Snowmobile "Polaris": technical characteristics and reviews

Snowmobile "Polaris" - one of the best caterpillar all-terrain vehicles of our time - was created in 1954 by the brothers Edgar and Allan Hittons. The first device was generally successful, although the creators expected more. Nevertheless, the "snowmobile" for a decent amount bought a neighbor Hittons, and this was the impetus for the construction of the next instance. Money ($ 465), raised from the sale, the brothers invested in a new, improved machine.

History of creation

If the first snowmobile brothers were equipped with a motor from a lawnmower, low-power and unreliable, then for the next car they bought a two-cylinder motorcycle engine developing a thrust of 12 horsepower. This power, according to Edgar's calculations, should have been enough to transport two riders at a speed of 30 miles per hour. The engine was mounted on a frame of thin-walled pipes, which they themselves made using a primitive welding machine for domestic work.

It was impossible to create a real classic track on a caterpillar track in a garage, and the brothers decided to use the driving wheels from a garden tractor, a relatively small diameter, but wide enough so that they did not fall into the snow. The calculation turned out to be correct, and after the tire pressure was reduced and the wheels settled, movement on the snowy virgin soil became optimal - the construction worked.

The new snowmobile, named "Polaris", was already more maneuverable, besides, he literally "took it right off the bat": a quick motorcycle engine easily disperse an easy car. The Hittons brothers decided to engage in the design and production of snowmobiles.

However, money from the inventors was not enough for the development of the project, and the brothers bought wholesale waste metal pipes of different profiles in a mechanical plant that worked nearby. When enough material was collected, work began in the garage under the house. To begin with, the Hittons made three snowmobiles, which they immediately sold to local residents, and bought the materials for the next installment for the next batch, which had already five snow bikes. The garage was cramped, I had to rent an additional room on the outskirts of the city. So there was a workshop for the production of snowmobiles - "Brothers Hitton and Company."

"North Star"

The company "Polaris" after a few years declared itself as a manufacturer of reliable equipment for driving in the snowy expanses. Since the early 60s of the last century, the brand "Polaris" (which means "North Star") united under its aegis production of sports mototransport vehicles, including snowmobiles of various modifications.

The lineup

Modern Polaris snowmobiles, which are usually positive reviews, are powerful compact cars that make up a whole family of Polaris Rush models, with high-speed characteristics, easily manageable and reliable. The production of snow bikes involves the highest technology of recent times, technical innovations that allow to withstand tough competition in the market. The company is successfully developing, the lineup is regularly supplemented with exclusive developments. Each new machine is the result of the hard work of a large team of the firm.

Snowmobile Polaris has 16 sports modifications, 17 mountain models and 18 tourist. In addition, the firm has five utilitarian species for adults and three for children. Each model includes a number of exclusive features, although most units and assemblies are fully or partially unified. This simplifies the pipeline assembly process: when you need to increase the output of a particular model, you do not need to rebuild production. A certain set of parts is common to a certain number of models, and the conveyor almost never stops.

Sports cars

• Polaris IQ 550/600 Shift - a brand of sports snowmobile with a quick engine, allowing you to reach a speed of 100 km / h with stable control.
• Indy 600 SP is a machine with a powerful Liberty Cleafire engine with a capacity of 600 cc / cm. High engine performance is combined with low fuel consumption, thanks to the system of controlled injection of the latter.
• 600 RR - snowmobile Race Replica, a model of 2008, provides a fairly comfortable ride off-road. The car is light, maneuverable, it behaves steadily at any speed.
• 600 Rush - sports innovative snowmobile of the 2010 release. The design includes almost all the latest company developments, the car is characterized by aggressive design and high throttle response.
• Rush 600 Pro-R - popular model of 2011, engine capacity of 125 liters. With., In the view does not need. Sports contours are organically combined with a relatively small weight of 212 kilograms.
• Switchback 600 Adventure - a snowmobile "Polaris 600" SA from the 2012 model line, is characterized by an elongated contour, allowing to place the tractor on 136 inches. Two-stroke engine, well proven in racing.
• Dragon 600/800 SP - sport snowmobile, 2009 of release, is created on the IQ platform. Available in two versions, with an accelerated motor and with a more relaxed dynamics.
• 600/800 IQ - the model of 2009, is distinguished by a powerful engine that throws the car "off the bat." Ideal for fans of extreme driving.

Class "Pro"

• Indy 800 SP - snowmobile with excellent technical characteristics, has a light and sturdy chassis Pro-Ride, providing ease of operation at high speeds. It is distinguished by the economy of the engine.
• Rush 800 Pro-R - one of the first Polaris snowmobiles, smoothly enters the turns at speeds above 80 km / h with a sense of comfort.
• Switchback 800 Pro-R is a model equipped with a 136-inch truck, high-performance Walker Evans shock absorbers that stand on all machines with the Pro index. The 800 model features a wide comfortable seat.
• 600 Dragon FST - snowmobile has a truly draconian character, super dynamic, although obedient in management. It is irreplaceable in races and in any other sports competitions.

Engine power

• IQ 700 - sports snowmobile with an aggressive appearance, thanks to the engine capacity of 142 liters. from. Provides the owner with a high level of adrenaline throughout the trip.
• IQ Shift - a wonderful tool for breathtaking travel on the snowy plain, the extreme nature of the snowmobile will not allow to be bored.
• Turbo IQ Dragon - the car from a lineup of 2009. Ideal for outdoor activities, sports competitions and simply dizzy trips. The snowmobile, driven by a motor of 140 horsepower, will always be ahead.
• Turbo IQ - high-speed car for the snowy expanses. Sporting characteristics are impeccable, the car smoothly and confidently goes in the set mode.

