2015 Polaris 600 Pro-RMK Review + Video

How deep is your Polaris Pro-RMK knowledge? If you do not know, we can help. There is the 800 Pro-RMK, which is a sweet performing and light-to-the-touch mountain snowmobile. Of the 800 Pro-RMKs, there is the killer Terrain Domination Pro-RMK that is loaded with mountain-rider loot like a pirate’s treasure chest. Track lengths are 155 and 163. Now, digging deeper into our Pro-RMK library is the Pro 600, which should never be forgotten in the mountain snowmobile world.

Polaris’ 600 Pro-RMK is not a scaled-back less-than-a-Pro Pro-RMK. The folks in Polaris’ think tank and shark tank thought up and sold the 600 Pro-RMK concept and it took hold. If you don’t think a 417-pound (dry weight) Pro-RMK 155 is not a hoot to ride in the steep-and-deep, then you have not gotten out much.

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Arctic Cat responded to the Pro-RMK 600 by launching its own 600-class mountain baby 800, that being the M6000 Sno Pro. We use the term baby 800 because these two 600-class snowmobiles are 800s in thought and appearance, though performance is just a notch or two down from that of an 800.

Now Ski-Doo has an XM Summit 600, an SP Summit, not an X. Though the SP Summit is a powder floater, we want to see a 600 Summit X 154 to round out this class fully with high-end 600s. Regardless, the 600 class, that is two stoke-powered 600s, is a zippy fun class that puts you through some old school work-your-way-up-the-mountain tests, if y’all know what we mean.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2015 Arctic Cat M8000 Sno Pro Review

Years ago, riding the steep slopes in S.E. Idaho, western Wyoming, Northern Utah and western Montana on Polaris’ 580/600 XLT SKS to later generation RMKs, the 700, and the 800 Edge, was a task in patience and skill building. The 600 Pro-RMK has brought some of that back with its smaller-bore motor. But, this 2015 Pro-RMK 600, if dropped into a time machine and sent back in time to compete against Polaris’ 800 Edge RMK, a Dragon 700 and a Dragon 800, would, we believe, stick these historical sleds with some post-traumatic-stress-disorder; the 600 Pro-RMK is that good.

The 600 Pro-RMK is only available with a 155-inch track. It shares all the componentry with the 800 Pro-RMK 155, including the Low Inertia Quick Drive belt drive system.

After riding and evaluating Polaris’ lightweight Pro 600, we found it to be a delightful snowmobile in the steep and deep. We admire the Pro 600’s over-achiever personality. We ride this sled pretty much wide-open-throttle (WOT) at all times in the trees where the snow is bottomless; simply, pulsing the throttle like that of an 800 is not needed when busting through steep ravines and gullies.

Given the 600 Pro-RMK has to prove itself in an 800 world, it does it quite well, given its lightweight configuration. Here is what Sr. Test Rider, Kevin Allred, has to say about it:

“In 2011, we were introduced to Polaris’ Pro chassis. Five years later, the basic geometry remains the same. Yes, the ‘Pro’ has seen changes over the years, such as improved runningboards and a host of light components that vastly improved the Pro’s overall performance. Polaris definitely nailed down success with the Pro-RMK chassis. What intrigues me more is that after five years, the Pro-RMK remains the industries’ lightweight king. Yes, Polaris nailed it. Now, we are no stranger to the 600 Pro-RMK, the ‘over achiever’ from Polaris. What a fun sled it is. Yes, it is not an 800, but it thinks it is. We’ve had 600 Pro-RMKs in our test fleet for several years, and no one ever grumbled when they ended up on it. In fact, it was quite often the sought after snowmobile. Over the years, we have praised the 600 Pro-RMK, and I conclude everyone should have one, at one time in their lifetime of riding mountain snowmobiles.”

