Polaris 650 Indy XCR 137
2026 Polaris 650 Indy XCR 137
Our veteran team of test riders varied quite a bit in terms of age, weight and height. But we all have a couple of things in common: We’ re all big high-performance racing fans( with some ex-racers in the mix), and we all have a deep appreciation for snowmobile racing history.
Therefore, we are likely predestined to be drawn to a Polaris wearing the magical XCR letters. Slap that moniker on a sled with the nearly ideal Matryx chassis ergonomics, the most reactive mid-displacement engine in the sport, razor-sharp handling and a premium shock package, and the resulting 650 Indy XCR becomes a longtime staff favorite.
In fact, almost every recent year at the end of Rode Reports when we ask our test riders which Polaris they would most like to take home to the Upper Midwest, the high-flying, freewheeling, ditch-banging XCR is the runaway choice – with one caveat.
Ultimately, each year while we’ re praising the fun factor of the Indy XCR, someone always says,“ I just wish the rear suspension didn’ t bottom so easily,” and everyone nods in agreement. On full-season demo units back home, we’ ve cranked up spring rates and shock settings, and even tried stiffer springs, but we still hadn’ t found the right combination to handle that bottoming problem in big moguls without compromising the handling or ride quality in normal conditions.
It kind of makes a guy wonder if Polaris designers could do something to the Pro-CC rear suspension geometry to fix that issue. Ah, just a pipe dream, right?
What’ s New?
The pipe dream is now a reality with the Long Tail rear suspension geometry on the Indy XCR’ s version of the Pro-CC rear suspension – Polaris’ big update for its trail sleds for 2026.
It’ s called a Long Tail design because the forward reaching“ tails” on the rear torsion springs are much longer and mount 8 inches farther forward on the rails. Polaris officials said this allows the front and rear suspension arms – and their springs and shocks – to work together much more effectively without binding.
As part of the package, Polaris designers build in effective spring rates that are 20 % stiffer and adjusted shock settings accordingly. The suspensions retain the performance-oriented Walker Evans Velocity shocks with 2-inch bores at all locations. They feature exterior adjustment for high- and lowspeed compression.
Otherwise, the 650 Indy XCR returns unchanged for model year 2026, continuing to ride on the Matryx platform. Aside from the new Long Tail geometry, the XCR’ s version of the Pro-CC rear suspension still has reinforced rails and pull rods,
JANUARY 2026 / SNOWGOER. COM / 19