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¦ What do we like? Lots!
First off, it feels lightweight, almost similar to like a 600 or 700 in the trail. Certainly not a 160+ hp 850! At 460 pounds dry, the Polaris Indy XC is 29 pounds heavier than the shorter 121-inch Rush Pro-S 800, and it is 16 pounds heavier than the 2019 Rush Pro-S 850. I would set any of them up against each other and pick the Indy XC every time.
Second, Polaris is finally all aboard the 129 train. The 129-inch length skid has quickly become the choice of a new generation when it comes to what people want to do with their sleds in the trail and how they want them to perform. The Pro CC coupled 129 rear suspension is very good, not as groundbreaking as the Rush was, and not a huge departure from other competitors’ offerings as far as performance goes, but competes extremely well.
Where you see the difference in the trail is the combination of this new skid and the AXYS front end, and the Walker Evans compression adjustable piggyback needle shocks. This front end is really good and was just waiting for a true trail rear end to match its performance capabilities. We’re not saying that the Rush is a worse sled by any means, but the Indy beats the Rush in the corners, and so far, the Rush still beats the Indy (just barely) in the monster-sized moguls and long stretches of big bumps. But how often do you go for five miles straight through incredible whoops? Normally, unless you ride into Hurley, Wisconsin at 8pm on a Saturday night, you will have plenty of stretches of less bumpy trail, followed by a little more bumpy trail. I would rather have the Indy myself for an all-day normal ride of 250 miles on the trail.
What else? This sled looks good! I am a snowmobile purist at heart and this sled actually looks like an awesome machine for the trail! There isn’t much guesswork to find out what goes where and how I’m going to do this or that. It is straightforward, comes in great graphic packages, and does everything I want, from easily and quickly evacuating snow on the running boards, to making it fairly easy to fill the oil tank, to holding my spare belt easily and right where I need it. Sometimes, most times, it is the little things.
What we don’t like? There is not much, but the Pro-Steer skis on Polaris sleds are still louder than any other ski I have ridden from the OEMs. Not a huge deal because they turn great and I would rather have the performance! Also, Polaris is the last hold-out not to have tethers on their sleds. I think this is just as important in the trail as it is in the mountains. Many of you readers - and our test riders - agree. If I were a betting man, I would say this is coming - but I’ve been wrong before!