Have you guys heard this news about Arctic Cat?

[rtx moose]

If you want more power you get a bigger sled, that’s the idea. It’s a starter sled, beginners don’t Vipers and Sidewinders.

perfect for flat trails and a beginner sled yes,but not for mountain riding

 

[20/80]

perfect for flat trails and a beginner sled yes,but not for mountain riding

Yes a great beginner sled for sure, but I think Cat may have reached out to a different crowd here, this crowd are not wanting the big power, Trappers, younger beginner crowd, somebody wanting a spare sled, a sled that's affordable so families can get out and have some fun, a trail cruiser that is good on fuel, the list is endless really, this crowd are sledders too and support this sport, not everybody can afford top of the line or want top of the line sleds.

 

[blueironranger]

Talking to dealer today and he said in testing they had it up to 80mph. Thats right with a Phazer and has to have better handling. Rumor is they are making a single ski version also. For UP Off Trail this would be plenty in the Alpha version.

I wouldn't doubt the top speed one bit on a plowed Ice road, It should have no trouble running "legal" trail speeds here in MN (50mph on Trails/Lakes). The only thing that concerns me It the amount of torque that engine will have for powder play, My old Phazer II has a 136x1.25" track and roughly the same HP/Weight and she works hard in the powder. My Phazer MTX has a LOT more grunt compared to the old 485 fan, even though its only up 15hp and weighs 100# more. Since the Phazer is gone and the DOO refuses to put a "mountain" track on a 4 stroke (Ace 600/900) the Alpha version does seem to have that market all to itself, though I could see Poo making a EVO Assault in response.

 

[SumpBuster]

Ariens for me!

Wow, that's as classic as a Roll O Flex, and Wheelhorse!! LOL!

 

[2008lee]

I think the Blast is a great concept! 65Hp 400lbs in a modern balanced chassis sounds great to me. A 1992-2004 Ski-Doo tundra 2/R has what? 28hp and is 370lbs. I have ridden a Tundra II in the mountains as a kid and it worked pretty good. And still on relatively flat ground an old Tundra II is really hard to beat in deep snow or in the bush! Many of the forestry company's around here still use the Tundra II/R because they get around easier than any "modern" snowmobile. The problem is they are running out of them! So I am hoping that the Blast has similar performance.

 

[STAIN]

The old Elan was a "go to sled" for years among those way up North and in the bush. Low power does not mean the sled has no use.

 

[cannondale27]

Another huge benefit to lower power is maintenance. There just is not enough power to break or wear out things as quickly. Guys my Phazer has 18000 mi on the Freeride track and I still had the original belt which was fine but cracked due to age! For me as a second or guest/kids sled the low Maintenance is huge. Just no time to keep them all going every year.

 

[stevewithOCD]

I had a bunch of "Shirt Sukin'" single cylinders.
But my AMF stands out the most.
They made Harley Davidson's and bowling balls also.
I painted it Brown & Tan with a paint brush & some house paint.

I'd syphon the gas from dad's car & ride around the yard ALL day!
Then he'd blame my mom for not putting gas in the car.

Maybe i should confess now that they're 80

P.S: Shirt Sukin' refers to the intake horn that would suck your shirt in if you got to close making it choke out

 

[SumpBuster]

I had a bunch of "Shirt Sukin'" single cylinders.
But my AMF stands out the most.
They made Harley Davidson's and bowling balls also.
I painted it Brown & Tan with a paint brush & some house paint.

I'd syphon the gas from dad's car & ride around the yard ALL day!
Then he'd blame my mom for not putting gas in the car.

Maybe i should confess now that they're 80

P.S: Shirt Sukin' refers to the intake horn that would suck your shirt in if you got to close making it choke out

Intake horn??? LOL....see, my 71 skiroule S300 had a RAM TUBE!!! just when I needed more power, BWAAAAAA , as my one piece flimsy suit with reflective stripes gets sucked into the RAM TUBE!
Good times!

 

[stevewithOCD]

RAM TUBE
Must have been fast

My Snorkel jacket used to get sucked into the Snorkel on my Evinrude

YES, GOOD TIMES

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

I had a bunch of "Shirt Sukin'" single cylinders.
But my AMF stands out the most.
They made Harley Davidson's and bowling balls also.
I painted it Brown & Tan with a paint brush & some house paint.

I'd syphon the gas from dad's car & ride around the yard ALL day!
Then he'd blame my mom for not putting gas in the car.

Maybe i should confess now that they're 80

P.S: Shirt Sukin' refers to the intake horn that would suck your shirt in if you got to close making it choke out

Years ago I had a 1969 SL351 Yamaha and the single carb had a foam filter on it, when I rode my nephew he would hold his hands onto the filter while sitting in front of me blasting through the fields. If I went really fast (maybe 40 not sure no spedo and pretty fast for those days lol) he would hold on with both hands and choke out the motor. Ahh good times in the 70s.

 

[SumpBuster]

RAM TUBE
Must have been fast

My Snorkel jacket used to get sucked into the Snorkel on my Evinrude

YES, GOOD TIMES

Fast? The ole 293 Sachs would do a hunnard mile an hour! No tach or speedo, but it had to be...our dirt road was 3 miles long and it took 10 minutes! Today's common core calculations verify!
Til the track ripped in half and I skidded along on the bogies.
(That part was true. Old man was pissed)

 

[jjmoneysauce]

The old Elan was a "go to sled" for years among those way up North and in the bush. Low power does not mean the sled has no use.

Same with the Bravo. They are still everywhere out in the bush.

Just my 2 cents, there is so much focus on mountain and off trail/crossover riding that there is almost a bit of tunnel vision on those segments. A light, reliable machine is highly desirable around where I'm from. Bravos still sell for over $4,000 CAD.

 

[Snorunner]

I saw some old Scorpions ripping around on the trail today. Of course I live 6 miles from the old factory!

 

[TPAY243]

Ya don't get me started on the off trail/cross over carp and don't get me wrong not everyone does this but around my neck of the woods you need to stay on the trail or we will lose them. The last couple of years have been terrible for driving off the trail I have absolutely no problem with that kind of riding but there is a time and place for it. Again not everyone with these types of machines are doing this kind of stuff and I'm sure there's a lot of shorter trial sleds doing the same but man o man please stay on the groomed and marked trails.