I got to ride the new Summit Rev XP some on Thursday in Grand Lake and then quite a bit yesterday at Rabbit Ears.

The first priority of the new sled was lighter weight. The new Summits are about 52-54 pounds lighter than the comparable 2007s. They currently have the Everest (formerly Adrenaline) 154 on the web listed at 439 pounds. the X models should be under 430 pounds. In spite of being lighter, the new chassis is actually 37% stronger in flexion and 21% stronger in torsion. There was extensive testing on the new frame and it uses a combination of larger thin wall tubing and cast pieces to achieve the strength without the weight. The engine is also mounted differently and is now a stressed member of the chassis, which contributes to the overall strength of the vehicle. On the new chassis, both the flying nunn and the engine mount can be changed seperately from the tunnel assembly, meaning if folks do hit something, it'll be easier to fix the sleds. Here are the weight savings by system:
Chassis 14
Front Suspension 6
Rear Suspension 9
Steering 5
Track 6
Driveline 8
Body, Seat 6

The second priority was to make the seating position less "folded up" like a Rev. The new sled is very roomy because the jackshaft goes over the tunnel, thereby making it possible to sit with your feet much further forward.

There are some pretty neat upgrades throughout the sled.
* The seat has a quick release and pops off the tank where it's mounting with no brackets, bolts, etc.
* The airbox also can be removed much like an RT airbox with quick release tabs and rubber straps.
* The ECM is mounted further inside the chassis on the oil tank away from as much heat or snow/moisture.
* The rear suspension has 8" rear wheels.
* All the suspension wheels are a new style and lighter.
* The rear torsion springs are updated and lighter.
* The driven clutch is all new and the fixed sheeve is pressed on the jackshaft.
* The jackshaft goes over the tunnel, thereby making the rider position much more open since the clutch is not down there.
* The brake is now on the drive shaft on the left side of the sled.
* The new chaincase is all new, much longer, and magnesium.
* The speed sensor is a hall effect type mounted in the chaincase cover.
* The drive clutch will has upgraded sheeve bushings and rollers - uses the same 166 belt.
* Side panels clip on and off without aluminum clips.
* The new gauge is really nice with analog tach and speedometer along with multiple digital functions.
* The new driveshaft is hydorformed (similar to Polaris) and only needs two sprockets since they can't spin.
* The new tracks are 2.86" pitch.
* The protos have Challenger Lite tracks but the default track next year will be the Powdermax (Adrenaline style)
(I told Ski-Doo I wouldn't order a sled with a Challenger Lite on it)

The easiest way to describe riding the Rev XP is to say that it's like riding a Rev that has been on a serious diet. We switched back and forth between the '07s and the '08s yesterday quite a bit and it's really not like riding a different sled, like you'd feel switching from a ZX to a Rev or an Escape to an IQ. You do notice the weight loss on the sled quite a bit, especially in rough terrain, when you have the sled tipped up on one side, and in the air. The sled is easier to tip over because of the lighter weight, but it's still more centered and less floppy than the Polaris or Cat. We rode both with and without the sway bar yesterday and removing it does what you'd expect. I think in deeper snow having the bar out would be my preference. Yesterday the snow was pretty hard, so you ended up riding with the chassis flat more than on one ski and in those conditions, I think the bar made it more predictable. The cool part is that there will be an accessory that allows the bar to be connected or disconnected in seconds. If you really like the Rev, the XP is better and easier to ride but still feels very much like a Summit. If you're looking for that really floppy, easy to tip feel, the Polaris or Cat will still be a better choice. If you get stuck a lot like I do, the lighter weight will definitely be easier to dig out and get going again. Pictures and more specs are available at skidoorevxp.com.

Thanks,
Donavon