2010 Ski Doo MXZ Adrenaline 800R

2010 Ski Doo MXZ Adrenaline 800R

Ski-Doo positions its Adrenaline model as the sport sled for the rest of us. The rest of us being those who didn’t make a purchasing decision early enough to set aside either the X-RS racer-performance model or an “X” model. But, left to the “in-season” choice of a 2010 MXZ Adrenaline, we won’t suffer too much. There is no 4-stroke option with the Adrenaline package as there was with the early-season “X” choices, but you can amp your ride with the 800cc PowerT.E.K. twin that Ski-Doo claims makes 151-hp. While we favor the Rotax 800 ahead of Polaris’ Liberty 800, neither is as smooth as Arctic Cat’s equally powerful but eminently smoother 800. Besides the somewhat peaky power of the Rotax twin, we found the heavy pull of its dual Mikuni 40mm carburetors lacking in rider-friendliness. At this point in sled development, how about some lighter thumb pull by adding electronic fuel injection? Yeah, we appreciate that owners of these big twins are more apt to boost power by modifying the motor, but how about the rambunctious rider who wants stock go-fast combined with easy riding?

We’ll keep from getting too negative on the PowerT.E.K. twin because we suspect a new 800cc E-TEC version may be on the horizon. Heck, many of us snowmo-writers expected to see an 800 E-TEC joining the popular 600 E-TEC in model year 2010. The fact that it didn’t happen may be due to the overall economic travails hitting the entire powersports industry right now. If you take a close look at this season’s overall snowmobile product line, you’ll see few all-new models. Instead, companies have updated their product offerings. 

Sport Rider Choice
The 2010 Ski-Doo MXZ Adrenaline 800R PowerT.E.K. remains a popular option for sport sled riders. Given its power to weight performance, the MXZ Adrenaline comes in a mere five pounds heavier than the early-season “X” package which will make it a top performance sled in this “800” sport category. Let’s face it though, opting for the “in-season” MXZ means that you do give up some higher-grade shocks at the front and on the rear suspension. You also give up the 1.25-inch lug profile on the “X” models as the Adrenaline’s lightweight Ripsaw track profile measures an inch in height. Frankly, only extremely serious trail shredders will notice the difference. However, we expect that difference in shocks to be noticeable and a good reason for opting in early on the “X” package.

Suspension Shocks
Don’t get us wrong; the base Adrenaline gets good shocks. But there is a difference. The standard Adrenaline comes with high-pressure gas shocks that are made by KYB. The lightweight and revalvable, aluminum shock will resist fade and will be fine for most Adrenaline owners. But the X shock package goes one better as its KYB-manufactured HPG Plus R aluminum shocks feature an external knob to adjust rebound action. There’s a similar performance difference on the rear SC-5 slide rail suspension as well. You’ll find steel-bodied HPG shocks fitted on the Adrenaline’s rear suspension arms. The “X” package adds the aluminum-bodied HPG Plus to the front arm and a KYB Pro 36 that features aluminum construction and a high/low speed compression adjustment so the rider can fine-tune the suspension’s bump response.