Are you interested in the Taiga Varyag 550 snowmobile? There is nothing surprising. The specifics of the Russian climate make this type of equipment in demand among residents of many regions of the country.
This is especially true for northern regions, where winter subsides only for a short time. Having not had time to enjoy the short summer, people are again forced to think about preparing vehicles designed to travel on snow. There is a demand for snowmobiles, and, as you know, it creates supply.
Everything said is well understood in. The company, which has existed for many years, has been successfully developing, promoting its products not only on the Russian market, but also in other countries. It did not appear out of nowhere, but was spun off into independent production from Rybinsk Motors OJSC.
Thus, all models produced by Russian Mechanics JSC are direct heirs to the glory of the legendary Buran snowmobile, which appeared back in 1971.
Price matters
Combining accumulated experience with modern technologies and the latest technical solutions, the company’s specialists develop and produce products that successfully compete in the market with machines produced by others. It is the leader of the Russian market in the snowmobile segment. Neither cheap goods from China nor equipment supplied by reputable companies like Arctic Cat, Polaris or BRP can shake its position. A good example of the thoughtfulness of the technical and pricing policy of a domestic manufacturer is the Taiga Varyag 550 snowmobile.
A Wide Track class model in the basic configuration can be purchased for 330,000 rubles. Of course, if the dealer is not too greedy. If comfort does not seem enough, then there is the opportunity to buy a car with an extended configuration. For the Taiga Varyag 550V snowmobile you will have to pay about 380 thousand rubles.
For comparison, for a used BRP Sky-Doo with an engine of the same displacement and in good condition, they ask for about 500,000 rubles. If cost is an important factor, then the choice is clear. What does a buyer of Russian equipment get for a relatively modest price? You can understand this by studying the device and evaluating the technical characteristics of the Taiga Varyag 550.
About the manufacturer
One of the most reputable manufacturers of snowmobiles is domestic. This company has been producing equipment for more than 40 years, which allows it to use not only the latest production technologies, but also rich experience and the specifics of use on our land.
Russian Mechanics Company
In addition, snowmobiles from Russian Mechanics were involved in the longest snow expedition in the country, so you can absolutely trust such equipment without fear that the unit will let you down at an important moment.
The equipment from this manufacturer has truly Russian durability, so breakdowns occur extremely rarely.
The company is really popular, so purchasing a snowmobile from this company would be an excellent decision.
Features of the engine design
Let's start with the power unit. The two-cylinder engine of the RMZ-550 design has a displacement of 553 cc/cm. The features of its device include:
- Push-pull operating cycle. Oil is poured into the tank along with fuel. This slightly increases fuel consumption, but simplifies the design of the engine and facilitates its operation.
- Air cooling. On machines operated at low temperatures, such a design solution is completely justified.
- Two float carburetors brand Mikuni, a well-known Japanese manufacturer of fuel equipment for various equipment.
- Reed valve of the intake system.
- Ducati CDI ignition system.
- An electric starter makes starting easier, which distinguishes the RMZ-550 from the RMZ-500 motor installed on the Taiga Varyag 500 snowmobile.
In this version, the RMZ-550 produces 55 hp. s., accelerating the car to a speed of at least 80 km/h. In this mode, if the carburetors and ignition are adjusted correctly, fuel consumption is about 20 liters per 100 km. Considering that the fuel tank holds 40 liters of gasoline, it’s enough for 200 kilometers.
Controversial reviews of the Taiga Varyag 550 snowmobile
In today’s article we will talk about the Taiga Varyag 550 snowmobile, we will introduce you to an overview of the reviews that we collected on the Internet which, by the way, are very ambiguous. Some characterize the work of the Varyag 550 snowmobile in extremely impartial and sometimes obscene terms, while others consider it an excellent snow all-terrain vehicle and do not understand the complaints against it. On average, from the comments left, the following can be highlighted: “Varyag” The Russian copy, the Japanese “Yamaha Viking”, is well conceived, but not very good in execution. Significant disadvantages: excessively noisy, huge fuel consumption, frequent speedometer breakdowns, wiring burns out, the quality of metal and assembly leaves much to be desired. But there are also quite satisfied owners who managed to buy a very successful 550 model. In general, if we compare the price of Russian and Japanese manufacturers, then the price of domestic snowmobiles is quite acceptable, which cannot be said about the quality. We invite you to read reviews about the Taiga Varyag 550 snowmobile and form your own opinion.
