This video is just for fun and to show everyone who didn’t get a chance to go to the sneak peeks. It is not sponsored or paid for in any way by Polaris. It’s just my dad and I reviewing something we got a chance to test drive. I’m just an amateur filmmaker practicing and sharing with you guys for fun.
Great content! Helpful! We will be Snow checking a 650 -137''. My wife is looking forward to the flatter cornering etc. , she currently rides a 2016 SBA 600.
Thanks Brooke and Lenn. Following lenn’s Reviews on HCS, this was a bonus. Plan on riding my 2020 Indy 137 850 next season then snow checking a 2022 Subscribed and a thumbs up 👍🏼
Great job Brooke ... I know the Sam Fisher guy. He lives the next town over from me. Meet him about 20 years ago dirt biking at a now closed Town forrest in his Town.
Lenn, thank you for the passion you bring to the sport! I appreciate your humbleness and straight forward approach. I am a Skidoo rider and have never owned a Polaris snowmobile, but the VR1 is very appealing. I hear the Liberty 850 is smoother than the Doo 850. Can you comment on how the 650 compares to the 850? The sled weight is listed the same for both engines, is that true? There seems to be approximately 30 hp difference between them, so what is a determining factor for choosing one over the other?
Thanks Kevin. Yes, the Liberty 850 is much smoother than Doo's 850. My brother has the 850 Doo and the engine vibrations are very noticeable compared to the Patriot. The 650 Patriot uses the same crank design and engine architecture as the 850...which is why the are both very close in weight. The 650 is very smooth, surprisingly smooth! Power delivery is more like an 800, it comes on quick and has great low and mid range power without being peaky. Choosing between the 2 engines is a personal choice. If you like to run lakes and big trails, the 850 is the choice. But run trails/tight trails, you might like the 650 better. :)
hey lenn, im ZR 800 efi on hcs.Great video buddy.Im thinking hard on a new 146' 650 assault. how much more power do you think it has vs the current 600 and what was your mpg? thanks buddy.good job.and thanks brooke.keep up the good work.
First I would like to thank you for the good job done on the video. I am been watching several videos on the new 7S display and only wished that Polaris would explain the gauge more in the monitoring mode instead of map mode because the map mode has been programmed into my brain for the last 40 years of riding. I am also confused why the XCR did not get put not the Matryx platform if it corners better than the 2020 Axys, I like knowing that my current XCR can take the abuse and also like the hi/lo adjustment on the shocks which I don't see on the Matryx. It also seems that every year that Polaris comes out with something new and improved, the same group of riders get to test ride it first and tell us how great it is. The one thing that has not been answered in any forums, videos or ad's is, how hot does this sled run. Every sled that I have brought seems to always run hot unless you are pounding it and spinning the track in every corner. My riding style, I try to enter and exit the corners smoothly and keep my momentum. Watching the video and having scratchers mounted may have answered my question, runs hot unless you are riding fast and pounding out the trail. i have been riding Polaris sled since 1992 and the old Indy's ran good on hard pack without overheating, but the Edge, IQ ProR have all ran hot my 2017 XCR runs cool most of the time unless the snow conditions are really poor so I am kind of concerned about going back to a full tunnel from Polaris. Not sure why my friends that ride Ski-Doo never seem to run hot? I think that it would be better if Polaris would have different riders test out the new products instead of the same handful every year.
Polaris rolls out new chassis sled in limited quantities for the the 1st production year. This is why they didn't have the XCR available in the Matryx chassis. Heard this a lot at the 2 sneak peaks we attended. But the new VR1 is basically an XCR without the Hi/low shocks.
Relocated thermostat from head to Coolant Expansion bottle . less vibration and more durability, also integrated coolant bypass flow. . self-bleeding coolant system (thru hose from head to deice throttle body). . Thermostat opens at 100F . The metal tunnel protector plate is located under the tunnel exchanger. It will allow more snow and cooling to get to the heat exchanger. . I am sure that the cooling system on these flat tunnel sleds will work just fine when riding the Waukesha County trails.
Well if they turn so well and the ergonomics make it so comfortable to lean, people should have no excuse not to be on the right side of the trail while going around left turns on these 20 foot wide trails. Tired of being nervous on right turns. Tired of seeing people’s eyes light up through their visor as they almost hit me
Mobile Winter Camp Ya people will never change unfortunately we almost got hit several time when we filmed this from other people in the middle or to the wrong side.
