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The only difference between the RMK 195 and the RMK 166 (from the previous review) is in the track length. If you think that’s not too much of importance, just remember all the downsides the track length brought for the RMK 166. With this one all of them are simply gone. No more difficulties when it comes to small corners or handling the sled. Other than that the machine is just as great. It works miracles for hill climbing, but is also pretty good for deep show or even trail riding. It’s again a very powerful sled and if you’re a beginner, or not that experienced rider we suggest you get something else.  The thing is pretty comfortable (not the most comfortable sled Polaris has to offer, but for a mountain sled the comfort level’s pretty good) and does just fine when it comes to mileage. See the specifications:

MODEL    900 RMK 159
M.S.R.P. *    $10,299.00
ENGINE    Liberty Liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    866cc
BORE X STROKE    83 x 80
CARBURETION    Cleanfire Injection
IGNITION    Digital CDI w/TPS, WTS, DET
CLUTCH    P-85/TEAM
SUSPENSION    Front: IQ RMK, Ryde FX, MPV, Select, Comp. Adjustable shocks, 9.0 in. travel
Rear: Dual Purpose Rail, 17.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Phantom Hydraulic Disc
EXHAUST    SC VES, Single
SKIS    Sidehiller 2
LENGTH    134 in.
WIDTH    46.5 in.
HEIGHT    46.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    151 x 15 x 2 in.
SKI STANCE    41 in.
FUEL CAPACITY    10.8 gal.

As we said the sled is pretty fast. You can go up to 95 mph or even more if you push it, but again the advisable speed is around 70 mph because the sled gets unstable after that. Handling the thing is easy, but anyone knows that the greater the speed the difficult the handling becomes so be careful when riding too fast. We said the sled, besides the hill climbing, is also pretty good when it comes to trail riding – the only problem you may experience when doing that is with the seat. If you ride too long it can get a little bit uncomfortable. But the RMK159 is more of a mountain sled and really the best thing it does is hill climbing, so if you’re gonna get, get just for that.

And if the Frontier Touring is a sled with which you can forget about speed the Polaris 900 RMK 166 50th Anniversary Edition is the total opposite – I can easily say that it has even too much power in it. You can push it up to 85 mph (app. 137 km/h) and it will still pull well. This kind of speed can be even dangerous if we’re talking about beginner riders so we recommend it mainly to big or very experienced ones. If you think you can handle it you should definitely consider getting this snowmobile. It’s overall an amazing machine. It rides absolutely great.It will not only outrun, but also out climb any other sled. Specifications as given:

MODEL    900 RMK 166 50th Anniversary Edition
M.S.R.P. *    $10,999.00
ENGINE    Liberty Liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    866cc
BORE X STROKE    83 x 80
CARBURETION    Cleanfire Injection
IGNITION    Digital CDI w/TPS, WTS, DET
CLUTCH    P-85/TEAM
SUSPENSION    Front: IQ RMK, Ryde FX, HPG, IFP shocks, 9.0 in. travel
Rear: Dual Purpose Rail, 18.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Phantom Hydraulic Disc
EXHAUST    SC VES, Single
SKIS    Sidehiller 2
LENGTH    134 in.
WIDTH    46.5 in.
HEIGHT    46.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    166 x 15 x 2.4 in.
SKI STANCE    41 in.
FUEL CAPACITY    10.8 gal.

Speed can be a big advantage for some, but it can also be put as a downside, too. The greater you push the sled the more unstable it’s gonna get so you have be very careful with that. It’s absolutely capable of achieving speeds as the one mentioned above, but the advisable speed is around 70mph (app. 112 km/h) because after that the track gets unstable. Keep in mind also that the RMK 166 is very long sled. This can be a problem when it comes to small cornering. The sled gets even harder to handle and require a lot more effort than a normal length sled does. Once you get used to the length though, you’ll be just fine. People say that the vibration is a problem, but that’s again a problem you get if you exceed the advisable speed. With normal riding you can hardly feel it. Once again, it’s an overall amazing and very challenging sled and really if you think you can handle it, give it a try.

