1991 polaris indy trail deluxe versus bombardier skidoo safari glx

If you thought choosing between the Venture and Pantera would be difficult, try choosing between the Safari GLX and the Indy Trail Deluxe.

Two of our all time favorite two-up touring machines have been the Safari GLX and the Indy Trail Deluxe. Over the past few years, Polaris has turned this Indy into an exceptional touring machine. Each of the past few years, the Deluxe became just a little more deluxe, adding a standard amenity here and there until we felt it was the pick of the pack. Best of all, this decked out two-up luxury cruiser not only carries two in stylish comfort, but also carries the lowest suggested retail price of these four. At just $4,599 (base price without the optional reverse gear), the Indy Trail Deluxe is an American Snowmobiler Best Buy snowmobile in 1991.

Our other two-up touring favorite, Bombardier's Safari GLX, was all new last season. The GLX is the top of the line Safari trail model and shows off Bombardier's experience in building comfortable, rider friendly luxury cruisers. It continues last year's all new front suspension, which we like and have found to be both sporty and plush. Plus the GLX got a revised rear suspension which we found to be as comfortable a touring suspension as any on the market. We also have a distinct fondness for the 463cc liquid-cooled Rotax twin used to power this trail cruiser. It is a very responsive, fun to ride snowmobile with room for normal-sized and beyond normal-sized adults. At a suggested retail price of $5,749, it carries the biggest price tag when compared to the new Pantera at $5,499, the all new Venture at $5,199.00, and of course, the price leading Polaris Deluxe at $4,599. Both the Cat and Ski-Doo are liquid-cooled. The Yamaha and Polaris use fan-cooled twins.

The Indy Trail Deluxe and the Safari GLX are excellent two-up touring sleds. When you add in the plush new Cat and Yamaha two-uppers, your buying decision becomes more difficult. While this segment of the market may have
been ignored in the past, it is now a niche with serious choices.

If there is a complaint we have with the Venture and Pantera, it is that we don't feel the passenger and rider leg room is as accommodating as that on either the Safari GLX or the Indy Trail Deluxe.

The Trail Deluxe should have plenty of room since it enjoys the longest length track of the four. The 133.5 inch track is about a foot longer than the standard Indy Trail track, which measures 15 inches in width by 121 inches in circumference. This means that the Deluxe two-up model also comes with a longer suspension rail that extends the track out and slightly behind the rear passenger. We feel that this gives the rear passenger a better ride and extends the sled's "wheelbase." Say what you will about those old-fashioned long wheelbase American "road masters," they did ride like a living room sofa. Of course, they cornered like one too!

The Indy Trail Deluxe is the exception. While it may ride as well as those old "roadmasters," it corners and handles like...well, an Indy! And that's quite a compliment for any snowmobile.

The Safari GLX has the least amount of rear travel of the four two-uppers at six inches, but it isn't terribly noticeable. Perhaps the quality of the seating available on all touring models maximizes the modern day suspensions. The Ski-Doo's two-up saddle certainly offers ample seating. Since the Ski-Doo's track is the widest at 16.5 inches and next to longest at 124 inches in overall length, Bombardier engineers took full advantage of the wide tunnel by placing an equally wide and sumptuous seat on top of it. Ski-Doo touring sleds have always been noted for comfort. Designed in Quebec's snow country where week long snowmobile excursions are commonplace, it is only natural that Ski-Doo designers understand what is required for long distance touring.

Next in order of seating comfort is Polaris, followed in close order by the Pantera and Venture XL. Because you don't buy a touring sled for the same reasons you buy a sports sled, we think it very important for two-up comfort that the rear idler wheels be extended behind the rear passenger. When Polaris used a standard 121 inch long track on its two-up touring Indy, comfort was okay, but there was a noticeable increase in ride comfort when the Minnesota company went to the longer track and suspension system. The Ski-Doo Safari GLX positions its rear idlers slightly behind the backrest, which is not quite as extended as the Polaris, but better than either the Cat or the Yamaha.

Consider what happens to the rear passenger. Being seated over the rear idlers is like sitting over the rear "dualies" of a school bus. You get to "enjoy" a greater amount of bumps. With the wheelbase and idlers extended, you are seated in a more bump-absorbing zone and receive a more pleasant ride. It's no big deal if you are the driver, but the passenger will notice the difference. In fact, before buying a two-up touring machine, we'd suggest a demonstration ride, or at the very least, a very serious test "sit" on that sled on the showroom floor. Comfort is everything when you ride two-up. If one of you is uncomfortable, the other will be too!

