best ride report I have found

 

I owned the 129" version for 1 ride in the UP back in 2022. It's a good sled for anyone who doesn't need to go 90mph. Mine had some inside ski lift but I was running C&A Pro XPT skis. OEM skis likely would have had 0 lift. Plus I was driving as fast as I could (nobody else was on the trails that day as it was raining). Fastest I saw was 92-93mph on the speedo but it took a long long time to get there. I would never call it a 90mph sled. It goes 0-60 just fine though, and probably better than expected for the lowly 85hp rating. Some prefer a larger seat which is an easy upgrade. I didn't mind the tiny stock one but IMO it would be nicer if it were stiffer. The shocks are the worst in the business but for a wife and kid average trail riding... they move up and down. I would buy another one if I had a need for it, depending on the price of course. When these were reassessed back in 2021 they were around $8,000 OTD during spring order. Best value in the industry by far at that point.

 

If I could get one new around $8000 otd I would likely jump on it. I am gonna keep on the lookout for a nice used one this winter and next year as well as any deals on new ones. Saw one two actually advertised with the sale price of $8,349 but after around $1,400 in fees and then $600 something in taxes ended up at $10,400 and change no thanks....

 

Not wanting one for this coming winter anyways but if the deal was too good to pass up would of considered going for it. For 2024 ski doo jumped the price on the renegade sport to $10,799 and went from the 1.352 Cobra track to the orginal ripsaw track which I am not a fan of. Really tired of the never ending price increases with everything.....
*Edited I see they are 4 stroke 600 ace engines probably part of reason for higher cost makes since all renegades are now 4 strokes now we can get MZX Sport in either 129 or 137 length and it is powered by the 600 EFI

 

I own a 22 Gade 600 efi (137)...99% of my riding is done tuesday-friday...Usually start right at sun up on fresh groomed trails...No need for highend shocks riding in pristine trail conditions...If I was relegated to having to ride on weekends it would not have been purchased...Cruises nice @ 60-70...Have seen 88...Clutch/ECU only allows the motor to spin to 7700...BUT...For whatever reason mine has spun as high 7820 at times, and the sled becomes more fun at that rpm...Average 18+ mpg...Have seen twice almost 20mpg...Avg 180mi per Qt of oil...Smaller seat doesnt bother me at all, even after a 250+mi day...No adjustment on the RTS and I run the FTS @ 1 click shy of full stiff...Front ski shocks on Full soft...8" of carbide down the center...4" on the outside...Frontend sticks like glue...Alittle stiffer than normal on the steering...But thats how I like it...The goal is 20k clicks on the odometer...Time will tell...

 

I own a 22 Gade 600 efi (137)...99% of my riding is done tuesday-friday...Usually start right at sun up on fresh groomed trails...No need for highend shocks riding in pristine trail conditions...If I was relegated to having to ride on weekends it would not have been purchased...Cruises nice @ 60-70...Have seen 88...Clutch/ECU only allows the motor to spin to 7700...BUT...For whatever reason mine has spun as high 7820 at times, and the sled becomes more fun at that rpm...Average 18+ mpg...Have seen twice almost 20mpg...Avg 180mi per Qt of oil...Smaller seat doesnt bother me at all, even after a 250+mi day...No adjustment on the RTS and I run the FTS @ 1 click shy of full stiff...Front ski shocks on Full soft...8" of carbide down the center...4" on the outside...Frontend sticks like glue...Alittle stiffer than normal on the steering...But thats how I like it...The goal is 20k clicks on the odometer...Time will tell...

Excellent post thank you so much for the detailed info I have settled on the MXZ or Renegade Sport with 600 EFI engine for the wife's first sled. I think it would be a great sled for lots of folks needs and I love the looks of it

 

LOL! I just put a deposit down on a 23 MXZ Sport 600 EFI
$8,644 felt that was fare price so I jumped on it

 

In this day and age, that's a good deal. I think 85hp will be more than plenty for your wife's first sled. I have ridden an Arctic Cat zr,4000 that was a 500cc 85hp 2stroke, and was surprised at how peppy it was. I would imagine the 600cc 85hp engine will be just as peppy.

