And the VR1 is a total leap forward for 2021. It’ll clean sweep the 2021 SOTY award without any real competition. Anyone without a blind brand bias knows Polaris has been absolutely killing it lately. I’ve never even owned a Polaris...yet... and it’s so obvious they’ve been paying attention to what customers are asking for. Good job SnowTrax for telling it like it is. Perhaps it’s time for Ski Doo to pay attention as well and listen to what the customers want. LED lighting, included storage, included windshields, actual color options when ordering, better steering, better gauges across the lineup and not just in a few 850’s, as well as better spring promotions when snow checking. The Ski Doos are damn fine sleds, but they’re all so alike and you can barely tell the difference from a X AND XRS visually anymore. It’s all about simplifying production in Ski Doos eyes. Enough with watering down the XRS name as well. What’s next? A Skandic XRS? Arctic Cat and Yamaha are hopelessly lost on rear skid tech that’s been around for nearly 20 years. It’s going to take a miracle in modern engineering for them to catch up at this point, but I hope Cat has something incredible for their 60th anniversary. Time is running out.....
bedlambikes skidoo added basically all that stuff for 2021. New front end that handles amazing people say, new gauge with Bluetooth and music and stuff. Ya it is nice to choose exactly what color you want but I think that skidoo is nailing the colours. That can be a bit crazy sometimes but they make some quality sleds. And for arctic cat, time IS running out and the riot is just not good enough to bring back arctic cat.
If you’ve never owned one you don’t know. Sleds are personal preference. Don’t go buy what a video tells you, go with what you like. You might like Ski Doo better because of ergonomics or something else. I’m a Polaris guy but that’s what I like. I’ve owned Ski Doo I don’t like their ergonomics or front end but many people love them.
@@MrKitty11doesbaseball This is a great comment and is absolutely true. Just because a polaris won this award does not, in any way, mean the skidoo (or arctic cat or yamaha) is somehow bad. Our crew just preferred the polaris. If a person prefers or fits better on a skidoo, go buy one. I certainly wont give you a hard time about it.
I agree except for the color thing. After coming off probably the most awesome color choices ever with the sharpest sleds ever in 2020 Polaris has decided to follow that up by apparently bringing the color coordinators that came up with the boing plain late model iq’s. They’re bland. They even put a cheesy pinstripe on some of them. Hopefully they look better in person but I haven’t seen one yet that was as exciting as the 2020 schemes. Also my brother has a el Tigre 137 and it’s a great riding sled.
Eric Savage the first year bland colors are intentional. But at least there’s a dozen or so combos you can do for each model. Next year they will have a lot more exciting options, better graphics, etc... that’s how you keep a product line fresh and the center of attention throughout its lifecycle. Look at the latest mustang for example. Mustang GT.... then models like the California, GT350, GT350R, Bullett, Shelby GT500 followed.
I envy you guys. Everybody screams bias and everything else while you guys are just trying to give your opinion. The truth of the matter is that there is no bad sled anymore, each manufacturer makes top of line vehicles. Each one has its pros and cons and while I don’t agree with the Polaris pick that doesn’t change the fact that you guys give honest reviews that keep us coming back year after year. Keep it up!
Carter Spratlin sir... you nailed it, I totally agree with you. It’s not what you ride that is important, the important thing is that you can go out and ride, enjoy our beautiful country and have fun all winter long. Thank you!!!
John Smith You know I’ve noticed that quite a bit. Which doo do you own? I have a 19 renegade 600r and a 19 BCXRS 850, and I absolutely love how planted they are. I’ve seen snowtrax hate on it quite a bit but that precision is something I’ve grown to love. Seems like a love or hate though.
