- Ryan Thompson, Western Editor



The 2017 Gen 4 850 Summit was incredible, and the 2018s are even better!The SHOT starting system is possibly the most-talked-about new technology for Ski-Doo. No battery, no ring gear and no starter – how is that possible? Starting the new 850 E-TEC could not be easier. Just like pushing the button on your computer and hearing it start up, it is almost effortless and silent. That said, you do need to pull start it first and let it run for 20 seconds to two minutes, depending on how long the snowmobile has been off, but the whole system centers on the new Ultra Capacitor (I still think it should be called the Flux Capacitor). Once that is charged, you press a button similar to the standard Ski-Doo electric start button, and that fires the sled up by sending an electric charge to the magneto, basically turning it into an electric motor to turn the crankshaft.This technology is totally unique to the E-TEC motor because of its ability to start with 1/3 of a rotation of the crankshaft. When we tested the system, the charge lasted nearly an hour after the snowmobile was shut off, even though Ski-Doo only claims 30-45 minutes. The engineers said you could probably get the sled to start up to 1.5 hours after shutting it off, but the probability goes down significantly after the first 45 minutes. We kept track of how many times during the day we stopped and started, and it was 43 times. That is 43 times of not having to pull on the rope! Not to mention when you are seriously stuck, it can be hard to get to the rope at times. With SHOT, however, restarting is simple and easy. We really appreciated this feature a lot by the end of a long day of testing out in the mountains of British Columbia. The weight savings compared to an electric start is also huge. The Ultra Capacitor only weighs two pounds, which is about 20 pounds lighter than an electric start system! This feature may not seem like a big deal at first, but after riding a sled all day, you’ll really appreciate it. The funny thing is, you would think your muscle memory would have you reaching for the pull start. However, that was not the case. We’ll take the path of less resistance!We were sure that the 850 E-TEC engine would come in the Freeride and the 174 Summit for 2018, so that did not surprise us. But the new Ski-Doo lineup includes the Freeride in a 165-inch long 3-inch lug track. The Summit X also now also comes in a bigger 175-inch track (changing the pitch gained an extra inch). The tunnel is 5.25 inches longer on the 175 than the 165, so it’s not a huge difference in overall length. The Summit SP and X model sleds in the 175-inch length pretty much go anywhere and everywhere. I was still wrapping my head around how much fun the 2017 850 Gen 4 165 was, and now there’s a 175-inch track that is only going to make it that much more capable.Another cool feature is the LinQ removable snowflap. This is a great option for those “bad stucks” when you need to get some extra grip and the flap is an impediment.The new Freeride is nimble and aggressive, but it’s still quick to respond to rider input, similar to its big brother Summit X. Let’s not forget looks. The Freeride has been known for its bold colors, and this year it comes in an awesome black, white and green. Also new is the SCS wrap option for the Freeride models. Personally, I am excited to see the new Freeride in a 165-inch length because of its ability to take hard hits and jumps. It’s a great addition to the lineup.Finally, Ski-Doo made a small but significant change in lowering the Summit X riser block by one inch. That alone makes this sled more maneuverable. For many flatlanders that like to buy Summits for places like Northern Ontario, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or many places in the Northeast and Quebec, the new X models have a sea level calibration available. We think that is a smart move! Also, the Summit Burton sled that was available last year has been axed for 2018.Overall, our pre-season testing has showed that the mountain sleds handle incredibly well. In particular, the Freeride handles and sidehills much like the Summit SP and X, with very little rider input. Kudos, Ski-Doo – you really delivered again!