The All-New Indy XC

Continuing our breakdown of Polaris’ all new snowmobiles, we’re going to talk about the Indy XC this week. Let’s get right to it. The Indy XC has moved onto the AXYS Chassis, while the bulk of the Indy line remains on the Pro-Ride chassis. If you haven’t had a chance to ride the AXYS chassis, we can’t recommend it enough. Polaris introduced it with the 2015 Rush and Switchback lines. It provides Rider Balanced performance for control, precision, and the highest fun factor.

The Indy XC also features the All-New Pro-CC Rear Suspension, which is the next generation rear suspension from Polaris. It produces the industry’s best acceleration, handling, and a consistently smooth ride. The front torque arm is calibrated for trail compliance without bottoming. The rear torque arm features a torque link and has an optimized position for Rider Balanced Control.

Premium Walker Evans Shocks are race-tested and race-proven, and have improved clicker accessibility for easiest adjustability. The front suspension shocks are Piggyback Needle shocks. The front track shock is a Piggyback shock with a 2” diameter for durability, an improved ride, and a performance-enhancing softer spring. The rear track shock is a Velocity Needle shock that features improved oil flow to reduce harshness at the top end of the clicker.

Storage comes standard on all Indy 129 models with additional accessory storage options available for greater versatility. Standard integrated underseat storage bag provides 1024 cubic inches of secure storage space with a weather-tight design that seals out snow.

You can SnowCheck your Indy XC in a 600, 800, or the SnowCheck Exclusive Patriot 850 we featured last week in our blog. On top of factory customization, you get a four year warranty and no interest until March 1^st and no payments until April 1^st – all for just a $500 deposit now. SnowCheck is available through April 17^th, so come in and see us today!

The All-New SnowCheck Exclusive Patriot 850 Engine

When the Polaris Dealer Meeting opened two weeks ago in Orlando, it was clear that the snowmobile manufacturer was positively giddy to announce their new 2019 lineup. As the talk went on and the latest and greatest was announced, the dealers got giddy too. The 850 Patriot Engine is a game changer and we’re going to break it down for you.

 

The All-New Polaris 850 Patriot is designed for class-leading durability, responsiveness, unrivaled acceleration, and the industry’s best power-to-weight ratio. An all new belt and reeds specifically designed for the 850 Patriot are optimized for durability and longevity. And even better, this SnowCheck Exclusive comes with a 4-year warranty.

 

A new cylinder and head design are optimized for maximum durability. It is a one-piece head design that allows for structural rigidity, engineered coolant flow, and optimized weight. A patent-pending combustion chamber design allows for complete combustion and ultimate performance through the entire operating range.

 

The new water bottle features an integrated thermostat. This all-new design maximizes durability and cooling efficiency. The patent-pending simplified coolant bottle design minimizes vibration and maximizes thermostat life. It is a self-bleeding cooling system with integrated by-pass for fast warm-up.

 

New engine mounting seamlessly integrates into the 2019 AXYS chassis. It minimizes vibration from transmitting to the rider and provides a more consistent center distance to maximize belt life.

 

A new throttle body and throttle position sensor features a lightweight, simple, and durable design. The contact-less TPS allows for reliable and consistent performance. It is a permanent set – no adjustment required! The Power Boosting Regulator gives you quicker starting and delivers maximum electrical power at idle and low RPMs. The Electrical ECU has a faster processor, exhaust valve control integration, and greater input and output.

 

Customize your sled’s look and get the SnowCheck exclusive Polaris 850 Patriot with a four year warranty. Just a $500 deposit down and no interest until March 1^st and no payments until April 1^st. SnowCheck is only available through April 17^th – so get your SnowCheck order in today!

Appolson’s Schedules 2018 Polaris Snowmobile Demo Rides

The annual Appolson’s Performance Center snowmobile demo rides have been scheduled for January 27^th. The demo rides, along with a picnic lunch, will be held out of their Hamburg showroom from 10:30-2:00 pm. There will also be a youth sled on hand for kids to try out. Those wanting to try the new 2018 line-up may sign up online at http://bit.ly/2018APCSnowDemo for a timeslot.

Due to the great winter Western New York is seeing in 2018, the dealership is also offering a customer appreciation ride-in and ride-out that day as well. Customers will be able to ride their sleds on the trail system to the store, have a picnic lunch, and then head out on a customer appreciation ride at 3 pm. Those customers wishing to demo ride along the way on the trails can also sign up at the above website.