Positive reviews:
— Excellent performance of the variator, high-spirited engine, normal dynamics. — Suitable as a first snowmobile. — Affordable price for a utility vehicle. - It starts normally. — Stop hating Varyag, an excellent snowmobile, he has traveled more than 2500 km. There are no problems, and there is nothing to break in it, use it as expected. - Fast, agile. - Easy to use like Buran. - This is a car that needs to be looked after, loved and monitored. And don’t press on the gas with crazy eyes. Then he runs longer. — Amazing launch. — Snezhik is great -30, starts the second time by hand, runs excellently, revs up to 50 horses clearly, but, unfortunately, after driving over rough terrain, the mudguard flew off completely. — The mileage is 1000 kilometers, there are no breakdowns, before that there was a Buran, so there is something to compare with, my preference is in favor of the Varyag. There are no comments on the assembly, but dealers are making mistakes. — Latvians produce speedometers, make claims against them. As for the hood, rivet it straight away with a riveter. And the fact that it breaks down, we need to remember the joke about two titanium balls, foreigners also break down, only less is written about them, and, in general, a snowmobile is much cheaper than a bourgeois one. — Outside the window there is +5 snow, slush, a sled with a 190-kilogram load and two people on the Varyag, it’s hard - but the towbar was taken out and withstood, the snowball was in perfect order. — I’ve been away for two winters, the third is coming, I won’t write anything bad, I eat according to requests, I’ve overcome such things that it’s scary to remember, I’m alive and well, but they write negative things. Armless foreign cars have spoiled us. — The Varyag is an excellent snow beast, I’ve been racing for the second year, I’ve run more than two thousand kilometers, I haven’t lost anything, I bought it for rides. He carries 8 people up the mountain, mostly went hunting, he got so tired of waiting for others to catch up with the snowmobiles, he walks about 60 km on virgin soil. — I purchased it at the end of 2012, drove it for 1300 km... Everything is functioning, at -38 it starts from the starter without strain, in a word, the best snowmobile. — Varyag 2nd season, 2700 km, changed one belt, broke 4 windows myself, crushed the bumper 3 times, accelerated to 110, changed the gearbox oil 5 times, I get everything out of it, but he doesn’t give a damn. In short, the device is reliable, nothing fell off until I tore it off myself. Sakhalin. — It’s snowing today, it started 4 times on the street -29, I’m very happy, I drove the grandchildren. — The best snowman of all, mileage 700 km, no breakdowns. The foreign car broke down in January, and spare parts will arrive in May, to each his own, take your pick. — You shouldn’t scold Varyag, look, read on the forums. The bourgeoisie also curse Yamaha, Viking, Polaris, Widetrak lx, Ski-doo tundra, Arctic cat-bearcat - they are all from 550 to 570 cc, the difference is in price. — A normal snowmobile, transported about a dozen moose. — I skated 1,600 km for two seasons and nothing broke or fell off at all. I don't drive like a child. — I’ve been using it for the 2nd winter, so far I haven’t seen any problems, it comes to life in any cold, but I wish I could eat less, it’s painful to eat, but to be honest, it’s a good all-terrain vehicle. — Varyag for 3 years no problems. — I really thank the designers of the VARYAG 550! But the quality of spare parts and assembly will negatively affect your work, above the advantages described. — The first answer to foreigners, if you do it well! — I’m going for the 2nd season, I’m very pleased. — On a 10-point scale, I rate it at 9 points. — During the second season I plowed 2,900 km and did not encounter any problems. Lubricate and stretch all the knots in time and you will be happy. — I work as a Huntsman, they gave me Varyag, they drove me twice before, the speedometer showed 4700, in five months I caught up with another 3000, no comments, the car is a beast. I own a Viking 4, there is almost no difference, buy your own snowmobile for each driving style. — The best alternative to the long Buran. The mileage is 600 km, every day I drag a sleigh with firewood 20 km from home, it pulls like an elephant and picks up speed