2017 Ski-Doo Renegade Adrenaline 850 E-TEC. What could be more exciting than going out and riding a new ride for the very first time? But when it’s a brand new model including a new engine, chassis, suspension and front steering, WOW and more than WOW!!!
Centralization of the masses!
The 2017 Renegade Adrenaline 850 E-TEC is a completely redesigned snowmobile, new chassis, new front suspension and of course the all new 850 E-TEC engine. Always with the goal of making a powerful and light snowmobile, BRP engineers also focused on better mass centralization, especially by worrying about the left-right weight balance of the snowmobile. For this reason, the chassis was developed in parallel with the engine to achieve an almost 50/50 balance from one side to the other. To achieve this, the engine was moved 57 mm to the right, the engine is 40 mm narrower than the 800, and the drive unit, including clutch and silencer, is 105 mm narrower.
Weight is also part of the equation, the aluminum front suspension module is stronger with a 1.4 lbs reduction. On the front suspension side, the new RAS 3, retains the same geometry as the second version, but adapted and improved for the new chassis. Lighter by 0.7 pounds, it offers a one-inch longer travel on the MXZ and Renegade, and 0.8 inch on the Summit versions.
165 horses!
Impossible not to mention it, more powerful yes, but it is not the only asset of the new 850 E-TEC… Several technologies were used to produce an engine with a longer life, a durability comparable to a four-stroke engine. On the piston side, the engineers were inspired by the Diesel engine with a steel ring that offers a better resistance to pressure than aluminum. The retaining rings (C-Clip) are now made of cast iron.
The connecting rods are attached to the crankshaft with bolts like on a 4-stroke engine, with oil supply directly to the bearings. This new concept allows the use of a two-section crankshaft instead of the three-section crankshaft of the 800 R.
The magneto is also more powerful and lighter than on the 800 with 25 amps at idle and 30 in motion compared to 15 and 25 on the 800. The starter has not escaped the change, fixed on the crankcase (base of the engine), it operates the starter ring which is integrated to the flywheel, and not fixed to the clutch pulley as before. The battery has also been relocated to the back of the seat for a significant recovery of space under the passenger compartment, and to allow it to be centered on the snowmobile!
Although it develops 10 more horsepower, the main point of improvement lies in the engine’s speed of response. To achieve this, the engine’s intake throttles were moved 35% closer to the cylinder, two return injectors were added to the throttles for increased speed of response at mid and high rpm, and the 30% improvement in response was completed with exhaust valves that are 3 times faster in opening and closing than the 800 E-TEC.
pDrive!
Even with so many new features, BRP didn’t stop there, we had to be able to transmit the power to the track, we are entering the pDrive era! This new pulley uses the same operating principle as the eDrive versions used on the four-strokes, i.e. a mobile ramp that moves on a fixed roller, unlike the TRA, which used mobile rollers on a fixed ramp. To reduce inertia by 30%, frictionless rollers are used instead of slides, for a much faster response. Its open design limits dust accumulation, and a very interesting factor is its weight, nothing less than 2.8 pounds lighter than the TRA!
REV 4th generation!
Ergonomics and riding position have been completely redesigned. The new fourth generation REV chassis is narrower and more compact, making it easier to move around the snowmobile. The tunnel is beveled and narrower near the seat to improve leg angle when standing. The new Ergostep side panels add another dimension to the riding position, their narrower shape allowing the rider to step forward and out during aggressive cornering. BRP also thought about those who are a little more aggressive, in a very inclined position, the outside foot tends to turn outwards, that’s why we eliminated the sides of the foot grips, but kept the upper part in order to grip firmly… You should have thought of that!!!
Another major change on the fourth generation REV is a completely redesigned heat exchanger that is molded into the chassis. Superior cooling capacity over traditional finned heat exchangers we’re told. Front tunnel guards are standard.
With all these changes, the oil tank has also undergone major changes. Don’t look for it on the exhaust side anymore, it is now located on the other side just in front of the clutches. It’s much easier to access, and also has a much improved seal between the cap and the tank. The O-Ring, located on the cap, is better harmonized with the tank, and a stop point has been added in the tank to avoid over tightening the cap. Very nice improvement!
The Adrenaline version is for the trail enthusiast, the choice of HPG shocks gives it a notion of comfort for long rides. We find a 137 inch Ripsaw track with 1.25 inch studs with the very comfortable rMotion in the 137 inch version at the rear.
My first kilometers!
Some of you have probably experienced something like this, you know when you are only a few feet away from loading it into the trailer and you think: ayoye! I love the feeling!!! Well, that’s exactly what I felt… It’s very surprising to see how fast the throttle response is, you can feel how easy it is for the powertrain to move the car forward. Nothing feels forced, no smoke, no hesitation… It was very promising!!!
Here we are at the first kilometer, and it is always the same feeling that comes back, everything seems easy! The combination of the 850 with the new pDrive pulley works like a charm! The “pull” is really impressive and powerful, especially at low revs, my experience of the last three years on 800’s leads me to say that yes there are a few more horses, but especially more torque pounds at low revs! It really feels like a direct connection between the track and the thumb!!!
From a chassis point of view, you feel very comfortable when you get on the sled, the position is pleasant and comfortable. However, after a few kilometers, I quickly noticed that the manufacturer’s adjustments allowed too much transfer for my riding style, the skis were constantly leaving the ground during acceleration which made the snowmobile unpredictable and unstable in turns, as they say, it lacked ski… But after adjusting the transfer blocks, from position 1 to third and even fourth depending on the conditions, it was a whole different snowmobile!!!
This simple little change allowed me to see all the benefits of the new riding ergonomics. Quite honestly, this is the best snowmobile I have ridden at BRP!!! With an adjusted weight transfer, the skis stay closer to the ground, the snowmobile is much more predictable and stable. Acceleration out of turns is much more stable and efficient, in short, I was pleasantly surprised! Contrary to the XS chassis and the RAS 2, the new chassis offers a better ground clearance for the skis without increasing the driving effort as on the previous models. A better ground clearance means a faster steering reaction, a more precise driving with less effort… I still note a small downside in terms of the swerving of the skis 5.7 pilots, but less obvious than its predecessor …
And what about the riding position when riding more aggressively, the new ErgoSteps panels allow me to keep my weight closer to the snowmobile, but more towards the front which increases the weight on the inside ski when turning, thus increasing the grip of the skis. After a few kilometers, I learned to use the foot hold to hold myself in the counterweight position, once I found the right position, it is very efficient and safer. As far as the seat is concerned, when there are several kilometers to ride, I believe that there could be some improvement in the comfort of the seat for the Adrenaline model at least! In terms of fuel consumption, there is very little, if any, difference with the 800 E-TEC! I compare myself at the pump with the same riding partner of the last three years, who still owns the same snowmobile! More exact figures to follow in the next few writings, but I can confirm that the manufacturer is quite right in saying that it is similar!
In closing, I would like to say that this article was written after 1200 kilometers of riding and it is only a first lap combined with a more complete analysis of the new snowmobile. I can already say that this is a favorite for me and that this machine already makes me smile in my helmet!
A huge thank you to our partner, Lapointe Sports, BRP dealer in Joliette, who made this test possible!
I look forward to seeing you on the trails and continue to send me your comments, it’s always a pleasure for me to talk about snowmobiles with you, because after all I am like you, a passionate person! See you soon!
Your eyes, your ears, friendly, BOBE!!!
