AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Like we said in our Real World article, break-in time on the automated system still counts down on the gauge by minute amounts of oil used through the direct injection process, and the duration of 850 break-in was less this year. Full break-in for the Backcountry was achieved just over 300 miles, which is basically two full days of riding on most trail systems. That’s down from about 400 miles the past year and over 400 for the years the counter was on the smaller 800 ETEC. We think this is a good thing as three tanks of fuel should be enough to have just about any powersport product fully broken-in.
We swapped out a larger mid-height windshield with the Backcountry X as the original is the super low deep snow shield. One thing we love about Ski-Doos is that it takes literally seconds to swap windshields of varying sizes. Usually you only need two, one low and one medium/tall. At less than $159 and with the ease of swapping, we think it’s a good investment for folks who ride cold trails to get to an off-trail riding area.
¦ Test riders realize
Every, little, thing … that’s what good test riders see. One constant debate amongst our riders is the differences between the Freeride and the Backcountry: the steering configuration, the controls (electric start and lights and bar warmers), the quick disconnect sway bar, and the track lug heights. The Freeride 146 (&137) and Backcountry 146 are a marketing spin and a few options away from each other and what one test rider wants on one, the other does not. Thankfully Ski-Doo accessories allow you to easily make whatever sled you buy into your own pretty quickly.
Some test riders still have not fallen in love with the “cut-out” toe holds on the Ski-Doo sleds as they feel they don’t allow them to “lock their feet in” on the trails. I personally have come to like them. Being a smaller rider, they allow me to move around more and get farther out over the front of the sled in tight trail corners.
We put over 1000 miles on this before we changed the belt, with no issues, and the sled had zero mechanical issues for the season. Test riders realize that too!