mx z 700 adrenaline

Ski-Doo's aptly-named Adrenaline package scored big points with our test staff at last spring's test session. Placed in between the X package's extreme suspensions and the Sport's standard suspensions, the Adrenaline delivered what our crew felt was the best ride in the Ski-Doo lineup.

"I think this is the best sled package for Ski-Doo this year," noted Test Rider Randy Kepner. "Both the 600 and 700 motors pull hard out of the corners. But the suspensions are what set the Adrenaline sleds apart. I really like the firm ride of the HPG shocks. It's a nice balance between the stiff-riding X and the slightly softer Sport packages. To me, it's just right."

Ski-Doo put its new dual-runner skis on the front end of the MX Z Adrenaline. In our testing, they seemed to be the solution for Ski-Doo's persistent darting and understeering problems of years past. One of the keys to the reduced darting, according to Tech Guru Gordie Radtke, is that most of the carbide on the runners is located behind the spindle.

Out back, the new SC-10 III skidframe adds two inches of travel on the Adrenaline package. Ski-Doo achieved the added travel length by extending the rear arm's length. The rear shock's upper mount also serves as the motion linkage adjuster. Ski-Doo engineering added a J-slot to the shock mount so consumers can increase or decrease the motion ratio of the rear shock, which stiffens or softens the ride. Both slot positions keep the rate progressive on the rear while the front shock uses falling rate geometry.

Ski-Doo also made adjusting the torsion spring easier on the SC-10 III. The cam block's corners are rounded to turn better.

All-in-all, our test crew was very impressed with the Adrenaline package's performance. The 700 Rotax twin ripped down the trail as expected, the suspensions were right on the money for our rough and tumble test site and the new skis seem to have solved the handling issue. This sled's a winner in our book.