quickly. In my opinion, it's a good unit. — It’s affordable, it wound 1350, there’s enough acceleration, it carries a load of 300 kg, it’s attached on top of the original glass from Buran, it’s easy to operate and maintain, accessible and inexpensive spare parts for the Taiga Viking 550, not like for a foreign car. — I just took it, but I already like it. — The engine power is satisfactory, it flies through deep snow at 5. The control is better than the classic Buran. — The ride on the Varyag-V is comfortable, not every Western utility can compare. — I took it in 2014, drove it 1800 km while hunting, didn’t turn anything at all, the equipment needs supervision, the snowmobile is of high quality. — I own a Varyag, I drove 900 km, replaced the spark plug on the cylinder, tightened the rear shock absorber to the limit, the track catches, and everything is top-notch. — Varyag-V, undergoing run-in, normal flight. — I drove the Varyag-V for 350 km, noticed a decrease in fuel consumption, the ignition switched to normal mode, rushing like a frightened hippopotamus, at the moment everything is in place, nothing has fallen off. — The best replacement for Buran. — Varyag since 2015, driven 7000 km. Now the snowmobile is in almost new condition. Like any equipment, it loves to be serviced on time. — The Varyag 550 is an excellent car, those who haven’t driven it or out of envy give bad reviews. — I finished the season on the Varyag-V with a spin of 1100 km, I never stopped, the run-in went well, it uses much less fuel. The cross-country ability is a fairy tale, I have never sat down, the unit is a joy. — I took it new in 2016, rode 1250 km - everything is Okay! Now technology only pleases. — I took Snezhik Varyag in November 2017, drove 500 km, I fill the oil with the German Luka Molly, I’m crazy about the snowflake, the suspension is excellent, the cross-country ability is much better than that of the first Taiga, at the moment everything is in order. — Traveled 850 km, excellent cross-country ability, comfortable, consumes 25-30 liters per hundred, please ask the factory: install a tachometer. During the mileage that I wrote above, not a single spare part broke. The snowmobile is very pleasing. — The Varyag 550 V rode 1,750 km without any major breakdowns, the sidekick’s Yamaha 4 eats fuel like a moose, there’s a snowdrift on the loose snow under the hood, the suspension is very stiff when compared to the third Yamaha.
Negative reviews.
— I took it from the dealer, and the coupling between the engine and the carburetor immediately burst. - Guys, if you want to get hemorrhoids, crawl through snowdrifts, drag yourself on a rope, take Taiga. — 650 km, the left piston burned out, the reason was the assembly quality was terrible. After 1100 km, the crankshaft will be blown, I can’t wait to see who will buy it. — The mileage is 90 km, the left front strut is bent - it’s not welded, it’s good that I didn’t drive far, but in general I redid everything that was said before me. — The most important reason is the crappy build quality and components. And so the car is a C grade, it will compete with the bourgeoisie. — I skated on the Varyag for 1 season, I’ll write one price for it no more than 100 thousand, for 15 years I’ve already had my fill of our conquerors of snowy expanses. I took the 4th Viking, heaven and earth, I don’t regret that I paid extra. — About 300 km away, the variator bushing fell off, those are the RM freaks. — Absolutely new, never driven. The hood mount has fallen off. — The speedometer stopped working. — I am a patriot of my country, I suffered with Varyag for 3 years, I’m tired of investing money. Sold, bought Polaris. Russian Mechanics should spend more time on the quality of metal and workmanship. — The consumption is terrible. — People, you can argue for a long time about the quality of the 550, but I’ll say it as it is, China’s armed forces have the Taiga in service. — During the first 25 km, the ignition module wire became unusable. — The mileage is 300 km, the muffler mounting spring has fallen off. As a result: the muffler mounting bracket flew off, I welded it myself. Question: RM, are your welders students undergoing practical training? — The Varyag crumbled like an hourglass. - Poor traction, going uphill is difficult. — The wiring protection on the starter immediately