Characteristics of “Ski doo” snowmobiles and their features

Ski-Doo Expedition 1200 SE Luxury Snowmobile Review

This snowmobile can safely be called a legend. It is recognized as one of the most luxurious, powerful and comfortable snowmobiles in its class. You can mention many more epithets for this model, but first things first.

The snowmobile comes with many features and things that many people can only dream about. Pleasant “surprises” include a front power bumper, a sliding plate, and a rear luggage case. To make it possible to pull the snowmobile out of a difficult area in a short period of time, a winch is provided under the seat. The adjustable steering column allows you to customize the control for each person, taking into account the physical characteristics of each person. 150 “mares” allow, despite the large size of the snowmobile, to ride quickly with a passenger, for whom a special backrest is provided at the back. Comfortable trips are hard to imagine without a roomy, ergonomic seat with a thick layer of padding.

The snowmobile has incredible cross-country ability. Track length (utility) is 154 inches, width 50 cm. Hook height 32 mm, reverse gear will not leave a chance even in the most severe weather conditions. A snowmobile capable of driving where it would seem impossible to do so. The presence of a low gear makes it possible to tow heavy loads, trailers and sleds. The use of the model under consideration is quite wide. A snowmobile can not only “plow”, but can also seriously compete with sports cars.

Fast driving becomes a reality thanks to the incredibly powerful 1.2 liter engine. The model of the productive element is “Rotex 1200”. This inline 3-cylinder unit is renowned for its performance all over the world. In addition to dynamics and power, it is very reliable. It is difficult to overestimate the motor resource, which is simply enormous. What else about the layout as a whole? Let's pay attention to the intake muffler, which is similar to a certain musical instrument. The engine is moved as close to the track as possible, this has a positive effect on the stability of the snow machine. The exhaust system consists of only one exhaust can, unlike other brands of snowmobiles. The rear suspension is supplemented with a pneumatic element, which improves the performance of the shock-absorbing system. The suspension at the rear of the snowmobile has 6 stiffness settings. It is possible to install automatic stiffness adjustment to maintain optimal suspension performance, regardless of the load on the snowmobile and changing road conditions.

The front suspension is similar to the shock-absorbing systems of sports versions of “Ski doo” snowmobiles. On uneven trails there is a high level of stability and comfort, which is important for “executive” snowmobiles.

The future today: utilitarian line of BRP snowmobiles for the 2021 model year in Sheregesh - what's new?

Snow in April? But in Sheregesh, the season can last longer, and most importantly, it was on these mountain slopes, 4000 km from Moscow, that I just tested the BRP utility vehicles of the 2021 model line. Prepare your sleigh in the summer and your snowmobile in the spring!

What have Canadians and their Finnish colleagues changed? If you don’t count the unshakable Ski-Doo Skandic WT 550F, like the postulates of Marx and Engels, then almost the entire utilitarian line is pretty much invigorated in terms of hardware. The goal, as always, is good - higher, better, stronger, more beautiful...

The Lynx Commander model now has an Easy Ride suspension at the rear, and the “backbone” is the Radien-X platform: in fact, this is a slightly elongated variation of the frame of the entire Lynx mountain series. In our market, Commander will be presented in three guises. Base model with single seat and three engines - 600R E-TEC two-stroke or 900 ACE/900 ACE TURBO four-stroke. There is also an option with a two-seater LTD and the same set of engines, but without the turbocharged version, and a chic version of the snow liner - the Commander LTD Grand Tourer 900 ACE with a turbocharged or regular version of the four-stroke engine.

Lynx Commander GT

Compared to the previous REV-XU, the frame is six kilograms lighter and the overall width has been reduced by 37mm - which should pay dividends in the form of more precise handling in deep snow. Wind protection has improved, and the “fat” GT modification has a front suspension design not on curved A-arms, but on straight ones. Moreover, it is the GT that now has a stabilizer bar, and the steering is trapezoidal. Long live controllability!

The new two-stage Easy Shift gearbox is responsible for distributing Newton meters - it is quieter (from 8 to 10 dB throughout the entire speed range), and access to the internals is easier for faster changes in gear ratios. The analogue instrumentation is gradually losing ground: Commander LTD and GT now have a digital panel with a width of 180 mm, and the “regular” Commander is entitled to 110 mm. There is no built-in navigation yet, but it may appear next year. Changes have also been made to the tracks - now they are Silent Cobra with a softer rubber composition in the places where the rollers are installed.