The improved performance of the Patriot 650 is a great improvement over a well proven 600 Cleanfire. The 850 Patriot has very little vibration, and the new addition to the family, continues that. Another major improvement is the larger 7S GPS and gauge package with the latest technology, including group ride capability with or without cellular connection (builtin radio transceiver), very flexible gauge displays and in memory info on pitstops, hotel, and service information. It was good to hear the riders viewpoint on the Velocity 2.0 WER shocks. At night, the new NightShark 6 projector LED lights will really shine! LOL Appreciate this video, especially with the cancellation of the Sneak peaks. Here's some swag for you! If you want to pick up a copy of the 2021 catalogs... try here: snowmobiles.polaris.com/en-us/catalogs/ The Red cover catalog is the 2021 snowmobile brochure, A Polaris on a sidehill line is the cover of the 2021 Apparel & Accessories catalog.
@@davidrowley8251 I'm asking from the aspect of updating the sleds to something more efficient, less loud, less things to work on, etc. I can't afford a new machine, but would want to if it was electric. I still prefer the older sleds mainly because they are cheap and fairly simple to fix anything.
'Hey Lenn Question what track do you recommend for vr1 137 I'm 99.5% trail rider, 150 Ice storm or 350 cobra? I would stud on cobra not sure on 150 storm tho.
Thanks for video Len & Brooke! I want to snocheck a 650 129 so should it be launch or VR1? PS I think I rode with Sam on trip up in Quebec back in 2016. The no snow year here in Vt.
snogirl 802 The VR1 has the velocity shocks which makes for a really great ride. Also the new 7s display which is really nice for the gps and adjusting settings. The launch is still a good sled with the same chassis just doesn’t have velocity shocks or the 7s display but if you don’t need them then it’s a good sled. Still powerful.
I’m a NH guy and drive a old sled 02 Polaris edge 800 I’ve never driven a new Polaris and I have driven a couple new doos I’d love to do a test ride with you all
The new stuff from 2015-19 is actually garbage compared to FXR I did see they made a bunch of changes for 21 but im completely happy with FXR now where I dont need to replace stuff every yr
@@BrookeJohnson3j thanks i have large foot so it was tight, the other issue was parking brake issue to hard to set to hard to release until i filed on it
Have you heard if there are any changes to the Polaris SnowCheck deadline, or how to put the deposit $$$ on the sled order? Update... Polaris SnowCheck ends May 1st, 2020, 4 year warranty is available.
In the market for my first brand new sled. Loving this vr1. Not sure I’ll be able to get one for this winter but who’s a good Polaris dealer to contact ?
It's a shame Polaris doesn't take Canada seriously and do these large rides for people up here. We have only 1/10th of the US population , yet we still buy only a few thousand less new sleds per season.
I'm in quebec city and riding a polaris is like being in enemy territory sometimes haha. Best sleds ever though. I still have a 98 500 classic that has out lasted the last 2 brp sleds and is still going strong . I'm ordering my 2021 real soon !
These demo sleds were very hard to get...very, very limited quantity. I'm sure Polaris would have loved to have had more available but they just couldn't pull it off. You will see them available to demo next season in Canada.
I’m sold on the 650 matrix 129 or 137 my 2019 arctic cat limited 600 with iact is very good power wise and handling is good not great fit and finish still not up to the others but now that skidoo put arctic cat out of business in Canada it’s only time now for them so I’m jumping off the sinking ship but still buying American and Polaris was allways a favorite of mine skidoo no way killing a smaller company like they did not right Polaris or arctic cat would never do that but ya Polaris matrix 650 129 or 137
Not saying polaris is bad or anything but you should compare them to a AC instead of skidoo. I've been riding for 30 years. Ski Doo all the way for me personally. I used to ride AC.
You clearly have not been watching or riding Polaris based on this comment. All respected riders said the 2020 versions of SkiDoo and Polaris were a toss up in regard who the overall snowmobile leader is. With these changes by Polaris my guess is that Polaris will be #1 for 2021. AC is dead. Yamaha is the only other contender IMO.
I'm tired of my ace. It lifts in the corners and is so heavy. I have a 500 classic from 1998 with a raised seat and handlebars and its way more fun in the twisties . The 900 is only fun in the straights.
