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Ski-Doo Grand Touring Sport 600
Like the Polaris, the Grand Touring Sport also has one of our favorite traditional 2-stroke engines of all time – the Rotax 597cc liquid. Many folks will remember this powerplant as it was more popularly known for many years as the 500SS motor. It has been a sleeper engine for a long time and it has tended to be used by Ski-Doo in its value-based sleds. But don’t underestimate this motor, it packs a punch of just less than 120 horses and still gets darned good mileage and oil efficiency for a Mikuni TM-40 carbed 2-stroke.
This motor also was used in the TNT when it was first rejuvenated for the 2008 model year. That sled won AmSnow’s Best Sled honors that year with this same engine. Suffice it to say, we’ve seen upward of 14 mpg with this motor on smaller sleds like the TNT, so no doubt it is better on gas than most fuel-injected motors and even some 4-strokes. It has Ski-Doo’s fine push-button RER reverse and the proven TRA III primary clutch and QRS secondary.
Now, we usually don’t talk about weight that much when discussing big 2-passenger sleds, but at only 504 lbs. dry, this XP chassied sled weighs less than many short-track 1-passenger machines.
The SC-5 rear suspension has an HPG rear shock in it and a motion control gas front shock. Possibly more important though is that it has a 16-inch wide 137-inch long lightweight RipSaw track with 1.25-inch lugs. That’s a huge footprint, which makes this sled very stable, capable of taking bumps in stride, and plenty of flotation in deep snow. Also, if you need to tow a wounded sled out of the woods, this large tracked 2-up will be a good bet to pull just about any sled out of trouble.
Up front this sled has the value conscious motion control shocks, but features Ski-Doo’s precise MXZ Pilot 5.7 SL skis, which help this sled slice up the corners even with a couple people on board. With an active driver and rider, this sled can almost make you feel like you’re bobsledding! Also, with an extra-high 20-inch windshield and driver wind-knee deflectors, visor heater outlet, as well as heated passenger hand grips, the Grand Touring Sport is warm and comfortable for both driver and passenger on long trips.
The Sport also can have its rear seat removed and extra cargo space put in place of the seat. Like the Polaris this versatile feature means this sled can double as a long-track solo tourer. The difference here again is weight, and a larger track footprint. The Sport is actually a formidable off-trail boondocking machine with the rear seat removed.
Furthermore, this sled runs better than the Polaris on 87 octane gas. Along with the gas mileage we’ve seen from this engine, this makes for a great all-around machine. Also, the Grand Touring Sport is one of the least expensive 2-ups on the snow with an MSRP of just $8,549. That’s more than $1,400 less than the Polaris IQ LXT 600 and nearly on par with many entry-level sleds today. You get a lot of extras with the Sport 600 too, like electric start, hooked handlebars, 4.5-inch riser, review mirrors and more.