a whack at the clones

Polaris Pro X 800
Grins: Very sharp performance.
Groans: Tough ergonomics and stiff suspensions detract from groomed trail experience.

History Lesson
The ProX represents the continued evolution of Polaris' successful Edge chassis. The Edge was first debuted in the fall of 1998 as a race sled. It took two years for the sled to go consumer. The original long wheelbase race sled is what 2001 model buyers found on the salesfloor, while Polaris' race department had a shortened version for the track. At the time, they cited the longer wheelbase's high-speed stability as the reason for sending that version to dealerships.

This is the first year that consumers will have the option to buy the shorter wheelbase version as a full season model. Polaris has previously released a limited quantity of 600 ProX sleds in the fall, in conjunction with its 440 race sleds.

There is a market for the racer replica. Polaris identifies it as "riders whose performance pursuits simply aren't satisfied by performance snowmobiles. For these riders, only the ultimate performance machines will satisfy, and for these riders, Polaris offers the ProX models."

Feature Highlights
The ProX chassis is built from most of the same materials as the actual pro race chassis. It is roughly 15 pounds lighter than the XC SP models.

It uses an extruded bulkhead up front. The shock towers are raised to accommodate the shorter wheelbase. The ProX Race front suspension has RydeFX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) shocks with externally-adjustable compression damping. The clickers are located on the top of the shock, and actually work through the rod. Polaris' Controlled Roll Center geometry helps keep the skis planted and steering accurate. The setup also has new lightweight trailing arms. Saddleless composite skis save more weight. The front suspension is listed at 9.2 inches of travel.

The ProX rear suspension is nearly 10 pounds lighter than the XC SP version. Like the front suspension, the skid also uses RydeFX IFP shocks, but with the clicker adjustments made on the remote reservoirs. The shocks are valved aggressively for riders who punish their sleds through rough trail and ditches. The rear suspension is rated at 13.9 inches of axle travel and 9.8 inches of true vertical travel.

The ProX features the wide runningboards from the race sled. By Polaris' calculation, they are 20 percent bigger than the conventional board and are outfitted with aggressive boot grippers. Other race-bred ergonomic features include tall riser handlebars and the race seat.

A new brake system is standard fare on the ProX. Dubbed the Phantom Brake, it uses two calipers to grip the rotor, which results in an easier pull. The unit, built by Hayes, is liquid cooled for consistent performance.

The 800 Liberty engine is more or less the same as last year's version. New to the mill are Grafal coated pistons and the Liberty nameplate. The Grafal
coating is said to greatly improve the piston's lifespan in case of trouble.
The ProX weighs in at 483 factory pounds. It retails for $8,699.

Riding Impressions
The ProX will probably be one of those sleds that never gets a fair shake. Polaris made a lot of changes to the sled from its standard XC SP forebear, but they are not easily seen from the outside. You have to ride the sled to appreciate what has been done.

The Liberty 800 twin is quite strong. Our crew consistently rated it second, behind the F7, in the Performance Feeling categories. "The domestic Polaris engines always do well," commented Test Rider Les Pinz. "They run strong. The new Team roller clutch is a nice addition. You can really tell how smooth it works. The clutch operates nicely without binding up."

Polaris has its ProX set up for the extreme hard core aggressive rider. It is the same rider Ski-Doo targeted with its X package, and the sleds have similar calibrations. The ProX we rode had the clicker shocks cranked up to super duty. It was too harsh for our crew's liking on the trail, but it was fun in short bursts in the really rough sections. "The suspensions were set at racer-stiff," commented Jerry. "It seemed that the more it was abused, the better the sled responded. But at slow speed, it had a lot of up-down rider bounce over the bumps."

Both front and rear suspensions took a beating in our scoring as a result. To be fair, with some time and patience, the suspensions could be easily softened by using the many tuning devices, including shock clickers and spring preload adjusters.

The ProX's cornering is dramatically improved over the standard XC SP, thanks to the shorter wheelbase. "One thing I liked about the ProX was how it turned," said Test Rider Randy Kepner. "It seemed very aggressive in the corners. You turn the bars and the sled responds."

Ergonomics on the ProX seemed difficult for normal trail riding. "I didn't like the tall handlebar risers," Randy added. "They work great for standing, but they're too high for just riding on the trail. I think I'd definitely order mine with a shorter block. I'd probably try to find a nice set of handlebar hooks, too."

The ProX also comes standard with the wide runningboards and edge grippers, to the pleasure of our crew. "Polaris has a nice design with its outer roll boot grippers," said Les. "They bite into your boots and give you a good positive feeling."