All four sleds have versions of an independent front suspension. The Polaris Indy is the pioneer in trail sleds when it comes to IFS. The current version is a direct descendant of the first race-track bred RX-Ls and trail-proven TX-Ls. This is an excellent design that is as technologically current now as it was in the mid-1970s when it first appeared. It has evolved and has been improved over the years, but it is still the basic system now as then.

You can expect up to 6.25 inches of progressive action from the coil-over-shock
design with trailing linkage. It's a highly adjustable system that can be tuned for extra soft or extra stiff handling characteristics. If you don't like the basic set-up, your Polaris dealer has a bin full of shocks, springs and set-ups to choose from. It's also a bullet-proof suspension. Enough said!

The Bombardier Transverse-A suspension was new last year. Okay, we were a little skeptical. No longer. It happened that we probably rode more Safaris (various models) last year than any other single model. Whether we were aboard a low-end Safari L or the sporty Safari LC, we learned to stop worrying and appreciate the Transverse-A. In fact, some of us kinder, more gentler staffers (translate that as "older") actually preferred the new touring suspension to the higher performance Formula front end. We liked the softer ride, appreciated the lighter steering inputs we needed, and found that the Safari suspension was capable of letting us "go for it" through the "twisties" when we felt aggressive. It's a very nice all around suspension that can be "sneaky" fast
when you want to hang it out.

The Transverse-A ties the Cat with seven inches of front end travel,
although we would rate the greater progressive action of the Cat suspension
ahead of the Bomber unit. Also, we'll complain a little bit and say that
we'd like to see Bombardier up the rear suspension travel to better balance
the front and rear. For strictly touring, the Safari suspension combination
is very acceptable.

The Indy rear suspension delivers 7.75 inches with the Dial Adjust unit. This exclusive Polaris feature means that you can turn an adjusting knob to literally dial in greater or less tension at the rear of the suspension. A word to the wise, do your dial adjusting before you hit the trail because the knob can get caked with ice, packed with snow and become real hard to turn. Nonetheless, this Indy suspension gives you almost eight inches of actual progressive action - and that's impressive!

Under the hood you'll find a 462cc Rotax in the Safari GLX. This is a sweetheart of a motor. Rotary-valved, single-carbed, oil injected, liquid-cooled, this twin is smooth and strong throughout the rev range. With a single Mikuni VM34 carb you'll gain increased fuel economy over twin carbed versions. However, compared to the twin-carbed Ski-Doo Formula MX with the same basic 462, you'll be down an easy five miles per hour in top end. Of course, speed isn't why you have a two-up touring sled.

The Indy Deluxe has a standard 488cc Indy Trail engine. It is a fan-cooled twin with a solid reputation for reliability and performance. This Fuji-built motor, like the Rotax, is oil injected and equipped with capacitor discharge ignition for overall owner convenience and easier cold weather starts. Performance from the trail-tuned twin is on a par with the competition. Twin Mikuni 34mm carbs are standard.

The engine drives through one of the most bulletproof clutch systems in snowmobiling. The Polaris clutch is a standard in the industry. It is used in racing, general touring - you name it. The Ski-Doo relies on the relatively new TRA clutch which is readily adjustable with a system of external adjusters for the cam.

The Safari's clutch drives a gearbox forward-park-reverse. The Ski-Doo relies on a long handled shift lever to make gear changes while the Indy has an optional reverse that uses a cable-actuated "flip" lever. Ski-Doo, Polaris and Cat could take lessons from Yamaha's slick semi-synchronized reverse. Sorry, but we have to rate Ski-Doo's gearbox as the least convenient to operate. The Polaris and Cat are about equal. Yamaha's is best.

Ski-Doo weighs in at a claimed 558 pounds. The Indy tips the scales at 486 and the Yamaha is claimed to weigh 449 pounds. While Cat hasn't published weights for the Pantera, it should be somewhere between the Venture and the Indy.

We might make something of the weight, but when you have sleds with electric
start and reverse, horsing them around is relatively easy. If you had to lift and lug them, that would be something else. In other words, opt for the optional reverse for the Indy. It'll be worth it and you'll be happier.

