The Case for the Pro RMK 850 Patriot
Power, and lots of it. If you don’t think the extra 50cc is a big deal, think again. “The 850 felt so much lighter and stronger than the 800 that when we hopped off it and got on an 800, we could feel the significant drop in power and performance. It could climb hills that the 800 couldn’t.” Test session words from SnoWest’s Steve Janes.
Throttle response. We’ve come a long way from the old 650 triple. The 850 Patriot absolutely sends it when you squeeze the flapper. Some engineering combination of the new lightweight crankshaft, the new head, mono-block cylinders, new pistons and the new 3-stage E-VES II exhaust valves have produced a chunk of spinning metal that reacts to throttle input unlike any Polaris engine we’ve ever felt. That, or there’s some serious sorcery going on in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Latest R&D from the racing department. That’s where all this cutting-edge technology originates. They can whip up a new part, bolt it to a race sled and tell the racer to go nuts. If it makes things go faster or work better, they refine it until it’s perfect, then pass it onto the production line. The 850 Patriot is your version of the Roush Yates Ford FR9 V8.
More than just a new engine. Only the Pro RMK 850 gets the trick new updates, such as the lightweight SLS shock springs that offer an improved feel and 3-pound weight reduction. The 850 also gets the new shorter PowderTrac XT running boards with improved traction and less snow drag. It also gets the rear suspension improvements and lightweight hyfax.
The cool factor. This is the latest and greatest from Polaris. If you walk into a dealer and lay a blank check on the desk and say give me the best mountain sled you’ve got, they will load you up with a Pro RMK 850, no question.
NEXT: The Case for the Pro RMK 800 H.O. Cleanfire