Polaris made some big changes to its performance lineup for 2015. Although styling may lead you to think otherwise, the machine itself and the feeling you’ll get on the trail are pretty different. In addition to launching the all-new 800 Rush Pro-X, designed for riders who stand more than they sit and love to do big jumps, the company revised the existing Pro-R model and gave it a new moniker: Pro-S. If you like to attack trails, and I really do mean attack, hold on tight because you're in for a treat.

Photo: Polaris

Discover the 2015 Polaris 800 Rush Pro-S
The new 800 Rush PRO-S is about 30lb lighter than not only its predecessor, but also competitive trail performance models. It all starts with the completely new AXYS chassis, which features 93% new parts. As part of this platform, Polaris engineers created a riding position called “Rider Balanced Control” that puts your hands 4.5” closer to the handlebar, your knees 4.5” more forward on a seat that’s moved 4.5” ahead and enables your feet to move 2” to the front.

In the neutral riding position, the AXYS chassis provides bite for flatter, positive cornering. When the trail gets rough or the rider jumps off into the powder, rider balance enables the rider to move back and make the front end light to climb up on top of the snow or the moguls.

The front suspension consists of double A-arms and Polaris-exclusive Walker Evans remote reservoir “clicker” shocks which work with Polaris-engineered Pro-Steer skis and control 9.3” of travel. Following the new nomenclature, the term “Pro-Ride” has been replaced with PRO-XC rear suspension terminology. Here you'll find a lighter, forged aluminum rear crank along with progressive-rate Walker Evans piggyback shocks working through 13.6” of travel to keep the 15”x120”x1.25” Ripsaw II track planted on the snow. This track is less aggressive than the one on the Pro-X, which has 1.75” lugs.

All 2015 Polaris 800 Rush models benefit from a largely re-engineered, two-stroke, twin-cylinder Cleanfire engine that promises greater performance thanks to a new intake air flow pattern and new exhaust valve technology for improvements across the entire rev range. What's more, the new throttle bodies are lighter and offer reduced throttle effort, while the lighter crankshaft allows the engine to spin up more quickly for superior acceleration. By the way, if the 160+ hp are too much for you to handle, the 600 Rush Pro-S may prove to be the better choice.

One final note on the new, more ergonomic seat that utilizes a high-performance foam: It combines a design that's narrower in front to provide greater manoeuvrability with a seat top material that has more bite to help keep the rider in place. Let's not forget that models built on the AXYS platform feature the industry’s first LED headlights as standard equipment. They also include 10 new storage options creating over 90 different storage configurations.

Bottom line
It appears that there will be a big difference in ride and handling between the 2015 Polaris 800 Rush Pro-S and Pro-X models. The former should satisfy most riders as it's much more versatile and less extreme, yet still a serious, hardcore trail machine.