Review of 2012 Renegade Backcountry 600 etec

[newfie09xtx]

My buddy and I were out yesterday and I decided to try his 600 etec out. Here are my thoughts...

Pros
-Love the seating position of the Renegade, I found the seat to be just the right height and you could stretch legs out for comfortable cruising. I also found the seat was more comfortable and was even a better height than my Nytro.
- While it isnt near the power of the Nytro I found that for a 600 it worked really good. When I first got on it I was thinking this thing is GUTLESS but then forced myself to stop comparing the motor to my Nytro and was quite surprised at how well the engine worked. Never had a chance to test top end.
-the SC5 suspension I loved! I very quickly realized I need to change my suspension on my nytro to try and make it better and more forgiving. I would love to try the r-motion if it is even better than the SC5.
-The lightness of the machine I liked although I had a hard time getting used to it after getting off my Nytro and used to the well planted feel that the nytro has.

Cons
-I hated the DS skis! My buddy says they are better in powder than the pilots but not so good on trail although he says you get used to them.I am running 6.9 pilots on my nytro and they dont even come close to comparing. Maybe he needs a more aggresive carbide but I felt really nervous and had one finger on the brake lever coming into a corner fast with these skis.
-The lightness made it feel almost less responsive for general handling of the sled. Not sure whether this was the DS skis or the weight of the sled. It just didn't have that well planted feel when going straight down the trail or when coming into a turn. The trails we were on were ROUGH and when you would come off a large bump on the trail I found the front of the machine got very loose as a result I was a bit nervous especially if I did not see the bump.
-the 600 motor just didn't have enough power for me. However, I found it is a very good working 600.

When we got back on our own machines, first thing my buddy said was 'I need a 800 my 600 doesn't have enough power!' He complained about the suspension being way to stiff and it was too heavy for his liking but he mentioned a couple times that he loved the motor in the Nytro. I found it funny that he asked later on to drive my Nytro again! I switched to try the Renegade in powder and really liked it with the Backcountry track and lightness of the machine.

I have to say that I was impressed with the Renegade and if yamaha doesn't come out with something different, when I am ready for my next machine I will be seriously looking into something other than yamaha. Probably an 800 Arctic Cat or 800 etec Renegade.

 

[kyleg]

i just drove a friends new 800 renegade backcountry x with the rmotion and wow that was amazing i took it across a drifted field and you didnt feel a thing made my nytro look silly. the seat as you said was very nice. power wise we are pretty close didnt do a full 1/4 mile but we were even he has the 2.25 track. a completely different feel of sled compared to my nytro will have see how it handles on the trails

 

[sorenson1610]

I have to say the handling and suspension makes our sleds look silly. Sad to say but its just how it is. Rode my buddies 800 etec with 121 r motion. That sleds will cruise across whooped out crap all day long, was very impressed with it. Motor, seating position and the rest of the sled not so impressive. Seating and bar position is really weird for me. Seats way too high and bars are really low. Motor is really not that fun, it hauls the mail but not exciting. Too electric like but smooth.

Put the skid in my nytro.......ski doo can keep the rest