’s a 1.25 or 1.5-inch lug Ice Ripper XT track to boot ya into next week!

The X models get new KYB Pro 36 EA-3 front and rear shocks to complete possibly the best all-around trail sled out there and the Blizzard is basically the in-season version of the X with only the 1.25-inch lug track option. The Sport and Neo/Neo + 600 EFI models are the only MXZ sleds still in the Gen4 chassis, and all the MXZ models in the Gen5 get a taller front end with 10.4-inches of travel. The 120 and 200 youth models are also still offered. We kind of scratched our heads a little bit on why the iconic Renegade, which was a mainstay of the 850 motor, is no longer offering it. But with the 137-inch tracks available on sleds like the MXZ X-RS those super-high performance folks who want a little longer track will still be happy. The 900, 900 Turbo, and 900 Turbo R motors are all available in the Renegade and in the Gen 5 chassis you get the new LED lights, 10.25-inch touchscreen (with GPS and topographical maps standard), new 520W magneto (was 420W), new sound reducing insulation in the panels, multiple windshield options and a plush seat that’s compatible with a new 1+1 accessory seat. It’s a great long distance, warm (built-in side deflectors), comfortable trail sled now… which is just a little different than what we were used to with the Renegade. But I suppose the 900 ACE turbo R motor w/launch control, new brake caliper and cylinder, is still available in X and X-RS Renegades (smart shocks on the X-RS as well) which make them pretty legit high performance sleds. If you still want a 2-stroke, then the Renegade Enduro and Adrenaline still have that option and the Enduro is now in Gen5 and still has the ACS air suspension.

OPTIONS OF A 137-INCH TRACK IN THE TRAIL SLEDS HAVE MEANT SOME RE-ARRANGEMENT OF THE RENEGADE LINE-UP FOR 2024.

More crossovers go Gen5

There were plenty of Ski-Doo crossover folks who were sad last year because the Gen5 chassis was not in the Backcountry sleds… me included! No worries though, this year the crossover clan can rejoice as the new chassis is in these ultimate, and true, crossover machines. The rack steering will be an improvement both on and off the trail in the X and X-RS and KYB Pro 3-position adjustable shocks damp the moguls. The cMotionX new uncoupled rear suspension gets an added 25mm of travel, a longer front arm, and longer rear shock, the rear arm is moved back 30mm, there’s new rail reinforcements, and ice scratchers. Oh, and the skid lost 4.5 pounds, transfers more predictably, and has 80% new parts! Whew, that alone might be worth saving up for one of these sleds!

There are new one-piece, anti-scratch panels on the sides too that resist the bumps and bruises showing from off-trail riding… or the oops you did while loading the sled in the trailer. Thankfully the optional SHOT lightweight ultracapacitor starting system is an option, and there’s

Electrified Grand Touring!

To be honest, all sleds are electrified, but the all new Grand Touring Electric is the first all-electric powered sled from Ski-Doo. It will only be available for select rental/touring operations but BRP tells us it is the first in a line of electric sleds to come. And no, we have not ridden one yet so we are just as speculative as you are! It will have a limited range of 50 km (31 miles), and very limited speed governance… but since the public can’t buy it anyway it is impossible for folks ‘to go woke and then go broke’ at this juncture.

all kinds of other great things like 146 or 154inch track options, deep snow running boards, and the adjustable brake lever system which is available on multiple models. The Sport and Adrenaline are the inseason models and X and X-RS are spring-only. The Backcountry in the Gen4 was already possibly the most capable 50/50 crossover sled, and now with all the Gen5 upgrades it will certainly top most on/off trail rider’s lists.

THERE ARE NEW ONE-PIECE, ANTI-SCRATCH PANELS ON THE SIDES TOO THAT RESIST THE BUMPS AND BRUISES SHOWING FROM OFF-TRAIL RIDING…

The mountains are getting smaller!

Or maybe the sleds are just getting bigger! This year there’s plenty of mountain mashers again from Ski-Doo and the Freeride model got a little more attention for 2024. A 15-inch wide Powdermax 2.5 and 3.0-inch track is on these now, not 16-inch. This lighter, full rod track gives the sled more track speed than its 16” counterpart.

The Freeride is really meant for extreme riders who like big drops and jumps and to be more stable at higher speeds, like those you would see before hitting a snowcross kicker. KYB Pro 40 easily adjustable shocks all around allow for a lot of capacity (50% more compression damping to be exact) to do gnarly maneuvers, and a wider adjustable ski stance from 35.7 to 37.4 inches (Summits are 34 at narrowest) but this slightly wider width adds stability. There are rail reinforcements on the new last year tMotion XT skid which is now in the Freeride and has a fixed rear arm (for stability and predictability). Furthermore, there are the newer DS4 powder skis, new spindle geometry, shorter 120mm riser, and this one has the quick disconnect sway bar which should be on every crossover or 146-inch mountain sled. New this year you can get the 850 Turbo R motor in the 146-inch Freeride too… that will really make that shorter sled rider scream Wheelie!