Like the Pantera, the Safari GLX comes standard with travel cases. We aren't overwhelmed by either set. They are narrow and don't really hold all that much. It would be nice if the travel cases were readily removable or, at least, had removable liners so you could carry the contents conveniently to your room at the end of a day's ride.

There are things that we especially like about the Safari and Indy. They "feel" the biggest of the four two-uppers, although a statistical comparison won't back that up. The Ski-Doo and Polaris seem to have the most rider friendly amount of room; the longer wheelbases; the larger tracks; and about all the same luxuries of the two newcomers.

Polaris has worked hard in making the Indy Trail Deluxe an exceptional two-up touring machine. It is. Bombardier engineers, though, may actually understand the mindset of the two-up trail touring rider better than any other group of engineers in the sport. The trails of Quebec are as well suited to two-up touring as any you'll ever find, and the Safari GLX reflects its heritage.

As a consumer and a touring rider, the choice will be difficult when selecting among the Pantera, Venture, GLX and Indy Deluxe. It's a difficulty we don't mind living with. We have a choice.

1991 ARCTIC CAT PANTERA
 Engine Type: 440cc Suzuki "Lite", liquid-cooled twin, oil injection, CDI; 2 Mikuni 36mm carburetors
Exhaust: tuned exhaust
Clutching
Drive/Driven Arctco/Comet overdrive clutching
Suspension
Front: Arctco double wishbone with swaybar, 7 inch progressive action travel.
Rear: Arctco long travel, 8.5 inches travel.
Ski Stance:37 inches
Overall Height: 47.5 inches
Overall Length: 108.5 inches
Fuel Capacity: 7.2 U.S
Track: 15x121 inch with full block rubber track.
 PriceUS  $5,499
Key Features: All new design, two-up seat, dual rearview mirrors,
reverse, electric start, handwarmers, travel cases.

1991 YAMAHA VENTURE XL
 Engine Type: 485cc Yamaha, fan-cooled twin, oil injected, reed valve, CDI, 2 Mikuni butterfly carburetors
Exhaust: Yamaha tuned exhaust
Clutching
Drive/Driven: Yamaha clutch system
Suspension
Front: Two-stage Yamaha telescopic struts, 5.5 inch travel.
 Rear: Yamaha modified Pro-Action Link, 7.6 inch travel.
Ski Stance: 36.2 inches
Overall Height: 46.5 inches
Overall Length: 105 inches
Fuel Capacity: 8.2 U.S. gallons
Offical Dry Weight: 449 pounds
 Track: 15 x 121 inch with a rubber track
 PriceUS  $5,199
Key Features: All new design, two-up seat, heated passenger handgrips, backrest, YPZ clutch with reverse gear, self-adjusting disc brake.

1991 SKI-DOO SAFARI GLX
 EngineType: 463cc Rotax twin, liquid-cooled, rotary valve, oil injected, CDI, 1 Mikuni 34mm carburetor
Exhaust: Rotax tuned exhaust
Clutching
Drive/Driven: Bombardier/Rotax TRA clutch with forward-park-reverse transmission.
Suspension
Front: Ski-Doo Transverse-A, 7 inch travel
 Rear: Ski-Doo PRS long travel, 6 inch travel
Ski Stance: 36.3 inches
Overall Height: 44.9 inches
Overall Length: 106 inches
Fuel Capacity: 8.6 U.S. gallons,
Offical Dry Weight: 558 pounds
Track: 16.5 x 124 inches and is fiberglass reinforced rubber track
 PriceUS  $5,749

1991 POLARIS INDY TRAIL DELUXE
 EngineType: 488cc Fuji fan-cooled twin, oil injection, CDI, 2 Mikuni 34 mm carburetors
Exhaust: Polaris tuned exhaust
Clutching
Drive/Driven: Polaris overdrive clutching, optional reverse
Suspension
Front: Polaris IFS with sway bar, 6.25 inch travel
 Rear: Polaris long travel Dial Adjust, 7.75 inch travel
Ski Stance: 36.5 inches
Overall Height: 45 inches
 Overall Length: 113 inches
Fuel Capacity: 11.2 U.S
Offical Dry Weight: 486 pounds
Track: 15 x 133.5 inches with a rubber track
 Price US  $4,599
Key Features: standard and optional instrumentation, heated handgrips,Polaris clutching, electric start, two-up seat and backrest, optional reverse.