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An M-Series Tribute
In the final long-term review we will ever write on the old Arctic M-Series, it is fitting to pen a small tribute and parting thoughts on what has become a legendary mountain snowmobile.
For 2012 the new ProClimb chassis will replace the M-Series marking the end of an era in mountain snowmobiling. In its 6-year reign the M-Series chassis has always been one of the best machines in the mountain segment, winning AmSnow’s Best Mountain Snowmobile award no less than four times. The very fact that the M-Series remained competitive for so many years is a testament to how good it is.
Although Arctic Cat made improvements almost every year shedding weight and increasing horsepower, the basic chassis geometry of the 2011 M8 and 2005 M7 are very close. That geometry stayed the same because the M-Series worked so well in the mountains especially in technical sidehill terrain. Sidehill handling of the M-Series contributed to an evolution in mountain riding that has drawn many riders away from avalanche prone open faces and led them into steep tree-filled technical terrain that was previously considered unrideable. Pro riders like Brett Rasmussen and Chris Burandt showcased the capabilities of the M-Series and redefined the impossible with incredible video segments showing technical tree riding.
Not only has the M-Series contributed to this technical sidehill evolution, but it also is special in that it marks the last machine with what is now considered the old-school layout. Since snowmobiles were first invented they have featured a large hood up front enclosing the engine with the riding position and steering post behind the motor. In the last few years manufacturers have compressed the geometry on the front-end by moving the engine back, moving the riding position over the engine and running the steering post in front of, and closer to the motor.
The M-Series is one of the last snowmobiles that you can open a single hood to reveal the whole engine; working on engines will never again be as easy as it was with machines like the M-Series.
All good things come to an end, and we are sad to see the M-Series chassis that we have come to know and love reach the end of its development cycle. But our initial impressions of the new 2012 Arctic Cat mountain models give us the confidence that the next generation chassis will continue to be competitive in driving mountain snowmobile technology to new heights. Let’s ride!