2000 arctic cat thundercat
Amsnow
At 1,000cc the Thundercat remains the largest displacement sled you can get in mass quantities. At 172 claimed horsepower, it ranks as the most powerful sled you can get. While not the lightest of sleds at a weight of 561 pounds, the one liter Cat is no heavier than the 600cc ZRT six.
Thundercat gives Arctic Cat braggin' rights to the biggest triple piped production muscle sled in the world. To think of this big Cat in terms of sheer lake racing capability alone demeans it. Yes, the big bore Suzuki ably invites a full throttle charge across a lake bed. But what you'll find in this Cat's breeding is a very nice disposition. The same sled that canrip through the quarter mile in 12 seconds hitting close to 110 miles per hour in the process, is also a sled that will welcome all-day miles on a pavement-smooth corridor trail.
American Snowmobiler test rider Doug Erickson, who calls the Thundercat "the king of all the triple triples," noted that the handlebars are very good for leverage, the Wilwood hydraulic disc brake is excellent,the footrest position very good, and the throttle pull was light and easy on the thumb, considering it was moving three 38mm Mikuni TM carbs.
For the year 2000, Cat answers last season's fuel mileage complaints by adding a larger 13-gallon tank. While a good plan, the execution of the plan will cause some riders anguish.
"Arctic Cat added to the fuel tank and made it a little cumbersome to ride the snowmobile," Doug noted, echoing the feelings of other staff testers. "When I ride aggressively, I tend to move up to the center of the snowmobile. With the new fuel tank, that position is very uncomfortable."
What is comfortable is the wind protection afforded by Cat engineers.Since most of Cat's key engineering staff are avid and veteran snowmobilers,Cats have effective windshields.
Whether you choose to spend time dashing across a lake or prefer 200-mile days getting from point-to-point, trail performance is what matters. Testrider Doug sums up the big Cat: "Engine performance and feeling of power is wonderful with the 1,000cc engine. It is outstanding for anything in its class. Clutching and weight transfer is outstanding."
2000 Arctic Cat Thundercat
Overall Height: 48 inches
Overall Length: 112 inches
Weight: 561 lbs.
Ski Stance: 43 inches
Engine: 999cc liquid-cooled, case red triple Suzuki triple
Exhaust: 3 Tuned pipes
Clutch:
Drive: Arctic rpm sensing
Driven: Arctic roller cam
Suspension Travel:
Front: AWS V double wishbone A-arms, ACT shocks, 8.75 in.
Rear: FasTrack, ETT, adjustable torsion springs, TLS, ACT shocks, 13.5 in.
Fuel Capacity: 13gallons
Key Features: Wilwood hydraulic brake, 3-bulb headlamp, plastic skis, mid-height windsheild,speedo, tach, low oil light.
Retail Price: $9,799