Razor’s Edge

Conditions in our neck of the woods last March weren’t ideal. We had a low overall snow level, and a long dry spell that left spots of the West pretty well rock solid. Here, Jay Mentaberry clings to a wall like an ice climber, showing off the new rigid skid of the 2023 Ski-Doo 850 Turbo R Summit Expert.

You are wanting to buy a 2023 mountain snowmobile and have done your homework on features it must have to fit your needs and riding style. Your “must have” list includes an 850 E-TEC engine, quick adjustable clutch system, narrow platform, sleek look, Shot starting and a solid suspension. You’ve narrowed your list down to the Ski-Doo Summit X or Lynx Shredder DS, but just can’t quite decide which one is right for you.

Making the final choice is a tough call. We know. We’ve been wrestling with this decision at SnoWest Magazine since we rode both models in West Yellowstone last February during the 2023 Snowmobile Photo Shoots.

Although both the Shredder and the Summit X can be purchased with the 850 Turbo R, we’re only focusing on the 850 E-TEC engine models.

There’s no question the Summit X is designed to be a solid mountain sled in the Ski-Doo line. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that may come on the Ski-Doo Expert or Freeride, but it has the best ones and a very attractive price tag.

If you are searching for the definitive trail performance snowmobile, the Polaris Indy VR1 Boost has to be at the top of your list. It has the ultimate power of any Indy model. And of course, the Indy line has the ultimate trail sleds for Polaris. Can any other Polaris model even come close to delivering such aggressive ride and handling? Well, yes. The Switchback Assault Boost.

Coming from the crossover segment of the market, the Assault Boost has most of the great features of the VR1, but with just a little longer track to allow more flexibility in terrain conditions.

While the VR1 Boost is billed as the dominating trail performance snowmobile built on the Matryx platform and designed for arm-stretching acceleration, the Assault Boost is headlined with its ability to excel both on and off the beaten path. It too is built on the Matryx platform which is designed to put the rider in the best possible position for balance and rider ergonomics.

Ski-Doo offers three sleds in three different market segments that couldn’t be more similar for being more different. The Freeride 146, the Backcountry X-RS 146 and the Renegade X-RS 137 represent the Mountain, Crossover and Trail segments, respectively, yet deliver a versatile riding experience that makes you wonder whether they were specifically designed for racing down trails or blazing a path off-trail.

This choice became even more blended for 2023 with the new bodywork and weight reduction. The gap between the Freeride and the Renegade X-RS was tightened when both received the new REV Gen5 chassis. Although this new chassis is used on both Ski-Doo mountain models and trail models, it tends to favor deep snow DNA since it reduces weight and narrows up the front end.

Although the Backcountry X-RS stayed with the REV Gen4 chassis, it maintained the best features of both the mountain sleds and the trail sleds. All three models are “spring only” and required a pre-order to secure availability.