“You can have this sled back when you pry it from my cold dead hands.”
That is basically what AmSnow's Associate Editor Ross Halvorson said during our first ride of the season on the Pro-S. When it comes down to it, trail riders want what we’ll call "the 3 Cs": comfort, control, and corner-to-corner acceleration. The 2016 Polaris Switchback 600 Pro-S affirmatively ticks all those boxes.
What’s that you say? A crossover? Only in Polaris marketing materials is the 600 Switchback Pro-S classified as a crossover. Sure, it does have the capability to do more than the shorter Rush, but make no mistake: the natural habitat for this snowmobile is the groomed trail … and it absolutely shines there.
Through hundreds of miles of riding the North Woods during our annual Real World testing, the 600 Switchback more than held its own with the big 800s through the trails. Its handling was light, the pop from the stout Liberty 600 was playful, and the suspension surprised us with how capable it was in rough terrain. It only lost out to the 8s in the lake sprints, and the more performance-minded suspensions in the big moguls.
Polaris should be very proud of this offering, as it is sure to put a smile under the helmets of a wide variety of riders.
Takeaways
- The 600 engine is quick enough to keep up with the 800s in twisting, groomed trails.
- Suspension is sufficient for probably 90% of riders, but will bottom out when pushed at pace through the very, very rough stuff.
- Ergos are great, but you’ll want to add storage of some sort.
You’ll find a full review of the 2016 Polaris 600 Switchback Pro-S in an upcoming issue of American Snowmobiler magazine, including Real World stats like gas mileage, top speed and other riding impressions. Subscribe online today!