Snow Goer November 2026 | Page 22

The Freeride wasn’ t designed for riders who are content to simply follow the others, and the 2027 Freeride 147 3.0 Turbo takes that philosophy to an even more aggressive level. Its 147-inch track with 3-inch lugs gives the sled the traction needed to send it, while the turbocharged 850 E-TEC engine provides the kind of power that makes jumping and freestyle riding considerably more manageable. But horsepower isn’ t the main attraction here. The Freeride’ s appeal is its combination of a lightweight mountain chassis, specialized suspension, and rider-focused ergonomics that encourage you to get off the trail and start looking for trouble. The new adjustable limiter strap adds another tool for dialing in the sled to match riding style and terrain. This is a purpose-built machine for the rider who sees a fresh hill, untouched jumps, or a technical section of terrain and thinks, I wonder if I can ride that?

Some snowmobiles are built to cruise. The Polaris Patriot 9R Indy XCR 137, however, is built to attack. Combining Polaris’ potent 899cc Patriot 9R engine with the race-bred XCR chassis and suspension, this is a trail sled for riders who aren’ t interested in taking it easy. The 137-inch track provides a useful middle ground between short-track agility and extra traction when conditions get rough, while the XCR suspension is designed to handle serious punishment. The long-tail rear suspension boosts the XCR’ s roughtrail capability, keeping it straight through moguls and composed on normal trails.

The 9R’ s strong midrange and explosive top end give the XCR the muscle to make the most of long straightaways, but it’ s the combination of power and chassis control that makes this sled special. It’ s an almost unfairly good combination: big-engine performance in a package that remains eager to change direction. For riders who want their trail sled to have a little attitude, the 9R XCR 137 is one of the most entertaining choices in the 2027 lineup.

22 NOVEMBER 2026 | SNOWGOER. COM