Polaris Titan Adventure 800, Arctic Cat Pantera 7000 Ltd., Ski-Doo Grand Touring 2021 - Comparison Test.

Design and equipment

The front of the snowmobile has a reinforced bumper, thanks to which the bike is protected from various damages. By default, there is a seat for two people, but if necessary, you can remove the passenger seat, which will allow you to use the platform for transporting goods. Or, on the contrary, you can install another additional seat and then the Arctic Cat Bearcat 570 XT can carry 3 people.

Like most other models, the 570 XT has a small luggage compartment under the driver's seat. Here you can transport spare parts and tools to troubleshoot various problems with the machine. This compartment is sealed, completely protected from snow and water.

The instrument panel contains a digital-analog display that provides the driver with all the necessary information about the operation of the equipment. It displays: travel speed, fuel level, engine temperature, ambient temperature, crankshaft speed of the power unit, daily mileage of the vehicle, number of engine hours worked, reverse gear.

Let's go quickly, but carefully!

A disgusting rain was falling. It was just right to suspect that the Polaris company ordered it - so that the track would be properly wet and the Sportsman X-2 with a new engine could more clearly demonstrate its talents in the role of an all-weather all-terrain vehicle. To the accompaniment of drops knocking on the motocross helmet, the muffled voice of an instructor from the Brand company (distributor of Polaris equipment in Russia) was heard through the visor, giving the last instructions before the test:

- Let's go quickly. On short straights, if you feel confident, you can disable the front axle to increase speed. This does not apply to inexperienced people - the road is damp! As soon as the ups and downs begin, those who were driving rear wheel drive, do not forget to turn on the full one. Let me remind you that to do this you need to move the yellow button on the right handlebar to the “AWD” position. I especially ask you not to forget to do this when we cross the ford..

And he added very quietly (I only heard because I was standing next to him) and, it seemed to me, a little tiredly:

- ... so as not to pull anyone out of the river anymore.

It is always useful to listen to an experienced person, even if you are sure that you know all his advice in advance. But our photographer Alexey Barashkov was excited by only one thing in this parting speech:

- You heard? He said “let’s go quickly”! And I have equipment...

Knowing from experience that the transfer of cosmic figures in dollars x will now begin: for the camera, for the lens, for the second camera... - I consoled him as best I could, paraphrasing the famous line of Lelik (performed by Anatoly Papanov) from “The Diamond Arm”:

– I will drive quickly, but carefully!

Specifications

Review of the 2021 Polaris 800 sks 155 snowmobile

In the mountains in deep snow the SKS is very similar to the Pro-RMK

It is very likely that the SKS will become the best mountain snowmobile next season. The Polaris SKS and Pro-RMK models are the most enjoyable cars that we were able to drive during our test drives. SKS was served for dessert and brought the biggest smile to our faces.

Of course, the Polaris RMK Pro 155 and 163 attracted the lion's share of attention. Of course, the Pro deserves royal servility. Even we are guilty of this. But the SKS was a treasure found in the depths that we approved with nods and winks. We can describe the SKS with the same adjectives we once used to describe the RMK Pro.

So, who wants to buy SKS? Us and you too. Why? It's simple—to save on an aftermarket ski, a turbo, and keep it for a couple of rides or a fine if you're going to push the limits.

Just to clear things up, let's go back to the Polaris RMK line, the standard 2015 RMK built on the original Pro-Ride chassis. The RMK that is back in 2021 is not the AXYS Pro-RMK, as the Pro-RMK name is reserved for the AXYS RMK. The RMK is available with 800 and 600 cc engines, with the 800 cc version having a 155-inch or 144-inch track option, and the 600 cc version only having a 144-inch track. RMK snowmobiles have a chain drive. The 800 RMK is powered by the 2015 Cleanfire 800 motor, not the HO 800.

The 2021 AXYS SKS (Snow King Special) joins the Polaris sled lineup to differentiate the two deep snow mountain sled models. AXYS Pro-RMK is a premium mountain snowmobile from Polaris. We expect the SKS to replace the standard Pro-Ride RMK in the future.

Some managed to order the 2021 SKS through a special spring program and were able to upgrade their snowmobiles to the Pro-RMK package, practically equalizing both models in terms of their characteristics. Upgrades include: Skid Scrapers, Premium Interactive Instrument Cluster, Premium Walker Evans Shocks, Body Color Front Bumper and Ski Rims, Pro Taper Height Adjustable Handlebar (Three Levels to Choose from), Burandt Racks, Series 6 Track ,0 with lugs 2.6 inches high and so on. Some owners of the new 2021 SKS affectionately call them SKS Pro. And rightly so.

