AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
What we didnt likeWhile this was by far our favorite sled last season, the M7 still isn't a perfect machine - few are. Our test unit came out of the box running fat and rich on fuel, so our Cat dealer, Mountain Magic Sports, leaned down the M7's overly rich fuel map.
That rich condition also made the M7 more thirsty than even our 2004 King Cat! In fact, it was running on fumes while the King Cat in our group still had a third or more of a tank. After the dealer adjusted the fuel injection system though, we were back to more normal consumption.
We had another small gripe that lead to a big problem. Seems the handlebar grips tend to peel off after the oven's heated. One of our test riders had a grip slip off its mount mid-climb after a bit of challenging riding, leaving him tumbling down a mountain's face. He was fine, but his M7 didn't fare so well, careening down the slope and wrapping itself around a tree. Lucky for us it was not our loaner sled, but still the dealer who was riding with us had to repair the M7.
Additionally, the rear suspension seemed stiff on the flats and had minimal compression. This made the trails especially tough as the harsh kickback sometimes bucked unexpectedly hard. We also found that the seat latches occasionally tripped when the rear compartment was filled with overly large items.
Sure, we have some complaints, we always do! But Cat has clearly set the standard with the M7. Still, you should keep an eye on AmSnow as we move into the 2006 season, the other OEMs are stepping up to Arctic's challenge, starting with some weight loss, always a good place to begin!