 

From videos I have seen and what others have said they run smooth have good engine response and will get to 60 pretty quick and top out over 80 mph in regular conditions so I think it will be plenty for her to have lots of fun on as her skill improves.

 

You will be riding a 850, right?
Please, when you go out riding together, let her ride the better sled. It'll be more fun for both of you!

 

I owned 2021 BC Sport (spring ordered in 2020) for 8 grand in no tax NH with a 4 yr warranty. I bought the Backcountry because I was so darn curious of the new motor, wanted to try a 146 and the g4 chassis. The sled never disappointed me and got used mainly for ungroomed trail riding and private property fun. I put 2200 miles on it riding 3 years. It was a BLAST. I sold it this summer with 1 yr of warranty left for almost what I paid for it. I did swap the seat out because I couldn't stand the gap by the tank & it wasn't comfortable for me. I also wanted to use a linq trail seat bag. The diamond shaped seat is like a summit seat. The trail narrow seat fits the bag.
I gpsd it several times across our pond at 85-87. That was with a 1.6 cobra track.
Congrats on your new ride!

 

You will be riding a 850, right?
Please, when you go out riding together, let her ride the better sled. It'll be more fun for both of you!

Not sure you understand my wife has no operating experience on snowmobiles at all. I do not think an 850 is a beginners sled to learn on. She has limited riding time on atv's as well. Correcting for improper(excessive) throttle input is very difficult as the power levels rise substantially. Twice while riding an atv she lost focus on what her right thumb was doing and both times I was very glad we were on an older low hp model. Do that on one of the new 850-1000cc atvs and someone is gonna get hurt or worse. Those are not beginner atv's and my 850 XCR is not a beginner sled imo. No different if I was introducing a male/man to snowmobiling if they were not of high natural operating talent and no experience I would not put them on an 850 for their first sled. My sister on the other hand will likely be riding my brand new 850 before I do. But she started riding sleds over 25 years ago like myself. So it is not a male ego bs thing simply trying to be responsible and keep everyone safe. I really like the Ski Doo not gonna lie I want to ride it some myself Haha. I think she is gonna absolutely love the Ski Doo and snowmobiling in general I can not wait to introduce her and my son to the sport😊

 

Your going to find that the throttle/clutching on the 600efi is EXTREMELY touchy...Doo really clutched these sleds aggressively...Thats what gives them their low-mid range peppiness...She may not like it...Also...The claimed 85hp is a very conservative rating...Independant dyno test show 93hp...And with the Straightline Performance pipe its over 100hp...BTW...Forgot to mention...Your going to have to shim the ski's...And I would suggest a set of Woody's Navigators...

 

Why the need to shim the skis? I will probably go with a set of 6" good n ugly bergstrom skegs with ski savers and shims

 

The ski's come from the factory tipped to the front...They like to dig the nose in...In my case it was even worse...I used a set of Woodys 8" Ace Bars...Absolutely hated them right from the get go...Actually made wholesale changes to the suspension on the trail less than 50 miles into ownership...Was slightly better, but the Ace host bar is 1/2" square barstock...Waaaay too much for the Doo ski keel imo...The following season went a whole different route with shimming the ski's perfectly flat...Less aggressive round bar carbides, and added the Navigators...It was a whole new frontend then...

 

Will see how the clutching is and if needed make some adjustments but gonna try that as is first. Looking to swap the track out on it if I can get a decent credit for the new one it comes with. Thinking of running an Ice Storm on it

 

You can also get a Renegade Sport with the 600 Ace engine. 60hp, very quiet, great MPG, super-light throttle.

 

Went with a 23 MXZ Sport 129 600 EFI

 

Wanted to swap the track but dealer offering no credit for the 129 1.25 ripsaw it comes with so just gonna leave it stock for now

 

Run it for sure. It's a lot of track for 85 horsepower plus the single ply gets better gas mileage.

 

Great durable high speed hardpack trail track but I want more deep snow ability so I liked the cobra and the storm

 

Trust me, she won't do any better with a Cobra. I'm an avid rider and I would say the same about myself.

