Snowmobile Ski Doo 600 Summit SP 2022
The new 600cc engine in the G4 Summit chassis feels like it has a slightly larger cubic capacity. And no wonder, because their next engine, the 850 cc, was built using exactly the same technology, so we can say with confidence that the 600 is the younger brother of the 850. But small doesn't mean small, as the new 2022 Ski Doo 600 Summit SP, available in two sizes - 146- and 154-inches - is an interesting and quite powerful sled that is built on the same chassis as the 850cc.
We invited the Arctic Cat 2022 Alpha One Mountain Cat and the 2022 Polaris Pro-RMK 850 to one of our 800cc sled comparisons, and we really wanted to include the Ski Doo G4 Summit X 165 to compare it to the first two. And at the same time, we took the Ski Doo 600 Summit SP 2022 with us, like a younger brother who tagged along with his older brother to a party.
Make no mistake, the two 850cc sleds (the big Summit and Pro-RMK) and the 800cc sled (Alpha One) were a hell of a lot of fun. But the 600 cc Ski Doo G4 Summit SP, which turned out to be a “warm-up” for a more serious team, prepared the public to correctly perceive large devices.
First up in 2022 are the G4 Summit X and SP850. Then in 2018 Ski Doo released the G4 850 in Freeride and 175 configurations. But at various closed events we asked several times whether there would be a G4 Summit 600 or for example a 650 made on the same base as the 850? Every time we were told “Maybe” and “We are working on it” and “We need to do research on sales dynamics” and “We would not want to create just a low-power snowmobile for rental shops.”
All this is translated into ordinary human language as -Yes! One common large chassis and a range of engines of different cubic capacity. Wait and he will appear.
And he appeared.
The 600cc Ski Doo Summit SP 146 and 154 are identical in every aspect to the similarly sized 850cc Summit SP - the 850 SP features a PowderMax Lite track with three-inch lugs. When we said that the 600 is the youngest 850, we said it absolutely seriously. The E-TEC's liquid-cooled, direct-injection, two-stroke, 600cc engine is identical to the E-TEC 850 except for bore and stroke, and the 600 lacks intake booster injectors (which would be nice). Like the 850, it has eRAVE exhaust valves.
The cylinder diameter of the 600 is 72.3 mm, and the piston stroke is 73 mm. It spins up to a maximum of 8100 rpm, which is 200 more than the 850. Ski Doo claims the new 600 has 30% better throttle response than the previous 600. On the dyno, 125 horsepower was removed from this engine.
Several track options are available when purchasing the 600 SP: PowderMax II with FlexEdge technology and PowderMax Lite with FlexEdge technology. For PowderMax Lite, the toe height can be 2.5 inches or 3 inches. The best choice will likely be the PowderMax Lite with three-inch lugs. This 600cc baby spins the 16-inch high-hook track effortlessly.
Another good tip is to take the package with SHOT (Start Hot) - a capacitor electric start system, with which the first start of the day is carried out using a manual starter, and then during the day you can start the engine by pressing a button, while the weight of this system is significantly less than weight of a traditional electric starter.
The distance between the skis of the device is variable, a choice of 91 cm and 95 cm. The leading star for a length of 146 inches is eight-tooth, and for 154 inches it is six-tooth. The driving pulley is pDrive with clickers and the driven pulley is QRS.
The front suspension of the 600 is RAS 3 with HPG shock absorbers. The rear suspension is tMotion with HPG shock absorbers both front and rear. The rear suspension has 23.8 cm of travel and the slightly shorter front suspension has 21.6 cm of travel. The external spring HPG shock absorbers work excellently, absorbing bumps and keeping the skis firmly on the slope.
Let's turn to our test pilots and give you their thoughts on the 2022 Ski Doo 600 Summit SP.
Video
The equipment has successfully passed all stages of factory testing, and its reliability has been confirmed by ordinary users, as well as professionals and athletes. The snowmobile is designed for operation in harsh climatic zones; it is capable of moving on severe off-road conditions. Especially for this, the machine is equipped with a massive chassis. Despite its heavy weight and large dimensions, this snowmobile performs excellently on any road. This is facilitated by the revolutionary tMotion rear suspension with a modern control arm design that is reinforced with articulated joints. The lower part of the suspension, if necessary, tilts two degrees in different directions, in the horizontal direction. In other words, the tilt occurs during sharp maneuvering. In this case, the lateral steering/suspension shift function is activated so that the snowmobile is more willing to corner. To increase directional stability on uneven and slippery roads, the snowmobile was equipped with a special Powder Max II track. Its peculiarity lies in its record lug lug, which is 63 mm. At the same time, we will also add a slip suspension and support rollers, which had to be shifted from the edges to the central part. This arrangement was not chosen by chance, because thanks to it the edge of the track bends when the snowmobile is tilted. The edge of the track does not have stiffeners as standard, but this technology (called Flex-Edge) can be ordered as an option. This technology is especially useful when driving on serious off-road conditions.
