1989 snow beasts
Amsnow
Polaris Indy 650
Polaris goes the Wildcat one better. Its Indy 650 has three cylinders to the Cat's two. From there on out these two machines seemed to be about as evenly matched as you could get last season.
Both came with superior performing 650cc engines, similar suspension travel, and very similar performance - quick accelerating from low to mid-range and hard charging top end.
Developed 70 miles from each other in northern Minnesota, these two sleds share similarities. But it was usually the Indy which served as the innovator.
The Indy is the originator of the coil spring over shock front end suspension design. Like all standard liquid Indys for 1989, the 650 measures a full 36.5 inches between the skis. This wide stance affords exceptional cornering control. Its trailing link design, which Polaris pioneered and introduced into consumer sleds, has yet to be bettered by the competition. Cat's A-frame and Ski-Doo's PRS are versions on the same theme. Only Yamaha with its telescopic strut has truly taken a different path to front suspension technology. The Indy 650 front end is so adjustable that you can even build in ski camber for a better bite in the turns.
The multi-adjustable, long travel rear suspension is a proven design that incorporates six inches of progressive travel. The first rate of travel is the softest. Travel becomes progressively stiffer as the unit protects the rider from the roughest moguls or the hardest landings. In suspension travel it's all the action of the travel not the overall length that really matters. The inboard shocks are tucked away in the tunnel where they won't get hung with snow when breaking a fresh trail. Polaris engineers feel it is the best approach for powder riding. Cat has gone along with the idea, too.
Deep powder riders may prefer the Indy 650 SKS which has all the power of the standard 650 but greater flotation from its 133.5-inch long track. This mountain eater has become a favorite for western powder players.
The Indy 650 is Polaris' snow king. It has 648cc in its three cylinders, three wide mouth 38mm Mikuni carburetors, a three-into-one power-tuned exhaust, and three aluminum cooling extrusions.
It also has the world's only production liquid-cooled hydraulic disc snowmobile breaking system. This system was devised by Polaris people in Roseau. In keeping with Polaris engineering, the system is ingenious in its simplicity. A short bypass which uses liquid from the engine allows the brake to dissipate heat to a small extrusion added to the brake assembly. Braking efficiency is upped, braking power is added, and durability is increased. Simple, yet effective, that's how the Roseau staff likes it. While it's not publicized as being an option on other liquid-cooled Indys - because it hasn't been necessary, you could order the parts and install the liquid-cooled brake yourself.
You may notice that Indy's brake lever is coated with a bright red plastic cover. That's a little trick Polaris first used on its Trail Boss ATVs to make certain that consumers grabbed the "whoa" lever instead of the "go" handle. It's a good idea.
To transfer that right-now power to the track is the job of the flyweight drive clutch. Designed and built by Polaris the drive and driven clutches are machine balanced and matched for maximum performance at all engine ranges. Polaris clutches have been used on just about all the top racing sleds in the last decade because they are easy to tune and because they work so well.
The Indy triple is a torque-producing wonder that is smooth at low end and up to full throttle. While this is the top of the Polaris performance line, we think this engine totally tuned for torque could be an incredible asset in the Indy SuperTrak and would make that sled the world's ultimate trail touring machine.
As it is, the Indy 650 is an impressive trail machine. It has all the bells and whistles you expect in a top line sled. Full instrumentation including a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, and temperature indicator light lets the Indy rider keep track of his on-trail performance at all times.
The Indy's wind-cheating, low profile performance-styled windshield tunes into the overall performance image of this year's triple-powered Indy. The 650 sets the styling tone for all Indy liquids with the streamlined cowling, the comfortably padded seat, the read-at-a-glance instruments, and a bold blackout treatment on the tunnel.
Capacitor discharge ignitions, oil injection systems, generous 7.3 U.S. gallon fuel tanks, padded handlebars, race-style foam injected seats with lower lumbar support, and tough RIM hood construction are all features designed to assure you have a long term love affair with winter.
But it's not the features but the Indy 650's power, performance and handling that turns a snowmobiler into an Indy 650 loyalist. It's an unique performance snowmobile with the sound of power that only a high revving triple provides. It sure lets your friends know that you have arrived!