Latest front end

[blurred vision]

The 19 SRX was supposed to be 1”lower than the others. My understanding was that the new front end went to 1.5” higher on the LE and SE. so that means the 19 SRX is 2.5” lower than a 2021 LE/SE. therefore if the 2021 SRX is still 1” lower than a 2021 LE/SE then it is 1 1/2” higher than the 19!! That’s my take.

Correct. I have a 20 thundercat and a 19 srx. Srx is 1 inch lower.

 

[gsxr]

We have 19 and 20 SRX , the 19 is definitly lower 1 1/2 inchs

 

[RAMSOMAIR]

BINGO...........FASTER lol!

 

[Phatboyc]

For the guys that ride both MY and now have more mileage under your belt. Do you find the lower front end of 2019's SRX/Thundercat corners better or is the newer lower roll center of MY20+ preferable?

 

[Richard Hodgins]

I spent a lot of $$$ and time converting my 2019 over to the 2020 front end. I took it one step further and put the wider front end from an RXC sled, swapped rails too:
-Upper and lower A arms
-Spindles
-Longer tie rods for wide front end
-New rails
-limiter straps

It's just too high, COG is 1.5 inch higher, lifted skis MORE than my old setup. Ran it for 1000kms, trying to tune it out and ended up just putting back my 2019 spindles and front end, rails etc.
I think if you have the lowered springs from an SRX or TCAT maybe it will cancel out the higher COG. To me, the 2019 SRX or TCAT would be the best handling.

At least for the way I ride, I didn't like the higher COG. I didn't find ski lift was less either.

 

[KnappAttack]

I do not find the new front end to handle or ride any better than the older front end. Like Richard said above, the longer spindles make for a higher center of gravity versus the old spindles... In the past we've always gone to lower spindles to lower the center of gravity on the old Arctic Cats to make them better handling. They claimed a lower roll center however, which is just body roll, which was never an issue that I noticed. When its lifting on the inside ski in a corner, roll center doesn't come into play, center of gravity is in play at that point, so I never bought into needing a "lower roll center". what I do is loosen up the ski springs and the rear suspension front arm spring to allow for a lower ride height and flatter a-arm to lower the center of gravity. I run aggressive SnowTrackers for easy and positive steering so I don't have to tune the suspension for a steering aid like most do with std. normal carbides.

Notice all the Cat race sleds run the older lower spindles! There is a reason for that.

 

[STAIN]

I have to say they are different. I ride a 2017 RTx 129 and I ride with two 2020 Thundercats. Now I know they are 137's but they just corner flatter, no questions about it. It is the first thing I notice when I ride one of them. They just will NOT pick up an inside ski. I first I thought maybe the 1 inch tracks where letting the rear slip a little more than my 1 1/4 but both sleds went to 1 1/4 tracks this year and they are just as flat. My sled corners flat, but not as flat as those new ones.
They ride sweet too, the overall package is very impressive.

 

[jonlafon1]

I have to say they are different. I ride a 2017 RTx 129 and I ride with two 2020 Thundercats. Now I know they are 137's but they just corner flatter, no questions about it. It is the first thing I notice when I ride one of them. They just will NOT pick up an inside ski. I first I thought maybe the 1 inch tracks where letting the rear slip a little more than my 1 1/4 but both sleds went to 1 1/4 tracks this year and they are just as flat. My sled corners flat, but not as flat as those new ones.
They ride sweet too, the overall package is very impressive.

This kinda stuff is messing with my head!! I said I didn’t need to upgrade my 17 to a 22? Lol. All your fault STAIN!

 

[vmxrdr]

When comparing the new front end performance and bringing in variable of 129 vs 137 I think Stain is opening the lid on a can of worms that I tried to help a local guy with last yr. We both had 50th anniversary winder, his 129 mine 137. We both had 6.9 pilots from Dans recommendation. I have a different spring in front of my skid because I hated the dead flat feel the 137 winders have when trail riding really aggressively. Besides that spring same sleds. I can ride my sled like a scalded cat under many different conditions and it always just flat works. We ride with some retired snowcross pros so you have to be on your game lol. Its so balanced that I evolved to tail braking into loose corners and then come out spinning, its a scream and unbeatable when compared to any other trail sled with the 100 hp advantage thrown in the mix. We set the 129 up the same way and he still gave up on it and bought a 650 Matryx this year. The shorty was twitchy in a way my 137 never was. That being said I want to try a new front end model but after reading Mikes input I am probably not shopping a new sled unless bigger changes come along.

