Polaris Reinvents the “Race Replica”

Give Polaris’ engineers some serious credit when it comes to the all-new 600RR. As a “Race Replica,” hence the RR designation, this sports snowmobile is much more than a rough-riding, just-off-the-track, detuned snocross racer. It is actually (drum roll, please) an excellent all-day rider for the big bumps.

In this look at the Polaris IQ skeleton, you can see the lowered engine placement designed to enhance handling prowess.

Polaris Understands the Reality

Polaris succeeds where many others have failed. Transitioning a racer to the trails is no easy task. Just because a snowmobiler says he would like a snowmobile like the machines winning at snocross—and Polaris does win at snocross!—doesn’t mean he really wants a snocrosser. Snocross racers are not designed for the trails; they are designed to make a few laps over a ridiculously brutal, big-bump racecourse at top speed. Then, between heat races, their suspensions are frequently put back together for the next round. That is not the life of a trail snowmobile, which is most likely fired up Friday night to be put on a trailer, hauled to snow country and ridden for eight to 10 hours on Saturday, then reloaded onto the trailer for Sunday’s drive back home. There is no time in this real-world schedule for a rebuild, and no active snowmobiler will tolerate a dealership teardown if it keeps him off the trail. The people behind Polaris’ engineering understand this reality and have created a nifty fantasy racer that suits this real-world lifestyle.

Walker Evans piggyback shocks smooth the big-bump hits with the 600RR.

Win-on-Sunday Looks

The 600RR looks like the snowmobile that wins on Sunday at some of the toughest snocross tracks in the snow world. Right away the 600RR rider is different, uniquely set apart from his buddies aboard their tamer Polaris Dragons. The RR stands broad-shouldered thanks to its racer stance and IQ Race suspension. The nose is squat, pushed back like a fighter, and there’s no bumper cushion. This is a tough snowmobile—an ultimate fighter among trail-bred sports snowmobiles. Designed to be light, weighing in at 475 pounds, there’s little fat on this big-bump model. The Walker Evans shocks are aluminum with an internal floating piston and 16 settings for personal tuning preference. The piggyback reservoir suggests performance as it’s mounted to maximize cooling and keep the shock’s action consistent. Nearly 12 inches of action absorb everything from stutter bumps to suspension-soaking moguls. This snowmobile makes a statement about the rider, and that’s why he owns this limited-build mount: To make a statement about himself as a snowmobiler.

The 600RR “cockpit” is all business, with controls placed specifically for riding the moguls.

600RR Riders Are Different

Polaris engineers recognized that 600RR riders would be different. They would demand performance, and yet, they would expect a certain civility that a Dragon rider would have. That’s why Polaris designers carefully constructed this model to look tough but handle easy. The rear suspension, though based on the snocross parallel slide design, is designed for the trail. Racers hit hard every lap. Trail riders, even the most aggressive, encounter far fewer big bumps but more moderate moguls, like those found at the end of a long day when the trails have been pounded and rutted rough by hundreds of all types of riders. The 600RR excels on these. The long travel and control of the Walker Evans shocks dampens the bumps and makes quick speed easy. The rear suspension’s nearly 14 inches of travel smoothes the ride.

The 600RR is a wonderful blend of racer and sports snowmobile that shoots straight to the top of its class.

Controlled Handling

What we liked was the control we found in the 600RR. The steering geometry is based on the snocross racers’ design and is quick and positive. Combined with the race-ready cockpit, we found the snowmobile easy to handle. Even for an aging rider, the 600RR was a joy on the bumps. You find yourself hunting big-bruiser moguls, the kind you typically avoid when test riding a two-up cruiser. The footboards are wide and offer a stable platform when hunting moguls. The seat is firm, but not overly so. The handlebars are mounted upright and seem nearly perfectly placed for mogul thumping. You can rise up, maneuver the bars and flex your body to anticipate the terrain. The throttle to the twin TM-38mm carbs is light enough to burp the Liberty twin through a series of ruts and quick enough to immediately get the 600cc twin’s power to peak as you crest a berm. Even the white-faced tachometer aims skyward, so you can read it while standing as you run through the moguls. The 600RR cockpit is all about control, giving you the best feel when riding hard. Footboard positioning is excellent; handlebar position and feel are first-rate; hydraulic brake action is quick and precise. Of course, you expect that from Polaris as they have been using hydraulic brakes longer than anyone: They invented the liquid-cooled brake for racing and high-performance sports snowmobiles!

Exceeds Expectations

The 600RR exceeded our expectations. Yes, we felt it would be good in the moguls. But we figured it would be like every other race replica we’ve encountered in our four decades of test riding new snowmobiles. Like all other replica snowmobiles, we figured the 600RR would be one of two things: A brutally-rough-right-from-the-track racer or a trail snowmobile decorated with stickers and graphics to look like a race snowmobile. Thankfully, the 600RR is unique.

The ride is supple with great flex and wonderful control. The steering is razor-quick, like a racer. The seat is above average in how it’s positioned and formed, which makes for increased ride control in the rough. The cockpit is easily one of the 600RR’s best features. The seat height combined with the well-positioned footboards get the rider upright in a hurry to react to bumps. The handlebars are stationed perfectly to complement the rider position, and the front end balances the rear suspension for excellent bump control.

Polaris engineering creates a new standard in race replica sleds in its limited build 600RR.

Polaris’ “Can Do” Engineering

Now then, add in the 120-horsepower, Polaris-built Liberty two-stroke twin, with its digital ignition and power-tuned exhaust system, and you have a sled that sets a new standard for race replicas. Smooth power combines with excellent handling. With this snowmobile, you’ll want to ride ahead of the groomer and take the trails the groomer won’t hit until next week! In Indy Red with black accents and Polaris’ proven know how, this snowmobile is a keeper.

Based on what we see in the Polaris 600RR, we have to say the Fusion 900 appears to have been a big hiccup that is now solidly past the Polaris snowmobile engineering department. The 600RR is a well-conceived sports snowmobile that showcases Polaris’ “can do” engineering. This snowmobile is a winner.