Mainly because A/C has no dog in the fight any longer, which sucks because we consumers NEED the mixed market. The pro cross/climb chassis is long in the tooth, and quite frankly used up. They are years behind doo, and polaris. Cat may not make it through this, especially after brp won the lawsuit.
My buddys were all doo guys till they kept trying my Poo, the front end handling is night n day difference then doo. Even the new one for 21. We had a 20.5 to demo last season for a week and could not get the front end dialed in. Rear suspension is a different story, the Rmotion is hard to beat
Lenn looks like you guys are struggling pretty hard to get Pete to talk? He doesn’t even know what Ski-Doo he owns or is riding? He could have saved himself by providing at least one actual comparison between the VR1 and the XRS chassis but as in the other interviews. Not a single direct comparison. He does however build a little credibility by bashing his XC Axys by being honest about how much ski lift it actually has in the corners. This after every single review written of the Axys saying how the front end is a complete game changer, stays completely flat and absolutely rails corners. Now we have the Matryx which completely changes the game again and from the reviews somehow manages to be even flatter than the flattest chassis on snow...... I know I am being critical and a bit harsh but these guys keep promoting Poo's new stuff the same way each and every time and wonder how they can keep doing it with a straight face......
to each his own, but i bought a 2019 xc129 850 & 2019 xc129 600, i did not notice any ski lift, to me it seems this front end works better then my pro ride rush & pro ride 600 indy short track, 600 had 4" of carbide 850 had 6". last season with the first 1000 miles i left shocks set the way polaris set them & not enough snow to try different settings this season
I find these reviews to be for the less then average user. The just hop on and Ride it and expect it to be perfect. Basically like the brother that doesn't know what sled he has. If a sled is inside ski lifting then they don't have suspension set up properly, specially on the newer sleds. I cant use any of there advice on suspension set ups cause it doesn't really work expect for flat plush trails
Sad I can not trust Polaris After my 2016 Axis 800 blew the engine twice by 3200km total, and the dealer and Polaris would do nothing 30 days beyond the 2year warrenty on the second engine. First in went 30km. I’ve had all brands and liked the sled but don’t trust them. Polaris head office and the dealer can rub salt.
Why don't Polaris bring this new amazing machine to old forge for skidoo riders like myself to try? This is second time they come out with the next big thing and they don't want people to try it?
They just didn't have enough of them available. My friend from Polaris begged them to have demos available to ride but because the sled is so new, Polaris couldn't pull it off. My brother Pete is an ex Cat and Yamaha rider. He had over 7K miles on his Sidewinder last year before he sold it. Before that he and my brother Doug had 2012 Cat Turbos. We threw this test ride together at the last second once we knew the demo sleds were going to be available.
@@lennstang skidoo made sure to bring enough sleds to demo rides and sent demos to dealers which i tested while on a trip with my brother. Old forge demos every manufacturer except Polaris had 2021 and 2020.5 sleds for general public to test.
I’ll never switch from Skidoo. R-Motion suspension is the leader hands down. If I ever switched it would be to a Yamaha. Never a Polaris. Have people I know that have had too many problems with a Polaris both snowmobile and atv and had some have their junk patriot 850 motors blow up... Just to say they switched to Skidoo and said they would never go back to a Polaris. #TeamSkidoo
The 850 blew up on ‘19 models but all of them were recalled and owners got new engines for no charge. I am keeping a open mind with the skidoo’s but I would ride the matrix chassis or just go to the dealer and sit on it.
Don't go by anecdotal evidence my friend...try the sleds out and choose one you like. If you were to ask Polaris peeps they would say the same for Skidoos...they burn through belts, etc. I am a HUGE fan of much Skidoo has to offer and have considered both the Freeride and the now the new Mach Z...but, having ridden this Matryx chassis I'm absolutely sold it's the best riding sled on the market...period. Just try it.
Get an electric motor in these sleds. The designs are amazing and the sleds ride great. If you want more torque and less stuff to break down, they need to go electric. The 650 is probably a great setup, but people honestly don't need that much power....
03 pro x 800, 05 fusion 900, 07 700, 08 800, give me a refund on those and I’ll hand over 18k for the all new one Polaris is trying to sell here. And we got to do it on line, I ain’t walking back into one of your dealers to do it
It is 2020 no? I can go back and count all the doos from 98 that let me down 🤷♂️ Switched in 2015 and haven't once had a thought to buy another Doo, all my buddys have current doos, I've ridden them all. Cat 🤣 Forget about it, not even worth mentioning