The Frontier Touring is not a snowmobile made for speed, but if you enjoy comfortable, lay back trail riding you’ll very fast fall in love with it. It’s heavy and very stable machine. It’s easy to control and very maneuverable. It can easily handle different types of terrains – from hard packed trails to some pretty rough ones. Mileage is also something you’ll be happy with, but as I said comfort is its biggest advantage. Here are the specifications:

MODEL    Frontier Touring
M.S.R.P. *    $8,149.00
ENGINE    Liberty 4-cycle, Liquid-cooled, 2-Cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    784cc
BORE X STROKE    80 x 78
CARBURETION    Closed-loop EFI
IGNITION    Digital
CLUTCH    P-85
SUSPENSION    Front: EDGE, CRC, Nitrex, Twin tube, Gas shocks, 10 in. travel
Rear: EDGE Touring, 15.2 in. travel travel
BRAKES    Phantom, Hydraulic Disc
EXHAUST    Single
SKIS    Composite, Accu-Trak
LENGTH    128 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    49.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1.0 in.
SKI STANCE    42.5 in.
DRY WEIGHT    657 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.25 gal.

There’s really not that much to be mentioned as a downside for this machine. The main thing is the speed, but that is pretty much a matter of personal preference so if you really don’t care about speed much you have nothing else to worry about. The sled is gonna take you everywhere you want it to and it’s gonna do it providing comfort and flawless performance. It’s a little steep n the price, but it really deserves it. If you go for it you won’t be disappointed.

The next Polaris sled to be reviewed is the 2005 Trail RMK. It’s another great touring sled by Polaris, but people think of is a great work sled, too. Overall it’s a sled that’s fun to play with, but if you need it for some hard work it’s there to back you up 100%. Don’t let its light weight fool you - the thing is capable of towing quite some weight. It’s very easy to handle sled and not even the bad conditions can change that. As to the gas mileage, it’s pretty good - around 11 mpg if you don’t speed it too much. See the specifications before we continue:

MODEL    Trail RMK
M.S.R.P. *    $5,549.00
ENGINE    Polaris Fan-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    544cc
BORE X STROKE    73 x 65
CARBURETION    2 VM34SS w/ACCS
IGNITION    Digital CDI
CLUTCH    P-85/TEAM
SUSPENSION    Front: Escape, CRC, Nitrex, Twin tube, Gas shocks 7.6 in. travel
Rear: Dual Purpose Rail, 13.8 in. travel
BRAKES    Phantom, Hydraulic Disc
EXHAUST    Single
SKIS    Sidehiller 2
LENGTH    124 in.
WIDTH    43.5 in.
HEIGHT    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    15 x 136 x 1.25 in.
SKI STANCE    41 in.
DRY WEIGHT    467 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    11.8 gal.

Although the Trail RMK is made to deal with those tricky snow-drifts anyone can get stuck at one point. Great feature for this sled are the rear handles. They come in very handy in situations like that and the fact that this machine is light is also very helpful. Say goodbye to the long hours of shoveling and lifting. Another great thing is that this sled has a tremendous amount of low and mid range power, unfortunately it lacks in top speed, so again if you’re a speed freak this is not the snowmobile for you. You can easily get 60 mph (app. 96 km/h) on hard flat stock, but if you push it, it can probably get up to about 70-75 mph (110-120 km/h). The greatest concern is about the fan cooling. Because of it people are scared to ride it above 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 Celsius), but it is a mountain sled after all. The sled performs very well and again if you’re not a speed freak and can’t afford something newer you should definitely consider getting it. You won’t be disappointed with it.