Sign-ups will be collected until slots are filled or through noon on January 25^th, whichever comes first. For more information, you can contact Appolson’s Performance Center at 716-649-1090, by email at marketing@appolson.com, or via their website at appolson.com.

2017 Wrap Up

Happy New Year! We hope you had a happy holiday season. It was nice to have a white Christmas for the first time in a few years and we know a lot of you took advantage of trails being open. While the first few days of January tend to be a time for looking ahead, we wanted to talk about a few of our favorite moments from 2017.

We got lucky enough to have our annual Snowmobile Demo ride a few weeks late in February. We ran it right out of our back door. People loved seeing our service shop and trying out the 2017 Polaris line-up. There was a good camaraderie and it was nice and toasty over the grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.

In June, we had an ORV demo ride at KB Moto. It was a muddy, sunny day. We got to ride with customers, show off some of the cool Polaris side by sides and ATVs, and even took some videos of trail riding.

The end of July brought our annual Blast on the Beach. This year it was a really windy affair. We still had a full slate of riders and a ton of fun. Our workers managed to get a little color during the day and a lot of laughs with our customers and beach goers.

We’re looking forward to making more memories with you all in 2018. It doesn’t look like we have to do much of a snow dance for our upcoming Snowmobile Demo Ride, but we’ll knock on wood and turn around three times any way, just in case. Happy Holidays from the Appolson’s Team!

Snowmobile FAQ

Snow, baby, snow! If the weather forecast has you feeling like Elsa from Frozen, you’re probably getting pretty excited about trails potentially opening in just a couple weeks. If you’re new to the sport or just not sure on some items, we have the answers to all your pressing questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.

1. What do I need to be able to ride in New York?

You must be registered in New York State, even if you’re from out of state or our of country, unless it’s one of the days NYS waves registration requirements. You also need liability coverage on the sled. You do not need to join a snowmobile club, however it is recommended as it takes your registration fee from $100 to $45!

2. How much insurance is needed?

You must have liability insurance that provides coverage for any one person sustaining injury or death of at least $10,000 and for two or more persons involved in an accident of at least $20,000 and at least $5,000 for damage of property of another. You must carry proof of insurance with you.

3. Where can I ride?

New York State has a pretty great trail system, with over 10,000 miles of designated and registration supported trails.

4. What do I need to wear?

New York State law requires you to wear a DOT approved snowmobile helmet. Helmet fit is very important, so if you’re not sure, ask a salesperson to help you find the right size. Other than that, you should wear warm clothing like a snowmobile suit or jacket and pants. Boots and gloves are also recommended.

5. Does Appolson’s rent snowmobiles?

No, we do not rent any vehicles.

6. Do I need to take a safety course?

Any person over eighteen may operate a snowmobile on lands where public snowmobiling is allowed without taking a snowmobile safety course. Kids 10-14 years old may operate a snowmobile when they have a safety certificate and are with someone over 18 years old. Kids 14-18 years old who have their safety certificate may operate a snowmobile as an adult on lands where snowmobiling is permitted. There’s even an online course you can take!

7. Is there any required safety equipment for the sled?

You need a working headlight, tail light, brake light, and working muffler system.

Winterizing Your Snowmobile

It’s no secret the last couple of winter seasons have been less than fun for us snowmobilers here in Western New York. But with snow in the forecast later this week and the end of bow hunting season scheduled for the 19th, it’s not hard to get excited to hit the trails! But with two light winters in our rearview, is your sled ready to go?

No matter your preferred brand, it’s always a good idea to do a thorough service on your sled before going out on your first ride of the season. Whether you like to get your own hands dirty or bring it in to our certified service shop, we can help you out.

First up, check your oil level. It’s not a bad idea to do an oil change at the start of the season. This way you ensure that no moisture snuck its way into your oil while your sled was taking a snooze. Next up, check your spark plug. If it is wet or blackened, you need to change it out.

Check your coolant level and add or change if needed. Look at your air box and make sure it’s clear. With crossing roads a part of almost every trail these days, it’s so important to have your brakes in proper working order. Check the brake pads, fluids, and general braking operation.

If you’re sensing a theme here – you’re right. It’s check everything. The motor mounts, choke and idle adjustments, battery, lights, and carbides all need to be checked. Grease all fittings and then get back to checking things. Check the sliders, idler wheels, shocks, track alignment, track tension, and in general if there are any rips or missing studs (if you’ve got a studded track). Check your ski alignment, drive belt, clutches, and all cables. Finally, check your chain case drive fluid level.

