COMPARISON / 2025 MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOOTOUT

Arctic Cat ZR 600 ATAC Lynx Rave RE 600R Polaris 650 Indy SP Ski-Doo MXZ Adrenaline 600R Yamaha SRViper L-TX GT

BY JOHN T . PRUSAK PHOTOS BY WAYNE DAVIS

Rode Reports event .

Each year at the spring testing and photography event , our ability to conduct class-specific shootouts is held hostage by whichever pre-production machines the snowmobile makers decide to bring to the spring event . And the factories , distressed in recent years by weather and market conditions on top of supply chain issues , are bringing fewer sleds every year .

That led to this year ’ s somewhat oddball collection of trail middleweights . They vary in track length , shock type , feature level and more , leading to an amazing $ 6,050 difference in as-tested retail prices .

The only Ski-Doo available was the somewhat stripped down MXZ Adrenaline 600R E-TEC with a 129-inch-long track and a $ 13,599 MSRP . It did have , though , Ski-Doo ’ s new RX front suspension geometry . The only Polaris we could get in our pre-curved gloved hands was also a base-level sled : a 650 Indy SP with a 137-inch shoe and a price of $ 14,199 .

From Cat , the top-feature-level ZR 600 137 ATAC model , back for its second year in the Catalyst chassis but now with a funky G8 digital display , was available with its $ 16,899 MSRP . We also grabbed Yamaha ’ s only sled in this class : A final-year SRViper L-TX GT thumper costing $ 16,299 .

And finally , we invited the new kid in the 600-class to the party : the first-year Lynx Rave RE 600R E-TEC . Aside from the beefy ( and thus pricey ) KYB shocks , the test unit was also equipped with BRP ’ s 10.25-inch touch-screen gauge , pushing its as-tested cost to a whopping $ 19,649 .

All of that variance makes direct comparisons difficult , but we ’ ll share vital test rider feedback on each model so you can find the right spunky trail bomber that matches your wants , needs and riding style .

24 / NOVEMBER 2024 / SNOWGOER . COM