2019 Polaris® Rush® for sale in Five Star Motorsports, Chilliwack, British Columbia

2010 Polaris® 600 Rush® Review

2011 Polaris® 600 Rush® for sale in Five Star Motorsports, Chilliwack, British Columbia

by Pascal Bastien / moto123.com

03/05/2010

The new 600 Rush® is rewriting the rules in terms of what we find normal on a snowmobile, with its unconventional and surprising style as well as its remarkable long-travel suspension system. The Rush® is obviously designed to relaunch Polaris® and break new ground.

Revolutionary Chassis and Rear Suspension

Polaris® has created the all-new Pro-Ride chassis for the Rush®, giving it 360mm of rear suspension travel, far more than the norm on this type of machine. At the rear, the new Pro-Ride fully independent suspension uses a spring/damper unit at the rear of the track, featuring links to produce a rising rate spring effect, just like on off-road motorcycles.

The more traditional front suspension has been optimized in terms of better managing roll and to maintain optimal bite at the front and traction at the rear under power.

Less complex than the traditional track suspension that provides continuous springing along the length of the track, the new rear Pro-Ride suspension design reduces the number of springs and idler wheels as well as the weight and rolling resistance of the assembly. The Rush® is thus more fuel-efficient, less polluting and quicker. What's more, the setup also reduces vibrations and noise.

The Rider Can Adjust the Suspension in Several Ways

Rear compression and rebound damping, depending on the smoothness of the surface, to maintain the best possible contact with the trail times through the entire range of the rear suspension's long travel.
In addition to its futuristic rear suspension, the 600 Rush® chassis is bolted together rather than welded, with easily removable struts that allow easier access to the engine for maintenance purposes.
Front-to-rear weight distribution in order to improve rideability or control in corners.

A More Efficient Engine

This new purebred sled is powered by the latest evolution of their twin-cylinder Cleanfire2, a 600-cc, two-stroke engine that kicks out 120 very impressive ponies. Introduced in 2009 on the IQs, this little marvel of smoothness now offers throttle response worthy of the best engines on the market thanks to this year's improved injection system.

The Rush® calls on the excellent P2 CVT tranny as on most Polaris® models. The ultra-efficient P2 contributes to great throttle response, while the RipSaw track with 1.25-inch spikes helps the machine claw through the worse trail conditions.

Race Ergonomics

The new rack-and-pinion steering reduces steering effort and increases precision. It gets even better with nice high handlebars and seat, the almost vertical steering column, the wide running boards and narrow cockpit at knee level. This configuration works together to facilitate sportier driving, à la Snocross.

Polaris® added a stopwatch function on the digital dash for track days, and the smallish standard windshield can be replaced by a slightly taller one featuring hand guards for a little more comfort.

For the Trail Chargers

As it does on other Polaris® models, the little two-stroke remains surprisingly and delightfully vivacious. Its mid-rpm torque amazes, making it feel like a much bigger engine. The brake system is equally impressive, with power, fade resistance and smoothness among the best in the industry.

The high and forward riding position, similar to that of a sport ATV, and the sled's agility require more active rider participation to take full advantage of the Rush®, as you don't steer just with the handlebars but with your entire body. Serious trail rider will be delighted to see how well the Pro-Ride chassis is in tune with the driver and responds nearly instinctively to weight transfers entering cornering.

Do take the time, however, to adjust the suspensions according to your needs, and do get used to the new riding position and the effects of weight transfers before you attack the trails.

Sitting higher up and in less of a crouch, the rider can quickly and easily stand up to absorb bumps or prepare for a jump. What's more, this position proves more comfortable as it doesn't tax any part of the body, offering an alternative to riders with weak knees or backs, even those who don't feel the need or the desire to enter the next Valcourt Snocross event.

The new 600 Rush® offers an avalanche of innovative features and thrills in an original package. This model represents a very promising debut for the Pro-Ride chassis, one that we definitely want to see evolve and underpin other models for 2011.