Apex vs T-cat 1100 turbo 2012

[mikeyrules]

Just to let you guys know!!!We were out racing in a field, since there isn't enough snow for trail riding.
We had 4 Apex and 2 T-cat turbo 2012 with stage 4@20lbs boost.
The Apex might be a tad slower,but the Cat blew 2 belts in 8 kms @ $250 a piece......ouch
This guy said he blew 10 belts last season and 4 gears in the chain-case....
And Arctic cat wont even help them guys,what a shame...keep your Apex even if there is a few minor problems.
2007 Apex turbo=122mph on 1200 feet
2012 T-cat turbo 1100 @ lbs boost=122mph on 1200 feet
2007 Apex with yamcharger=118mph on 1200 feet
2006 Apex stock(mine)=111mph on 1200 feet
2012 T-cat turbo 1100 with exsaust mods=109mph on 1200 feet.

T-cat=2 belts@250 each
Apex=0

 

[Kaz]

Can't beat Yamaha clutching.

I don't understand why kitty cat hasn't figure it out yet, maybe that's how they make their profit. I follow the AC forms on HCS and I won't touch a cat if they were giving them away.

And another one I don't understand why the other OEM's charge a arm & leg for a belt, I purchase my last belt from Port Yamaha at the Novi show, and I'm sure I paid less then $50.

Kaz

 

[kviper]

Looks like the YamCharger is working well, and the stock Apex beating the stock with exhaust T-Cat, Nice!

 

[Yamadogger]

I bought a 2013 F1100 Turbo after selling my '06 GT. There was nothing in particular that caused me to jump other than I'm not extremely brand loyal - I think everyone makes nice sleds and will ride whatever best suits my needs/wants at the time. Having said that, I have owned 3 Yamahas of my own (2000 SRX, 2002 Viper, & 2006 Apex GT) and currently still have a 2006 Apex ER that's my wife's sled (hey, if I'm riding a Cat, gotta have a tow vehicle)! I loved the reliability of my Apex and really just wanted to try something different. I don't have much seat time on my new F1100 but I can say it's a pretty bada$$ sled. The handling is great, the suspension is sweet, and the seating position is perfect. The clutching thing, however, is a real concern and I'll be watching that closely. Seems to me the secondary needs to float and unfortunately the Cat design is not conducive to floating. Everything is modifyable, however, and I will certainly figure out how to make it run without eating belts.

Since I have both the Cat Turbo and Apex in my garage, I'll post any unbiased comparisons I have this winter if we ever get some snow that stays.

 

[Fusion]

You couldn't get me to touch another T-Cat, or any Arctic Cat with a ten foot pole.
Been there and done that. The experience I had with mechanical and fuel delivery problems was so bad, it soured me for life.
And if you read real close, almost all guys with AC equipment make some concession for the fact the quality is not up to par with other manufacturers.
You CAN get AC to perform rather well, but is it worth the trouble? Not for me. I'll stick with a bullet-proof Yamaha Apex.
Only reason I even considered driving a 150 HP sled again, and not the 600 class machines, is because of the Yam reliability.

 

[mikeyrules]

I had an 2003 Rx1 before i bought the apex,my buddy shows up with a 1100 t-cat turbo @ $17.000.
He told me it had 175hp and was the most powerful sled you could buy on the market.Hmmmm i was impressed until we went into the 1 mile field.
When i got to the end of the field,he was ten sleds behind......believe me he was not impressed.
Arctic Cat spent lots of time trying to figure out why this thing was so guttless.After 3-4 times to the dealer it was still the same.
I would buy an Rx1 tomorrow and not worry to much....but a 2003 t-cat....hmmm.

 

[actionjack]

I follow the AC forms on HCS and I won't touch a cat if they were giving them away.

x2

 

[number1kyster]

I bought a 2013 F1100 Turbo after selling my '06 GT. There was nothing in particular that caused me to jump other than I'm not extremely brand loyal - I think everyone makes nice sleds and will ride whatever best suits my needs/wants at the time. Having said that, I have owned 3 Yamahas of my own (2000 SRX, 2002 Viper, & 2006 Apex GT) and currently still have a 2006 Apex ER that's my wife's sled (hey, if I'm riding a Cat, gotta have a tow vehicle)! I loved the reliability of my Apex and really just wanted to try something different. I don't have much seat time on my new F1100 but I can say it's a pretty bada$$ sled. The handling is great, the suspension is sweet, and the seating position is perfect. The clutching thing, however, is a real concern and I'll be watching that closely. Seems to me the secondary needs to float and unfortunately the Cat design is not conducive to floating. Everything is modifyable, however, and I will certainly figure out how to make it run without eating belts.

Since I have both the Cat Turbo and Apex in my garage, I'll post any unbiased comparisons I have this winter if we ever get some snow that stays.

LOVE the white!

 

[suprfst]

Yes I like the 2013 white much better then the 2012 pearl white. I have the 12 Xf turbo, last year wasnt a good year for it, hopefully this season is much better for the Cat. At least when I was on the rope several times I got to enjoy the sweet sound of a Yamaha fourstroke................. Towing me. LOL

 

[Firecat_Freak]

I'll be comparing an 09 Z1 Turbo Sno Pro that is stock other than some minor handling mods and a spider shim to a new to me '06 Apex GT this winter. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the two will be very comparable.

 

[Riceburner]

I'll be comparing an 09 Z1 Turbo Sno Pro that is stock other than some minor handling mods and a spider shim to a new to me '06 Apex GT this winter. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the two will be very comparable.

They shouldn't be.

The Apex is giving up 30 HP to the Cat. [That's a bunch.]

 

[Phazernut]

Last season I bought the 2012 XF1100 Turbo. Prior to that I had an 08 Apex GT that I had stretched to 144 with a 1.75 track. Here is my opinion on both sleds. Yamaha has the Cat beat hands down in the fit and finish department. The new Cat is a huge improvement over the older ones but still not up to Yamaha standards. I do a fair bit of off trail riding and the Apex does not even come close to the Cat for its off trail ability. The Cat feels way lighter and is much easier to maneuver. The riding position is much better for my type of riding. Seat of the pants the Cat feels more powerful than the Apex but if the Apex could hook up it may have a bit of an advantage off the line due to the slight lag from the turbo. I think a short track Apex would be faster than the Cat in a long run if it hooked up and caught the cat. The XF is geared a bit slower than the F. So far Ive seen 105MPH on the cat in soft snow. Top speed is not my thing anyway. I like having the big power for short bursts and in the hills. My XF hooks way better than the Apex did even with the 144 inch track. The Cat suspension is way better than the Apex. Its smoother yet handles the big bumps with ease. I put 1200km on mine last season and I am still on my original belt and hyfax. I don't abuse the sled but I certainly don't baby it either. It has had ice scratchers on it from day one and I use them. Mine was back to the dealer for all the recalls but I never had one issue that had to be looked at. My tunnel never kinked and I never had any issues with the ice build up that some people have talked about and my reverse never failed. I did make it a habit to clean out underneath the sled when I was stopped for any length of time. Maybe that helped me out. Nothing sounds like the Apex. This season I have a TD muffler on the Cat and it does sound better but still no where close to the Apex. However the Cat has its own unique sounds that you learn to love. The whine of the turbo and the pop from the blow off valve is just cool. I never thought I would have a Cat but after last season I have to say I'm impressed. I still love the Yamaha line but last year when I wanted a new sled Yamaha just didn't have anything that appealed to me. After having the power of the Apex I just couldn't go back to a Nytro.....My two cents