I would like to start off with saying I really love your channel and all you do for the snowmobiling industry. Good to get reviews on multiple sleds throughout a winter to get us hungry for the next. I'm seeing alot of people pissed about the polaris selection this year but I have to say I believe you are spot on. I do my riding in the UP and have noticed this year that I was seeing alot of ski doos and polaris and a shortage of the rest. I'm not saying the others arent good but a majority of what I see is 2 brands kinda dominating by me. The next thing I see on these comments is people bashing this brand or that. That's why they make different brands, cause everyone has there own preference. One person drives a truck another drives a car and yet another prefers a motorcycle. That why there are trail, crossover and mountain categories. We cant all be happy with just one choice and that's what makes us different. I know snowtrax is paid and sponsored by all brands and that's what makes there opinion so valuable. In fact alot of the time there polaris sponsorship isn't shown til the end of the video and ski doo is first up. And then there's all the reliability talk and this is where I stand on that. I ride with multiple different groups and all brands. I'm here to tell you they all break. And the number one reason is that everyone gets there new sled and think they are exempt from maintenance cause it's new. They dont check the belt tension, the chain tension, track tension. They dont clean power valves, change chaincase oil, lube there rear skid. So many things are overlooked and the response is "it's under warranty." This doesn't keep you going throughout the season though and warranty work may be near free but you dont have a sled to ride and the season is short. I'm not saying this is everyone but it is a majority. I'm really anal about maintenance and am teased now and then for it but it doesn't hurt my feelings when I'm riding and someone's sleds down for something they could have prevented. Another thing I see that isn't good on these sleds and probably a good reason these motors arent lasting very long is people's ability to slow down and wait for the engine to get to operating temp. There is a very small amount of people I see that properly warm there machine up in the morning. Normally its fire it up for 15 seconds and rip it out the trailer is what I normally watch. That's not good on these high performance engines found in these snowmobiles. And I'm sure people will say Im dumb or I dont know what I'm talking about. They also weren't the guy fixing other people's sleds all winter just so they had someone to ride with. Normal maintenance and a daily sled check can catch alot of problems before they happen regardless of brand or model. Thanks again snowtrax
Thanks for the video. I always look forward to your reviews. As a polaris guy, im proud to see polaris gets your vote again this year. But i also want to say. To what ever you choose to ride, as long as you are happy is where it counts. Im just glad to see our snowmobile family out on the trails. God bless everyone, and stay safe.
Luke. I’ve been a subscriber to Supertrax since the 90’s.... Always valued your feedback and opinion.... Don’t worry about what trolls have to say.... You guys have always been the best in the business and the overwhelming majority of your viewers appreciate all the work you and your family does.... Thanks, and keep up the good work man!
@@jaqrocker because its not a Yamaha, its the same as the Cat so why would anyone want to give their hard earned money to a lazy company that says the market is to small to sink R & D money into.
Great job guys...I would suggest maybe though that you extend this to the different Categories (Trail, Xover, Mountain), there will be a lot of butt hurt Mountain guys right now thinking SkiDoo Xpert Package, or the Khaos..etc could have won this. I'm one of them.
Thanks man, i appreciate it. I guess a bit more of an explanation would have been helpful. Because we dont live in the mountains and do the majority of our riding on trails we tend to stick to picking a trail/crossover sled for this award. Weve called it the "real world" sled of the year award because the sleds we pick are more for average riders, not pro mountain riders. I do appreciate your comment though and for what its worth, ive made the suggestion that we could have a few different categories. But the rest of the crew has always voted to stick with just one.
Luke Lester Comments are poison. Don’t let the cry babies get under your skin. You guys provide amazing content for people who wish they could be riding right now. Keep up the great work Snowtrax!
@@pavmentsurfer13 Understood. I watch all of your vids and value your opinions more than most others. Actually bought my first sled from a recommendation your dad made. ;op
@@pavmentsurfer13 every rag has had these awards for years. It usually goes to a ground breaking sled (like original Rev) or a sled with lots of new stuff. I really didn't see anything in this lineup that has anything to separate itself from the others. Not sure it was an easy win, but I understand it.
Way too many sleds to choose from each company to narrow it down to one sled each. You guys should do best trail sled, best mountain sled, touring sled, etc. and make them separate videos
Put on almost 2000 miles this season in Northern WI. Mainly saw Ski Doo then Polaris. AC and Yamaha came in 3rd and 4th. But that's just this guy's observation. I could be and may very well be wrong in my assessment. Had a great season. Thanks to all the clubs and volunteers! Ride Safe! Ride On!
I think you should go back to years gone bye and see what mistakes you have made with sled of the year.... for example if a sled blows up its motor at 5k more than the other sleds it should not have been the sled of the year. Not saying you did that but just want to see if your picks stand the test of time. It is also a good way to inform people on great second hand sleds to buy....
