still the very best factory suspension on the snow .
That ’ s quite a run . This Blizzard Package MXZ relies on a mid-level KYB 36 Plus front arm shock and a KYB Pro 36 EA-3 on the rear arm , with a three-position exterior clicker for compression settings . When chugging though big moguls on a powerline cut , we ’ ll admit to longing for the more substantial shocks of the X-RS , but otherwise in all normal trail conditions this shock package works extremely well .
The new RAS RX front suspension on the Ski-Doo was a nice complement to the rMotion X . In previous years , our test riders would often note that the Ski-Doo had more energy coming up through the handlebar than some competitors , but that wasn ’ t noted this year . The front and back were a fine match .
“ It ’ s hard to believe that the other factories have essentially been shooting at the rMotion for more than a decade , and they still haven ’ t topped its ride quality ,” one tester rider noted .
The Pro-CC skid frame found on the Indy XCR offered the second-place ride . It ’ s not as isolating in stutter bumps as the rMotion X , but in small to midsized bumps it had a very connected feel to the trail – a trademark of sorts for modern Polaris trail machines . Except in frozen-in stutters , it ’ s rarely harsh but there ’ s definitely more jiggle and movement in the seat than when on an rMotion Ski-Doo .
When we found a moguled-out playground , we charged the XCR through the nasties with joy . The highly adjustable Walker Evans Velocity shocks with 2-inch bores ate up the energy well and offered a fun rebound feel that made this sled fun to challenge .
That said , the Pro-CC in the XCR still has a more easy-to-find bottom than we wish , given its race-bred personality . Polaris engineers went to a stiffer rear spring a couple of years ago to change that , but there ’ s still room for improvement .
The Matryx IFS also wears Walker Evans 2-inch Velocity Hi-Lo shocks , with all sorts of external adjustability . Also like the rear , the front end wasn ’ t necessarily great at isolating energy
from bumps but instead took away harshness , tracked predictably and gave a connected feel . “ The XCR wanted to be ridden in attack mode , and I gladly obliged ,” a tester wrote . In other articles this season , we ’ ve been transparent about the fact that our comparison stories are often affected by which pre-production sleds the various factories bring to the Rode Reports / Snow Shoot event , and which sleds are available at which times . In this case , we really wish we would have had a ZR 858 Sno Pro 137 along for the ride rather than the 129-incher .
The uncoupled Slide-Action rear suspension was very quick to react and a bit springy feeling , making it a lot of fun when on an energetic ride . But compared to the rMotion , the Pro-CC and even Arctic Cat ’ s other coupled , 137-inch Slide-Action , it lags in terms of ride quality .
Test riders toggled through the new AC5S shocks that are a part of the ZR Sno Pro package to try to find the right spot .
“ My first time through some trail bumps , right away I felt it was a too stiff , so I pulled over thinking it was set too high , but I found out that the rear clicker was already on one and the front arm shock was on two . I switched that to one , but it then felt like I was going to rattle loose some teeth somehow .”
Which Is Best ?
When all of the scores were tallied , our test team liked the Polaris 9R Indy XCR the best for its combination of responsive power and class-leading handling .
“ This sled is nearly perfect for any condition and is very manageable ,” a tester concluded . “ To use 90s terms , you get the power of a musclesled with the handling of a 600-class performance-special . It really is that good .”
That said , this is a victory with an asterisk : The 9R version of the Indy XCR comes with a startling $ 20,199 MSRP – much , much higher than the other two sleds in this test , and even $ 2,600 more than the Polaris 850 Indy XCR 136 . That ’ s a lot of beans . The Ski-Doo MXZ Adrenaline with Blizzard Package 850 E-TEC was a solid second place . “ Its level of refinement and its quality feel are beyond compare , so it ’ ll be an easy selection for a rider who values those traits ,” a tester noted . “ It would have been a closer finish if it had the new [ Pilot RX ] skis .” The Arctic Cat ZR 858 Sno Pro 129 slotted into third . “ The ZR in the Catalyst chassis is so much more fun , responsive and balanced than its predecessor , but it needs a bit of refinement to get on par with the other two ,” a tester noted , “ but aggressive riders are going to adore its ergos and lightweight feel .” JANUARY 2025 / SNOWGOER . COM / 21