First Impressions: 2026 Polaris Matryx RMK Khaos 165×3.25”

For 2026, although the snow season rolled off to a terrible start, our mouths were still salivating to climb aboard the new 850 Khaos RMK. Snow depth levels were tracking lower than we’ve ever seen, and few riders were keen on getting out early—nobody wanted to break parts or ride miles of icy dirt just to reach the pack.

The clouds still haven’t opened up to make winter official, instead delivering 40-degree temps and near-zero snow in southwest Montana suburban towns up to 5,000 feet. Still, this Khaos begged to be ridden. We knew the snow was out there—we just had to get to it.

After several seasons aboard high-dollar big-bore and boost machines, we decided to take a different swing this year and dive back to the mountain roots with a standard 840cc Patriot mill. No fancy P22 clutch, turbocharger, lightweight crank, or nuttin’… and we’re pleasantly surprised.

I’ll be the first to admit—since 2019, I’ve had zero flawless-running 850s. Each one suffered from mid-RPM gurgles, required throttle held open to start, threw check-engine lights, or had other gremlins. This 850, however, has restored my faith in the twin-cylinder Patriot platform—outside of the newer 9R and Boost motors.

This engine has punch from idle to high RPM and never skips a beat. During the first 125 miles, we’ve kept it in ethanol mode for break-in. A brief toggle to non-ethanol revealed a low-to-mid load stumble, so we switched back—even while running non-eth fuel. Perhaps once the slider bar reaches fully broken-in mode, the non-eth setting will deliver gurgle-free performance.

Next up: the shocks. For a hot minute, we thought we had the Hi-Lo Velocity shocks dialed after a few miles, but the recipe seems to have changed slightly from prior Khaos models. We’re not chasing our tails yet, but we haven’t found that perfect balance between easy roll initiation on a sidehill and the ability to soak up moguls when blitzing a whooped-out trail. It’ll come. Low-speed near the middle and high-speed toward the low end feels close—we just need to work on preventing bottom-out.

Another feature worth calling out is the track. Comparing years of 2.75 lugs on the 9R Khaos versus the Pro with 3.25, this setup finally feels like the sweet spot. A Khaos with a 165 x 3.25 plays more like a 155 Pro, whereas a Pro in the same length and lug height tends to drive the nose into the snow a bit more thanks to the added paddle. It’s something to seriously consider when choosing a sled based on riding style, terrain, and typical snow conditions.

Now we just need winter to arrive and let this deep-lugged track eat!

For now, the few tanks we’ve put through this Polaris are encouraging and renew confidence in how to handle a standard Khaos. Pray for snow so we can share some more details on the Polaris after a full season.

Ride On.