Snowmobile "Taiga Varyag 550 V": owner reviews, fuel consumption per 100 km

A worthy answer from “Russian Mechanics” to the Japanese

Less than two years have passed since a surprise was prepared for fans of winter motor vehicles - the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile, a fundamentally new utilitarian SUV, which in such a short time managed to fall in love with many and became the flagship among domestic snow all-terrain vehicles. The Rybinsk motorcycle concern has made every effort to create a machine that will work tirelessly in the difficult conditions of harsh Russian winters and overcome the deepest snow drifts without any problems.

Many have already noticed that the 550th “Varyag” is strikingly similar to the 540th model of the third generation “Viking”, which was released by the Japanese motorcycle giant Yamaha just for Russian impassable roads and work in the bitter cold. To say that RM has created a clone of a Japanese car would be completely wrong, since the Rybinsk “Varyag” has its own character and excellent characteristics. Probably, it was for these qualities that fans of overcoming snowy terrain immediately fell in love with it. Be that as it may, Varyag occupies a leading position in the domestic market, and the manufacturer rightfully has something to be proud of.

Appearance and size © Suspension and brakes

What determines the fuel consumption of the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile?

It is no secret that its performance, speed and traction characteristics will depend on what engine is installed in the snowmobile. The operation of any SUV entails a certain consumption of gasoline. The Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile is no exception. The fuel consumption per 100 km for this car will vary depending on the conditions in which it will be operated, as well as on what engine and fuel system it is equipped with.

Reviews of the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile from the owners of these machines regarding fuel consumption can be very ambiguous. The fact is that a new SUV consumes a large amount of gasoline during engine break-in. This figure can reach 36-40 liters for every hundred kilometers traveled. The increase in consumption is especially observed when driving a snowmobile in deep snow, overcoming various obstacles and significant unevenness on the road. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out the running-in on a flat, knurled track and not use an SUV during this period to perform household work.

It is recommended to run the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile for at least 700 km. Fuel consumption for every hundred kilometers at the end of the run-in will be about 20 liters. Before you buy a snow SUV, it doesn't hurt to get the opinions of people who already use it. This also applies to a machine such as the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile. In this case, owner reviews will help you decide on the choice of SUV model.

Maintenance and repair

Taiga snowmobiles should be maintained in accordance with the recommendations given in the user manual. The first maintenance is carried out after 500 km.

Main malfunctions and methods for their elimination:

1. If the crankshaft rotates, but the power unit does not start, it is recommended to check the level of working fluid in the tank, turn on the ignition mechanism, pull up the button and put the safety cord cap on the switch.
2. When the engine does not develop full power, you need to clean the spark plugs from carbon deposits and conduct an external inspection of the ignition mechanism for damage and defects.
3. If the motor operates intermittently, it is necessary to lift the fastening screws of the transformer device and replace the fuel fluid.
4. A large amount of fuel is consumed. To eliminate this problem, you should adjust the carburetor and inspect the power system for breakdowns.
5. Malfunction of the brake levers. In this case, it is recommended to replace the damaged cable or brake casing.

Track replacement

In order to replace the track for the Taiga-500 snowmobile, you must:

1. Drain the working fluid from the fuel tank.
2. Remove the rear suspension mechanism by removing the protective cover and unscrewing the mounting screws.
3. Remove the muffler.
4. Remove the gearbox, drive shaft, axle mechanism.
5. Remove the caterpillar.
6. Install the new part, taking into account the direction of rotation, which is indicated by the arrow on the track belt.
7. Check the adjustment of the driving wheels.
8. Raise the rear part of the equipment body and secure it in this position.
9. Measure the distance between the pad and the lower inner part of the track mechanism.
10. Adjust the tension (45-50 mm on each side).
11. Start the power unit.
12. Check track alignment on both sides of the snowmobile.
13. Turn off the engine.
14. Tighten the idler wheel mounting bolts.
15. Check the functionality of the new caterpillar track.

Carburetor adjustment

Procedure for adjusting the Mikuni carburetor:

1. Check the opening of the carburetor throttles for synchronism.
2. Remove the muffler.
3. Using a 140*40 mm mirror, inspect the carburetor diffusers. Depress the gas pedal; if the throttles do not move synchronously, adjust them.
4. Inspect the mechanism for play on the fuel drive shell.
5. Inspect the locks that regulate the carburetor needles.
6. Carry out diagnostics of the main fuel jet.
7. Tighten the mounting bolts until they stop.
8. Unscrew the jet screws 1-1.5 turns.
9. Set the gap to 0.7-0.8 mm for the spark plugs.
10. Start the vehicle and let the engine warm up for 3-5 minutes.
11. Drive the snowmobile 4-5 km to check the adjustments made.
12. Turn off the engine and check the color of the carbon deposits on the spark plugs. It should be dark brown.
13. If the color differs from the specified one, move the locks of the metering needles to the upper part of the carburetor.

