We can’t help but think the decade from 2000 to 2010 brought about the greatest changes in the snowmobile industry and was the most revolutionary time span in snowmobiling’s history. This series explores some of the most revolutionary advancements this sport has ever seen…
THE POLARIS RUSH
The RUSH, with its Pro-Ride external shock back end, gets its own category for the Golden Age because it, like the original REV, established a benchmark in the industry.
In late 2009, the RUSH concept shifted the paradigm that had long-since established a snowmobile should be built a certain way, with a shock or two inside the skid. Up to this point, it had looked like there was just no other way to build a snowmobile.
The Pro-Ride external shock rear suspension twisted everyone’s sensibilities upon its arrival. The concept boldly claimed the set-up was virtually impossible to bottom and delivered true rising rate movement.
As it turns out, a rising rate response to bumps is not always the best response unless you’re a certified ditch banger. Nonetheless, the Pro-Ride suspension and the RUSH’s unique, indestructible cast aluminum bulkhead assembled – using of all things – glue, and over-arching mid-chassis design brought the focus back to Polaris in the Golden Decade.
Polaris proved you could be successful with a non-conventional chassis and yet still deliver the goods snowmobilers want.
