longterm test polaris fst switchback

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When we received our independent dyno results on the new Polaris FST engine last season we were eager to try it out on the snow. At a surprising 140 hp the FST seemed an over-achiever. We knew our own FST Switchback was on its way to our garage for a season of testing. We were all ready to load the new 4-stroke turbo onto our trailer and head north.

Switchback setbacks
Right about the time the trails were opening, we had to take the FST back to our local dealer to handle a recall on the starter gear. After that was settled, we loaded up for our Real World Shoot-Out and were set for action, wondering how the FST would perform.

More trouble though. Arriving at our "top secret" test facility in northern Wisconsin we put the key in and turned it, only to find we had no juice coming from the battery. After another run to the shop, we dropped in a new battery.

With that replaced we were off with the FST for a 4-day romp through the big snows of Michigan's western U.P. After 15 miles of playing in 3 feet of new snow, more problems cropped up. What originally felt like a blown belt proved to be a much bigger problem - faulty PERC reverse gear engagement.

Our local dealer friends at G&G Powersports made quick work of the repair, but we got our machine back just in time to see a lot of warm weather at the season's end. However, the guys at G&G put a bunch of test miles on this FST just before we picked it up. (See dealer comments below.)

Diagnosis
This sled had a serious case of stage fright. We can't give you a true full-season riding impression, as we only got to log 35 of our own miles on it.

Stuff happens and occasionally there's a problem unit. This was one.

But what distresses us most is being unable to give you, our readers, a full long-term report. We could tell you how much we liked the Switchback chassis in our 900 model a year earlier, but that model was dropped this season and we're thinking you're curious mainly about the the FST.

We would not be doing our job as unbiased evaluators if we did not tell you our true sled experiences, and this one, we're sorry to say, was in the shop much of the winter. AmSnow will continue to report to you all the pros and cons of our season-long testing and we plan to evaluate another FST model this season!
- AmSnow Editors

COMMENTS
After American Snowmobiler turned in the FST Switchback to us last spring I had the opportunity to go riding one more time with another Polaris dealer. We took the FST Switchback along because I had always wanted to ride one in a real life situation.

After unloading our machines we went for a day-long ride. The FST started right up and idled flawlessly. When I went to drive the sled it acted exactly the way it should, it drove beautifully. Within the first 15-20 miles I noticed that the steering took more physical effort then the Fusion 600 that I had been riding all season. Fortunately, that is one of the major changes on the IQ for 2007, moving the ski forward to lighten up the steering effort.

After riding most of the morning, the steering became less noticeable as I grew used to this sled. The Switchback definitely handled very well, I easily kept up with anyone that was along for the ride. This was my first experience with a Switchback style sled and I really liked the way the longer track bridged a lot of the deeper holes made by the 121-inch tracked sleds.

The sled surprisingly did not feel heavy. It jumped berms and hills like you would expect from any sled. The throttle response was great, it would snap when cracked open at any trail speed. Turbo lag wasn't noticeable at any speed, only slightly noticeable at a full throttle take off from idle.

We were running in warm, melting conditions and I had absolutely no problem getting this FST Switchback into the 100+ mph range several times. The sled was far faster then it felt. I believe that with the 4-stroke the power comes on sooner and at so much lower of an rpm that the speed just sneaks up on you. I easily outran the 700 Edge, the 800 Edge and the 700 Fusion that were along for that last ride.

I believe that this sled had more speed available but I chose to keep the ride sane. Overall I really enjoyed the front and rear suspension, they worked like they should and never bottomed out and smoothed the trail better then my expectations.

Overall I really had a great weekend with the FST Switchback and only wish that you guys had more time to really run the sled through it's paces. I truly believe that you would have enjoyed the FST once you got the initial feeling for the sled.
- Bill Gara, G&G Power Sports