1997 arctic cat puma

In our younger days, novice snowmobilers watched the "big guy" racers aboard their 440 class John Deeres, Kawasakis or Scorpions. These days, however, novice riders are left with the prospect of having to hop onto sleds that are too big and too powerful for their riding ability and most likely too expensive.

Arctic Cat's 1997 Puma is a good sled for this rider. The Puma's 339cc fan-cooled Suzuki motor is fed by a single 32mm Mikuni carb. This does not provide the Puma with an excess of power, but it is enough to learn the ropes and have some fun while doing it. More experienced riders may find the pickup on the Puma is a bit sluggish, but it's set at a good rate for a smaller, less-experienced rider.

On the plus side, the Puma's motor offers high fuel economy and should be nearly trouble free. Without those new-fangled bells and whistles, there isn't much that can go wrong.

A lighter, all-aluminum chassis also helps the small powerplant. The new design shaves a couple pounds off the load, while still maintaining its structural strength. This lightweight aspect of the sled also makes it more fun to maneuver. Smaller-framed folks will appreciate this sled because they will actually be able to use their body weight to enhance handling (read: throw the sled around like the big boys).

Despite its diminutive power rating, the Puma offers many of the components found on Arctic Cat's larger performance snowmobiles. The front suspension, for instance, is the same AWS V double wishbone design found on the ZR 440. This is the newest system from Arctic Cat, offering 7.1 inches of travel, an increase of two inches over last year. It is cushioned by gas shocks with progressive rate springs over the top. The Puma's aluminum bulkhead, which is part of the new AWS system, comes in at a full 13 pounds less than the steel version. Not too shabby for an intro-level sled.

On the back end, the Puma features the FasTrack Long Travel system. The 11.5 inches of travel is accomplished by using an aluminum slide rail, adjustable torsion springs and gas shocks. Not a bad ride for a machine in this class.

In the styling department, the Puma's hood and belly pan have undergone plastic surgery. They have been rounded and smoothed and resemble the new
Jag. With the Puma's new design, it looks like what it is: a little buddy to go out and have some fun with.

Ergonomically speaking, the Puma is a comfortable place to be. The handlebars
and the footrests fit nicely and put the driver in a safe, solid position on the seat.

Though this is a matter of personal preference, you may find that the Puma offers a more interactive feel than other snowmobiles in its class.

Driving an Indy Lite, for example, the rider sits more upright and "drives" the machine. On the Puma, riders lock in and become one with the machine. Not to say that the Puma offers Zen sledding, or anything, but it is a noticeable point of comparison.

The Puma features few standard features besides hand warmers and a spark
plug holder. Everything else is going to cost you extra. It's a pretty sparse sled, but if you're a purist and think that novice riders should start out on a basic sled, you're looking for the Puma.

Cat does offer a deluxe version of the Puma, called, strangely enough, the Puma Deluxe, which covers a bit more in the standard feature department.
You get electric start, speedo, trip meter, gas gauge, low oil light and thumb warmers for an additional $300. All these extras will add weight, but you will probably end up liking it more in the long run.

Overall, while the get up and go of the Puma may not knock you off your feet, it's a solid starter machine. For the money you're going to put into it, this is a good, basic machine, bolstered with some of Cat's newest technology.