The year 2021 may mark a notable turn by Ski-Doo in two very interesting aspects for the new season. When you look at a 2021 BRP model like the ski-doo Renegade XRS 900 ACE turbo, everything looks relatively identical to the 2020 versions. Well, sit back and enjoy the next few paragraphs, because there are some nice surprises in store for you…
For several years, many BRP snowmobile consumers have been complaining about the lack of grip when turning and the swaying of the skis. Many added products from independent manufacturers to solve the problem. Not only did Ski-Doo bring several fixes, but also the possibility to go back to a suspension configuration similar to the one in 2020… Bravo!
Pilote X and TX skis
To improve the grip on the ground in turns, BRP’s designers present two new skis for the 2021 season: the Pilot X and TX. These new skis offer a very modern look with a more aggressive and futuristic look, but the most interesting point is without a doubt their efficiency!
I was one of those who kept asking the company executives to produce a more aggressive steering system that would prevent the driver from having to compromise between more aggressive driving and softer steering in the corners.
The 2021 really marks the return of the elevator with a much more aggressive twin-keel ski, which substantially improves grip and glide. The base of the Pilot X is slightly more aggressive than the TX version with the adjustable blade. However, you can achieve almost the same level of grip by adjusting the rail on the TX version.
Front suspension RAS X
The addition of more aggressive skis can cause the ski to lift on the inside during aggressive turns. To address this issue, engineers opted to widen the skis. The new RAS X is wider for better stability with 10 millimeters more travel. The overall width is now 47.9 inches!
rMotion X rear suspension
Although it looks very similar to the rMotion version on the 2020 models, there is a whole world between the two suspensions… This new suspension offers two adjustment possibilities offering the same adjustments as the previous years with a lot of weight transfer or a much more progressive adjustment of the latter, which completely changes the behavior of the snowmobile.
Progressive weight transfer is the time it takes for the suspension to drop from the rear under acceleration, causing the front of the snowmobile to lift. The rMotion X adjusted to a more progressive position keeps the skis on the ground when exiting a turn or accelerating. In fact, this reaction of the rear suspension brings a clear improvement of the stability in turns, and keeps the skis on the ground at all times. And it’s not just theory, the desired effect is almost magical in the trail, the combination of the more aggressive skis, the wider spread and the rMotion X makes this bike much more efficient in aggressive driving.
After a few kilometers of getting used to this new technology, you can quickly see the benefits of these improvements. It is possible to attack a turn much more aggressively and keep your line of the curve, without fighting with unwanted reactions. When you push the throttle on the exit of a turn, the skis maintain their grip on the ground for a much more predictable and efficient ride.
In the past, you had to compromise on comfort to get this kind of response, those who like to have their skis nailed to the ground will usually turn the weight transfer adjustment blocks (red blocks) to position 3 or 4, decreasing the transfer effect, but at the same time increasing the stiffness of the suspension. But with the rMotion X, it’s quite different. We tested the Renegade XRS on the trails of Montana with the transfer blocks adjusted to position 1, the position that allows the most weight transfer! And the results were way beyond our expectations! Turn after turn, I pushed the XRS harder with more surprising results each time!
For those who like to ride aggressively on the trail, the Renegade XRS 900 ACE Turbo is the best Ski-Doo snowmobile I’ve ridden in my 20-year career as a journalist in the snowmobile world!
Interaction with the pilot
Tested for a few years now on other BRP products, 2021 marks the arrival of the new display types; a 7.2-inch wide monochrome digital version or the 7.8-inch wide color LCD panoramic display. While the monochrome version is very effective, our test model was equipped with the color LCD version that allows the use of the BRP GO system, which can also be used on smartphones. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity to test the smart app, as it wasn’t yet available at last winter’s event.
The color LCD version adds another layer to the driving experience. The new dial is pleasing to the eye and delivers the goods. It features an intelligent display that adjusts to ambient light and is specially designed to reduce light glare. The system is Bluetooth-enabled and allows for full interaction with your smartphone. You can receive calls or listen to music, etc. The application also allows the display of an interactive map linked to your smartphone and the BRP GO application. The Intuitive Rotary Control has also been well thought out, the engineers opted for a large button that is easily accessible and usable with gloves, allowing it to be used safely and intuitively by the driver.
The Renegade XRS 900 Turbo 2021, was a unanimous winner in our tests, a much more stable and predictable snowmobile than the models of previous years. And all these additions were made without any compromise to comfort. Of course, the XRS version is more extreme in itself and has stiffer suspension adjustments, but its handling on the trail is remarkable with these new additions!
