polaris 550 indy voyager

Final report on the Polaris 550 Indy Voyager 2015

Mathieu lavoie.

• December 4, 2014
• Polaris , Reviews , Snowmobiles

It is now time to conclude my trial of the Polaris 550 Indy Voyager.  I lived quite an adventure with this small snowmobile !  I must say that I had underestimated it and it proved me its value right on my first ride.  It was the beginning of a wonderful relationship between this machine and me.

Let's return to the basics of the Indy models :  who are they designed for ?  The Indy models are designed for the beginners or for the snowmobilers looking for a versatile machine, to use at their cottage for example.  It's getting really interesting when you take a look at the price and components of the Indy models.  Effectively, due to the 550 fan-cooled engine, they need very easy and low maintenance. 

Under the hood As said earlier, the Indy Voyager is propelled by the long-time proven Polaris 550F engine.  The new 2014 CVTech PowerBloc 50 drive clutch enchances the transmission of power to the track.

The look You can't say the Indy Voyager is not a nice snowmobile.  It looks like a mountain snowmobile because it is built on the same chassis than the RMK lineup.  Also, it was a good move from Polaris to keep it simple.  The rear cargo rack proves the versatility of the Indy lineup.  Effectively, the Polaris Indy models are able to face most challenges on trail, off trail or for utility at the cottage. 

Usage I have been surprised by the great rides I had with the Indy Voyager, whether on trail or off trail, no matter the mileage.  One day, I rode over 600 km and I was comfortable from the beginning to the end of my tour.  Cornering on this snowmobile is quite surprising for a 144 in. machine.  And the mid-size windshield provides a good protection.  I experienced slight darting only when trails were in bad conditions.

However, my greatest surprise was the performance of the Indy Voyager when riding off trail.  Despite its 550F engine, the Indy Voyager offers unexpected performance in powder snow thanks to its clutching, its lightweight chassis and the instant response of its engine/clutching combination. 

Seated Once comfortably seated, the Polaris standard gauge in front of us shows all the important data, except for the fuel level that is indicated on the tank cap.  Also, I like the thumb and hand warmer controls located on the handlebar.  And what great surprise it is that the Indy models are equipped with an electric start !

Standing Now you're talking, because it means that we are riding off trail !  And it means that it becomes more exciting !  The Indy Voyager brings in its unique features and increases your fun.  Effectively, as mentioned above,  the engine / clutching combination provides a good power off trail.  Also, the 1,25 in. track helps you to get out of difficult situations.  I have really been astonished by all what I could do with the Indy Voyager.  In fact, this snowmobile floats on the snow in a most surprising way and gets out of snow easily when carving in powder snow.

But However, there is no perfect snowmobile.  With the Indy models, Polaris focussed on simplicity and affordability for the largest number of riders possible.  That has a price :  the 550F engine with carburetor is not the most fuel-efficient engine on the market.  All those who have already  owned such an engine are aware of its high fuel consumption.  On the other hand, this choice of engine is justified by Polaris :  simplest design, easy to maintain, very low maintenance required, starts at almost any temperature, industry-proven engine. 

Conclusion In short, I had great pleasure to try out the Polaris 550 Indy Voyager and I keep only good memories of my experience.  Polaris succeeded to offer affordable snowmobiles that fulfill entirely the novice as well as the experienced pilot's basic needs.  We could observe some new 2015 Indy models; it will be interesting to see the final Indy lineup over the years.

Special thanks to Polaris Industries who allowed me to try out the 550 Indy Voyager all season long.

