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There's a new breed of sports sled aimed right smack at the guy who drives cars like a Mustang GT or trucks like a leather-outfitted Chevy Silverado 4x4. Like those opulent cars and trucks with tire-spinning engines and power everything, these sleds come with the top of the food chain powerplants, plus graduated amenities.
Ski-Doo's line of "MX Z-plus" sports sleds is simply called Formula Deluxe. This is where Ski-Doo engineers and designers expanded their thinking beyond the mogul. Our favorite MX Z Deluxe is the GSE, which was available in the spring ordering period only. After having the luxury of previewing the GSE during our annual photo shoot, we put one on order. In metallic radical red.
Like virtually all Ski-Doo orders this season, you could build your own according to Ski-Doo's 1-2-3 build to order spring program. We looked at the baseline with the veteran S-2000 chassis and choice of fan-cooled twins. But, we want sports appeal and opted for the MX Z platform (ZX) and the second year 700cc Rotax liquid-cooled twin for power. We'll be running with XC and ZR guys, so we want as close to topline MX Z power and handling as we can get. We've snowmobiled a lot of years with the basics so we figure we can afford- and we deserve- creature comforts with our spunk.
The GSE is spunky and comfy. It comes standard with the same basic MX Z trailing arm front suspension. Tuned a little softer for less arm-jolting feedback in the truly rough stuff. Being equipped with Motion Control gas shocks the action is stiff enough for those times you want to prove to your friends that you still know how to have serious fun. The power of the 700 twin keeps you up front across the long lakes.
Opting for the GSE lets you enjoy the MX Z lifestyle at a much more comfortable pace than your more primitive buddies. After all, you turn a key to fire up your Rotax. You can back off the trail by slotting the gear lever into reverse.
And you can choose between two suspension levels on your nifty Bombardier Optimized Suspension System (B.O.S.S.). For the majority of your riding time you'll keep the setting in the softer setting. Should the trails get rough or you want to simply step up the pace, flip the dash-mounted switch to stiffen the rearmost shock in the SC10-II BOSS rear suspension. Amazingly, you get virtually instantaneous response and a sportier, stiffer action in the ride.
There are a number of "adjust-as-you-ride" options these days, but Ski-Doo's is the quickest and most positive. The electric shock treatment on some Polaris models proves effective and offers more degrees of action but takes longer to reach full stiffness. Ski-Doo's air shock system found on the big touring sleds has been positive, but slow to engage. The B.O.S.S. responds quickly enough for you to see a bad stretch of trail, flick the switch, and know that you have reset the suspension just as you'll be hitting the first bad mogul.
The Ski-Doo system is actually quite simple as the dash switch simply opens or closes a valve in the shock to allow more or less action. It proved surprisingly simple and effective to use.
We are also favorably impressed with Ski-Doo's digital fuel management system on select engines and models. The GSE features this electronic system that automatically oversees a pair of 40mm Mikuni carbs for temperature and altitude adjustments. Only Arctic Cat's electronic fuel injection system works better than this carburation setup.
As noted earlier, we chose the red option, but there is a "Silver Cloud" grey color. All GSE models use the new-for-2001 plastic flex skis.
The Formula Deluxe GSE has its advantages. After you and your buddies have bruised your way through a set of rugged moguls, they'll be stuck with racer-stiff springing while you'll flick into cruise for a nice cushy ride to the next set of macho moguls.
You can have it all with the GSE - MX Z handling and power, plus Grand Touring comfort!