Patriot 650 Engine

• Outstanding Durability
• Smooth and Quiet
• This new engine approached competitor 4 strokes mpg at 25/45 mph.
• Calibrated to run its best on 87 Octane
• 10% more power and 14% more torque than the 600 HO
• 20%+ mpg improvement @ steady state 45mph
• 50%+ mpg improvement@ steady state 25 mph
• Same stroke as the 850, smaller bore.
• Similar crankshaft but different part number than the 850.
• Same mounting strategy as the 850.

2021 Polaris MATRYX models come with either a Patriot 850 or a new Patriot 650 engine. The new 650 is based on the 850 architecture, basically being a smaller bore version of the 850. It has the same stroke as the 850, and while the crankshaft is very similar it is a different part number as it features smaller “pork chops”. The 650 uses the same engine mounting strategy as the 850 for vibration isolation and robust drive belt alignment consistency.

In the process of making a smaller bore version of their now-proven 850 engine Polaris took aim at providing many of the benefits that 4-stroke motors provide – especially since they don’t offer a 4-stroke. Their strategy here is to offer all the advantages a 2-stroke has over a 4-stroke (lightweight, lower cost, reduced complexity) and tune it so it delivers comparable fuel economy at low to mid-range throttle running. It has been designed to provide outstanding durability with smooth and quiet operation, and it is calibrated to run its best on 87-octane fuel – a huge cost savings for high-mile riders.

Surprisingly, when you ride the 650 you notice how the bottom end torque is very much like the Liberty 800 H.O. In fact, Polaris engineering tells us the 650 Patriot runs the same flyweights in the primary as the 800. They claim it approaches competitor’s 4-stroke fuel economy at 25 to 45 mph. Compared to the Liberty 600 users will experience 10% more power and 14% more torque with 20%+ mpg improvement @ steady state 45 mph and 50%+ mpg improvement@ steady state 25 mph operation.

This new 650 should get us above 130 HP for peak power, which is right where many of the 700-class machines were for so many years. For the riders who wanted more than a 600 but just didn’t need the 800/850 power this could be a true sweet spot. The pre-production sleds that we were able to get some serious miles on were very impressive in their running quality, overall calibration and power delivery. The simple fact that this engine is calibrated to run on 87-octane fuel is going to be a major attraction as well, as many areas charge a dollar more per gallon for premium fuel. Now one just has to decide how comfortable they feel running ethanol blends in the process.