burned out; it was attached very close to the exhaust manifold. — Repairing the engine will cost about 30 thousand rubles, but there is no rear light. I live near Vorkuta. — I spent my entire stash on this miracle of technology from RM, the running-in went well, as expected, 500 km on a well-worn track, I didn’t accelerate more than 50 km. At the moment, 1000 km have been driven, I threw it off with pleasure, like a terrible dream. So... so full. “Don’t buy it, it’s weak, it’s falling apart before your eyes, I’m completely tired, I’m selling it.” — Taiga Varyag is not entirely bad in operation, but, unfortunately, it is not assembled with high quality. Friends don’t risk driving it far from home; in your opinion, is this acceptable? You cut through it and listen, so that it doesn’t blurt out anywhere, well... So much for cheaper European ones. — RM needs to urgently resolve the issue of quality, or in the end they will lose their customers, many after Taiga acquired foreigners. Even if it’s used, it’s a hundred times more reliable than our zero one. — I bought it, drove it out, the speedometer showed mileage of 33,600 km, it was well under warranty, the speedometer was replaced. — The engine is too noisy at low speeds, somewhere it rings or something. I disassembled the engine and it turned out that the pistons were loose. The second winter I ride seems to be fine. — I really regret that I sold Buran and bought this miracle of technology. I was seduced by the comfort and external design, while the roller fell off while it was being run-in, how could that be? I wasn’t driving fast, I was doing a break-in for myself... I’m a new snowmobile. I was terrified, I drove into a forest and almost broke my ski. — I bought a Varyag in December 2022 with a mileage of 1230 km, got rid of it, bought a second-hand Viking snowmobile, it’s a cool machine, it’s not even close to the Yamaha. The Yamaha has currently run 17,000 km and has not encountered any problems. I'm tired of the Varyag, I need to carry buckets with me, put away bolts, This was my last RM snowmobile. — The right piston burned out, 650 km. — 7 kilometers, the rear suspension shock absorber flew off, the gooseneck broke, how did you allow such a defect? — Trade it as a construction set, for puzzles in a box. And each owner will assemble it for himself, so that later there will be no one to write complaints to. I suffered for three years and sold it. Prohibit Russian mechanics from producing such cars. — A bunch of pieces of iron, that’s all. - Better take Buran, at least it’s clear what kind of breakdowns to expect from it, Varyag is the last piece of junk, assembled haphazardly, there is no lubrication in the rollers, the wiring is burned out, the oil seal is leaking, the consumption is excessive, this is still on a new snowmobile, what to expect next? - I no longer believe in its reliability, after traveling 20 km through the taiga, I brought it from the forest and sold it for nothing. — I bought a Varyag, ran 60 km, the oil seal in the box began to leak, no matter how I did not adjust the caterpillar, it moves crookedly, chewing the left side of the rollers. Marriage, perhaps? It's complete bullshit. — replaced the engine, brought it from Rybinsk, bought a new 550, after 50 km the left piston burned out, they sent new pistons, after 250 km the right one burned out, the 3rd burned out after 700 km. I don't need this kind of technology anymore. — I ran 25 km, the electric start came to an end, the teeth on the flywheel broke off. — Mileage 710 km, 1 season of operation, 205th chassis bearings were covered with rust, traces of grease were found. — The head of the rear mounting bolt for the electric starter was torn off. Just a little more and the end of the electric starter ring and gear would have come. — Huge fuel consumption, very noisy in operation, under medium loads it falls apart, the wires are burnt, oil is pouring, it gets very hot, the load is dragging and you can see that it’s heavy. “It’s a very expensive piece of raw meat; you have to bring it up to working speed yourself, scald it, stretch it, lubricate it, etc. Not worth it, not time or money. - My neighbor and his son also came out of the forest, it’s good that they didn’t go far, just PR, there’s no quality, just to sell. — My Varyag has covered 910 km, it completely