We’re gonna continue with the Ski-doo models soon, but we wanted to give you guys something else so you can make comparison between the leading companies on the market. Randomly, the next company will be Polaris and we’re gonna start with the 2005 Trail Touring DLX. We will begin by saying that this is one great touring machine. There are new models out, that are better – modified and upgraded – but that of course is reflecting the price, so if you can’t afford something from the newer models I think you’ll find this sled very satisfying. It’s very comfortable and easy to control sled. It’s very nice looking and the long track makes it very versatile. Many of the riders also find it reasonably reliable, although there are some concerns we’re gonna mention in the second part of the review. For now check out the specifications:

MODEL    Trail Touring DLX
M.S.R.P. *    $5,999.00
ENGINE    Polaris Fan-cooled, 2-Cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    544cc
BORE X STROKE    73 x 65
CARBURETION    2 VM34
IGNITION    Digital CDI
CLUTCH    P-85/TEAM
SUSPENSION    Front: EDGE, CRC, Indy Select, Comp. Adjustable shocks, 10 in. travel
Rear: EDGE Touring, 15.2 in. travel
BRAKES    Phantom, Hydraulic Disc
EXHAUST    Single
SKIS    Composite, Accu-Trak
LENGTH    128 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    49.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1 in.
SKI STANCE    42.5 in.
DRY WEIGHT    560 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.25 gal.

It looks reasonably good when compared to the 2005 Ski-Doo models, right? As to the reliability concerns – they’re mainly about the pistons that seem to wear out pretty quickly. That of course can depend on the riding style and maintenance level, so I’m pretty sure that if you don’t push the sled to the end of its limits and you take good care of it, it will be just fine. The max speed of the 2005 Trail Touring DLX is around 120 kmh (around 75 mph) so if this is not enough for you, you should be looking for something else. IMO this is some pretty good speed, considering the engine. The sled costs $5999 which is not that cheap, but for the sled’s abilities I think it’s pretty fair. The decision is all yours.

Jet another great upgrade from Ski-Doo. The MX Z TNT absolutely dominates in its class. Just like the previous sled reviewed – the 2008 Summit Everest – the MX Z TNT is 50 plus pounds lighter than its predecessors, but is also more powerful than them. What more can you ask from a sled made for racing. And there’re more upgrades that we should point out – besides lighter and faster the MX Z TNT is also easier to handle, made for even sharper cornering. Add to those and the quicker acceleration and what you get is an overall higher top performance. As to the specifications:

MODEL    MX Z® TNT 500SS
M.S.R.P. *    $7,649.00
ENGINE    500SS, liquid-cooled, R.A.V.E.™, 2-cylinders
DISPLACEMENT    597 cc (36.4 ci)
BORE X STROKE    3 x 2.6 in. (76 x 65.8 mm)
CARBURETION    2X TM-40
CLUTCH    Drive: TRA™ III
Driven: QRS
SUSPENSION    Front: REV-XP; HPG T-A aluminum shocks; 9 in. (229 mm) travel
Rear: SC-5; HPG T-A aluminum front and rear arm shocks; 15 in. (381 mm) travel
BRAKES    REV-XP brake type
EXHAUST    Single tuned-pipe, baffle muffler
SKIS    Pilot 5.7 dual-runner
LENGTH    113.8 in. (2,890 mm)
WIDTH    47.9 in. (1,217 mm)
HEIGHT    39.4 in. (1,000 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    120 x 15 x 1 in. (3,051 x 381 x 25.4 mm)
SKI STANCE    47 in. (1,195 mm)
Ski Length: 42 in. (1,066 mm)
Ski Width: 5.7 in. (145 mm)
DRY WEIGHT    399 lbs. (181 kg)
OIL CAPACITY    3.9 qt. (3.7 l)
FUEL CAPACITY    10.6 gal. (40 l)

Did I mention that the thing looks beautiful, too? You’ll certainly attract attention with it. The only concern I have to point out is the ripsaw track. The thing is that when turning in light shallow powder on top of compacted snow the TNT tends to fishtail. This is a thing you should take under consideration as it concerns safety. It’s easy to get out of the situation though - just keep the power constant through a turn and the sled will do just fine. Other than that this is just the perfect sled for races. Even better - it’s the perfect sled for the perfect price. $7649.00 is not a joke…you’re just lucky.