Whether the 2021 SKS is purchased through the spring program or not, it will be built on the proprietary AXYS RMK chassis and also powered by the new 800 Cleanfire HO Excellent engine.

Let's continue our analysis of the 2021 SKS. The Cleanfire HO 800 engine features two three-stage electronically actuated exhaust valves, a lightweight crankshaft (to reduce rotating mass), an electronic oil pump and a wedge-shaped air intake. The same applies to Pro-RMK.

The SKS comes standard with the proven Series 5.1 deep snow track. But if you order the sled through the spring special, you can choose the Series 6.0 track. We recommend this one, because it is lighter and has higher lugs. SKS snowmobiles are equipped with a lightweight chain box; the Quick Drive belt system is not available. But don't worry, the same chaincase is used on the race RMK Assault and on the Pro-RMK 155 and 163 along with a Series 7.0 track with three-inch lugs. Be careful, the SKS only has one track length option—155 inches.

The 2021 SKS features the same front and rear suspension as the AXYS Pro-RMK. However, on the chassis side, the SKS uses track idler wheels, while the Pro-RMK uses scrapers for skid cooling and lubrication. Idler wheels protect the track and RMK Coil-Over rear suspension. Moreover, the SKS has an additional engine cooling system with a heat exchanger behind the crossbar. This also provides additional engine protection against overheating when driving on difficult trails. The SKS model features the same laser-cut skids as the RMK Pro. Polaris equipped the SKS this way, anticipating that it would become a popular model in rental stores.

Up front, you can see the same forged aluminum A-arms on the tall spindles found on the Pro-RMK. Forging is the process of giving aluminum parts a specific shape. Casting, as you can imagine, involves dipping a hot mass of aluminum into a mold to produce a specific part. As a result of forging, parts are lighter and stronger, unlike casting. As we covered in our Pro-RMK article, the forged A-arms are curved to absorb impact energy rather than sending it into the tunnel, which can cause it to deform. Deformed tunnels must be replaced, as you know, and this is quite an expensive proposition.

The sled comes standard with PowderTrac running boards, a Pro-Lite seat, bright LED headlights and Gripper skis. Skis can be set in three positions: 991 mm, 1016 mm and 1041 mm.

Given all of the above, what can we conclude about SKS? To begin with, we got our hands on not just an SKS, but an SKS “Pro”; the snowmobile turned out to have a lot in common with the Pro-RMK. Like the Series 6.0 track, interactive display, mid-height Pro Taper handlebars with mountain line, and premium Walker Evans shocks with remote reservoir. We were fascinated. The modern SKS takes us back to the 1990s when we raced the Indy 500 SKS snowmobiles.

Did we feel that the SKS was smaller than the AXYS RMK? No. First of all, the 155 SKS has an approximate dry weight of 201kg (with Series 5.1 track), and if equipped with a Series 6.0 track it will be even lighter. This weight puts it on par with other ultra-light, high-performance mountain sleds with tracks of roughly the same length, such as the Ski-Doo XM Summit X T3 and Arctic Cat M8000 Limited. What does it mean? Polaris' mid-weight sled is lighter than the lightest snowmobiles from Ski-Doo and Arctic Cat, and at a lower price.

The SKS test drive took place not on soft deep snow, but on snow covered with crust. I must say that it coped with such a track no worse than the Pro-RMK, which has a narrow and raised chassis. It also handled the extra 35 horsepower very well. We must give credit to the High Output 800 motor.

If you set the skis in the middle position, you can easily go around trees and cross the steepest slopes. The weight of the snowmobile is not felt at all. What's more, the chain drive is just as responsive as the Quick Drive belt drive. This is exactly what we expected, because the chain drive has long proven itself to be reliable and of high quality.

While writing this article, we went to the Polaris website and tried to package the SKS to be as close to the Pro-RMK as possible. It turned out that in this case the price is no less than the Pro-RMK itself. The 2021 SKS is what it is. You will only save money if you buy it standard, we recommend installing the Series 6.0 track. Also, the final cost will be reduced if you eliminate the track rollers and install aftermarket ice scrapers. Of course, the SKS doesn't have carbon fiber parts like the RMK Pro, but even so, it's lighter than the XM Summit X and M8000 Sno Pro or Limited. I would like to add that the SKS model adapts better to low snow depths and dense snow than the Pro-RMK, since its radiator is located differently. Just food for thought.

Overall, we were impressed with the 2021 AXYS SKS. Of course, this is not a Pro model. But we never expected that a regular snowmobile could perform its tasks at such a high level that we couldn't enjoy it at all.

Technical characteristics of Polaris 800 sks 155

• Engine: two-stroke, two-cylinder high-performance Polaris Cleanfire, 95 cm3, liquid cooled, Cleanfire electronic injection system, dry sump lubrication
• Power: more than 155 hp
• Drive: Chainbox, Polaris P85 drive clutch, TEAM LWT driven clutch
• Front Suspension: AXYS RMK adjustable A-arm, Walker Evans remote reservoir shocks, 229mm travel, Gripper skis
• Rear Suspension: RMK Coil-Over parallel rail, Walker Evans remote reservoir shocks, 406mm travel
• Length: 3327 mm
• Width: 1181 mm
• Height: 1248 mm
• Ski Distance: Adjustable 991mm—1016mm—1041mm
• Track: 15" 155" 2.4" Series 5.1
• Weight: 201 kg (claimed)
• Brake system: Hydraulic disc Polaris AXYS RMK LWT
• Equipment: Luggage bags, windshields
• Fuel tank capacity: 43.5 liters

Chassis system

The Arctic Cat Bearcat 570 XT uses a state-of-the-art Articulating Rear Suspension. Its end part is movable, thanks to which the manufacturer managed to increase the service life of the tracked propulsion unit and chassis. This feature made it possible to significantly increase the vehicle's cross-country ability.

The width of the running belt is 510 mm, which is typical for most modern utilitarian snowmobiles. Such a caterpillar has a positive effect on the vehicle’s maneuverability both on compacted snow and on the surface of a frozen reservoir.

The manufacturer equipped the snowmobile with a modern front suspension model AWS™ VII, which includes powerful and durable A-arms. Thanks to this, excellent controllability of the vehicle when cornering was achieved, as well as stable movement on a straight section. Maneuvering between trees in forest areas is also not a problem for the Arctic Cat 570.

The Twin Spar™ chassis is built around two aluminum box spars. They connect the steering mounts and tunnel rails together. A special feature is the use of high-strength rivets that connect all chassis elements into one. In addition, the chassis has an increased level of rigidity and, of course, durability.

“Polaris Sportsman X-2” received a powerful engine

A good engine for a four-wheeler is perhaps even more important than for a car. After all, both the controllability and cross-country ability of an ATV depend on traction. An example of this is the Polaris Sportsman X-2 500 EFI, which appeared on the market a year ago. A full-size vehicle with an excellent chassis, which, by the way, was the first of its kind to receive a transformable passenger seat. But here's the engine! It’s strange that Polaris engineers didn’t immediately realize: 500 “cubes” is clearly not enough for a two-seater four-wheeler. However, less than a year passed before they realized it. Perhaps the competitors who were pushing in from all sides helped. Here you have the new “Arctic Cat 650H1 TRV PLUS”, and the “Kawasaki KVF650 4x4” with a two-cylinder engine, and the very powerful “Sea-Doo Outlander MAX800XT” with a V-shaped “eight hundred”. And then, you see, the Chinese will arrive in time: they also have a “five hundred” in their two-seater ATV, but that’s just for now.. In general, you shouldn’t be surprised that after the 500 cc predecessor, the “Sportsman X-2” has now appeared. with a two-cylinder branded engine “Liberty 800”. Translated – “freedom 800”. Well, let's see how much freer the four-wheeler's habits have become thanks to the "eight hundred"..

Price

The basic version of the Arctic Cat Bearcat 570 costs 550 thousand rubles. For 610 thousand rubles. You can buy an Artiquet with an expanded configuration, including an enlarged windshield, ski extensions, an additional passenger seat (making the snowmobile a three-seater), a beacon, snow clearing equipment, a winch, a heated power plant, heated seats, and a transverse stabilizer bar.

A used model will cost 380,000-390,000 rubles. The cost of a used car is affected by the number of engine hours and general technical condition. Used equipment usually requires repair. Here are approximate prices for some spare parts suitable for the Arctic Cat Bearcat 570 XT (cost in rubles):