sucks, it squeals like crazy, you are constantly worried that it will break, I can’t move very far, I decided to sell it, it breaks down mainly due to small things, I hesitated to carry all the keys from the garage. I will not buy a snowmobile from RM again. - Not suitable for hunting, just fine for fishing. End. — Varyag ran 800 km, Buran has not suffered so many breakdowns in 12 years. — The consumption is huge, very large consumption. Noisy, the gaps in the drive variator bushings do not hold. Result: rattle at low speeds. Has a lot of unpleasant little things. But after managing all the shortcomings yourself, the snowmobile is fantastic. — Mileage 2700 km, a full tank of gasoline is consumed per 100 km. — I have 40 years of experience riding snowmobiles in the far north, don’t even think about buying this crap, after 120 km of riding the right piston burned out, all the recommendations for running-in were followed. — I haven’t run it in for more than 50 km, the engine is wedged. - This snowmobile is not for workloads, it’s completely loaded, it’s over. The best use for it is to go fishing. — Mine covered 1,790 km, replaced the piston, oil seal, starter, hood, then sold. I'm so glad I bought it for the purpose of hunting it, it didn't turn out too damp and doesn't like to work. — The speedometer does not indicate mileage, the speedometer backlight glows. — You can’t compare it with Buran in terms of comfort, I borrowed it from a friend for a ride for 3 days. Otherwise, it's not worth the money. Now I don't think about buying it anymore. — I became a happy buyer in 17, over the winter I gained 1070 km, there is no way to compare it with any other, in general I am satisfied, but there is one BUT, the fuel consumption is very high. The hood can be riveted right away at the factory. — It runs loudly, the engine has a mileage of 88 km, after running it in I’ll write my opinion. — It’s perfect for fishing, but not far. — I replaced everything during the year of operation: the engine, the transmission, strengthened the frame, I don’t want to sell at this time, I’m happy with it. — I bought it, after running in the snowmobile, the speed limit was not lifted, but that’s not all: the day before yesterday I went fishing, after 4 kilometers, the engine overheated, stopped as a result of the fan belt breaking. — After 1000 the piston burned out, after 2000 the rings and the starter were damaged. — Parts are missing during assembly. — The melting of the piston led to the replacement of the cylinder; there is no thermal limiter. — Taiga 2100 km after repair of gearbox and internal combustion engine. The next one bought a third Yamaha for 10,000 km, without any problems. Without a doubt, compare Lexus and Priora.
Transmission
For efficient and comfortable transmission of torque from the engine to the track, the developers equipped the snowmobile with a CVT operating in four modes - high, low, reverse and neutral. But reviews from owners indicate that this particular node causes certain complaints from users.
Problems arise due to the inconsistency of the springs installed on the variator with the required parameters and poor fit of the weights of the centrifugal regulators. I would like to hope that the quality of the assembly will be improved in the near future.
In the meantime, the owners are forced to fine-tune it themselves. A description of this procedure with a detailed listing of the necessary actions can be found on many forums.
When the CVT works as it should, the car accelerates smoothly on flat surfaces and confidently moves up slopes. Among the important properties of such a transmission is increasing the service life of the engine operating in optimal modes.
Features of operation of the snowmobile “Varyag Taiga 550”
Just like in a car, most parts in a snowmobile are replaceable and have a limited lifespan. The instructions will help you understand them.
So, the most frequently worn parts in the engine are the CPG parts, in the transmission? liners and variator belt, in the chassis? springs and bearings at the ends of the sprocket shafts. And if liners and piston rings are relatively inexpensive (around several hundred rubles), then a CVT belt or piston will cost one or two thousand rubles. Spark plugs often fail, which are inexpensive and can be repaired by simply cleaning the electrodes.