Among other features of the chassis of the BRP Skido 800 snowmobile, let us pay attention to its rear part, namely the tracks. They are a massive structure, protruding far back. Because of this, the length of the vehicle increases significantly, but at the same time the cross-country ability significantly increases. The width of the tracks is 410 mm, and the length of the transverse stiffeners reaches 310 mm. For comparison, for conventional tracks this indicator extends across the entire width of the tracks. In this regard, the snowmobile in question looks preferable, and thanks to this length, the deformable zone on each edge of the track does not exceed 50 mm in width. In other words, this feature allows for quick maneuvers, and the machine is able to turn with the ease of a “high-track” snowmobile, without losing the benefits of a wide track. This effect is achieved on any surface - in a deep snowdrift, or on a knurled, flat road. The front chassis, in turn, includes traditional double A-arms, complemented by proprietary HPG Plus shock absorbers with 200 mm of travel.
The ski track width reaches 950 mm, but this figure can be adjusted downward, depending on the characteristics of the road surface. In addition, the developers have ensured ease of movement along steep mountainous terrain and slopes - for this purpose, special teeth are built into the upper suspension arms, thanks to which the driver’s feet cannot slip at the most inopportune moment.
Ski Doo 600 Summit SP Reviews
First review:
I'd describe it as "amazing" - it's surprisingly powerful and responsive. Like its older brother, the engine runs smoothly and pulls great from the bottom. I’m not at all sure that you can blindly tell whether you’re driving a 600 or an 850.
The 600's specification states that its engine produces 125 horsepower. But compared to the 125 horsepower sleds of yesteryear, such as the 700cc sleds, the new 600 is superior in every way.
The 600cc engine pairs well with the G-4 chassis. The sled we were riding was 146 inches long and it handled great. I think it would behave the same in any conditions, with the exception of the most difficult ones such as the deepest snow and the longest climbs. Overall, this is a great snowmobile for those who want to save a little money while still getting a traditionally reliable 600cc machine.
Second review:
There was no shortage of new products in our comparison. But one device especially caught my attention - this is a 600 cc snowmobile based on the 850 cc machine with E-TEC released a couple of years ago, which includes all the same technologies, but in a slightly smaller cubic capacity.
In winter we test many different models, and among the 800 cc class there are sometimes 600s. Interestingly, there is a particularly high demand for 600s among our testers, and I won’t speak for everyone, but I personally have a thing for them.
Yes, the 600 is no 800 or 850, and there will be times when you'll find yourself a little short on traction on long, steep runs, but other than that, the 600 is pure fun.
I noticed earlier that when I ride at 600cc, I lean a little harder and steer a little sharper than at 800/850cc. Therefore, on paper the 850 Rotax may have more horses, but on the snow the 600 is almost more fun than the 850.
At first I limited myself, knowing that I was riding a 600. However, I soon gained confidence in the Summit SP 600 and rode harder... and was not disappointed.
I believe that the 600 is enough for most mountain riding enthusiasts, and specifically the Ski Doo Summit 600 is something you should definitely take a close look at when choosing a snowmobile.
New in blogs
Pros and Cons of the New BRP SUMMIT X T3 174 800R E-TEC The BRP Summit X T3 174 800R E-TEC is a modern snowmobile equipped with a 16-inch wide PowderMax3 track. This is a fundamentally new representative of the company’s model range. The BRP SUMMIT X T3 is the ideal mountain snowmobile, as it boasts a fairly long wheelbase, high track lugs, and comfortable footpegs. Painting the tunnel provides excellent protection against ice freezing, which reduces the likelihood of weight gain on the snowmobile. The new T3 Summit X has a modern RAS 2 front suspension, the forged spindles of which have increased in length by 12 mm. Also, the company’s specialists were able to reduce the weight of these elements, compared to similar parts on the predecessor Summit X. In order to reduce the weight of the snowmobile, engineers also used gear-type wheels and a modernized muffler. According to official data, although the length of the snowmobile's track has increased, its weight does not differ from previously released models. The BRP Summit X T3 174 800R E-TEC received an 800 cc 2-cylinder Rotax power unit. This is a truly great engine that produces 150 horsepower. The rear of the sled features tMotion suspension and a new FlexEdge track design. The unique track received 76 mm flanges. In addition, it is worth noting the use of exclusive drive gears equipped with 7 teeth. It is noteworthy that conceptual versions of the T3 Summit X model began to be tested in mountain conditions immediately after the XM Summit X snowmobiles entered the market. Company representatives report that the new product has passed all the necessary tests, and there is no reason to doubt it. The Summit X T3 174 easily handles waist-deep snow on mountain slopes. During the test drive, the driver was able to go down very dynamically and quickly turn around. Then he began to move up the mountain slope. One gets the impression that the