If that were the case you'd see Yamaha front and center every year. I for one am not interested in rebuilding a toy every second season. We've had Yamaha's since 03 and never once have we ever had a problem. Not a single issue. I heard some guys will blow belts but they all blow belts. All I know is that most have a hard time keeping up and those complaining about weight need to hike their skirts up. Unless you're mountain riding or jumping I don't see the allure of being towed back to camp. That's just my opinion.
Most sled mechanics around my way will tell you 2 stroke motors need pistons and rings around 4000 miles. I've seen an Arctic cat get them at 3500miles.
I love arctic and Yamaha. I also love Polaris. I just never liked skiidoo I see more of them broke down than anything else both old and new. So I'm happy with anything about the 3 I mentioned
I have an 19 polaris xc .. coming from a few new cats and ridden a couple skidoo’s , these guys are absolutely bang on. Polaris is kicking ass and taking names . Love my xc
I liked this video setup better. It made you sound less “bias”. But I’m still a die hard Ski-Doo fan! Just ordered a 21 MXZ XRS 850. I’m curious on how much better you guys will think it handles... Great job guys, be safe will all that’s going on in the world. Ride what makes you happy. Ride On!
Glad somewhere got a decent winter. The mountains in southwest Pa didn’t get anything. For the first time ever and hopefully the last, we didn’t get a single rideable snow. Every storm either started or ended as rain. Sucked bad. Still took two good trips to the UP but like to ride at home too
Best sled for what? Reliability, handling, price, comfort, speed, resale, charisma, good looks, cross country, mountains, off trail, on trail, deep snow, dealer support, Iwait I know what it is. Best trail groomed, snowmobile!! Polaris makes the best trail groomed snowmobile!! They are better then everybody else!! Lol
Ummm... what are you getting at. Were not mountain riders. We have NEVER picked a mountain sled as sled of the year. Its an award focused on average trail riders. Weve never tried to hide that fact. I think if you watched the segment you would have seen and understood that a little better.
@@pavmentsurfer13 No need to explain to people. You were more than concise in the lead up with all 4 sleds...and that they were chosen for the type of riding you guys at SnowTrax do the most of. I personally am a Cat guy for many years....with a few Polaris models scattered in there from time to time. Truth is...all 3 of the bigs make great machines. When I say 3 I'm including Yamaha in with Cat for obvious reasons. I currently ride an 18 Rush 800 that is a phenomenal trail sled...prolly best I've ever owned. I would love to own a Riot but feel the price a little out of my range. At the end of the day...you have to choose your gut...not what other branders want you to. Great job....keepup the great videos.
Nice job Snowtrax. Enjoy your opinions on all the brands. Agree with you %100. Best sled on the market today. Makes other brands have to step up there game. Everyone have a good summer. 9 months until winter again!!🤘👍
It isn't hard when one is two brands cobbled... the other still playing in the litter and the other looking like a strung out Ostrich that hit a wall at 80.. 🤓🤷♂️
I'd imagine most people get mad when you don't pick a certain brand because they have a bias towards it. I'm buying a Polaris because as of right now they are building the best snowmobile that fits me and my riding style. Polaris assault 850 146
These are all awesome machines. Do you know what everyone really wants to know? We all want to know which sled breaks down or over heats the least. No one wants their sled to break down. If you can prove which one breaks down the least I garuntee that sled will sell the most no matter how well it performs.
I will be blunt. I never see anything mentioned such as recalls known issues or complete engine failures. The Automotive industry can barely make direct injection work so SKI DOO has figured it out just saying. Polaris and their hand grenades 800-850. I guess when it comes to extended coverage after the factory warranty Polaris is King @ 2100.00 for 60 months of coverage. It says a lot about their own thoughts on their products. All of these manufactures are guilty of putting out inferior engines and complicated electronics in the pursuit of higher horsepower numbers. I want to see a SOTY on reliability and long term ownership.This would include recalls bad engines blown clutches and electrical failures. I could give two shits about how fast a sled is or if you can launch it over an overpass. SnowTrax, I would like you to put all of your heads together and pick one sled you would take out in a blizzard to deliver much needed medicine to a remote village 100 miles away
Luke thanks for liking my comment and I didn’t even have to pay you to say that. Lol. Is Polaris gonna have a Maytrx XCR or XCR 137 in 2022? Can’t believe they didn’t make one for 2021.