If anything you’ve checked looks like it needs to be replaced or will soon need to be, make sure you have spares on hand so you’re not stranded on the trails. Extra spark plugs, oil, and a belt are good things to bring along with you on your rides or at least have stocked in your trailer or truck. We can help you out with service or parts six days a week. And if you’ve had enough of your old sled, we’ve got a huge stock of new to get you upgraded for your best ride experience.

Now get outside and do your snow dance then turn your PJs inside out and get a good night’s rest. Braaap!

Motorcycle and Scooter Services

You might not see many on-road vehicles in our showroom, but if you were to come into the service shop, you’d see quite a few back there! A lot of people are unaware that we offer many different services for our two and three wheeled friends. As we say all the time, we love to ride and we want you to have the safest ride possible. The road riding season is short, so make the most of it by not missing any time! Some of the services we offer:

• New York State Motorcycle Inspection
• New York State Scooter Inspection
• Oil Change
• Motorcycle/Scooter Complete Service
• Tire Changes
• Detailing

Make sure you get your bike regularly serviced and inspected so you don’t get stranded somewhere. And if you’re looking to upgrade your riding gear this summer, we can help you out there too. You can call us at 716-649-1090 or go to our service department website to make an appointment. Have a great ride and ride safe!

Watercraft Safety

Now that we’ve hit July, I think we can safely say that summer is here and we’re happy to be out on the water! New riders and seasoned riders alike may not be aware of all the regulations in New York State regarding personal watercraft usage. It is required that each rider (whether driver or passenger) wears a life jacket. The PWC must have:

• an engine cut-off lanyard,
• a sound producing device (like a whistle),
• a visual distress signal (like a safety flag), and
• a fire extinguisher (on waters under the US Coast Guard jurisdiction.)

It is recommended, though not required, that each rider has footwear, eyewear (goggles or sunglasses), a wet suit, and gloves.

In New York, it is required that all owners and operators successfully complete a boating safety course and operators must be at least 14 years old. Operation is, of course, not allowed between sunset and sunrise. Neither is weaving through congested traffic, jumping the wake of another watercraft, playing chicken, or using your vehicle within 500 feet of a bathing beach or swim area. If you happen to be renting a personal watercraft, you must be at least 16 years old and prove it with photo ID. You must also be able to show correct operating procedures, proper use of the safety equipment, and must have proof of completion of the boating safety course.

Some best practices when out on the water include not operating too close to shore, docks, marinas, fisherman, or launching areas, not disturbing wildlife or operating in environmentally sensitive areas, and not forcing larger watercraft like boats or shipping vessels to move unnecessarily. If you have a passenger on the back of your PWC, practice a little extra caution as they can lose their grip on you, fall off (or be ejected), and get injured.

Once you have all these practices and measures in place, you’re set to get out on the water!

Summerizing Your Snowmobile

It’s hard to believe we are just days from the end of June. It wasn’t a great winter for snow enthusiasts in Western New York, but many of our customers told us they were able to get some good riding in up north and down in the Chautauqua region. While we provide summerization at our service shop, we understand some people like to take the wrench to their own machines too.

First things first, give your machine a good and thorough cleaning. When storing any machine for an extended period of time, store it with gas in the tank (the fuller the better) in order to reduce the risk of condensation forming. You should add fuel stabilizer to the tank. If you have a fuel injector, add injector cleaner to that as well. Run the engine to temp and then fog the motor.

Degrease your motor and suspension, including using forced air to blow off excess water. Use silicone spray on the engine compartment and suspension as well. Grease all of the applicable points. Check your chain case oil and coolant levels. Remove your drive belt. If your sled has a battery, remove it, charge it, and put it on a shelf. Then it’s time to put your sled to bed for the summer season.

Spring ATV Picnic

This past Saturday, Appolson’s staff took to the tails at KB Moto to do what we love – ride! We hosted a Customer Appreciation picnic at the ATV Park to thank those that have visited us, whether it was buying a vehicle, buying oil, or visiting us online. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was sunny, warm, breezy – and no rain!

We brought some of our favorite Polaris ATVs and Side by Sides to the park and rode the massive trail system in the morning with a group. At lunch time, we gave everyone a free lunch and took some people out on demo runs in our vehicles – the RZR S 1000 was the favorite! After lunch, the group went out on runs again. We even had an area set aside for our younger customers to ride a Sportsman 110! Everyone came back muddy, tired, and, most importantly, happy.

We took a lot of video and photos on Saturday that we are editing together to get up on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.