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2012 Ski-Doo Summit SP 600 H.O. E-TEC

As mentioned earlier, the 2015 Pro-RMK 600 155 comes equipped with Polaris’ Pro-RMK components. These include:

• Multi Function gauge with three-minute record capability
• ProTaper handlebars with position-as-you-desire kill switch
• Pro-RMK-Lite seat
• Carbon fiber rear bumper
• Carbon fiber overstructure
• Bonded A-arms
• Walker Evans shocks
• Ice scratchers
• PowderTrac runningboards
• QuickDrive Low Inertia belt drive system

The 600’s motor is a Liberty CleanFire electronic fuel injected (EFI) motor that has a displacement of 599cc and a bore and stroke that is 77 x 64 mm. Like the 800, it has throttle position and detonation sensors and Polaris’ well-known reverse – Polaris Electronic Reverse Control (PERC). The fuel-injected motor, with factory-installed single exhaust pipe, builds about 130-135 horsepower at optimum RPM. Keep in mind that this is sea level horsepower.

Side panels on the 600 are flat and flush with the width of its PowderTrac runningboards. This gives the sled clean lines from bumper-to-bumper which delivers uninhibited sidehilling; the chassis does not horizontally push out from a slope. It’s this narrow profile that makes the Pro 600 slippery through tight trees and allows it to stick a sidehill with ease.

Polaris’ 600 Pro-RMK is equipped with ice scratchers on the Coil-Over Rear Suspension. It has the capable Series 5.1 2.4-inch paddle track, and Pro Ride RMK front suspension.

The QuickDrive belt drive system includes a lightweight brake, extruded drive shaft and maintenance-free belt.

The Pro-Lite seat complements the chassis in that it is narrow and short. When riders stand to swing a foot from one side to the next, the seat’s tail does not catch a foot, thus slowing down or stopping the needed quick step. A proper sized seat is huge for mountain riders.

The Pro Taper handlebars swing flat, like a motocross dirt bike, being the bars’ steering post is vertical, shoulders and arms remain in-line to the horizon. This means the rider is not pushing down and pulling up on the bars, throwing off body position.

We like the Pro Taper bars, but feel they should be dropped two to three inches. We find ourselves over the hood – loading up the front end too much – when reversing a downhill sidehill to return back up a hill.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2015 Polaris 800 Pro-RMK + Video

The multifunction gauge has great features such as three-minute playback, elevation and atmospheric temperature, to name a few. We wish the Pro-RMK 600 had a stock look-up gauge, peering up to the rider like the gauge on the Cat M8000 and Ski-Doo XM Summit.

The Pro 600’s Gripper ski is a good powder ski. It is wide and floats the chassis, while its deep keel carves out left and right-turns.

In closing, the Pro-RMK 600 has returned some old school fun to backcountry boondocking; the 600 Pro demands its rider to earn the summit. Most mountain riders are 600 fellows anyway, but we mountain riders like big bore snowmobiles. Yet, we believe those who ride a 600, such the Pro 600, or Summit SP 600, with some dedication, will keep up with the 800s. The 600 Pro-RMK is not a less-than sled.

2015 Polaris 600 Pro-RMK 155 Specs
Engine	Polaris Cleanfire two-stroke high-performance 599cc; bore/stroke of 77.25mm/64mm; two-cylinder, liquid-cooled; Cleanfire electronic fuel injection system; dry sump lubrication
Horsepower	130+
Drive	Polaris QuickDrive Low Inertia with P85 driver and TEAM driven
Front Suspension	Pro-Ride RMK double A-arm; Walker Evans shocks; up to 9-in of travel
Rear Suspension	Polaris parallel slide rail RMK Coil-Over; Walker Evans gas shocks; up to 16-inches of travel
Length	129.0 in
Width	46.5 in
Height	51.0 in
Ski Stance	Adjustable from 39-41-in
Track	15 x 155 x 2.4 Series 5.1
Brake	Polaris QuickDrive Low Inertia hydraulic disc brake
Features	Optional storage bags; electronic pushbutton reverse; optional electric start
Weight	417 (claimed)
Fuel Capacity	11.5 US Gal
MSRP	US$11,299 – C$12,299