WHO ’ S THE IDEAL SUMMIT X EXPERT RIDER ?
The rider of the Ski-Doo Summit X 850 E-TEC Turbo R 154 with Expert Package seeks adventure and relies on a steed to access playful zones and then return safely each day .
The nimble 154-inch length and strong turbo R power provide a lively ride when wanted , but the rider can stabilize the experience through the easy-to-use limiter strap adjustment actuation . The ride is also made more predictable and is held in slight corral by the full fiberglass reinforcing bars that are found within the track .
Mountainside chatter and test riders ’ noted experiences about the Summit Expert included the following :
• Easily the best handling sled when following the blazers down a groomed or ungroomed path . If you need to run trails for a while to access a remote , far-away area and then come back at the end of the day through moguls , give me the Ski-Doo every day – especially with the new three-position clicker shocks .
• The 850 Turbo R is so seamless on and off throttle that the power is there down low all the time like on an N / A sled , but it also has the big legs of the turbo . We ’ ve said this since this plant was first released and it continues to be true : The Doo turbo is miles ahead of the Polaris turbo for its crisp feel and transient response at altitude .
• Who knew that development of a flat console / gauge area would be so ideal and put to good use ? It ’ s perfect : It ’ s easy to wipe clean , provides awesome intake real estate , and it cleans up the aesthetic of the sled . It may not be perfect for wind protection ( in fact , it can be harsh on especially cold days ), but the big old camel hump sticking up in front of the bars that smashes into the ground when rolling-over a stuck sled is gone . Good riddance .
• The jury is still out on whether I prefer an Expert Package vs . an X . I like the Expert for the track , but mainly only in the turbo . An N / A X might be the new pick of the litter for light weight . The piggyback shocks are cool for capacity and adjustment , but the weight penalty and function make me wonder if they are worth it ? The old valving was pretty spot-on , but it gives the Expert guy a feeling that he can do Freeride stuff . But a big yes for the lower seat and mountain-specific stuff .
• That little tweek to the tail end of the DS4 ski resulted in big fun . When crossing chunked-up sidehills on one ski , this new iteration didn ’ t kick as much as last year , nor did it want to counter itself , kicking it back down the hill if leaning in further . Thanks to Doo for continuing to refine this platform .
WHO ’ S THE IDEAL SHREDDER DS RIDER ?
The rider of the Lynx Shredder DS 850 E-TEC 3900 Turbo R adores steady reliability while going against the grain . He or she enjoys proven function yet likes getting there from a slightly different angle . They enjoy 3 inches of powder chomping lugs combined with a 15-inch-wide track that begs for hits and speeds , and zips and zoops .
Spending hours building jumps to hit and assessing natural booters for plausible cool camera angles is all commonplace for a Lynx pilot , though maybe a bit more for the Shredder RE dude than the DSer . Either way , a Lynx rider is prepped for a fight –
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