 

I also like studs but an ice storm would save me a bunch in studding cost so would go with that prestudded option most likely if I replace the track

 

Trust me, she won't do any better with a Cobra. I'm an avid rider and I would say the same about myself.

In loose snow or deep snow you would not rather be on a cobra track or storm than an original ripsaw? Is that specific to this sled you saying or in general?

 

I think you're overthinking it. It's 85hp, the stock Ripsaw will already have good loose snow traction. You drive that sled into 3' of powder and it will sink like a rock with either of the two tracks you mentioned. It's more about skill at that point, rather than lug height.

 

I started a thread on the Renegade Sport but ended up going with a 2023 MXZ Sport 600 EFI. Anyone with either one of these what do you have done to it if anything? From skis and tracks and studs to shocks, seats, clutching, and other mods to various accessories?

 

I think you're overthinking it. It's 85hp, the stock Ripsaw will already have good loose snow traction. You drive that sled into 3' of powder and it will sink like a rock with either of the two tracks you mentioned. It's more about skill at that point, rather than lug height.

I know it is a short track sled but still I think tracks make a difference how a sled hooks up even if the hp is lower. Some folks have said the original ripsaw is not great in loose snow it spins a ton and trenches without giving much drive. They do offer a backcountry version with this motor so doo seems to think it has the power to turn the longer deeper lug 1.6 cobra track without issue. Maybe I am overthinking it I tend to do that haha

 

They do offer a backcountry version with this motor so doo seems to think it has the power to turn the longer deeper lug 1.6 cobra track without issue.

To turn that track the BC comes with 23/51 gearing which is crazy low (2.21 ratio). With only 85 hp on tap I would do everything I could to keep the top speed up for trail riding (if that's your primary purpose). Plus keep the fuel economy up, it only holds 9.5 gallons.

The Ripsaw 1.25 is/was a stock track for nearly 2 decades on sleds with 2x the horsepower as yours plus racing sleds such as the R-XC... it's fine. The vast majority of riders never replace it. Save your money for accessories, you're going to need them!

 

The ski's come from the factory tipped to the front...They like to dig the nose in...In my case it was even worse...I used a set of Woodys 8" Ace Bars...Absolutely hated them right from the get go...Actually made wholesale changes to the suspension on the trail less than 50 miles into ownership...Was slightly better, but the Ace host bar is 1/2" square barstock...Waaaay too much for the Doo ski keel imo...The following season went a whole different route with shimming the ski's perfectly flat...Less aggressive round bar carbides, and added the Navigators...It was a whole new frontend then...

Thank you so much for sharing your setup information. I just ordered bergstrom good n ugly 6 inch carbides (which are round bar) with ski savers and shims so will run 6" good and ugly in the center with ski savers and the stock 4" carbides on the outside and the bergstrom ski shims in Pilot 6.9 skis.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your setup information. I just ordered bergstrom good n ugly 6 inch carbides (which are round bar) with ski savers and shims so will run 6" good and ugly in the center and the stock 4" carbides on the outside with both of them in ski savers and the bergstrom ski shims.

Not to get off topic but how do the good n uglies compare to the tripple points? They are all getting so expensive...

 

No actual experience with either can say tripple points cost a lot more they have 3 carbides in each skag vs one. I would go with the good n ugly should be solid skegs at a reasonable price that's why I went with them. Lot of folks liked them and said performance and quality was good very durable on the good n ugly's

 

The stock "short" windshield is enough protection for me and I even prefer the ultra low unit. The Sport doesn't come with shield side deflectors though which come standard on the higher trim levels (item code 860202473).

I saw you are ordering a 3 gallon fuel caddy but if you order the 4 gallon instead you can stack a LINQ storage bag on top of it (like the 17L sport bag for example). The MXZ tunnel only accommodates 1 set of LINQ brackets unless you install an aftermarket adapter.

I like the glovebox extension w/ heated cell phone holder. It add storage, charges the phone, and holds it in a good location for watching the phone's GPS (Polaris ride command app or whatever else is out there).