Design features of the 550 Varyag engine

Owner reviews on the operation of the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile engine are very mixed. Some are confident in its reliability and moderate gasoline consumption, while others are not satisfied with the fact that the lubrication system is not combined with the fuel supply, and therefore they have to prepare the fuel mixture themselves. This is another reason why the Taiga Varyag 550 V vehicle’s fuel consumption per 100 km can exceed the 20-liter mark on a completely flat, knurled road.

The design feature of the machine is that it is equipped with an air-cooled two-stroke engine RMZ-550. The working volume of the two-cylinder engine is 553 cm³, and the car produces 50 hp. With. Fuel injection is carried out by a Japanese Mikuni carburetor installed on the snowmobile.

The intake manifold is represented by a petal-type valve, which allows it to produce good power at medium and low engine speeds. This, in turn, allows two passengers to ride and pull a sled with a load that can exceed 150 kg. At the same time, the car is capable of developing a fairly decent speed of 65-70 km/h. Without a loaded sled, the speedometer needle can confidently approach the figure of 80 km/h.

It’s easy to guess that the higher the engine load, the more gasoline the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile will consume. Fuel consumption per 100 km can increase to 22.3 liters if you are carrying a significant load and there is a passenger on the snowmobile.

Lighting technology:. Suspension and brakes

The snowmobile also has a simple design, so if necessary, you can repair it yourself; there is a large selection of spare parts, and they are inexpensive. 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.

Chassis "Varyag"

The engineers seemed to have heard reviews from the owners about the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile. Fuel consumption is now significantly reduced. A fundamentally new chassis of the Varyag was installed. Let's look at this point in more detail. The fact is that low cross-country ability, poor maneuverability and controllability of the vehicle force the engine to mercilessly destroy the fuel supply. The designers decided to install on the 550th Varyag model the telescopic front suspension from the 850th Barca, also of the Taiga series. What did it give? The 143 mm free stroke of the rod significantly increases the smoothness of the machine's movement and significantly reduces the force transmitted to the steering. But the rear suspension now has a free travel of 277 mm, while the shock absorber has taken a position in the horizontal plane, which made it possible to dissipate impacts while overcoming bumps.

The 508-mm Varyag tracked base is presented by Magnum. The height of the lugs is quite significant and amounts to 32 mm. Taken together, this improved dynamic performance during acceleration and also ensured confident braking. In addition, the “Varyag” is stable, confidently takes even the most difficult turns and overcomes steep climbs. It is equipped with a high-quality variator, ensuring smooth operation regardless of load conditions. Even starting the car from a standstill at low engine speeds occurs smoothly, without jerking, which also does not lead to excessive fuel consumption. Reducing the force on the lever was achieved thanks to the installation of a hydraulic brake system. Thanks to this, the machine has good reliability and is safe to use. Therefore, the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile has positive reviews.

How to strengthen the chassis

The chassis of a snowmobile directly affects fuel consumption. Low cross-country ability and poor maneuverability add stress to the engine when traveling over rough terrain. To improve the driving properties of the all-terrain vehicle, you can try adjusting the rear suspension and ski toe. The second factor affects the vehicle’s maneuverability in difficult areas. If the ski base is not adjusted correctly, the driver will feel vibration in the windshield and steering wheel while riding.

Rear suspension adjustment

Under the weight of the load, the snowmobile sags, like any other mechanism. With a driver and passenger, the rear of the car invariably lowers. To improve the driving performance of the car, it is necessary to adjust the springs so that this indicator is in the range from 5 to 7 centimeters.

In this case, the weakening of the tape stop should be about 3 - 3.5 cm. The traction force of the unit with the road depends on how much weight presses on the tracked base. The shorter length of the limiter helps reduce pressure on the track, which in turn allows for more efficient vehicle control.

To set up a tape stopper, you need to:

• press on the front springs;
• unscrew the nut of the limiter bracket;
• move the bolt on which the belt is attached to the desired position;
• secure the nut.

It should be remembered that to reduce the steering gain, the bolt is fixed in the lower hole. If the skis are too upturned, the bolt is moved to the upper position.

Tips for adjusting the rear suspension

Yaw noticeable

First check the alignment of the skis. Adjust if necessary. Reduce spring tension at rear.

You feel stiffness (or lack thereof) of the rear suspension while driving

Reduce (or increase) spring tension.

The caterpillar mover slips a lot when starting off

Move to the passenger seat. Move the limiter bolt to the lower hole on the bracket.

Noticeable interruptions in the operation of the front limiter

Again, move the bolt to the lower position.

