AmSnow's 2017 Best of the Best Awards

Yamaha Sidewinder L-TX LE
Be careful not to wake the sleeping giant … Is this the first earth-shattering step of Yamaha’s vengeful attempt to take over the snowmobile world once again? Maybe not, but it has been 14 model years since Yamaha went 4-stroke, and the new Sidewinder is an industry first in horsepower and 4-stroke technology. The L-TX LE is the most fun trail sled Yamaha has made to date, at least for me. The 1984 Phazer and 2001 Viper came close, but from a guy who grew up riding Yamaha, I am VERY excited to see this new motor, as well as the attention to the snowmobile industry being paid by the Blue Crew. – Mark Boncher, Editor

Polaris 800 Rush XCR
This one is just right! The 800 Rush XCR combines the quick-revving 795cc engine we’ve loved from the get-go with the capabilities of a Pro-X suspension and the ride height of a Pro-S. It’s a powerhouse of a sled that stays planted and precise in the corners, PLUS it’s stout and capable through the heavy-hitter moguls. The Indy XCRs of the ’90s were a force on the trail and cross country tracks, and now Polaris is poised for another dominating run in the high performance trail segment. – Ross Halvorson, Associate Editor

Ski-Doo Summit X 850 165”
This sled really impressed me as a boondocker and all-around great mountain sled. The redesigned track and chassis made it perform in the deep like a longer 174, but with more power and better response to rider input. It stuck to a sidehill line with almost zero effort. The increase in HP definitely helped when turning out of a sidehill. For a short rider like myself, this was the easiest sled to ride with no shortage of … well, anything. – Ryan Thompson, Western Editor

Ski-Doo MXZ X 850
If you want the current fastest 2-stroke on the market, then this is what you buy. Do we really need to say much more than that? Well, it also corners super flat, takes stutter bumps with ease and is not much more expensive than last year’s top Ski-Doo trail sled.

■ RUNNER-UP: Polaris 800 Rush Pro-S
The Polaris Pro-S has found a sweet spot in the hearts of our test riding crew. This is the lightest 800 trail sled on the market, and it hugs the trails like an overemphatic mama badger. This is a sled both the wild ones and the mild ones can enjoy, and that is rare for a big 2-stroke machine.

Polaris 800 Switchback Assault
It’s here! No more waiting for the Assault to be in the AXYS chassis, and the wait was worth it! If journalists made the millions of dollars we all assume we are worth, we would be buying two of these crafty 2-strokes today. The new 800 motor, LED headlights, choice of tracks, new IGX 144 rear suspension, PowderTrac running boards and much more are all new for 2017 on this sled.

■ RUNNER-UP: Ski-Doo Renegade Backcountry X
No surprise here. The 146-inch Backcountry is one of our favorite crossover sleds and continues to be for 2017, despite the fact that not much is new. But that is a compliment to Ski-Doo in itself! When your 2016 machine was so good that it is still winning awards in 2017, you are doing something right.

Polaris 800 Pro-RMK 174 LE
This sled is very impressive in so many ways. The first thing you notice is the power, despite the longer track. It feels more silky than a 174. It stuck to a sidehill like glue and didn’t feel like it was going to wash out. It’s nimble for its length and easy to ride for such a long sled. Most impressive is how it kept going up in spots where you’d think it would trench out.

■ RUNNER-UP: Arctic Cat M 8000 Mountain Cat 162
This sled responds very well to rider input. It’s got impressive power with an engine that just seems to work. The Mountain Cat is effortless in deep powder, and holds a line no problem. Once you find that sweet spot, it has plenty of power to get you exactly where you want to go.

Arctic Cat Thundercat
If the name has you reminiscing about big-bored, arm-stretching muscle machines of 20-plus years ago, then you’re not too far off. This factory turbo-charged 998cc 4-stroker is an absolute trail devourer! We were more than a little surprised at the polite trail manners of this sled when it came to the corners. It’s tight and smooth through the twists, and the proven 137-inch ProCross chassis and Slide-Action suspension complete this confident rocket. And when you hit the straights, the Thundercat is downright nasty good!

■ RUNNER-UP: Yamwaha Sidewinder B-TX LE
This was the tightest award to call as Yamaha’s Sidewinder B-TX literally left us stunned at how confident it was in the trails. A sled of this length should NOT be nearly this effortless to trail ride, especially with an engine that’s pumping out 200+ ponies! Normally a sled like this beats you down hard in the trails and leaves you gassed, but not the B-TX. You can take this sled anywhere and be confident you’re going to have fun.

Polaris 600 Switchback Pro-S
Not long ago, it would have been hard to imagine a 137-inch sled winning a trail sled award. Yet, here we are calling the Switchback Pro-S the best 600cc trail offering of 2017. This sled can coax a smile out of nearly any rider. It’s a lightweight, easy-effort ride capable of carving a trail like a jack-o-lantern. The engine is silky smooth, yet powerful enough to still give you a rush when you really want to wick it up.

