AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Arctic Cat M7 162Back to Arctic Cat. We don't envy the dude who walks into a Cat dealership and stares at two vitamin-C-orange snowmobiles. Chances are, he'll want both - the King Cat and the M7. We would!
We rate the M-series fun factor at a solid 10. But, we can't overlook the agility and shear brutality the King Cat EFI brings to every outing. Decisions, decisions.
While the King Cat was king of the hill in '04 and other OEMs were targeting it for 2005, Arctic Cat slipped quietly into its cave and created a wicked sled that rivals the best 800s and 900s. This season it unleashes an ultra-light EFI 700 that has a better power-to-weight ratio than the King and the others' big-bore twins.
In head-to-head comparisons, we found all the other 800s and 900s struggle to highmark the M7, even Cat's own King had to eat four bowls of Wheaties to beat the M7. For those who'll be harping on the slopes with an M7 in '05, don't be embarrassed that your sled has 700 embossed on its side. This sled will carve and snake through the trees with pure sweetness. It'll tackle the steepest terrain with no fear. Call on it and it will break trail and mountain for the most reluctant to the most experienced rider.
The King set the standard for big bore twins, but the new M7 won't back down from any fight either. It is sleek, seems full of steroids and is light. Plus its frame is 40 pounds lighter than the other 800s and 900s and its horsepower comes in at just 10 less than the others. Grrrr!