Alignment and adjustment of skis

In order for a snowmobile to behave confidently on the road, it is necessary to check the alignment of the skis from time to time. This indicator can be calculated by measuring the distance between the front (A) and rear (B) edges of the ski track and finding the difference between them. In this case, the equality must be satisfied: A-B = 10mm.

Toe check

The following manipulation should be carried out before and after adjusting the skis. To function properly, the ski base must be positioned straight and forward. Checking this is quite simple - you need to apply an even beam first to one and then to the other ski track.

The distance between the beams at the front end of each of them should be exactly 5 mm.

Adjustment

To adjust the toe of the ski track, you must perform the following sequence of actions:

• check the position of the steering wheel and set it to the “straight forward” position;
• loosen the locknuts of the rods;
• rotate the tie rods until the distance between the front edges of the skis is 10 mm less than between the rear ones;
• retighten the locknuts.

Daniila Rukin

Snowmobile specialist "Buran". I go fishing in my free time.

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Under no circumstances should you try to adjust the position of the steering wheel by turning the bolt on a regular 20.27 rod.

About comfort and ease of use

We can say with complete confidence that the manufacturers took care of the convenience of users and created the 550th model that is comfortable, beautiful and modern. In general, all all-terrain vehicles of the RM Taiga series have these qualities, and not just the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile. Owner reviews confirm this fact. Judge for yourself: the car has high cross-country ability, and this applies not only to snowy roads. “Varyag” easily overcomes various holes, shallow reservoirs, impassable mud and high climbs. In addition, the machine can be operated not only at sub-zero temperatures in winter. It is not afraid of heavy rains and thick snow, and in terrain where there is knee-deep mud, the Varyag will fly unnoticed by the rider. Although after such trips you will have to wash your overalls and wash your snowmobile. But these are small things compared to the capabilities of a powerful SUV.

As we have already said, the 550 model is equipped with hydraulic brakes, which significantly enhances the safety of the driver and passenger. In addition, the developers have significantly reduced background noise. Now in the car, not only the noise from the exhaust manifold has become much lower, but under the hood of the all-terrain vehicle there is high-quality insulation, which makes the engine much quieter.

User manual

The snowmobile operating manual contains detailed information on the location of the main control elements, indicators, and warning labels. The manual provides detailed instructions for starting the engine using an electric and manual starter, as well as stopping it. Documentation comes complete with the new all-terrain vehicle, but if necessary, it can be found on the Internet or downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website.

Maintenance

In order for any equipment to serve for a long time and always be in good condition, it must be maintained. The manual provides detailed descriptions of the stages of maintenance of the main components of the all-terrain vehicle:

• engine;
• carburetor;
• manual starter;
• chassis;
• transmissions;
• control elements;
• braking system.

A control inspection, checking fluid levels, and brake serviceability should be carried out every time before and after a trip. If complex operational problems occur, you should contact a specialized service center rather than trying to fix the problem yourself.

Types and frequency of maintenance

The first comprehensive maintenance of the vehicle must be carried out after running-in. Further, its frequency decreases:

Break-in recommendations

How the equipment is used during the first time after purchase will determine its future performance. The duration of this period is from 250 to 350 kilometers.

In this case, the snowmobile owner must follow some recommendations:

• ride without passengers;
• choose areas with dense or compacted snow;
• do not drive on very rough terrain, wet and loose snow;
• observe the temperature regime from -25 to -3 degrees (higher temperatures increase the risk of engine overheating);
• do not allow the engine throttle to open completely;
• check the condition of fasteners;
• after 150 km, check the alignment and tension of the caterpillar tracks;
• Fill the tank with a mixture of fuel and engine oil in a ratio of 50:1.

It is also strictly not recommended to teach someone how to operate a new all-terrain vehicle during the break-in period. This can lead to unexpected overloads of the variator and power unit.

About some of the machine's capabilities

The steering on the Varyag is located high, making driving the car much more convenient.
The handles are equipped with rubberized pads, which makes them ergonomic. If the snowmobile falls upside down, the heavy-duty glass will not break and will remain the same as before the impact. This was made possible thanks to the use of special polycarbonate fiber. In addition, the windshield provides the rider and passenger with reliable protection from oncoming gusts of wind and snow.

Traveling through deep forest thickets is also not scary for the Varyag. The blows of branches and trees will be absorbed by the glass and hood, and the snowmobile can easily overcome the most difficult irregularities thanks to the breaking heel on the rear suspension. This also helps ensure that when reversing, it will not get stuck in deep snow.

The luggage compartment of the car is spacious, and you can put up to 100 kg of hand luggage there. In addition, there is a place under the driver’s seat for some things and various tools. With a vehicle weight of only 280 kg, you can drag a load of over 200 kg behind you on a drag sleigh or sled, for which a tow bar is provided in the snowmobile. Well, if the need nevertheless arises to increase the space for luggage, no one bothers to install a comfortable and roomy chest. Fishing gear and hunting accessories can also be stored here.