How does all this work in practice? The Commander GT has not turned into a mountain climber: maneuvers on the slopes of Sheregesh, especially in wet snow, require some effort. But on the plain, the only difficulty will be to come up with a route. Moreover, the range with a 41-liter gas tank and modest (by snowmobile standards) fuel consumption of up to 12.1 l/100 km (for 900 ACE TURBO engines) will be quite considerable.

• The new two-speed Easy Shift gearbox is compact and quiet, like a harlot in confession, the effort on the lever is practically absent compared to its predecessor • The Commander GT has not A-shaped, but straight lower suspension arms. The track here is wider than that of the “younger” versions (1080 mm versus 996 mm).

The new box really does not make noise, and selecting modes now requires no effort. The turbocharged 150-horsepower “troika”, of course, is not an evil 850 cc two-stroke, but there is enough potential even to tow a half-ton load. And the dynamics are such that an inexperienced rider will definitely collect all possible obstacles even 100 meters ahead if he thoughtlessly presses the throttle trigger. Yes, of course, the accelerator is electronic and has three engine operating modes - and the Eco mode is so imposing and calm that it’s time to think about installing cruise control and massage chairs. However, in Sports you can grab a fair share of endorphins: in the hands of seasoned professionals, these “tourists” seem to be able to go even to Mars.

But the real revolution, the break with templates and standards, is the Ski-Doo Expedition Xtreme.

Ski-Doo Expedition Xtreme

The basis of the entire Ski-Doo Expedition line is the Gen4 platform for the wide track Wide Track (500 mm). Here, too, there was some fitness involved: minus 13.6 kg against the background of the REV-XU skeleton of the 2019 model year and liposuction on the sides - a total of 43 mm. At the top of the food chain is the Ski-Doo Expedition SE model with a 900 ACE TURBO engine and... rear air suspension! The second-ranking model is the LE with the same engine, but without a turbine. And the nuclear warhead in the junk world is the Ski-Doo Expedition Xtreme with an 850 E-TEC two-stroke engine. Yes, that’s right, the same engine is installed on Ski-Doo Summit mountain bikes.

The Easy Shift box has also been recruited into this family. And what's most interesting is that the 850 cc two-stroke Xtreme is also equipped with a two-speed transfer case with a low-range transmission! An unusual symbiosis of seemingly mutually exclusive solutions. It actually feels like a Ski-Doo Summit mountain bike, but with a wider track. Just imagine that there are no more restrictions: if you want, you can “saw” the slopes or bundling on black slopes. Or perform a “heel” - this is what a wheelie is called in the snowmobile world. Or you can do the opposite - add the optional double seat and pannier, throw on a trailer and go on an expedition. Yes, the two-stroke engine here is vibration-laden and angry, and there are no electronic modes of engine operation - in any case, the throttle trigger must be handled with due reverence. The stock windshield is rather just a starting point into the world of BRP accessories. But, damn it, what a wide range of possibilities!

The Ski-Doo Expedition Xtreme simply didn’t allow me to ride differently: this snowmobile constantly provokes me!

And how easily Xtreme shifts and changes trajectories! This is probably the first snowmobile that I really wanted to buy.

• Ski-Doo Expedition SE Despite its size, the Expedition SE lays well on its side and can easily travel in a traverse - and without losing comfort

The older SE model then became a kind of relaxing mobile spa station. The high seat minimized the bending of the knees and the load on the legs, the tilt-adjustable steering wheel made it possible to fine-tune it to suit my crooked position, the windshield with the size of the Ostankino TV tower covered my head, the air suspension with remote adjustment made it possible to move quite tolerably even on the comb of snowcats with decent for such conditions 60-70 km/h. And complaining about the lack of power of a 150-horsepower turbocharged “three” would not even occur to an adherent of 200-horsepower sportbikes: believe me, there is enough of it. Of course, it’s not easy to control this colossus on the slopes or in the forest, but imagine my surprise when, in response to the photographer’s request “come on, jump here,” instead of a shameful fiasco, I easily completed the task. And he landed without breaking the suspension.

Eh, it’s a pity that we don’t have Canada or Finland, where snowmobile roads stretch for tens of thousands of kilometers...