All the little things

There’s often not time to mention all the little things that we like from an OEM, but here’s just a few that topped our mind writing on the Gen5.

• Open toe-holds, or not, on multiple sleds.

• Easy to remove drive axle

• LinQ accessory bases standard

• Big front glove boxes

• Heated seat on Enduro

• Lots of engine options in both 2 and 4-stroke, turbo and naturally aspirated

The Summit X and Expert still offer both low and high elevation calibrations, which is a pretty cool thing SkiDoo does for its customers. There’s not a ton new for the full Summit line, but the SP in-season model is re-named the Adrenaline to stay in line with the rest of the Adrenaline in-season models in different segments. Also the Adrenaline has the 600R as a motor option in a new 146 or the 154-inch length. The X-model gets a shorter 120mm riser, the adjustable brake lever, and quick adjust limiter strap. There is also the narrow 34-inch ski stance on the Summit Adrenaline Edge machine.

As for model options the Summit X w/expert package, and the X model are both spring buy only and the in-season models are the Summit Adrenaline w/ edge package, Adrenaline, and Neo/ Neo+ models. The Expert is unchanged for the most part for 2024 except for a new aluminum brake reservoir. The X model is also basically unchanged except for the addition of the tool-less quick-adjust limiter strap, adjustable brake lever, and the riser.

Touring and Utility not forgotten

The Grand Touring gets even grander in the Gen5 chassis and the LE replaces the Limited as the top model. The new TX touring skis are available (as well as seemingly every other creature comfort on the LE). Four-stroke engines are available here, all ACE from the 900, 130hp 900 ACE turbo, and the 180hp 900 Turbo R… and you get the ACS rear suspension! Three packages complete the touring models, the LE, the LE Luxury, and the Sport (which is still in the Gen4).

The Expedition goes unchanged for 2024, except for bold new graphics. The models still include the Xtreme, SE, LE, and sport. Taking all of what has been done across segments, lines, chassis, technology, and more, we would say Ski-Doo is doing everything they can to hold onto the top snowmobile manufacturer badge.

Lynx Still on The Prowl

BRP’s Scandinavian/European division (Lynx) is continuing to make in-roads into the North American market with multiple offerings that are similar to the Ski-Doo sleds, but there are tweaks and unique specialties to these machines. The big news is the Radien2 (think Gen5, but with slightly different plastics, lighting, etc.) A total of 5 different Lynx models will be available for 2024 including the Rave RE, Shredder RE, Shredder DS, Xterrain RE, Xterrain RE turbo, and Xterrain Brutal.

The important take-aways from the new re-booted Rave RE is the Radian2 chassis, better lights, 10.25-inch display (like the Ski-Doo’s), new Brembo brakes (like the Ski-Doo), new calibration on the PPS3 rear suspension, and LFS+ front suspension (like the new X and X-RS front end) with KYB Pro 46 HLCR Kashima coated shocks all around. This sled is made for the toughest trail conditions and the new shocks in particular speak to that performance. These are 3-position adjustable shocks, like many others out there, but with a lot more capacity.

Everything we’ve discussed about the Gen5 chassis (for the most part) follows to the new Rave RE so we won’t go into all the things this chassis does, but other tid bits also get added like the adjustable brake lever, 4800 Lumens LED lights with 4 settings, and more. The main difference is in the rear suspension where the independent center and rear arms, long travel, and hi-lo rebound and damping on the shocks provide a very progressive (and adjustable) ride style that does differ from the X and X-RS. Also the entire front and rear suspension has been re-calibrated to give even better bottoming resistance and rebound and larger transfer/ski-lift are things riders will notice. Also the Blade XC+ and 15x137x 1.25-inch lug Ice Ripper track provide great trail performance.

The Shredder is a powder hound and has all the BRP hallmarks with narrow design, panels, shortened tunnel, etc. Again, this is in the Radian2 (Gen5) platform and the 850 Turbo R motor is an option. The Shredder RE, much like the Freeride, is a 146 or 154-inch model with 15-inch wide track with the same 2.5 and 3.0 lug options and has the turbo available in the short-track as well. The same adjustable brake lever and many other things are shared. The Shredder replaced the Boondocker model and has the PPS2 DS+ rear skid. There are KYB Pro 46 Kashima coated shocks in the skid and Pro 36 EA-3 Kashima coated ones above the skis. The Shredder DS is basically a Summit X clone and is available in 154 and 165-inch versions.

