touring 4stroke style

AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com

Increasingly snowmobiling is becoming smoke-free, something that's a boon to the touring crowd. Why? Well, if your spouse or significant other has EVER complained about smelling of oil or exhaust after a winter's trail ride, 4-stroke touring is a complaint stopper.

That's right, your honey will be happy to let you cuddle up on one of the new smoke-free two-ups and ride the trails all day. Maybe she'll even let you drive!

Plus you're going to save the cost of oil for the winter and likely get better gas mileage, which is becoming an increasingly important benefit. Most of these have electric start and reverse too.

Each of the Big 4 has something to offer and several of these are brand new for 2007. Three new '07s fall into the lightweight category while the other two are heavier and have a more traditional look and ride.

Lets take a look!

Outside the box!
Yamaha rolls out its new Venture Lite, a sled based on its FX chassis that's light and strong and also serves as the sporty new Phazer's platform.

Radical only begins to describe its styling, with a short beak of a nose and a tall windshield, Venture Lite looks a bit like a wasp ready to buzz the trails. And it does that with ease.

Zipping along wide, straight Upper Peninsula trails, we noticed the Lite's 80-horse, 2-cylinder is a tad louder than the competing Ski-Doo, and delivers more vibration to the seat too. Yet the engine is a high-revving powerplant based on a Yamaha dirt bike motor and delivers a burst of low-end torque.

So if you'd like to have some fun as you get up to speed, Venture Lite offers zip early on. It handles well with two aboard too and we were happy with its double wishbone front suspension. The ProComfort rear suspension with gas cell shocks delivers a comfortable ride with one aboard, but there's more bounce on the rear, which a kid wouldn't mind too much. But an adult could grow weary on a long ride if the trails aren't well groomed.

The sled's 144-inch track, with a 1.25-inch lug gives it good grip in all conditions, and it feels solid in turns, thanks to a wider ski stance than the other lightweights.

We liked the seats and rubber handgrips along with all the other ergonomics. That giant windshield also does a super job of diverting airflow. Yamaha's mirrors are solid and well mounted on the bars, so you can actually see behind you too.

We also should note that the heat exchanger is under the tunnel, not in the rear. During our test rides we noticed a lot of ice building up under the backend, enough so that you could see the extra load it added.
Price? Well, that's the best news here at $7,799 (approx. $10,299 CA) it's the second most affordable sled in this segment.

Doo delivers two
That's right, two sleds in one segment!

Choose between the Legend Touring or the Expedition Sport here. Both are fun and economical to ride, mainly because of their exciting new 4-TEC V-800 EFI 4-stroke engine. That's a lot of numbers and letters to say Rotax has delivered a quick revving, smooth-running 4-stroke that pumps out 65 horsepower.

Oh, and it's quiet too! Ski-Doo also says to expect roughly 25 mpg from the 4-stroke, which could make those longer rides easier on your wallet!

Both these sleds ride on the light RF platform, like the Freestyle, and offer the single A-arm front suspension and SC-136 rear, with HPG shocks. Ride is good, in fact, very good here, putting these on a par with the Yamaha.

The Expedition Sport is the real surprise though, due to its wider skis and deeper lugs, 1.25-inch vs. 1.0-inch on the Legend. The wider skis give it better stability on rutted trails and the extra lug depth gives it more push through the snow off-trail and actually handles icy choppy trails better too.

While I got the Legend to 75 mph, it felt too darty after 55 or so. The Expedition Sport was solid all the way up to 78 mph on the same wide (excellent visibility) trails.

Then there's the option of going for the kicky Rotax 550 fan in the Sport, which has the added benefit of chopping 30 lbs. from the sled. Both Doos with the V-800 weigh in at 510 lbs., while the fan cuts that to 480, but then you lose the 4-stroke advantages.

Styling is not a highlight for either sled with the Sport having a little more visual flair, but it doesn't have the standard tachometer like the Legend. These two also feature only a strap for the second rider, while Yamaha gives the second person solid handle grips. Both are a bit bumpier than I like for the second rider, and I was usually the only guy who could put his ego in check long enough to ride in back.

