Vroom! Vroom! If mom and dad can have fun in the snow, why should Pat and Chris have to stay behind with a sitter? The answer used to be because there wasn't a sled for them to drive. This year that answer only applies to the most die-hard Yamaha families because each of the other three manufacturers offer a scaled-down version of their flagship trail shredder to cultivate brand loyalty from the ripe old age of five. If we were a cynical group we'd say it's not very nice to foster the sled addiction in kids, but truthbe told, we're just jealous they weren't around for us!
A close examination of the Mini Z, Z 120 and 120 XCR will reveal a strong tendency toward one-upsmanship between the factories. Ski-Doo was the first to release a scooter in the 120cc class. For two seasons, it was the only sled to compete against a well-aged Kitty Cat. It sported a trailing arm front suspension with elastomer dampers and a torsion spring rear suspension, offering .98 and six inches of travel respectively. This setup pretty well smoked the Kitty Cat's previously-cornered market.
This past spring, Arctic Cat fired back with the Z 120. Styled after its new ZR chassis, the Z-120 sports an A-arm front end with a fiberglass leaf spring, which delivers three full inches of travel on the nose end.Cat's rear suspension consists of a true slide rail with a fiberglass spring which offers 4.5 inches of travel. The steel skis even have a carbide option.Cat had returned volley.
Not to be outdone, Polaris jumped in with its even-better 120 XCR at its dealer show in March. The little XCR looks almost exactly like the 440 Edge machine from the race track. Its front suspension went to the next level: shock absorbers with coil over springs. The Arvin-controlled front end sports three inches of travel. Polaris even went to the length of designing composite skis for the 120. The rear suspension, like Cat's, is a sliderail system, but with a torsion spring. It offers six inches of travel atthe rear axle.
By law, these sleds all hit eight miles per hour as a maximum speed,thanks to throttle governors. Parents across the snowbelt can be assuredthat their little Kelly won't be tearing it up too badly in the backyard.Although for an average seven-year-old, eight miles per hour isn't too shabby it's faster than some parents can run through deep snow!
Of course, with the new kidmobiles comes a whole line of matching clothes.Each manufacturer offers race-bred apparel from helmets to boots so everyone can be part of the backyard racing action.
There's even a small aftermarket developing for these sleds. Parents can opt to buy different skis, windshields and even performance parts when they feel their little 'biler is ready for more.
Each of the new kidmobiles is sure to thrill. Even the Kitty Cat is still a kid-pleaser. The variety of choices had been a long time coming, but it is guaranteed to make for a darn happy holiday season.
| Arctic Cat Kitty Cat | Arctic Cat Z 120 | Polaris 120 XCR | Ski-Doo Mini Z |
| Model Year | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| U.S MSRP: | $1,349 | $1,799 | $1,899 | $1,899 |
| CDN MSRP: | $1,479 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,399 |
| Class: Kid Sled | Kid Sled | Kid Sled | Kid Sled |
| ENGINE SPECS:Make: | Suzuki | Suzuki | Fuji | Honda |
| Cylinders: | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooling: | Fan | Fan | Fan | Fan |
| Displacement | 59cc | 119cc | 121cc | 118cc |
| Engine Type: | 4 stroke | 4 stroke | 4 stroke | 4 stroke |
| Exhaust type: | Canister | Canister | Pipe/Muffler | Mini Z |
| Pipes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| CARBURETION: Quantity: | 1 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Type: | Butterfly Valve 18 | Butterfly Valve 18 | - | Horizontal Type |
| DRIVE TRAIN: Drive: | Centrifical | Centrifical | Centrifical | Comet |
| Driven: | N/A | N/A | NA | 48 Sprocket |
| Brake: | Adjustable Band | Adjustable Band | Band | Mechanic |
| SUSPENSION:Front: | Fiberglass Leaf Spring | Fiberglass Leaf Spring | IFS, Trailing arm, Parallel Link | Mini Z |
| Travel: | 1.5 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | .98 inches |
| Ski Type: | Steel | Steel | Composite skis | Steel |
| Carbide: | Optional | Optional | No | No |
| Ski-Stance: | 17 inches | 32 inches | 31 inches | 27 inches |
| Rear: | Wheel Slide Rail | Fiberglass Spring | Torsion Spring Slide Rail, Hyfax | Mini Z |
| Travel: | 0 inches | 4.5 inches | 6 inches | 6 inches |
| Track Lug: | .4 inches | .5 inches | .68 inches | .63 inches |
| CAPACITIES:Fuel: | .44 Gallons | .5 Gallons | .5 gallons | .5 gallons |
| Dry Weight: | 113 lbs. | 165 lbs. | 140 lbs. | 154 lbs. |
| Standard Features: | Wheel Kit | - | - | Low windshield |