It wasn't a long ride but the 10 minutes I spent on each sled gave me a pretty good idea.

600 E-tech:

I found the e-tech just didn't have the same zip as my 600 SDI (even in the lighter TNT frame) than the GSX rev I have. Sure it was clean and quiet but just not as much fun as my GSX. I found the TNT was a bit of bear - it was darty (conditions were loose granular) and unstable add moderate speeds. I did not particularly care for this sled.

1200 4-tec

I truly enjoyed riding this sled although I thought the clutch engagement (on this prototype) at 2000 RPM was too low. Good torque, good response, a much more compliant suspension set up than on the TNT meant to me that this sled would be a lot more fun. I loved the purring sound of the engine. I found its greater weight was not an issue - it was far more stable than the 600 TNT and felt quicker. Too bad that its an introduction year or I'd seriously consider buying this sled. Seems like a very fun ride!

Have you ridden other 4 strokes? If so, how did the 4 tech compare in you opinion?

I own an 06 Apex ER and an 08 FX Nytro and I rode a 1200 Doo 4 tech for about 25 miles. I really liked the Doo a lot. It was quieter and smoother than both My Yamahas. I liked the way it rode and handled and the way it looked. I was very impressed and ordered a red GSX Limited 1200 4 tech. Next season I will have all three of theses sleds to ride and compare.

Must be rough having all great choices? Hmmm, do I go with the sweet sled or the other sweet one? Of course you could always go with the third sweet one as well. LOL

I was probably at the same ride at Horseshoe Valley as you were. I agree, the 1200 4-tec is a very nice engine. Very quiet and smooth and engine braking was not an issue as with some 4-strokes I have tried. I have not ridden a Yammi, but have tried a Polaris FS and FST as well as Cat's 660 Turbo and non-turbo Jag 1100 twin. All models from Polaris and Cat sound and feel like lawn mower engines compared to the 1200 4-tec. No comparison at all. They are very rough and crude compared to the 4-tec. I wouldn't even consider one of those twins, but I could easily get into the 1200 4-tec.

Having said that, I was also impressed with the E-tec. I rode one for 65 miles back in February, so this was not my first shot at it. If it is down on power from the SDI, that is of little consequence, since anything over 100 HP is a waste anyway. I don't buy into the theory that every new model has to be more powerful and faster then the last. Give me more fuel efficiency, reliability and consistent operation. That is what I consider a huge leap forward.

At any rate, during my February ride, the E-tec easily walked away from my buddies '06 SDI GSX in 16" of powder on the lake, so I don't think it is giving up anything to the SDI anyway. The power and torque of the E-tec is very deceiving. The throttle and power band is very linear, so that you no longer get that rush of power at small throttle increments, like you get with other 2-strokes. The power is there, you just have to apply more throttle. A very commendable attribute as far as I am concerned. The old 2-strokes are sort of like many audio systems. 3/4 of your volume is used up in the first 1/4 turn of the volume knob. Just seems like there is lots more left.

Although I was impressed with the 4-tec, I feel the E-tec has basically made it unnecessary. The E-tec is just as quiet, almost as smooth and is more fuel efficient and requires less maintenance. It has no discernable smoke and odour and is certainly less weight. Between the beefed up chassis and the engine itself, the 4-tec is about 70 lbs heavier than the E-tec. The only wild card is reliability. They are both new engines. You would have to think that BRP has it together with both of these power plants. If either one screws up, it won't be pretty for BRP!

i thought that the new e tec did not have much bottom, but it had alot of mid range,

I have ridden the apex and the nytro. The engine in the Apex is very smooth and very torguey - a very good engine. The Nytro was also very smooth and torguey and a lot of fun (I didn't care for its suspension though as it was sort of all over the place). I also didn't particularly care for the engine braking on either of the yamaha's - I found it less noticeable on the Doo (and I've read that it is being reduced further next year).

As far as the e-tec this is not the first time I heard that the power of the etec is linear and Charles may very well be right - I find that I prefer the SDI's responsive and pep to the e-tec. The GSX SDI has a 1" lug on the track whereas the TNT comes with an 1 1/4" lug so in theory the TNT e-tec should out perform the GSX in powder. No question about fuel efficiency and oil consumption and emissions the etec is the clear winner but I found it lacking in the FUN department compared to the SDI. Then again it was only a demo and the clutching could have been off - who knows.

I know what you mean. These are prototypes and the ride is pretty short. Hard to really get a feel for them. It would be nice to have one for the day. I don't think you could go wrong with either engine. If I was rich, I'd have one of each.

It is sad to see the SDI go, because it is a very nice engine. Maybe they will bring it back as a low end replacement for the aging 500SS. I am sure that would be a crowd pleaser!

i also testroad both the e-tec 600 and the 4-tec 1200, the 600 seemed to have far more pick up, while the 1200 just seemed very smooth and mostly midrange.. i also drove the nytro and although it was a little darty in less then ideal condition was that sled ever more fun the either of the ski-doos, and the weight differences on them compared to non tnts is not that bad, id hands down take the yammi nytro! going up the big hill at horseshoe i had that nytro almost on the back bumper, tons of torque, the 600 was fairly good, while the 1200 needed time to pick up.. just my thoughts!

Anyone raced the 2 ? 1200 v Etec

I've ridden the nytro I really,really liked the engine ... the rest well like my mother says if you don't have anything nice to say ....

How would the 1200 4 tec compare. The nytro pulls really good I thought, not too much on top it seemed, though I was riding it in trails and never got run her out. There is some engine braking but I could get used it as it is reduced not full on engine braking.

I my opinion ski-doo has hit a homer here. The last 2 hurdles for me were weight I won't buy a sled over 500 lbs and cold weather starting so we'll have to watch for that. Let face it 4 strokes aren't the best starters compared to 2 strokes hence the no rope I know I've helped load a vector up that it was too cold out for it to want to start lousy -35C ... -50C with the wind I thought it was beautiful out for a blizzard

I'm really curious to watch next winter and see how it performs. I'll be spring orderig a 2010 if they do well !!!

Was all too easy to ride the Yamaha's as well at horseshoe since they were putting out two rides to doo's one. We arrived at 11 am, signed up for the doo ride and got the 12:20 ride, so we went over to the Yam tent and 15 minutes later we were riding. Did our doo ride and then went back to Yam again and took another spin. Anyways I rode the Nytro, Apex LTX, new venture, and the vector, the 1200 x and e-tech x. Favourite engine apex with 1200 close second. The nytro had great power and took the bumps real well, but the 1200 seemed to handle better overall and the power seemed the same. Now between the two doo's, yes the lightweight of the e-tech was nice, but it struggled to get up the hill at anywhere near the velocity I had going with the 1200. The engine braking is much reduced compared to the ride I took in January. Overall my favourite choice would be the 1200 doo followed by the nytro. My two friends that both ride cats also picked the 1200 but had the e-tech as second as neither one of them liked the nytro.

Truly sounds like different 'strokes' for different folks to me! (When I wrote this I didn't intend the pun but now having thought about it I do!!)

Its all good!!

Cheers!

Must be nice to be independently wealthy!!