For dessert, I left the Lynx 49 Ranger, which I loved so much from the last presentation. The main change is the PPS² suspension, which has been consigned to oblivion: Easy Ride now also works here, with all the attendant features in the form of an “heel on demand” and the ability to fix it if operating conditions or your riding style require it. The benefit is lower unsprung masses, a total weight reduction of 6 kg and more precise handling. As usual, the range of models is presented in three variants: Lynx 49 Ranger 600 ACE, Lynx 49 Ranger PRO and Lynx 49 Ranger ST.

I got on the most interesting modification for me, the Lynx 49 Ranger ST with the 900 ACE engine. Last year, this utility was prescribed a Radien-X skeleton of a pyramidal design, a slightly larger skeleton of the Lynx mountain bikes to fit the size of a universal machine. I still believe that it is incorrect to classify the “49th” as a “scrap”: there is no sadness of everyday routine work here, but a version of the Rotax ACE engine with 95 hp output. can hardly be called boring. In addition, the new Easy Ride suspension has significantly improved the handling of the snowmobile - it should be noted that previously it did not suffer from excessive roll or clumsiness. There is almost as much comfort here as in leviathans like the “big” Commanders. A real universal machine, which until the spring of this year seemed almost ideal to me. Until the Ski-Doo Expedition Xtreme was rolled out at BRP...

Lynx 49 Ranger ST

It remains to be stated that the price of joining Canadian-Finnish snowmobile values, depending on modifications, is from 1.3 million to 1.7 million rubles. Basically, the average bar in the world of powerful motorcycles. But you definitely won’t find such fine adjustments to a specific client and so many modifications from any motorcycle manufacturer. There is something to strive for!

Owner reviews

• An excellent snowmobile, the build quality of which is beyond doubt. Equally good in traction and speed characteristics, highly functional. Ideal for fishing and hunting; I often ride on this snowfield with my family. It would seem that this is far from a sports car, but the powerful engine tells a different story. As soon as you add a little gas, the snowmobile simply gnaws the snow out from under itself. I have been using this model for more than 2 years. There were no problems. True, I treat technology very carefully, which may be why the snowmobile doesn’t break down at all. But as they say, “technology loves care.”
• Yes, this is exactly the snowmobile I have been looking for for many years. Comfortable, one might say chic snow machine. If we draw an analogy with the automotive world, then this snowmobile model is comparable to the Porsche Cayenne. A snowmobile can pass where it is needed and move at a fairly high speed. In addition, by attaching a sled or trailer, it will not be difficult to transport any cargo. I recommend!

The snowmobile in question is the dream of many snowmobilers. High reliability, excellent technical aspect, comfort and luxury - all this is the Ski-doo Expedition SE 1200. Those looking for something less powerful and cheaper may consider purchasing the brp “Ski doo skandic 600” snowmobile. This model also made a lot of noise in the snowmobile world.

CHARACTERISTICS

ENGINE Engine ROTAX 1200 4-TEC Volume, cc 1170.7 Number of cylinders 3 Type Liquid cooling, four-stroke, DOHC, dry sump Fuel system EFI

STANDARD EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES Steering wheel Four positions, adjustable tilt column / Steel, painted / J-shaped tips / Handlebar grip Towbar Standard 580 mm windshield Rear view mirror Standard Fuel gauge Standard Tachometer Standard Speedometer Standard Heated grips Standard Electric starter Standard Passenger seat /backrest Standard (adjustable) Digital information center Multifunctional instrument panel with LCD display

TRANSMISSION Drive pulley eDrive™ 2 Driven pulley QRS Reverse Mechanical Brake Hydraulic with stainless steel reinforced hoses

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT Oil tank volume, l. 3.5 Track, mm 508 x 3923 x 32 Dry weight, kg 322 Seat Modular double seat with underseat luggage compartment Fuel tank, l. 45 Ski base, mm 975 or 1018 Ski type Pilot™ DS 2 Grouser height, mm 32 Height with windshield, mm 1330 Width/length, mm 1150 or 1192 / 3240 Number of seats 2

SUSPENSION Front suspension type RAS 2 Front suspension shock absorbers Motion Control Front suspension travel, mm 210 Rear suspension type SC™-5U Rear suspension shock absorbers (front/rear) Motion Control / ACS (air spring) Rear suspension travel, mm 340