The Best the Best the Best they are all good .. all have strong points and weak points and different characteristics.. You don't have to be butt hurt if your favorite brand did not come in first .. You don't have to purchase the brand and model that SNOWTRAX chose as Number 1 . You steel have the freedom of choice to use your own brain and decided what you want.. These Snowmobile reviews give you a general idea what to look for .. when you do make a choice
awesome.. I have been a skidoo rider since 1993..but in our town there are no skidoo or arctic cat dealers.. I may very well consider a polaris sled next time. just because of the sales and service so close to where I live..to be honest all 4 manufacturers make a great sled . if they didn't they wouldn't be in business..
From the beginning when he said people get mad and accuse them of being bias I knew it was going to be the Polaris.. hopefully next year with skidoo’s RASX front end they can get some praise from snowtrax
To be fair, you guys have asked for a better front end from skidoo for years. And have praised their track, for years. Consistency. Im not biased either way. I just want to get into snowmobiling as someone who didnt grow up in a sled family. My friends are 100 percent skidoo, but they also have 90’s sleds with 5000 plus miles. I think the 500 583 and 670 are three of the most reliable engines you could have from what i have seen. But, thats more than 20 years of innovation ago, there is nothing saying polaris cant be the top dog, damn does that skidoo look nasty though.
In comparison, military deciding on next killer machine hands down is Black ops Yamaha. Just sitting there it is dominating through nuclear power deterrence...
It's a tough video to make. It's about opinions. You're going to offend people with different opinions unfortunately but you do a good job with the videos! I wish I could ride all the different sleds and form a good opinion.
The best of the "year"..... I would like to see some longevity tests 3+ years out on dependability, overall years of maintenance and just how well they kept or didn't keep their first year feel
You have to understand, for us, this isnt possible for 2 reasons. First, we only get these sleds for one season. Then we have to give them back. In that one season, we generally put on 2 or 3 times the mileage an average rider puts on in a year though. The 2nd reason is that next season all of us at snowtrax will be focused on the 2021 models. Theres not enough hours in a day to continue evaluating 2020's while also testing and evaluating 2021's. We hear the same thing your saying from many people, year after year. At the end of the day, our reward is what it is... if your looking for longer term results, youll have to look elsewhere.
it all depends on owner of sled if the sled keeps their first year feel, i know guys that just park sled in shed & do not prep sled for storage then the crank goes out or the rings stick then they blame the manufacturer for junk product
@@cacsrx1 i still would like to know how many 850 engines were built & how many failed. but john q public will never know, not defending polaris, all the brands have issues. how many sleds failed because of operator error
Not 100% sure if that's the best sled ever built by Polaris I have a 1999 indy xc 500 2 stroke. All around awesome sled hugs the trails and corners perfectly and sips gas and oil and a suprising amount of power. It accelerates quick and will do 100 mph witch is pretty good for a 500
They ride them all winter and throw huge miles on them. The windshield helps in Quebec when it’s well below zero. Those two up seats are comfortable for 300 mile days as well.
I had JUST finished riding that sled with my kids with the 2 up linq seat installed. The stock seat had gone "missing" when I went to switch it back for this story (we found it later) and the windshield was how we tested that sled all year. Maybe its my advanced age speaking, but I HATE riding with the silly bug deflectors some of the new sleds come with. Maybe it doesnt look as cool, but if being warm is less cool (Figuratively and literally), im good with it. Lol
if the trail sign says "stay on trail or stay home" do just that... these crossover sleds tempt to many to go off trail on private land causing trail closures... crossover sleds will ruin snowmobiling in Wisconsin...
If I had a dollar for every time I heard some one say they had to put another a new engine in there Polaris!! Maybe Snow Trax should do a show on fit finish and reliability in the 1st 3 years of owning a snowmobile. and see who Wins! Polaris would come in last every time. After all the in factory slogan at Polaris is It don't have to be good but good enough.
Great job Lester’s! I agree Polaris all the way. Look forward to this episode every year. I would like to see a comparison of the same class sleds like you mentioned in the video. Also would love to see a comparison of the Axys Rush or Switchback vs. the Indy XC. I’ve read so many opinions on this and so many people like one or the other. Just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s the best or the best for everyone.