Each Ski-Doo has mirrors, but they vibrate a lot. Positives for each include a light throttle pull and large footwells (although they gathered a lot of snow).

Pricing isn't too high either at $7,899 ($10,499 CA) for the Sport, and $7,949 ($10,549 CA) for the Legend.

The Doos may be your best bet if you want a sporty handling sled at moderate cost that can accommodate a second rider from time to time.

Heavy metal
Both the Polaris and Arctic Cat offerings fit into our heavyweight 4-stroke category. Each tops out at 600+ lbs., but these are your more traditional two-ups.

Polaris uses its 80-horse 4-stroke in the FS IQ Touring, which is the heaviest sled in this category at 632 lbs.

Sadly, that weight makes for a slower sled. While the 4-stroke ran smoothly, it was noisier than the rest and didn't give the IQ much pop from a standing start. But what it lacks in oomph it makes up for in ride with just one aboard. The FAST M-10 135 rear suspension with Ryde FX shocks soaks up stutter bumps effectively. The second person still takes some pretty good bumps, but a pillow-top seat helps cushion the blows.

Handling is good too, the IQ front suspension, again with Ryde FX shocks, was easy to control in all conditions. Plus this one has a 42.5-inch ski stance to aid stability.

Polaris gives you all the goodies on this sled too, like 3-speed handgrip warmers and the best dash gauges in this group, with buttons to select what information you want, such as mph or rpm and the maximum speed you hit while riding. The Rider Select handlebar system is standard too and allows you to adjust to five different positions.

This is the highest priced model of our five selections, at $8,899 ($12,099 CA), so you pay extra for the luxury gauges, seat, heaters and all. Still, if you want a heavier sled and initial start-up speed is not high on your needs list, the IQ is a plush two-up ride.

Retro ride
Meanwhile, Cat has revamped its Panther T660 Touring to bring back some nostalgia with its leopard-print seat, retro Panther logos and chrome accent windshield on a 40th Anniversary model. The styling is fun and no doubt will lure some buyers for the look alone. This is one that will nab you some attention at any trail stop as folks admire the seat. But if your concern is more ride than flash, well, consider that this sled also checks in north of 600 lbs. at 620. Its 660cc 3-cylinder engine generates 53 horsepower and is slightly quieter than the Polaris, but it doesn't give you a lot of power off the line either.

This is a steady rider with a 43-inch ski stance that makes you sure of yourself on the trails. Handling is on the heavy side despite double wishbone A-arms up front. Its ride is decent though, thanks to the Ryde FX shocks front and rear. Plus the FasTrack slide-rail system gives this one a more cushioned ride for the second rider.

That back seat passenger will appreciate the comfy seat with backrest and solid handgrips with heaters. Also Cat includes a wrap-around rear cargo rack, a plus, especially on long trips. My only problem with Panther is its driver seat cushion, which stops a little too short of the gas tank bulge. For shorter riders who tend to ride forward on the sled, that can be quite discomforting, especially on a longer ride. Sitting back a ways you can avoid the tank cap though.

Pricing could push a lot of touring folks toward the Cat, which is the segment low-cost price leader at $7,299 ($9,499 CA). That's an excellent deal for full two-up touring comfort. If you want more power though, you'll need to opt for the 110-horse turbo-powered T660 Turbo Touring or the more upscale LE model.

But if you want heft, comfort and styling, the Panther is a triple threat. Prefer nimble handling and more pep? Well, you'd best choose among the lightweights or upgrade to the Turbo Cat.

Bottom line
Larger riders and couples who plan to do a lot of long-distance two-up riding would best be served by one of the heavyweights. I'd choose the Panther for the reasons listed above.

But if you intend to ride this one solo most of the time, with an occasional partner on the back, you've got three good choices. Yamaha has the edge in styling, but I enjoyed the all around ride of the Expedition Sport the most. It feels more stable than the Legend and has plenty of power from its V-800. Plus this thing runs like a Swiss watch, er Austrian engine. There's smooth power with a light throttle pull and a quiet demeanor, all making for a pleasant ride. The deeper lug and wider skis make all the difference in handling too! Be a sport!