I know it looks like we went through the 2007 models too fast, but they’re not that much different from the 2006 ones reviewed. Just a little modified and upgraded. When it comes to the 2008 models though, you’ll find some bigger differences. Starting with the next Summit generation – the 08 Summit Everest is far ahead from its predecessors. And to back up this statement of mine you should know that it’s almost 50 pounds lighter, yet 37 percent stronger than them. The machine is simply flying through those hills you once thought are storm-proof. The sled is super light, but has plenty of power. It’s unbelievably agile and flexible, but still easy to maneuver. Interested – see the features:

MODEL    Summit® Everest 154
M.S.R.P. *    $9,949.00
ENGINE    800R Power T.E.K., liquid-cooled, 3-D R.A.V.E.™, 2-cylinders
DISPLACEMENT    799.5 cc (48.8 ci)
BORE X STROKE    3.2 x 3 in. (82 x 75.7 mm)
CARBURETION    2X TM-40
HORSEPOWER    151 hp
CLUTCH    Drive: TRA™ VII
Driven: QRS
SUSPENSION    Front: REV-XP; HPG shocks; 9 in. (229 mm) travel
Rear: SC-5M; HPG front and rear arm shocks; 15 in. (381 mm) travel
BRAKES    REX-XP brake type
EXHAUST    Single tuned-pipe, baffle muffler
SKIS    Pilot™ 6.9
LENGTH    130.3 in. (3,310 mm)
WIDTH    45.8 - 47.4 in. (1,163 - 1,204 mm)
HEIGHT    46 in. (1,160 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    154 x 16 x 2.25 in. (3,923 x 406 x 57.2 mm)
SKI STANCE    44.8 - 46.4 in. (1,138 - 1,179 mm)
Ski Length: 42 in. (1,066 mm)
Ski Width: 6.9 in. (175 mm)
DRY WEIGHT    439 lbs. (199 kg)
OIL CAPACITY    3.9 qt. (3.7 l)
FUEL CAPACITY    10.6 gal. (40 l)

You have to love the thing. And what about the price? Don’t tell me you think it’s too much. Just consider that a 1/4 ton Yamaha costs $3-4k more. A price under $10000 for a 2008 model can’t be called nothing, but a good deal. So if you’re looking for a good upgrade (note: even for your 2007 model) this sled is absolutely the thing you should be focusing on.

Since Ski-Doo is trying to satisfy every rider’s taste here’s a snowmobile perfect for nothing else, but riding trails. If snowmobiling is your favorite thing, but you’re not that much of a speed fan, or a hill climber or anything as dangerous, but just like to ride and enjoy a nice day out in the snow there’s no better machine for you than the Legend Touring. The Sled handles very well and it’s light enough for powder. It also runs very quiet and has unbelievable gas milage - around thirty miles per gallon. But don’t think since it’s a trail sled it’s some snail moving machine…not at all…if you want it, it speeds up just enough to make your hair rise (150 klm). Check out its specifications:

MODEL    Legend Touring
M.S.R.P. *    $7,949.00
ENGINE    Rotax 4-TEC V-800, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinders
DISPLACEMENT    799.9 cc (48.8 ci)
BORE X STROKE    91 mm x 61.5 mm (3.6 in. x 2.4 in.)
CARBURETION    EFI
SUSPENSION    Front: Single A-arm with swaybar; Motion Control shocks; 6.3 in. travel (160 mm)
Rear: SC-136; Motion Control front arm shock; HPG™ rear arm shock; 13 in. travel (330.7 mm)
BRAKES    Hydraulic, RT™-type brake lever
EXHAUST    Exhaust pipe, muffler
SKIS    Plastic
LENGTH    119.1 in. (3,025 mm)
WIDTH    44.6 in. (1,132 mm)
HEIGHT    51.2 in. (1,300 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x .88 in. (3,456 x 381 x 22.2 mm)
SKI STANCE    39 in. (991 mm)
Ski Length: 39.4 in. (1,000 mm)
Ski Width: 5.5 in. (140 mm)
DRY WEIGHT    510 lbs. (231 kg)
OIL CAPACITY    3.7 qts. (3.5 l)
FUEL CAPACITY    9 gal. (34 l)

I can’t really think of some bad side of this machine. Except maybe it’s not the best looking one out there, but that’s more of a personal preferences. As I already said it’s the perfect trail sled and you can’t go wrong with it. It’s also pretty cheap - $7949.00. Don’t forget it’s a 2007 model – they usually come at a higher price, trust me. So I call it a great deal and if it works for you, you shouldn’t hesitate too much.