I'll give you an opinion, the Poo XC with the cc skid hands down. Polaris came out with this new suspension because that half baked skid in the Rush is only good for a small group of riders. I'll take my XLT's extra 12 over that any day.
I appreciate your reviews and the episodes are definitely well-produced, but there’s a reason why you’re being accused of being biased. It’s sure seems like you guys are. I am not a “brand loyal person,” I simply ride the machines that are the best. I recently tried a 2020 Polaris Indy 850XC at my Polaris dealer. Before I went for a ride the owner of the dealership looked at the sled I rode in on (2018 Ski Doo 850 XRS) and what he said was shocking. He said “coming from a Ski Doo 850 to the Polaris 850 Patriot is going to be disappointing for you.” THIS CAME FROM A POLARIS DEALER! I hopped on the Polaris and drove it around for 10 miles. The riding position was great but the footwells were too small to the point I was worrying about ankle damage in the event I was thrown from the sled. The throttle might have been easier to manage from initial start but this would only be an issue with someone completely new to the sport. The rest of the engine performance was beyond disappointing. I honestly got off the sled to make sure I was indeed riding an 850 and not a 600. I desperately wanted to love the Polaris but was very let-down after all of the hype you guys were giving the sled. Although you mentioned that bias concerns will not change the content of your channel, if your perceived bias continues, one thing that WILL change will be your viewership.
So you rode the sled for 10 miles and based your opinion on only that? It takes alot more time to truly understand and learn a sled. You cant expect to just jump on a completely new to you sled and feel completely comfortable right away. As for your dealer. I dont know why he said what he said. Without knowing him or having any context to his comment, its not something im going to consider. I would encourage you to read the comments on this video before you start warning me about my viewership. A "perceived bias" isnt going to make me change my opinions. My opinions arent for sale and arent going to change based on weather or not they upset some people. Opinions often do just that. But as for the perceived bias, if you look back at previous sled of the year winners youll see that there was a time we were accused of being biased TOWARD skidoo. Not everyone is going to agree with who we pick as a winner. But were not here to please everyone, all the time. Were here to tell it exactly as we see it. The great thing for you though is that you get to decide if you agree or not.
@@pavmentsurfer13 exactly what you said it takes more then 10 miles unless the person is headstrong about their brand. it took me a full season of riding to really like my 600 fusion, then last ride of season i took my 700 indy edge out & did not like it anymore, the edge was a great riding sled in the day. yes i admit the footwell on the axys on chaincase side is a little narrow but then again i have large foot. i will say this though i have 019 600 indy xc 129 it seems to me that motor is more responsive in the axys chassis. i compare it to my 018 600 indy short track. it feels like it rolls easier.. these polaris sleds the past 2 years are the best sleds i ever owned. my first ride was on a 64 comet
Difficult to understand for a snowmobile that has a less good reputation for its reliability. Why don't we see Polaris on the trail here in Quebec? Only a few in the mountains with the front tables below the arm....oups.
Just keep spewing that incorrect information. The actual, real numbers show that The Patriot 850's failure rate is actually a little bit better than the 850 E-tec. Just because ski-doo guys jumped all over the forums with endless stories about "a buddies" polaris that blew up does not mean there were more polaris failure than anyone else. Its less than 1 percent. Which is below average.
@@pavmentsurfer13 here in SE wis. polaris ski doo dealer this past month had 4 new 850 ski doo engines fail so it happens to every brand, i'm not gloating when i seen that just how things go, plus how did owner of sled take care of, did he start up sled take off without warming up, what type of fuel. i respect your opinions period
@@pavmentsurfer13 Polaris since 2016, in the United States Polaris prides itself on selling as many mountain machines as Ski-Doo. Difficult to verify the Polaris figures because they are very secretive. So we can calculate this reliability and had to agree or disagree. Luke, I like you to annoy you a little. Thank you for your beautiful work 👍
Are artic cats good sleds? Everyone makes them out to be bad. I’m 14 and want to save some money for a sled for me and my little brother around 17-18. I could probably get a 2010ish 800 artic cat. Are they good?
There is a huge difference between being paid for an opinion, and being given funding for either trips or given riding opportunities to test equipment. That said, if they are only taking pay for opinions, that is a different issue which, i believe he would say, its easy to prove
They are bias towards Polaris and have been for a while. Polaris pays them money obviously, the proof, it’s all here in there videos. Didn’t even watch the video because it’s always the same with these guys Polaris Polaris Polaris.
