If you were to look at the side profile of Polaris’ 800 Pro RMK 155 and 800 SKS 155, you might not be able to pick out too many differences. It’s when you look at them side-by-side and head on that you can tell what’s different between the two sleds.
So if there aren’t that many differences, why choose an 800 SKS 155 over an 800 Pro RMK 155, especially if you live in the West?
That’s a good question. Just to stir the pot a little bit more, why an SKS, described by Polaris as the “most versatile deep snow crossover sled with instantaneous lift off-trail and smooth handling when on trail,” vs. say the Switchback? Of the Switchback, Polaris crows, “Experience the go-anywhere versatility of the Switchback on the trail or off the map with the sled born to give you the best of both worlds.”
The short answer for the last part of that question, the SKS vs. the Switchback, is that the SKS more closely resembles a mountain sled than the Switchback, which is closer to a trail sled. So let’s toss that comparison out for today’s article.
When you look closely at the RMK and SKS and pore over the specs, the differences are a little more noticeable. Here are the specs for both sleds, with the differences bolded so you can pick them out easier. As a sidenote, the both the SKS and Pro RMK are available with the new 850 Patriot engine but since that is a spring-only model, we chose to stick with the 800 Liberty models. Also, the 800 Pro RMK is available with two different track lug heights, 2.6 and 3 inches, while the SKS comes in three lug heights, 2.25, 2.4 and 2.6 inches. That means these sleds come with lots of track options.
Dry Weight/Drive System
A portion of this difference is due to the chaincase in the SKS, which is a little heavier than the QuickDrive to the tune of about 6 plus pounds. With the QuickDrive you get an aluminum drive axle, lightweight brake rotor and belt instead of a chain. The QuickDrive is more efficient, which gives the RMK an advantage over the SKS but depending on your riding style, you may not notice the difference.