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Indy 144 vs 155 - 550 vs 600

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Hey Y'all... I'm completely new here and am just getting back into sledding. I'm a Polaris guy, so it will probably end up being one. Haven't bought yet, and have looked at the following: all in Indy series. My interests are 80% off trail 20% on. Would like the option of taking passenger, and finally price point. 550 Adventure 144 and 155" 550 LTX 144 600 Voyageur 144. First off, When I first started looking and saw $3000 diff between the 550 vs 600 - I was definitely thinking 550 Voyageur. However, like when looking at anything and seeing for this much extra you get this etc... I thought I settled on the Adventure or possibly LTX. But...off trail, not getting stuck is top priority. The LTX only has 1.0" track depth vs 1.35" on Adventure 144, 1.6" on Adventure 155 and whopping 2.0" lugs on 600 Voyageur 144. They are all pretty similar, but I initially thought the Adventure 155 was the ticket, even stretching the budget at 10k. My concern though is you are sacrificing HP, FI, liquid cool, and track lugs. The 600 144 comes in at another $1200 over the Adventure 155". Need some opinions on what is the best all around choice for off trail, possibility of passenger, track length and specs. My head is spinning. Thanks in advance.  

The 600 has a ton more power. With the 2.0 that would be the best in deep snow. If you run in low snow conditions just chugging along the 550 will not have overheating issues.  

I purchased a 2015 Voyageur 600 this year. A dealer up in NH had a 2014 left over for $8650, but I was hooked on the white color, and managed to buy a '15 for over $1000 off msrp, (they also come with a 3 year engine warranty). Long story short I love it. I'm going to Jackman next week and hope to take a ton of pictures for a "ride report" so to speak. The 600 Voyageur is a full RMK 600 with a rack on it. I bought it with the intention of having a sled to pull the groomer on our personal trails, and I really wanted to have a long track sled. The 2" track seems to ride great on the hard pack (i added cable ice scratchers), and the suspension is really comfortable. The cargo basket gives you lots of storage space for a long trip, and the "switchback" seat is really comfy. Personally I think it's one of the most underrated sleds out there.  

Bullock, first off welcome to Hard Core Sledder!! You will find a wealth of information at your fingertips. I'm strictly a trail rider so I can't help you out on a sled selection. But I can tell you, get the 600. You won't be disappointed. Excellent power, good trail manners, and if you take it easy, good fuel mileage.  

It may cost more, but you do get quite a bit more sled. I put 1000 miles on a voyager 600 last season. Deep snow capability depends on track size, but also horsepower and the extra 65hp if the 600 is night and day noticeable. It's a do-all sled perfectly suited to trail riding on Friday, playing in the deep powder on Saturday and pulling sleighs or working on Sunday. As a complete package, it is the best sled I've ridden for its excellent versatility and performance of the engine, chassis, and ergonomics.  

so do these sleds have a indy chaincase or do they have the rmk belt drive:dunno: just wundering i would get the 600 if i had to choose from the 3  

Thanks to you all for the warm welcome to the site and input...very helpful. Think you pretty much confirmed what I was thinking...you do get quite a few extra perks with the 600. Guess I was set on the 155" for a while, yet wondered if it would make that big a difference and if the 550 would labour powering it. Curious if a 600 155" voyageur is in the works... Liquid cool is also a pretty big feature. The 600 Adventure Switchback would be the bomb, but definitely out of my price range. Love the click and go seat, cargo compartments and the silver....but it's about getting the best all around sled, and I'm feeling it's probably the 600. Resale is also probably better on it in the event one wants to trade up in a couple of years. Sadly I missed out on a 2014 600 leftover for $8200 this past week. :-( To answer someone's question, the 600 use the chain case system...  

Not only is the 600 liquid cooled it's fuel injected. Not sure why polaris didn't do this in the 550 fans. Sent from Snowmobile.com Free App  

800HdRush said: Not only is the 600 liquid cooled it's fuel injected. Not sure why polaris didn't do this in the 550 fans. Sent from Snowmobile.com Free App Click to expand...

If your going with the 600 voyageur take a look at the 600 rmk 144. I've compared the two and they seem very very similar. The main differences I see between the two is the cargo rack and the sticker on the side saying rmk. I could be missing something though? If anyone has more info on the differences between the two let us know. If they are basically the same sled but different prices you might want to look them both over good. If your doing a lot of off trail the 600 with a 2 inch paddle will take you everywhere you want to go but the steepest and deepest in the mountains.  

The rmk and voyager are similar, but there is more than meets to eye. The voyager has the following over the rmk: Standard electric start HD front bumper Tall windshield Rear tunnel storage rack Rear tow hitch  

It does have the chain case. Pro RMK are the only ones with the belt drive. If I were you I would consider the RMK 600 144. I just bought my wife a 15 with electric start for $9300 otd.  

Thanks for the input megrizzly. So am I right in assuming that the only difference between the two are cosmetic and accessories? Are they physically and mechanically identical?  

Yes, underneath the additional features, they are the same sled. I bought mine for $9500 from my dealer. It's a lot of sled for the money, and the electric start and big rack come in handy. If you have the money you could remove the rack and put the adventure rack system on. My dealer had a takeoff adventure rack that he wanted to sell me,and it was short money as well. The full set up including the seat Is over $700. I didn't go for it though, as it defeats my purpose of having the standard rack with all its carrying capacity.  

if your primary concern is not getting stuck go 155 without question 550 vs 600 will depend on your budget and how much power you think you'll need, if in doubt (throttle out) go bigger.  

I just bought a 2016 voyager 550F 144. Your 80% off trail/ 20% on trail is the big issue. I have only put 150 miles on in 2 trips this year, but I put 120 miles on with a passenger and the 2 up seat with backrest that I added for about $220? My purely internet knowledge of this sled says you will be surprised of the off trail capabilities of the 144 tracked 550F. My personal experience is limited but did involve hill climbs in low snow and turns/ medium hill climbs in deep snow (12"+), both 2 up. I can tell you I did not feel any chance of being "stuck", again this is a low snow MN winter so that may not mean much. I purchased the 550 voyager 144 for the larger lug track and added the 2up seat for cheap INSTEAD of buying the LXT with the shorter lug height and mirrors I didn't want anyways. Internet reviews- (accuracy??? who knows) say that in DEEP snow even the 144 550F voyager does GREAT, not the first up the hill but somehow makes it and seems to surprise the reviewers everytime because its a lowly 550F. BUT- if I lived in an area with tons of deep snow every year I would pony up and get the 600!!!  

I paid $6700US for a '16 Indy Voyager 550F 144 ES. for reference. Plus tax license etc, and I think this is a "normal" price, not a good deal.  

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Recent Polaris 550 Engine Issues

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I own a 2020 Polaris Voyageur 550. I was aware of chronic issues with respect to earlier Polaris 550 engines that seem to have been related to over-heating with the intake being situated too close to the exhaust manifold. From what I've read, it appears this problem seemed to disappear around 2010, which is why I went ahead and purchased my 2020. However, my sled broke down on the trail recently and it's in the shop, waiting to be repaired. After a seemingly normal 30-plus mile ride, I opened it up for just a few seconds and was able to get 50 MPH, backed off the throttle a bit since the engine seems to bog down at full throttle and actually goes better by just backing off the throttle slightly. I then tried again to hit 50 MPH with full throttle and this time I was only able to go 40 MPH so I knew something was definitely wrong. When we stopped at a trail rest area a mile or so later, it sounded bad so I shut it off. A few minutes later, I tried to start it and it would not start, but after about ten minutes, I was finally able to get it started but it was unable to muster enough power to move an inch. I removed the belt and towed to to the nearest road with my wife's sled. I'm not sure what's wrong but I have to think it's substantial. My primary question is this: I have been unable to find any recent issues with this engine/sled with numerous internet searches. Is anyone else out there experiencing issues with a 2020 Polaris 550 fan-cooled engine? I have about 750 miles on the sled. I love the sled otherwise but did I buy a lemon that's prone to chronic engine problems? Thanks for any feedback!  

You just don't see many threads about the Polaris 550 that are positive. I really wish Polaris could make a low-hp long lasting, DURABLE engine. The old Polaris 500 fan would be something to emulate. But nope... gremlins abound. And if you try to sell your sled, you get way less for it than you should because of the 550 engine reputation. I hope it is an easy fix and not too costly... keep us posted as you go... Good luck!  

Thanks for your feedback. Maybe a lack of positive news but any recent bad news out there with respect to 2020 Polaris 550's or model years in close proximity to 2020?  

Time to just take the Skidoo 503 motor and put it in there. hehe. One of the most reliable 2 strokes ever made. So reliable that Ultralight owners desired them. I've been toying with the idea of making another franken-sled. I have a Polaris Assault chassis that has a few pieces missing and a completely unsalvageable motor. Maybe cram that 503 in there. ha!  

If you do that, Bear... take pics and bring us along!!  

It sure sounds like a burn down. My theory has always been that these sleds are jetted too lean to make them burn EPA clean and when people drive at a steady speed hour after hour it just leans out too much.  

That's what I've heard from two others who know their sleds. I actually vary my speed a lot - I average about 30-35 MPH on the trail but slow it down for bumps and speed up to 40 and beyond when the trail opens up. Thanks for your feedback!  

Lots of info out there on 550 burn downs- I know from having owned one. Great sled- easy to rebuild and sell too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

Man, reading this isn’t gonna make me sleep good tonight….bought a 2021 550 Indy LXT last year, and my wife has a ‘22 550 LXT on order currently [emoji51]. Hopefully what we intend to use them for doesn’t reveal any issues. Good luck with your sled. I’m curious what you end up finding. I’m new to snowmobiles so this stuff is educating for me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

One of the worst designs ever made by Polaris. I would be cancelling that order and going up to a 600. At least you know those are reliable!  

Sorry, didn’t wanna hijack this thread. We were trying to get fan cooled sleds because we do a lot of ice fishing, and the 550 model is the only fan cooled model they have. At this point, I’m gonna keep the order and hope for the best. Again, sorry to hijack the thread. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

Polaris Recalls Some Model Year 2022 MATRYX RMK, INDY, SWITCHBACK, VOYAGEUR, and NORDIC PRO Snowmobiles | Polaris

Dewey23 I bought a Polaris Voyageur 550 with a 155 track (2022) and had similar issues from the start. Purchased in Jan 2022. I brought it 3 times to the dealer to try and figure out what it was. I finally found the problem myself and showed the dealer. the intake hose fell off in the gas tank and was causing me to start running out of gas (stalling) when the gas tank was about half full. They fixed that and I thought everything was finally ok. But this year (Jan 2023).on the first ride, the engine started to run rough and not idle properly and stalling, then would not start again. brought it to the dealer again and they found that the intake gas hose that had fell in the tank last year had disintegrated and not all pieces were removed. It completely clogged up both carburetor and gas pump. (Grrrrrr&^^$&*(>>). The dealer told me that they had a lot of brand-new machine with the hose disintegrated in the gas tank right from the manufacture. Now if this is the case, I wonder why it took then so long to find it and why they did not clean the hose debris properly in the first place. this is an FYI for anyone having a stalling problem on their new 550 fan machine. these above were exactly the first symptom I was having. Now of course, I wonder if they properly cleaned the entire fuel system, or if I will be having issues again.  

What the heck. Just wow. You would figure they would use a hose that would at least last 10 years before having issues. Good grief. I'm betting the alcohol in the fuel has something to do with it, although all the sled manufacturers say their stuff is made to run it. I hate that stuff. Thanks for posting your problem and the solution! It may help someone else from the same fate.  

Here is an FYI on gas mileage - I do approx 21.8 l/100km (10.8 miles per gallons) - approx 180 km (111 miles) on a tank of gas.  

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