I see you typing this comment with giant tears welling up in your eyes. You need to change your tampon, ite making you emotional. I have zero brand bias. I currently own a Doo and a Cat. I rode them all in 2020 and I'm hear to tell you the Polaris is the best. If that hurts your poor little feelings then just stay on Doo talk where everyone thinks Skidoo is and always will be King. If somebody makes a better product than your favorite that is no reason to cry like a little school girl about it.
J C that’s a very valid point, here’s the difference. There is a reason that ski doo owns the market, because they continue to innovate and make the best sleds on the trail. If they didn’t Polaris or someone else would lead but they don’t. It’s all up to personal preference at the end of the day but in my opinion after growing up on Polaris and Doo sleds, Doo to me is the better rider
@@nsa6790 did you put significant seat time on a new Polaris AND a new Skidoo? If not, then your opinion is not valid at all. If you did and you think the Skidoo is a better overall sled, I'd be inteterested in hearing why...
J C I’ve put about equal miles on between my 19 bcxrs and my 19 switchback assault. The doo imo handles much better it more agile and doesn’t feel like it’s going to die when I hit the throttle.
At 11:15 ... I threw my phone at the wall. Lol ... just kidding. I would like to say thank you to Mark, AJ and Luke and to All the staff at Snowtrax TV for another wonderful season. You guys did step it up a notch this year and I hope one day to be able to meet with you all, shake your hands and go for a ride together. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next season ... thanks again !!!
Thanks so much for this man. We all really appreciate reading comments like this and yes, we'd love to meet you as well. Not sure where your from but if your ever at either Haydays or the Novi snowmobile show were always there. Come by and say hi.
@@pavmentsurfer13 Thanks so much, I am from Fredericton and YES for sure I will if the opportunity presents itself. Please stay safe and most importantly stay healthy. A++
It's too bad the coronavirus has put a damper on this winter, the matryx takes the axys to next level which was already at the highest level, spring early buying programs for 2021 will suffer even though the products are the best they've ever been.
@Aiden Maves Lets not get crazy..lol. Ski-Doo has been the clear market sales leader for 15 years. Having said that I would bet the VR1 wins this award next March, and again it will be deserving!
i ride 850 skidoo but that khaus has got my attention, after blowing 4 belts and seeing how well that Polaris handles on the side of a hill I'm convinced it will be my next sled.
Nice sleds but my 98 and 00 Cats don’t cost me a dime to operate except for fuel and oil and even more justifiable with the no snow season we had here this year. I would cringe making payments on a $10,000+ machine in my garage that I’m not guaranteed a ride since snow has been real iffy lately.
I know this will be unpopular but the sad part about this video is that almost 1/4 of the talking time is spent trying to justify the polaris when the commentator even knows his own channels bias... Lets just call this what it is. Polaris is the best - we here at snowtrax tv like polaris.
OMG...here we go again with the comments. It is called the "real world sled of the year" comparison. Vast majority of us ride groomed trails and pop of for a little back country now and again. This segment of the market is bread and butter for the four manufacturers. This is just an opinion from some people in the know who live these things...love it or leave it. Go buy whatever floats your boat and enough with the angry comments and same old spiel about bias. If anything, they would be biased towards SkiDoo because they are built in Canada. They call it as they see it. They don't keep them long enough for a long term test, but just browse the web and you should get some feedback on that subject. I especially like the brand loyal comments with all the bashing of other brands. Many have stated correctly, "they all build some great machines". Improvements every year. I ride one brand, but I get goose pimples when I see a beautiful new sled from any of the four manufacturers.
I think its hard to give proper reviews of anything when you constantly have new sleds every year to test on. Of course new stuff is gonna run amazing while its new. Your only using it as long of a time as the manufactures test them. Real world isn't people buying a new sled every year. Real world is having a Patriot engine blow up on you after only a few thousand km. KM that your test machines likely never see. Unless you have to give these sleds back I would recommend giving them to someone who can put them through their paces and see how long they tend to last. Flush out build quality issues and such. People more then ever given the prices of these machines are starting to rival new cars want to know if they are gonna last.