device is located on well-packed snow. True, during 180-degree turns, one ski often plunged into the snow, which led to the car stopping. This is one of the shortcomings of the Pilot DS 3. Buyers of the new snowmobile will be offered an exclusive ski tip, the installation of which will help make the front end wider. This solution will significantly simplify the operation of the model in very deep snow. Most likely, this small addition will solve the aforementioned difficulty with diving into soft snow. But driving a snowmobile on compacted snow is not very easy. Still, the 174 T3 likes deep snow better. Moving across a mountain slope and jumping turned out to be quite a difficult task, which cannot be said about other mountain models that have a shorter wheelbase. At first, the track with large ridges did not inspire confidence. Many similar tracks from other developers left rather mixed impressions. To use such a high track it is necessary to use smaller idler wheels. Working with other gears leads to adjustments in gear ratios. Otherwise, the disadvantages of this track will be much greater than the advantages. Installing a longer chain guard and repositioning the front drive wheel dispelled our doubts. Although the wheel size was reduced, the use of a longer casing and angles provided good performance. It is immediately noticeable that the distance between the track and the heat exchanger in the front part is quite enough. The new T3 Summit can confidently be called a revolutionary in the class of mountain snowmobiles. This is actually a high-quality and well-thought-out model, and this applies to both the engine and the track. The most serious difficulty that awaited us during the test drive was the incomprehensible behavior of the Pilot DS 3 skis. The snowmobile periodically plunged into the snow during 180-degree turns, which led to sudden stops. It is possible that the cause was snow, so this opinion may be subjective.
Reviews
- Leonid, St. Petersburg. The Summit 800 model pleased with its lively 150-horsepower engine, which allows you to unleash the full potential of the snowmobile, and its sports chassis. The handling and dynamics are in perfect order, but I can’t say the same about reliability. Since the load falls mainly on the chassis, it causes the most trouble. I already had to change the tracks once (complete set assembled). Skis are quite fragile and don’t last long – they crack in the cold. Alternatively, you can install more durable skis, but they are very expensive. The car already cost me more than a million rubles, and at the same time it still annoys me with problems. There is a shortage of spare parts; they are not always in stock; they must be ordered. Looking at the secondary market is not an option; there are only parts from old domestic cars. And yet, I am not going to sell the snowmobile, because for the sake of such controllability I am ready to put up with a capricious suspension. In such a car it is better to drive on smooth and well-worn roads - in such conditions I get more pleasure from driving than off-road.
- Nail, Sakhalin region. A decent snowmobile for professional needs, for fishing and hunting. The car drives well on flat and icy roads - for example, on a frozen lake. Off-road is a little more difficult, since here you have to be more careful so as not to bump into a stone or crash into a tree. In general, I try to stay away from the wilderness, since I do not have professional management skills. This is my first snowmobile, and I have been using it for six months, and during this time there has not been a single breakdown. I liked the comfortable driver's seat that doesn't slip. If necessary, you can ride together, fortunately there is also a rear passenger backrest for this purpose. There are also heated grips for me and the passenger, so frostbite has not been a problem yet. Fuel consumption is perhaps the only drawback. The car is quite powerful, and therefore consumes more than 25 liters per 100 km. In addition, you need to buy high-quality gasoline, preferably AI-95. Due to the small fuel tank, you have to carry a canister with you if you travel long distances.
- Igor, Leningrad region. I have been using this machine for about a year, and this was enough for me to study all the pros and cons of the BRP Skido Summit 800 snowmobile. First of all, I will note the well-thought-out ergonomics - the instruments are easy to read and do not glare in the sun thanks to the massive visor, and the high windshield prevents snow from entering , and the headwind doesn’t hit you in the face. But for safety reasons, you still need to wear a helmet, especially if you drive very fast - after all, this device is designed for active driving. And here the car pleased me - the maximum speed of more than 100 km/h is picked up quite quickly, and such intense acceleration seems to shake out the whole soul. If you push hard, then the engine makes a lot of noise, and the vibrations from it are noticeably transferred to the steering column. Such shaking is sometimes annoying, and you have to slow down. Although you can be patient for the sake of getting a dose of adrenaline. The car as a whole consumes little fuel when compared with similar engines of the same power. And the engine is demanding on the quality of gasoline; it must be filled with 95-grade fuel. The build quality is excellent, like other branded snowmobiles like Yamaha. The car did not disappoint at all in terms of reliability. It is fast and at the same time practical. I will recommend her to my friends.