Mountain models

• Shift 550 136 - universal machine for various activities in mountain conditions.
• 600 LX - comfortable and reliable mountain cross-country vehicle. Equipped with a 125 horsepower engine.
• 600 Pro-RMK - snowmobile differs spring-hydraulic rear suspension with shock absorbers of Walker Evans class and other know-how.
• Shift 600 136 - a car designed for long trips, equipped with a powerful engine and a capacious fuel tank.
• Dragon 800 Switchback is a luxury snowmobile, easy to operate.

Best Models

• The Polaris 800 RMK 155 is a classic all-terrain vehicle with a 154 horsepower engine, an unprecedented example of constructive maximalism.
• Switchback 800 Assault 144 - a snowmobile, designed to move on deep snow on both the plains and in the mountains. The switching system allows you to select the optimal arrangement of the driving mechanisms.
• Trail RMK is one of the most popular models. The averaged characteristics nevertheless made the car popular and in demand on the snowmobile market.
• Turbo LX is a 2010 snowmobile. The model of mountain destination, is characterized by endurance and a sufficient level of comfort.

Tourist snowmobiles

• Indy 550 Adventure is the ideal vehicle for long journeys. It has a good level of comfort and smooth running.
• Indy 600 Voyager is a good cross-country car, easy to operate, without special equipment, it overcomes the most difficult sections on rough terrain.
• IQ 600 LXT - snowmobile for tourism of 2011 of release. The engine is a two-stroke engine with a capacity of 600 cubic meters per cm, capacity of 125 liters. from.
• IQ 600 Touring is a tourist vehicle for long trips. The car is quite comfortable, even during the movement it has a rest.
• Rush 600 LX - a modern snowmobile for tourism. The machine is equipped with a petrol tank of increased capacity, which allows you to overcome significant distances without refueling.
• 600 Switchback - tourist snowmobile with a sporting bias; Thanks to the suspension of the Pro-Ride the car has mobility, which distinguishes sports models.
• 800 Switchback - rational design snowmobile, has the characteristics of sports and tourism properties.
• Switchback 800 Adventure - a snowmobile for tourism, equipped with a sports suspension, providing good cross-country ability on any snow cover.

Luxury car

• FST Touring - the model can be classified as "luxury" in terms of characteristics: a four-stroke turbine engine with a capacity of 140 horsepower and a suspension class IQ.
• Trail Touring - a simple, reliable machine, equipped with a two-stroke, medium-power air-cooled engine.
• Touring Trail DLX - a comfortable tourist snowmobile, fairly reliable and relatively inexpensive.
• IQ Turbo LXT - machine for long trips of the 2011 release, is characterized by soft seats and a powerful silent engine.

Utilitarian models

• 340 Transport - one of the lightest and fastest models of Polaris, is great for walking, hunting and fishing. Playfully overcomes obstacles, large snowdrifts, snow hummocks.
• 550 Transport - snowmobile "Polaris 550" with good traffic and medium engine power. The weight of the machine does not exceed 243 kilograms.
• IQ 600 Widetrak is a powerful tractor with a wide track. Snowmobile Polaris Vaydrak 600 "is able to walk in deep snow with two riders, and the machine easily draws a ski trailer weighing up to 500 kilograms. Speed characteristics of the snowmobile are in accordance with the norms of the IQ group.
• Widetrak IQ - snowmobile "Polaris Widetrak IQ" is often compared to a tractor, since the machine is equipped with a 4-stroke circular-cooled engine of the Liberty 600 system, with a capacity of 125 liters. from. The motor characteristics correspond to the best technical standards.
• Widetrak LX - the most popular representative of the company's lineup; Snowmobile "Polaris Vaydrakt LH" is an extremely powerful machine with expanded caterpillars, capable of towing loads over 600 kilograms. Speed characteristics of the LX can be envied by a car, and the agility of a snowmobile amazes imagination. The machine gently fits into the turn without losing speed. This is one of the reasons that encourages customers to purchase a snowmobile "Polaris Widetrak LX". The feedback of the owners of this "technology miracle" is mostly positive. Buyers note the reliability of the design and a sufficiently long running time. The model is successfully used on high mountain skiing tracks as a convenient vehicle, economical and efficient. In sports competitions, the LX model also has no equal. So today looks like a popular snowmobile "Polaris Widetrak LX". The feedback of owners on the results of many years of operation also looks quite optimistic. The snowmobile of this model has long been a dream of numerous fans of winter sports. The machine can serve as a tractor, truck or a reliable vehicle for long distance travel. Snowmobile "Polaris Widetrak LX" is available in several variants: in terms of colors, comfort level and speed parameters. The model is also appreciated thanks to a significant engine resource.
• "Polaris 500" is a snowmobile, the predecessor of today's conquerors of snowy plains. The machine was produced in the 90s of the last century and served as a base for new developments, which then turned into full-fledged models.

Children's snowmobiles

• 120 Assault - the car is definitely designed for the smallest drivers. Dominate the friendly settings, excluding jerks and sudden braking, and at the same time the car is equipped with a powerful four-stroke engine, an independent front suspension and a number of other subtleties for "adults."
• 120 Dragon - the ideal machine for the younger generation, collected on the latest technology. Speed limitation, soft brakes, gradual acceleration of the snowmobile - all this is focused on child psychology.
• 120 Indy - a novelty for preschool children. A small, almost toy snowmobile with a benevolent "character." Meets all requirements for machines of this class.