1. Ski-Doo recognizes that different riders have different priorities. To facilitate different needs, the Summit 850 features four different track lengths—146, 154, 165 and 175 inches. This allows you to choose the track length for your riding style and snow conditions. Not everyone needs maximum flotation. And not everyone wants three-inch lugs. For those who like to spend their time hitting jumps and bumps, the shorter tracks offer better handling, yet still have the capability of going through deep snow. We felt the 165 offered plenty of flotation for most western snow conditions and the 154 handled great on most mountain trails. But you have the option of going to either extreme with the 146 and the 175.
2. Ski-Doo Summit sleds put the focus on the rider. In recent years BRP engineers have gone to great lengths to understand the specific needs of the western rider. Rather than depending only on rider feedback, they started spending more time testing in mountain terrain and experiencing the challenges of sidehilling and tight maneuvering.
3. Don’t be confused. The Rotax 850 E-Tec engine isn’t a re-introduction of the cc wars from the past where engine displacement escalates, as does the overall size of the snowmobile. The 850 is what it is because that just happened to be the size of the perfect engine design. It delivers 10 more horsepower (about 165 hp) than its 800cc predecessor. But this power doesn’t come with a herky-jerky throttle response. The 850 E-Tec delivers a broad linear power delivery that is smooth and constant. If you’re looking for smooth acceleration, it delivers that. If you’re looking for continued acceleration that just doesn’t end, it delivers that. We found that its power can kick in as smooth as a 600, but can be as explosive as any powerful sled on the market. The Rotax 850 E-Tec is a two-cylinder (849cc) liquid-cooled engine with eRave. The E-Tec features direct injection carburetion with additional booster injectors. It runs on premium unleaded fuel, 91 octane.
4. Perhaps one of the best features of E-Tec technology is the SHOT Engine Starter—a push-button starting system that doesn’t come with the added weight of electric start. You only have to pull the rope once. After that, the engine charges an ultracapacitor (fancy word for something that stores enough power to restart your engine). At the touch of a button, this turns the magneto into an electric motor that rotates the flywheel, and with E-Tec technology, starts the engine. Once you pull-start your ride, SHOT will allow you to re-start your engine throughout the rest of your ride. This can save you dozens of rope pulls per ride. Not only is it the most convenient starting system on the market, it’s the most practical. Oh yeah, and it’s the only one of its kind.