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The Polaris Assault is a loaded gun. In the hands of a boondocking backcountry freestyle expert, it's a lot of fun, but it can get you into trouble quickly... Assault is an RMK with an attitude and it doesn't like you to play nice with it. From the top of its motocross-style Pro Taper bars to the bottom of its 146-in. track with 2.125-in. lugs, this sled is built to take off-trail abuse.
Rough riderTo get to the places where this snowmobile works best, you need a strong engine that won't weigh you down like cement shoes. Assault's highlight is its 150+ hp Liberty 795cc HO Cleanfire liquid-cooled twin 2-stroke engine. It has plenty of snort to churn that big Competition track, and the motor is lightweight as well. Stopping the Assault is a Hydraulic Phantom brake with lightweight wave-type rotor and Cyclone master cylinder.
At 146-inches, the Assault is just barely long enough to be called a mountain sled. Backcountry freestylers like the fact that there is enough track to sail through deep powder, but it's not long and unmanageable. The shorter the track, the easier it is to toss a sled off jumps, over boulders and through tight trees, so the 146-incher is a happy medium.
Assault features new lightweight cut-out ski spindles and its A-arms are lighter and stronger. You still get the adjustable RMK ski stance too. But the sled's main selling point for the x-rider is its beefy suspension. The IQ Independent front suspension comes with adjustable Walker Evans Air piggyback shocks. The IQ rear suspension also has a Walker Evans shock package and the rear shock is compression adjustable too. Walker Evans shocks are arguably the best you can get on a stock machine. Tougher rails, suspension pads and more give this sled added durability. If you like big air, and tough landings, you'll like this package.
The new composite matte-finished hood is lightweight and adds some style too. In front, a new light RAW-style bumper and narrower underbelly front end also enhance Assault's looks and don't push as much snow in front of it when you get in deep powder. The RAW look is completed with a lightweight freestyle seat and low windshield.
Yes and noWe were stoked to ride this rebel-sled. It sure looks tough, but I couldn't get comfortable on it. The bars are simply too tall (6+ inch riser) and wide for me. Also, I missed having a grab bar several times.
Ask yourself, are big terrain changes and fun jumps usually right next to the unloading area? No, and I just couldn't get used to the idea of sacrificing my on-trail, and boondocking comfort while riding out to where the cornices and big jumps are located. If you're taller than 6-foot, this setup is probably more comfy though.
We liked the 800's power, but the track we tested in pre-production form seemed to trench. It was fine on the trail and really hooked up, but this is not designed to be a trail sled. Polaris also told us there is going to be a slight change to make the rubber durometer stiffer on the tip of the lug of this track for production models to "give it more traction on ice and hardpack snow." That should be interesting.
Along with the trail traction we got, we also had good transfer. You certainly need that transfer once you get off into the powder play areas. However, this was not fun on the trail as it would throw you straight into the back seat.
Assault is not made for sitting, and flies straight like a freestyle sled should. We also liked two unheralded aspects: the sculpted-to-your-legs gas tank and the gripper skis. We could move over the narrow tank and change positions quickly, and we love the easy-to-stand-on tops of the gripper skis when we had to turn the big sled back over in powder. However, it was surprisingly difficult to throw this sled around. We actually felt like it was easier to toss the bigger tracked RMKs through the tight trees.
Assault's best aspects were the perfect Walker Evans shocks, solid engine and spot-on clutching - the new P2 secondary worked well. If the ergos, track performance and agility were improved, it would've left a better taste in our mouths.
2009 Polaris AssaultEngine: Liberty 795cc Cleanfire liquid twin
HP: 154 (Polaris claimed)
Exhaust: SC VES, Single
Ski Stance: Adjustable 41.5-42.5-43.5 in.
Front Susp.: IQ adjustable w/Walker Evans Air Piggyback shocks
Rear Susp.: RMK w/Walker Evans coil front shock and Walker Evans IFP compression adjustable rear shock (w/16-clicks of compression adjustment) Rear Track: 15x146x2.125 in.
Fuel Tank: 11.5 gal.
Dry Weight: 487 lbs. (Polaris claimed)
Price: $10,599 US/$12,199 CA