Telescopic suspension • CVT adjustment

In it, like in a thermos, sausage, pate, cheese and other products, not to mention liquids, do not turn into pieces of ice that have to be chewed or warmed up by the fire and on the exhaust pipe. This year the cat already had enough snow, but in the open space, on slippery ice, in some places it was completely absent, interspersed with narrow and dense lines driven by the wind.

How is the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile controlled? Owner reviews

The steering of the Varyag is designed in such a way that the rider can be quite comfortable in a standing position and control the car. In early versions this was quite problematic due to the low position of the steering wheel, and the windshield interfered with visibility. This problem has been completely solved by the developers of the 550 Varyag.

The snowmobile accelerates quite quickly and picks up good speed without any problems. When moving, the car moves smoothly and softly, which is facilitated by the telescopic suspension and powerful engine. In general, coping with road “delights” is not a serious problem for the Varyag. And to overcome the forest thicket, it is enough to reduce the distance between the skis, and it will be much easier to control the snowmobile.

Despite the fact that the Varyag is still a utilitarian snowmobile, in skillful hands it can overcome significant ascents and descents, as well as perform complex maneuvers.

Which plant produces the unit?

The Tayga snowmobile is considered one of the most successful lines produced by the Rybinsk Machine-Building Plant. The first prototype was released in 1988, but only ten years later, after a number of modifications, its production was put on the assembly line. Varyag 550 represents a budget type of motorcycle-type snowmobile equipment, adapted to the harsh conditions of our country.

In this model, design engineers combined comfort, ease of use and accessibility. First of all, the manufacturer was guided by the fact that the equipment would be used for economic purposes.

“Russian Mechanics” traces its history back to the times of the Soviet Union. Initially, the enterprise was part of Rybinsk Motors OJSC. It was from his assembly line that the first domestic snowmobile “Buran” rolled off, which at one time was a stunning success. The new enterprise is a full-fledged successor and continuer of the best traditions of Soviet mechanical engineering in the field of special equipment.

Currently located in the Yaroslavl region in the suburbs of Rybinsk. All-terrain vehicles that came off his assembly line are popular not only in Russia, but also in neighboring countries. All products of the plant undergo multi-level quality control and comply with European standards.

About ease of movement

We have already considered in the article both the characteristics and capabilities of the engine, and the design features of the chassis. Now a few words about snowmobile skis. Gliding not only on snow, but also on other types of surfaces depends on the quality of skis. In addition, they experience greater stress, as this is facilitated by the sheer weight of the snowmobile and continuous friction with the road. Therefore, skis can quite often wear out and fail, despite the special strength of the plastic from which they are made. Therefore, it is recommended to use special pads that do not in any way affect the deterioration of the cross-country ability and speed qualities of the snowmobile.

User reviews about the model

Practicality has become the main positive aspect of using a snowmobile for many owners. They note design flexibility, ease of operation, ease of maintenance and other qualities quite characteristic of utilitarian technology. The possibilities of regrouping, transforming and replacing individual components deserve special attention. This is not so common in domestic devices. For example, many emphasize the value of the 500 mm wide snowmobile track, which is provided as standard. With such equipment, the equipment can provide stable operation even in harsh conditions that require increased traction. In general, the main delivery set itself deserves a positive review, since, in addition to additional tracks, it also includes lugs and a tow bar.

About the advantages of a snowmobile

Utility machines are good in almost all applications. They can be used for short walks, and for transporting various loads, as well as for overcoming deep snow and off-road conditions. Such machines include the Taiga Varyag 550 V snowmobile. Owner reviews helped put together the overall picture of this SUV. We can clearly conclude that:

• “Varyag” is a supple and obedient SUV.
• Easily overcomes obstacles and moves on various types of road surfaces.
• With proper care after running-in, the Varyag consumes about 18 liters for every 100 km traveled. A 40-liter tank is enough to cover 220 km.
• Modern appearance, nice design, increased comfort and excellent maneuverability.
• Comfortable seating and easy operation of the machine.
• It is quite roomy and allows you to transport a considerable amount of cargo.
• Starts quickly. It pulls equally well in both impassable mud and deep snow.
• It starts with an electric starter at very low temperatures (-37 ºС) without preheating the engine.

What is the price of a snowmobile in 2021?

The utilitarian “Varyag 550” belongs to the middle price category. If we compare it with foreign representatives of special equipment, then the model can rather be called budget. In the stores of official dealers you can find new cars without mileage from 2021 and 2020. They cost about 350-400 thousand rubles.

The price for 2021 models is slightly higher - from 452,000 rubles for the basic configuration. In addition, on the Internet you can find many offers for used equipment. Such snowmobiles will be cheaper, in the range of 200-300 thousand rubles. How much the car will cost depends on the year of manufacture and the general technical condition of the snowmobile.