This is a another great sled by Ski-Doo whether you’re gonna use it for riding in the 2+ feet of powder, climbing hills, or cruising the trails. It’s one very light sled so it guarantees effortless handling and flotation in deep snow. It’s pretty comfortable too and although it’s not the most powerful snowmobile Ski-Doo has to offer it’s actually quite fast. You’ll be surprised with the ease it’s climbing those hills. It’s very similar in design with the other 2008 models so you can’t complain about bad looks or something…on the contrary I think it looks awesome. But looks are not the most important, right? That’s why we should go through the specifications:

MODEL    Freestyle™ Backcountry™ 550F
M.S.R.P. *    $5,899.00
ENGINE    550F, axial fan-cooled, cylinder reed porting, 2-cylinders
DISPLACEMENT    553.4 cc (33.8 ci)
BORE X STROKE    3 x 2.4 in. (76 x 61 mm)
CARBURETION    2X VM-30
CLUTCH    Drive: Bombardier Lite
Driven: LPV 27
SUSPENSION    Front: RF; HPG shocks; 6.3 in. (160 mm) travel
Rear: SC-136; HPG front and rear arm shocks; 13 in. (330.7 mm) travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic, RT-type brake lever
EXHAUST    Single tuned-pipe, baffle muffler
SKIS    Plastic
LENGTH    119.1 in. (3,025 mm)
WIDTH    44.6 in. (1,132 mm)
HEIGHT    44.9 in. (1,140 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 16 x 1.25 in. (3,456 x 406 x 31.8 mm)
SKI STANCE    39 in. (991 mm)
Ski Length: 40.7 in. (1,033 mm)
Ski Width: 6.8 in. (172 mm)
DRY WEIGHT    435 lbs. (197 kg)
OIL CAPACITY    3.7 qt. (3.5 l)
FUEL CAPACITY    9 gal. (34 l)

Besides the normal 2008 sleds problems like the change in design that requires time to get used to and reduce of the weight that when given more power can lead to fishtailing, there’s only one more thing that’s bugging me - that the Freestyle Backcountry is air cooled. I just don’t imagine it would take much abuse, but here’s a solution for you – don’t push it that much. Other than that the sled is amazing and riders are very happy with it. And for a 2008 model it also comes at a very low price which is also great. Of course there are better Ski-Doo sleds out there, but for the price this one goes you’re probably not gonna find something better.

So you’ve finally decided that your kid is ready for a snowmobile of his own and you’re wondering what to get. Ski-Doo again has the solution for that problem and it’s called – Mini Z. It’s one of the cutest snowmobiles I’ve seen and in my opinion it’s the perfect present for your kid. They’re absolutely gonna love it. The model is designed extremely with the kids in mind. It has all the features and safety gear that a kid snowmobile requires - an independent A-arm front suspension with three inches of travel, controlled speed and tether cord, isolated motor and kid-friendly controls. See the given specifications:

MODEL    Mini Z™ 120 Four-Stroke
M.S.R.P. *    $2,249.00
ENGINE    120 4-stroke
SUSPENSION    Front: A-arm Mini Z; Mini Z shocks; 3 in. travel
Rear: Mini Z; Mini Z shocks; 6 in. travel
TRACK LXWXH    69 x 10 x 0.63 in.

When it comes to kids there’s no room for mistakes. Ski-Doo did a great job with the Mini Z and you can absolutely trust the snowmobile. Your kids are not only gonna be happy, but perfectly protected. Still, an adult supervision is advised at least until they (and you, too) get comfortable riding the sled. The machine is also at a pretty reasonable price, I think. So if you’re sure they’re ready – get it.