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Long Term Test
Arctic Cat M8 and M1000

We were spoiled this past winter with the delivery of two Arctic Cat M-sleds, an M1000 and M8 Sno Pro. We first rode prototypes in February of 2006 and later that spring we rode the sleds again after the factory had improved the Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) fuel mapping - the computer program that regulates fuel and oxygen mixtures at various throttle positions and at differing altitudes. We agreed the M1000 and M8 performed better on the second ride. By production time, Cat dialed in even more chutzpah into the lay down twins. The Ms also received a robust electro mechanical reverse, which added about 11 lbs. At first we questioned this decision for mountain sleds because it came at the expense of weight, but after using reverse in tight situations, we found that we use reverse much more than originally anticipated.

Other niceties on the M-sleds include a large diameter starter that gives an easy pull, that's even easier than the M6. This makes a huge difference when yanking the rope on a cold morning. The other nice touch is the handlebar grips are attached with a mechanical fastener on the end of the grip, which prevents the grips from coming off - much appreciated when dicing on a nasty side hill.

M8 report
For the M8, the only glitch we experienced was on a below zero morning. A wad of ice wedged itself in the fuel pump, preventing the M8 from lighting its fire. Our set up man for these two media sleds, showed us how to reverse the pump's polarity, allowing the fuel pump to spin in the opposite direction thus spiting out the ice chunk. Since that one glitch, we haven't experienced another problem.

The M8's clutching came from the factory too light for high-altitude mountain busting; 68-gram weights just did not have the mustard for 6,000 to 9,000 feet. We spent most of the season with 73 to 75-gram weights, and the M8 liked these and the motor held its rpm well, giving it "hard pull" all the way through the throttle.

M1000 report
The M1000 was surely our "king of the hill" this year. We were amazed at how hard it hit, pulled and kept finding its legs and lungs. In order for the big 1K twin to hold maximum rpm and not over-rev the engine, Arctic's engineers developed a four roller primary clutch with cam arms. Like the M8, the primary clutch was shipped with too light of weights - the big motor likes 68 to 70-gram weights to keep it happy in its power curve. Our local performance shop - Starting Line Products - dynoed the big 1000 twin at 167 hp. That kind of hp combined with the M chassis made it our ultimate mountain favorite. Yes, there's about a 29-pound jump in weight from the M8 to the M1K, but ooohhhh laddie, it is worth it!

As for our evaluation and testing, we banged these snowmobiles in real world conditions. We rode the trails at 80 mph, hill climbed and boondocked in the thickest of trees and nastiest of ravines. We learned we can do it all on these sleds. For us, spending three days riding with Cat riders Bret Rasmussen and Chris Burandt taught us that with the M-chassis, we could pull lines we never thought possible; by riding with these extremists, we learned first hand why these snowmobiles worked so well.

No problems
Since we took delivery of these snowmobiles from Mountain Magic Sports in Preston, Idaho, they never were returned for mechanical problems. But, this does not mean, we didn't tune these bone stock sleds to absolute perfection. We appreciate Arctic Cat for releasing two new products with no big mechanical problems.

As we follow the sales numbers for model year '08, we are surprised the M8 and especially the M1000 are not being gobbled up. We know that early in the '07 season, clutching caught the M8 and M1000 flatfooted, but once corrected, these sleds were terrors.

I think the M1000 is my fave mountain sled since mountain sleds were invented, and I believe the M1000 is not an overweight brother to a lighter 800-class sled. The M8, properly dialed in by a dealer who wants its sleds to be the best, will unleash a sled that kills mountains. The M-Cats are remarkable, also nimble in the trees, gullies and ravines. These sleds can sashay as if a kite floating on a warm spring breeze. For '08, the story gets better! Read our reports on the '08s and find out for yourself why the M-Cats are truly worth your attention.