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Going from a 2020 Expert (non-turbo) to a 2023 FreeRide R Turbo, my first ride observations:
Display/Phone Case
Engine/Gen 5/Misc
Display/Phone Case
- Love the interface, very well done! Overall, I am very happy with the 10” screen and super glad I got it. Makes riding a lot more fun. Nice job to Ski-Doo.
- Tap/swipe gestures work well with gloves and when it is wet.
- Best thing is you can play with it while the sled is off. Quickly tap the shot to turn on the screen without starting. Would be nice to give the user options for screen timeout lengths. But at a minimum, warn the user for at least 2 minutes it is powering down without interaction.
- The stat screen doesn’t tell you maximum speed, per ride. Would be nice. And while we are at it, an elevation profile.
- If you have a marginal connection, or bad cable, you will continually get the “Red X Cannot Connect” in the center of the screen. It is large enough to cover most of the speedometer, and the rpm gauge. Would continually give me the error when I was climbing or doing other intense activities. If you got a chance to tap the dismiss, it would let you know you had to stop to do that. Argh! In addition, once you dismiss the alert, it will come right back. Very frustrating. Would be good to have a very small X in the upper right that goes away in 2-3 seconds, or don’t give the warning at all. The only way I could avoid it was to unplug the phone. Or, better yet, get a good cable. Once I did that, I didn’t have any other problems.
- Would be nice to show the phone battery %/charging on the bottom of the display.
- Please allow a mapping app from the phone, like Avenza, Gaia GPS or … anything. The map was completely useless. No internet up here. Let's be able to pre-download maps. Previous waypoints. Furthermore, very strange that the app would say “all trails closed until December”. Um, here in Utah, all the trails are open. And, having to plan your route before you go is also strange. I believe most people just jump on their sled and start riding. Maybe a third party license constraint.
- The phone case got too warm today, so I had to unclip the wire. Perhaps a timer that cycles it warm/off. All aside, glad Ski-Doo provided it. Will help on those really cold days.
- I drew the lucky Queen of Spades and did not get the PowderMax X-Lite track. Perhaps someone can tell me what kind of track I got (3”, 165 length) ?
- Paddles seem stronger than my 2020 Expert.
- Snowflap didn’t get “sucked up”.
Engine/Gen 5/Misc
- Going from the 2020 non-turbo to this new engine was a complete game changer. Will not be riding anything else! So happy to have made the decision. Wheelieing is so easy on just flat ground. I will need to relearn how to ride. The response and speed blew my expectations. Amazing experience. The machine’s abilities are far greater than my own.
- Again, anything else is just extra. Just having this kind of performance and balance is everything. And on the balance topic, it does behaves different. One ski would usually come up during my trail riding, so had to stand way far up over the console to keep them down. And on that point, glad the console is flat. I thought it would be better on an angle protected by a windshield, but the geometry and setup worked well for the riding style.
- Getting the skis up and ability to turn was easier and felt lighter.
- I was worried about going to a FreeRide from an Expert. However, changing the shocks to soft saved my back. Everyone else was sore and complaining, but I seemed to glide right over all the bumps. Was worried about the decision for months. Glad I didn’t choose wrong.
- The engine stayed cool on the trails, 109-111 most of the time.
- Belt temperature was around 105 or so. Not sure what temperatures profiles should be avoided for how long?
- Dealer flashed it just before pickup. Had no warnings.
- Used about 4.5 gallons over 50 miles. Mixed riding.
- Loved the new seat, seemed better made.
- New ride on cover track snap on system is much better, easier than the stretch and hook method.