 

[TPAY243]

129 and 137 are completely different animals they won't work set up the same way. The 129 has way more transfer and will lift the ski's at will. A properly set up 129 will walk away from a 137 in the tight and twistys.

 

[SumpBuster]

I have but I cant comment yet and my comments would be worthless because I had the mtn style front end before. I will say though that the reason I switched was my wifes 2020 riot handles amazing, especially in rough chopped up curves. Holds a line and feels ioncredibly stable and predictable and no inside ski lift. I will have feedback once the snow flys but like I said I can only compare to the more narrow mtn style front end that was on my xtx-se

Met up with a guy that just bought a riot and his son an 850 poo equivalent and said his riot just won't steer....take it for what it's worth...he said the poo handled lots better. Both long track paddles...not up on them, but told him my sidewinder handles very well. He said the poo has great power...sounds like he needs a winder instead of a riot!

 

[SumpBuster]

When comparing the new front end performance and bringing in variable of 129 vs 137 I think Stain is opening the lid on a can of worms that I tried to help a local guy with last yr. We both had 50th anniversary winder, his 129 mine 137. We both had 6.9 pilots from Dans recommendation. I have a different spring in front of my skid because I hated the dead flat feel the 137 winders have when trail riding really aggressively. Besides that spring same sleds. I can ride my sled like a scalded cat under many different conditions and it always just flat works. We ride with some retired snowcross pros so you have to be on your game lol. Its so balanced that I evolved to tail braking into loose corners and then come out spinning, its a scream and unbeatable when compared to any other trail sled with the 100 hp advantage thrown in the mix. We set the 129 up the same way and he still gave up on it and bought a 650 Matryx this year. The shorty was twitchy in a way my 137 never was. That being said I want to try a new front end model but after reading Mikes input I am probably not shopping a new sled unless bigger changes come along.

That's how I finally got mine...what a 'riot' steering with the back end, just a touch of the throttle!

 

[WinderFab]

I have to say they are different. I ride a 2017 RTx 129 and I ride with two 2020 Thundercats. Now I know they are 137's but they just corner flatter, no questions about it. It is the first thing I notice when I ride one of them. They just will NOT pick up an inside ski. I first I thought maybe the 1 inch tracks where letting the rear slip a little more than my 1 1/4 but both sleds went to 1 1/4 tracks this year and they are just as flat. My sled corners flat, but not as flat as those new ones.
They ride sweet too, the overall package is very impressive.

Very true.. I can’t get my 20 to lift a ski in the corners ..

 

[justinator]

Met up with a guy that just bought a riot and his son an 850 poo equivalent and said his riot just won't steer....take it for what it's worth...he said the poo handled lots better. Both long track paddles...not up on them, but told him my sidewinder handles very well. He said the poo has great power...sounds like he needs a winder instead of a riot!

Our riot has 3000 miles and steers great. I have made no adjustments from the way it was delivered. I have about 1300 miles on the new front end on my sidewinder and am 100% pleased with it.

 

[STAIN]

129 and 137 are completely different animals they won't work set up the same way. The 129 has way more transfer and will lift the ski's at will. A properly set up 129 will walk away from a 137 in the tight and twistys.

I weigh @ 208lb 12 oz.
My 129 is set up as follows
Front springs----zero preload
center spring----zero preload---I tried the heavy center spring everyone talks about. I felt it ruined the ride of the rear skid and took it out.
strap ------JUST tight as it sits on the flat floor, which is up 2 from where it was delivered.
rear springs on #1
cat ski with 6 inch dooly's, just ordered 6inch snipers.
This thing steers super light, lighter than any sled I ride with( 2020 t Cats, zr 9000 850 Polaris 129 and 137 and 1 900t.)
not only is it light, it goes exactly where you point it. absolutely NO darting. I can drive this thing one handed at 80 mph with no worries. rails high speed corners.
ski will lift maybe 6inchs on flat ground, hard throttle , hard pack.
no hard bottoming.

The 2020 Thundercats are set up very similar, but they cant get the light steering I do at speeds below 30 mph, but they will NOT lift that inside ski, mine will a couple of times a day.
That and those QS3 shocks make for a really smooth ride.
I do feel light my 129 does turn quicker in the tight stuff than the 137, but the 137 does bite harder