■ RUNNER-UP: Arctic Cat ZR 6000 El Tigre 137
Another lightweight, long-track trail sled, the 6000 El Tigre has a quick-revving engine that’s light on fuel and oil. The 137-inch track adds just that extra bit of smoothness to your ride over a 129, but it doesn’t sacrifice the sharp handling we love out of this sled.

Arctic Cat XF 9000 CrossTrek
Never before have we talked amongst ourselves about a combo of comfort and power as much as we talk about the 2017 XF 9000 Crosstrek. Our testers were seriously giddy. You’ll find tons of power from the 9000 series turbo engine. It’s paired with features like wind protection, mirrors, standard storage and a heated seat to get you places quickly and comfortably. It’s the kind of sled that begs to be ridden mile after mile on the coldest of days.  

■ RUNNER-UP: Ski-Doo Renegade Enduro 800R E-TEC
If you’ve got big miles to ride, it’s never a bad idea to sit atop Ski-Doo’s rMotion rear suspension. That, plus more niceties, including a heated seat on a 2-stroke, made the Renegade Enduro 800R a contender in this category. The razor-sharp handling and excellent performance from the 800R E-TEC engine make this sled a top choice for your next big mileage adventure.

Yamaha VK 540V
The VK 540V brings its updated 2-stroke back to North America in 2017, and it’s the most straight-up functional utility machine we’ve seen in a long time. Everything about the sled, from engine to storage compartments, is easily accessible. While you can cruise the trails comfortably at a decent pace, this sled never abandons the “working man” attitude it’s best known for. A larger fuel tank and a chassis that’s maneuverable in tight quarters make this an ideal ride for those who have things to get done way back in the bush!

■ RUNNER-UP: Ski-Doo Expedition Xtreme
Utility with attitude! The Expedition Xtreme is one of those sleds that’s fully capable of accomplishing the day’s chores, but it’s almost sinful to limit this sled to just that. With an 800cc engine and playful handling, it’s easy to get distracted from those tasks at hand … and that’s a good thing!

Arctic Cat Pantera 7000 XT Limited
If we're buying a 2-up machine, it will be a “family machine.” So why not buy a sled that literally the ENTIRE family can ride on? The XT Limited is a ProTour WT chassied sled, which means it is built for utility. It’s basically like a "family truckster tank" ... but one that is big, bad, black, and goes 90 mph! This thing is indestructible, and with a Yamaha 4-stroke fuel-injected motor in it, it will be trucking along for many years. Tough, comfy, warm and reliable – that’s what you want, and that’s what this is.

■ RUNNER-UP: Ski-Doo Grand Touring SE
They do touring like nowhere else in the world up in Quebec, Canada, and that is where this sled gets its roots. You could say it’s a machine with all of the luxuries of a five-star hotel. Consumers get their choice of two 4-stroke engines (130hp or 90hp), plus handlebar-button-controlled air suspension, a quiet SilentDrive track system, heated seats for both rider and passenger, passenger hand heaters and more. This is the Gold Wing of the snow.

Ski-Doo 850 E-TEC
Rotax and BRP continue to push past conventional 2-stroke boundaries. When you are competing with 4-strokes on emissions, sound, fuel efficiency and power – and often winning – you know you are going down the right path. Oh, and this motor is light, powerful, and downright fun to flog.

Yamaha 998cc Turbo
The most powerful and technologically advanced 4-stroke ever to be put in a snowmobile. To have it span over two OEMs’ lineups means that this engine is possibly more revolutionary than when Yamaha went strictly 4-stroke back in 2003 with the RX-1. Call it irresponsible, or not necessary, but we can’t deny the fun factor from this motor! Responsive, freaking fast, and smooth … this is a no-brainer.

Arctic Cat M 8000 Mountain Cat Dropped Driveshaft
It is simply physics: If you can get a flatter approach angle to the snow, you will get up and over it better. Your sled will “float” on the snow instead of trenching, and that is MOST important in the mountains. The new dropped driveshaft on the Mountain Cat is 1.125 inches lower than last year. There are also 8-tooth drivers moving that track around, so handling in the deep is much improved. This has been, and undoubtedly will continue to be studied for mountain sleds to come.

■ RUNNER-UP: Ski-Doo pDrive Primary Roller Clutch
Boasting 30% less rotating inertia than the former TRA clutch, this is a huge performance upgrade for Ski-Doo’s clutching. Also, new rollers instead of sliders mean quick, fluid reaction from this new clutch. Adjustable clickers, which we love, are also standard here. Check out our Tech Editor Olav Aaen’s first take on this clutch in our January 2016 issue.