The three Xterrain sleds while sharing the same surname are very different. The RE is a 16x146x2.0 inch lugged 50/50 sled much like the Backcountry. It has the Pro 46 Kashima shocks, PPS3 rear skid, LFS+ front suspension with 42-inch stance, Blade XC+ skis, tough rear bumper, and the different panels. Not to confuse, but both RE modes are available with the naturally aspirated 850 motor or the 900 ACE Turbo R motor. However, the 4-stroke turbo is in the older Radien X (Gen4) chassis and you get the new Radien2 (Gen5) in the 850. The Xterrain Brutal is basically the Backcountry 154, in the Radien X with a huge 20x154x2.4 track. This thing REALLY hooks up! It is mostly unchanged from last model year and still comes with the radiator and fan to keep it cool.

Getting to Know Us:

Snowmobile Drag Racing Ontario Inc. was developed by President Jeremy Rees and Vice-President Arianne Bown to provide sanctioned and organized snowmobile drag races during a time where there was no consistency in racing in Ontario. The business incorporated as a not-for-profit in 2021 and has been connecting to a network of like minded individuals to be a pillar in modern day grass drags.

The Venue:

SDRO has been working closely with Wayne Dillabough and Sandra Covill of Dillabough Sales & Service Ltd (Located in Merrickville, Ontario) since 2018; the local Arctic Cat dealership to provide a perfect location for snowmobile drags. What was once an airplane strip has provided many racers with the opportunity to do what they do best. Dillabough’s has a 500’ track with 1300’ of shutdown area, providing ample space for the big guns to race.

Our Staff:

SDRO has been fortunate enough to retain two amazing staff members (along with their two daughters and fur baby) who are integral to our success. We have a lot to owe both Jacci and Kyle Fierens for what they do and how they have helped us grow from a “garage band” to a “headliner”.

The SnowStuds ProStock Championship Series

SDRO was welcomed into the largest grass drag series by Dennis Kopacz for the first time in 2022 and has been renewed for 2023. The championship consists of 8 venues spanning across Ontario, Quebec and the United States competing for titles in the Pro Stock 800 and Pro Stock 1000 classes consecutively. SDRO is the first venue out of the gate hosting the Canadian National Grass Drag Championships August 18- 20, 2023.

The Media Team

SDRO has been working alongside Glassglowz Media to work on several events and projects. David and Ange Bouthillier have been fundamentally impactful in getting SDRO on the map and have become really good friends in the process. Glassglowz has attended most SDRO events, have collaborated on two calendar editions (working on the third) and are releasing a short documentary on snowmobile racing in May of 2023. Without their cooperation, we would not have the media presence that we do and we cannot thank them enough.

Winchester Racing / Winchester Automotive

We have been working with Bob Fetterly of Winchester Automotive located in Winchester, Ontario for a few years and his team has been one of the biggest supporters. Bob, Jodi, Owen, Hudson, Kennedi, Caleb Machan, Maclean Machan and Ryan Hay have been not only essential to our success but have been making strides with their Pro Stock 800. “Brutus”, the Polaris XCR 800 is running an Iantomasi power plant and the crew has been working closely with teammate Derek Laporte of Sport Racing Performance to undoubtedly be a team to watch this summer.

Our Sponsors

• Active Scale

• Advanced Ride Tuning

• Beatty’s Construction

• Bertrand’s Racing

• Cooper Equipment Rentals

• Dillabough Sales & Service Ltd.

• Dirt Outlaw Apparel

• DSR Mechanical

• E.C Carruthers & Sons Utility Construction

• Elmer’s Construction

• EZ Dock.

• Fallen Riders Support Team

• First Stop Tool Rentals

• Fixall

• Gee Racing

• GFS Services Ltd.

• Hay Custom Farming

• Hurricane Performance

• Iantomasi Racing

• Johnstown ATV Club

• Kemptville Snowmobile Klub

• Kendall’s Performance

• Kilmarnock Enterprise

• Klondike Speed & Sport

• Last Minute Racing

• Mike Morris Equipment Rentals

• Mr. Chipper

• Nation Valley ATV Club

• No Limits Powersports

Snowmobile Drag Racing Ontario Inc. www.snowmobileracing.ca infosdro@gmail.com

• Northern Elite Homes

• RC Septic

• RT Finishing Woodwork

• Sport Racing Performance

• Sunbelt Rentals

• Super Sled Online

• TNT Dynamite Graphics

• Toronto Snowmobile ATV & Powersports Show

• Twisted Triple Racing

• Unconventional Concrete

• Valley Boy Powersports Inc.

• Winchester Auto Racing