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Whoa Nelly! That's what I thought when we finished dynoing the new TNT. We named it our Best of the Best (our Sled of the Year if you will) and it just keeps looking sweeter. Remember, the TNT comes with the tried and true 500SS motor, which was standard issue for many years in Ski-Doo's MXZ 500, but started in its Summit line.
We talked with Ski-Doo factory reps earlier this year, and they estimated, for this 593 liquid with RAVE-controlled valves, about 105 horses. From several earlier industry independent dynos, we estimated the engine to have 108-110 ponies. However, we decided it was time to get a true unbiased 2008 number since it's been put in the light XP chassis.
The real 600Bottom line? The Ski-Doo factory and our estimates were conservative. Rich Daly at Dynoport tested the TNT to have 114 horsepower at a tunable steady 8,000 rpm.
Currently, we have our demo TNT hooked up to the dyno at Aaen Performance as well. Our Tech Editor Olav Aaen is fitting and testing pipes for it. What does that mean for you? This thing weighs a couple hay bales less than anything out there, costs less AND there will be aftermarket options galore for this baby to make it perform even better!
Not only does the TNT already have almost as much power as any other 600 on the market, but it comes standard with HPG take-apart shocks, X-package xtras like handguards, hooked bars and more. Are you beginning to see why we chose it as OUR Best Sled of 2008?
The TNT will get out of the hole quickly too, and it boasted a max of 75.7 foot-pounds of torque at 7,900 rpm. What we've got here is all the engine you need to nip on the heels of the big boys, less weight than you're used to AND reliability from an already proven powerplant.
Why go SDI?We don't see much reason to buy the High Output SDI version over the TNT unless you have a major distaste for the old-fashioned carbs used on the 500SS. Initial
AmSnow mileage calculations do not show much difference between the two. The TNT obviously pulls plenty hard, and you get an X-like ergos package on the TNT that beats the standard Adrenaline 600 hands down. Did Ski-Doo just not want to herald this sled too much because they were worried it would steal sales from its Adrenaline 600 SDI? Looking at the options, and just as importantly, the numbers, the TNT shows up the standard 600 SDI, and costs a LOT less too!
Some people will argue the shocks on the TNT need to be upgraded, and the 500SS doesn't jump at the throttle crack like the 600 SDI, but the SDI only nets about 5 more horsepower and weighs almost 30 lbs. more. Only a very few riders out there really need the snocross style shocks, and no-one really needs more than 114 horses to have a ball on any trail, especially if you're on a budget.
CompetitionIs there any? The only other 600 sled on the market that can come close to the value and horsepower you get with this sled is the Polaris Shift. But the Shift is at least 67 lbs. heavier (dry), has no frills and is in an older chassis that doesn't handle nearly this well. The Shift has a few more horses with 120, and its chassis is finally beginning to be tuned in so it handles respectably, but that's where the good stuff stops.
I can't even put these two in the same boat when it comes to rough trail handling or ergos, the TNT wins handily. In side-by-side preliminary speed runs, the TNT doesn't give up anything to the Shift either. If you were to put all the extras on the Shift that come standard on the TNT - lightweight seat, handguards, low-profile windsheild, graphics package and more - you would see the TNT is actually the better value. Strictly looking at base MSRP though, the Shift is cheaper.
Thanks to Tim Welch of Phelps, N.Y., for the use of the sled.