COMMENTS
Mark Boncher:
The Yamaha FX chassis does not look nearly as good in Venture Lite duds as it does on the Phazer, but it's extremely comfortable and easier to maneuver than the other sleds in this class.

That said, the Ski-Doo Legend Touring also isn't a stunner, but it has the correct engine for its chassis. The V-TEC 800 powered Legend is surprisingly fast. We were looking for a few more amenities on Ski-Doo's higher priced touring sled, but stopped short of asking for a wood-grain dash.

Meanwhile, the Expedition Sport is slightly more stylish than the Legend, I liked this sled with the 550cc engine option. It's priced right and is the machine I would recommend to any two-up sled buyer on a budget.

On the heavyweight end, if you want luxury, comfort and options, the Polaris FS IQ Touring is your machine. I am a big fan of the Polaris pillow-top seats. But don't expect much out of this 80-hp engine.

I fell in love with Cat's new Panther on first glance, probably because the Leopard seat sends me back to childhood days of climbing on my Kitty Cat as my dad and grandpa rode next to me on their big old Cat's. I felt like I was the coolest kid in town. However, the T660 Touring is not going to win any races and doesn't have as many options as some touring sleds, but I think it's the best looking unit in this group.

Les Pinz:
I'm really impressed by the clutching and calibration of the fuel injection on Ski-Doo's V-800, it's really excellent.

And this is a sled that handles well too. It's only 65-horses compared to 80 on the Venture Lite, but still the power is good and feels comparable to the others in this class.

Among the heavyweights, I feel overall the IQ is better. I give Polaris credit, the new IQs are much better looking.

MODEL SPECS
Yamaha Venture Lite
Engine: 499cc, Genesis 80FI, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke
Exhaust: Single rear
Front Suspension: FX double wishbone/hydraulic shocks w/gas cell
Rear Suspension: ProComfort 144/hydraulic shocks w/gas cell
Ski Stance: 42.3 in.
Track: RipSaw 15x144x1.25 in.
Fuel Capacity: 9.5 gal.
Weight: 590 lbs.
MSRP: $7,799US/$10,299 (approx.) CA

Ski-Doo Legend Touring
Engine: 4-TEC V-800 EFI, 4-stroke
Exhaust: Single tuned pipe
Front Suspension: Single A-arm w/Motion Control shocks
Rear Suspension: SC-136 w/HPG shocks
Ski Stance: 39.0 in.
Track: 15x136x1.0 in.
Fuel Capacity: 9.0 gal.
Weight: 510 lbs.
MSRP: $7,949 US/$10,549 CA

Ski-Doo Expedition Sport
Engine: 4-TEC V-800 EFI, 4-stroke
Exhaust: Single tuned pipe
Front Suspension: Single A-arm w/Motion Control shocks
Rear Suspension: SC-136 w/HPG shocks
Ski Stance: 39.0 in.
Track: 16x136x1.25 in.
Fuel Capacity: 9.0 gal.
Weight: 510 lbs.
MSRP: $7,899US/$10,499 CA

Arctic Cat Panther 660 Touring
Engine: 660cc, 3-cylinder, 4-stroke
Exhaust: Single
Front Suspension: AWS V double wishbone w/Ryde FX shocks
Rear Suspension: FasTrack long travel system w/Ryde FX shocks
Ski Stance: 43.0 in.
Track: 15x136x1.0 in. Quiet Track.
Fuel Capacity: 13.4 gal.
Weight: 620 lbs.
MSRP: $7,299 US/$9,499 CA

Polaris FS IQ Touring
Engine: 750cc, EFI, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke
Exhaust: Single
Front Suspension: IQ w/Ryde FX shocks
Rear Suspension: FAST M-10, 135 w/Ryde FX shocks
Ski Stance: 42.5 in.
Track: 15x136x1.0 in.
Fuel Capacity: 10.2 gal.
Weight: 632 lbs.
MSRP: $8,899 US/$12,099 CA