I have just returned from a REV ride. *We spent about 3 hours *looking, riding and comparing. *The test bed consisted of 1 01'x 800, renegade, mountaincat. *The sled is by far the most dramatic change I have ever felt. *It does handle bumps very well and is the flattest and hardest cornering sled to date including the 97' sx with good carbide. *The power is very similar to the 800 of today, the clutching was pretty shady for the conditions but not bad for a "prototype". *After I convinced myself it was just like racing my Honda 250R, I started to like it. *I feel it can be closest related to a GNCC racing 4-wheeler in feel. *The suspension was very good, even for my 200+ payload. *We made no adjustments to the machine and rode it as is. *There is some feel of tipping forward that was never felt on previous machines. *Ergo's are typical Doo style. *The guages are really neat but a little hard to see as your eye is trained to look somwhere else. *

All in all I would sum it up by saying this: *Excellent trail/ hard riding sled. *I am not sure if it a lake racer or not, not enough room. *Before purchasing one convince yourself to accept the awkwardness, in time it grows on you.

GLHRACING

glhracing,
*i am glad to read what you posted and will take your advice. i felt totally confident when i read your test that is something i don't feel when i read from the magazines i get mailed to me.

ZRT600MtnCat,

From an engineers point of view, I would have a hard time putting this thing in the mountains. *The lack of leverage would make it difficult Durring turn-outs. *I was nervous about taking it down a ski slope with about a 45% angle, let alone a steeper hill. *Climbing is not the problem, the weight transfer is pretty good. *You just get a feel of "short wheel base" when coming down the hill. *I actually got the track to come off the ground, just as if I hit the front brakes on my quad. *For now I would not expect it in the mountains or rather wouldn't want it in the mountains.

GLHRACING

New Sled Blues:

Does anyone know how many REVs were out on the snow this winter? I'd say the ones that were, were in the hands of dealers with good maintenance. How about a season of real world abuse and/or lack of maintenance by real sledders?

Last winter while passing thru Temagami, we saw a Viper at the Shell station. One of the guys in my group has blue underwear, so he had to go and look at it and talk to the guy. I think the guy was a district sales managewr (or some other middle management job). Low and behold when we were just south of Smooth Rock Falls, within 10 minutes, we saw 2 Vipers being towed into town. I found out from another blue underwear type that I know, the fuel pumps were freezing up. So much for prototype testing, they have to get out in the real world.

Addition to my previous post: It was this year we saw the Vipers being towed.

When I tested the Rev, they had 9 and they were over 500 km's. The only problem was that on one of em, the belt shredded 3 times in a day but since there was no wear on the other's, I think the alignement wasn't made properly.

I wonder what the clutching is like, the tra 3, has 14 degrees insted of 12 I believe. More belt squeeze.Wonder if you could machine a 14 degree onto a 12 degree tra, hhhmmm.

I am no expert sledder or enginer *I ride a 2001 550 panther * last week I was in canada with a ski doo, polaris, yamaha dealer. * my wife was riding our old 93 lynx and the stator burned out so I lost my panther for most of the week * the dealer let me ride the 4 stroke polaris frontier. on the one day I asked him if I could ride his rev until the next stop . * it was very quick it did not take much throtle to make that sucker go. * *the ride on a nice trail was smooth but I had a hard time to keep it from darting back and forth. * I rode it for about 10 miles on a curvy and twisty groomed trail. * I did not like not having a windshield *though. * the dealer said you have to ride it 1/2 a day to get used to it. *It did not seem to be unstable as far as tipping. but I did not like the darting when I would get up to about 65. * I thought the ride was more comfortable than the fronter *but when I ride my cat I still think I like it better. *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I just test drove one today. *I LOVED it! *I wish I had a bigger place to try it out at though. *I love everything about it. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif