The rear shock on most XTRA-10 equipped models is Polaris’ Indy select which features adjustable compression damping. All models fitted with the XTRA10 suspension have a 41-inch ski stance. The XTRA-10 suspension is lowered in the chassis on the RMK models allowing better deep snow capability. This means that as the front arm begins to compress from the force of a bump, the rear arm will start to move with it more quickly, reducing the impact of the bump on the rear of the suspension. Shortening the distance between the drop link and the stop “couples” the front and rear arms more quickly. Providing more space between the stop and the drop link allows the suspension to transfer more weight during acceleration, a setup likely to be used by those fortunate enough to ride in deep powder snow. The FRSS consists of two position adjustable bump stops located fore and aft of the drop link from the rear arm at both slide rails. The design offers 8.2 inches of vertical travel and their Front Rear Scissor Stop (FRSS) which controls the bump attitude of the rear of the suspension. Twenty-one Polaris models feature the new, XTRA-10 rear suspension system. The Polaris design has about a 17 percent falling rate at both arms. If the ratio decreases, the system is considered a falling rate type. If the ratio increases with more travel, the design is considered a rising rate system. With each inch of displacement of the slide rail, the travel of the shock absorber is measured and the calculation is made. The motion ratio of a suspension system is determined by dividing the travel of the shock absorber at each suspension arm by the vertical travel of the slide rail. One should get a basic understanding of the adjustments of the suspension from the dealer, and then spend an afternoon getting to know how you want your machine to perform.

The long movement system does pull a couple miles per hour off the top-end, however, but it seems a small price for the comfort added by the system.Ĭhanges in setup of the suspension result in very noticeable changes in how the machine handles and rides. Narrower slide rails, which allow more snow to the rails for lubrication, and two additional idler wheels have been added over the 1995 design to reduce slide rail wear and friction. Combined with adjustable limiter straps, the suspension can be custom tuned for an incredibly comfortable ride. Some XTRA-12 models utilize the Indy Select shock on the front arm of the suspension which incorporates an adjustable compression damping valve. The shock on the front arm has a threaded preload adjustment collar and the rear arm torsion springs perch on adjustment cams with four settings. The track suspension design allows for a wide range of adjustment for individual riding needs and conditions. Geometry similar to the XCR’s has been used, along with shorter radius rods, to reduce ski scrub and keep the overall width of the machine within 48 inches without the need of special, narrow skis. To help maintain stability with the higher riding system, the ski stance on the XTRA-l2 equipped models has been stretched out to 42.5 inches. The ski suspension delivers 9.6 inches of vertical travel for the longest movement OEM package in the snowmobile industry. The track suspension design offers 10.2 inches of vertical travel (measured from the compressed bump stop on the rail to the torsion spring on the cross shaft.). These models are also equipped with Polaris’ XTRA-12 front suspension package.

The XTRA-12 is, without question, the plusher riding of the two long-travel designs from Polaris and is found on the Indy Classic, Classic Touring, 500 ER, XLT, XLT Touring, XLT Special and the RXL. A completely new design was introduced on the RXL and XLT XTRAs for 1995 and for 1996, Polaris has two long-travel designs aimed at different applications, the XTRA-10 and the XTRA-12. A handful of XLT XTRA models produced in 1994 got people talking and trying out the new concept. Polaris was the first manufacturer to offer a new generation, long-travel suspension system.

For 1996, Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha all have long movement suspension systems available and Arctic Cat offers their Extended Travel Tunnel (ETT) on their 1995 ZR 440. The current long-travel wars seem to have been touched off by the incredible success of FAST Inc.’s M-10 suspension design. It’s here! It’s really here! The long-travel snowmobile suspension revolution is really here! Oh sure, there was the Arctic Cat Trail Cat in 1979 and the Ski-Doo Blizzard 5500 MX in 1981, but those sleds suffered from high centers of gravity, narrow ski stances, poor shock absorbers and primitive design geometry.

Slide runner john deere cyclone 440