Although the manual contains information about care and repair rules, this information is clearly not enough. So we've compiled our own list of tips? as a useful addition to the manual. [ads-pc-2]
Suspension and brakes
Since most of the time the snowmobile moves over rough terrain, it needs a reliable and energy-intensive suspension. The driver and passenger must feel confident in the saddle, covering tens and even hundreds of kilometers.
The developers chose for their brainchild technical solutions that have proven themselves in practice, installing a telescopic fork with a stroke length of 105 mm at the front, and a slick suspension at the rear with a stroke of 190 mm. The vibration energy is absorbed by monotube gas-oil shock absorbers.
By giving the name Varyag to the Taiga snowmobile, its creators seemed to want to emphasize that the car was created to conquer the snow-covered Russian expanses. The chassis copes with this task quite successfully, without causing problems for riders in the saddle.
Hydraulic disc brakes allow you to quickly stop a car accelerated to 80 km/h. But this does not mean that you can rush across snow-covered fields without looking back. Under a thick layer of snow, any surprises can await you. You have to always be on your guard.
Chassis
Like many snowmobiles in this series, the Varyag 550 received a telescopic front suspension with travel increased to 150 mm. The rear suspension has undergone a similar modification, the travel of which has been increased to 190 mm. This general layout, together with a lower center of mass, made it possible not only to increase the speed characteristics of the snowmobile over rough terrain, but also to make movement more comfortable. To help the rear suspension, the manufacturer equipped the model with torsion springs, which soften the movement of the snowmobile when empty (only with the driver) and when fully loaded. The Composit track, 500 mm wide, has already become traditional for snowmobiles of this class.
Summarizing
Despite some shortcomings, the Taiga Varyag 550 snowmobile has established itself as a fairly reliable and unpretentious vehicle. It’s no wonder that the manufacturer gives this model a 36-month warranty, subject to the running-in conditions specified in the operating instructions. Well, if something happens, there won’t be any special problems with maintenance and spare parts. After all, the car was made in Russia, at Russian Motors JSC.
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What are snowmobiles for?
So, if it weren't for snowmobiles, communication in snowy areas would be seriously hampered indeed.
A snowmobile is used not only for moving from one point to another, but also for hunting and just for fun.
Snowmobile
After all, snowmobiles allow you to move at really high speeds and, at the same time, not lose good controllability of the unit. This is precisely the advantage of a snowmobile, which no other type of equipment has.
This is precisely the reason for the high popularity of such transport in snowy areas. Currently very popular snowmobiles are Yamaha, Ermak, Viking 540, Dingo 150, BRP, as well as new models from Yamaha in 2016.
For more information about snowmobiles, watch the video:
Rules for use and storage
In order for the Varyag 550 snowmobile to serve as long as possible, productively and without expensive repair work, you must adhere to the basic rules for using and storing the unit:
- Always warm up the engine before setting off on the road. This should be done within a couple of minutes;
- use only recommended fuel and lubricants, which guarantees correct and uninterrupted operation of the unit;
- avoid driving on rocks and other hard bodies, as they can be harmful to tracks and skis;
- store your snowmobile only in a special place where it will be protected from snow, rain, wind and other negative factors;
- Always clear the unit of snow and ice after use.
If you adhere to these driving and storage rules, the Varyag 550 will last a long time, to the delight of the owner.
Of course, this snowmobile model will be an excellent solution for people who want to purchase functional and high-quality equipment for a reasonable price. The domestic manufacturer will not let you down, so you can safely purchase the Varyag 550 from Russian Mechanics.
Advantages and disadvantages
Varyag 550 has the following advantages:
- reasonable price;
- excellent maneuverability;
- convenience in transporting goods and passengers;
- good technical performance;
- good speed capabilities;
- high controllability;
- Parts and service for such equipment are easy to find, because the snowmobile is domestic;
- multifunctionality.
But, despite all the advantages, this technique has several negative aspects:
- the build quality varies, so a lot depends on how lucky you are with your purchase;
- the case is not strong enough, which can cause damage to case parts even with minor contact;
- problems with electronics may occur in severe frosts;
- The starter often causes complaints from owners.
