2009 Ski-Doo Summit Fan Review

If you’re a flatlander looking to make a mark on the hills or a young powder rider to-be, Ski-Doo’s 2009 Summit Fan can be a good sled to break into deep snow riding. At US$6,299 it won’t break the bank and with its proven durable fan-cooled 553.4cc Rotax twin it’ll be potent enough to move its 459-pounds easily enough through powder.

Learning the science of riding in powder takes many seasons of correcting mistakes as you figure out how to read the snow, where you can be brave and where you might want to back off. Sleds like the Summit Fan provide an entry into becoming an adept powder hound. As your skills progress from season to season, Ski-Doo will have a ‘next step’ Summit for your progression.

You can view the 2009 Summit Fan as beginner’s powder sled or as a budget Renegade, Ski-Doo’s niche of off-trail adventure machines. The Summit Fan’s track has good bite with a 1.75-inch lug profile on its16-inch wide by 136-inch track length. Though short by deep powder standards — where track lengths normally start at 146 inches and move up to 163 inches — the Summit Fan track is more similar to Ski-Doo’s Renegade series’ 137-inch overall length.

Great Boondocking Sled

Combine the track statistics with the engine characteristics and you’ll find a very pleasant sled for off-trail boondocking. Although its power is modest at 57 horsepower, the Rotax-built twin cylinder is solid at low end and very strong at midrange. It has grunt where and when you want it. These characteristics make the 550-fan engine exceptional for budget touring machines where smooth drive-aways and good midrange are necessities not niceties.

Throttle response from the twin-carbureted motor is smooth, but can seem a bit heavy when compared to the extremely light pull of a fuel-injected motor. If you cup the throttle lever into the web between your thumb and first finger, you’ll have all the throttle control you’ll need to maneuver in and out of deep snow areas.

Where the MXZ 550X sports version with the same motor is fun in the twisties, the Summit Fan can be a total hoot snaking through a forested section as you make your own trail. Because it has good response with the larger footprint of the deep profile track, you’ll be able to weave in and out of off-trail terrain. In wide-open hillsides, you’ll learn to traverse slopes.

Because of the sled’s power — or, lack of it — you’ll work your way up side hills at angles, rather than taking the straight up approach of your buddies with their big bore power sleds. If you’re learning to be a powder hound, watch how those guys do it. Watch and learn as they do a powder ballet, shifting from runningboard to runningboard, gripping the handlebar and accessory strap to get the sled to pivot and ride up and over the snow. You can do some of that with the Summit Fan, but as you’ll learn, serious high marking takes power and experience, both of which most Summit Fan riders are short on.

The Basic Gear

Don’t be disheartened. The Summit Fan is a great tool to learn how to ride powder. Based on the original REV lightweight chassis, the Summit Fan weighs in at a claimed 459-pounds without fuel and fluids. It has Pilot skis up front for good trail bite and flotation. You’ll have Motion Control shocks controlling a full nine inches of travel from the double A-arm front end. At the rear is an adequate SC-136 long travel suspension with above average Motion Control tubular shocks on the front and rear suspension control arms to manage the 13 inches of maximum travel.

Ski-Doo can offer budget pricing since the Summit Fan is based on the older REV chassis. Nonetheless this setup still works amazingly well for off-trail. The runningboards are wide and feature good grips for your boots as you stand and move around. The handlebar is elevated and features a flexible ‘mountain strap’ to let you leverage the sled as you bank into powder or need to quickly pull the nose away from an off-trail obstacle like a stump. Unlike some deep snow sleds, the Summit Fan front suspension features a sway bar that is great for on-trail riding, but can limit the sled’s action in deep powder. If you are going to ride powder exclusively, you might consider removing the bar to gain more side-to-side response.

Good Value

Although designed as a budget powder sled, the Summit Fan will be comfortably at home running off trail. Equipped with a medium height windshield and a storage area behind the seat, the Summit Fan suits itself to a day spent boondocking. Rest assured that Ski-Doo has storage bags and other accessories designed to fit behind the seat or tucked behind the windshield.

Electric start is an option but the Ski-Doo pioneered Rotax Electric Reverse (RER) comes standard. Simply push the RER button, wait for the engine to reverse itself and proceed. Simple and slick, you’ll love this feature when off-loading from a trailer or if you mess up a too-tight turn.

For entry into powder riding, Ski-Doo offers a very good value in the Summit Fan. It’s light in weight, durable and simple to operate. The drive clutch is Ski-Doo’s effective Bombardier Lite which is simple to tune and efficient with this engine’s characteristics. There’s a hydraulic brake with easy to reach RT-type lever that provides ample stopping power.

Learning to ride powder with this snowmobile will give you the essential fundamentals for serious riding in the steep and deep. While you may graduate to more track and more power, you’ll always appreciate the Summit Fan for teaching you the basics.

2009 Ski-Doo Summit Fan Specs
Engine	Rotax 553.4cc fan-cooled twin; 2xMikuni 34mm carbs
Horsepower	57
Drive	Bombardier Lite
Front Suspension	Dual A-arm — 9 in travel; Motion Control shocks
Rear Suspension	SC–136 13-in maximum travel; Front Arm: Motion Control; Rear Arm: Motion Control
Length	120.3 in
Height	44.2 in
Width	47.4 in
Ski Stance	40 to 42.5 in
Track	16 x 136 x1.75
Weight	459 lbs.
Fuel Capacity	10.6 US Gal
MSRP	US$6,299