AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Fans of the No. 20 car chased us around the trails this last year as we rode our Tony Stewart edition F8. Or maybe they were just drafting! However, not all NASCAR fans like Mr. Stewart. One particular fellow actually blocked me at an intersection, pointed at me, then pointed at his rainbow colored helmet sporting the No. 24 of Jeff Gordon.
Regardless of your own feelings about drivers and NASCAR in general, the real story here is Cat's ability to make a quality machine while not sacrificing all of its racy roots. The F8 Sno Pro isn't just a flashy graphics job.
From the shopWe received our F8 and immediately started getting it ready for the trail. We slapped a kit of 153 Stud Boy PowerPoint studs onto the 128x15-inch track that came standard with a 1-inch lug. We also put longer 8-inch carbides up front. After installing the studs and taking it for the first ride, we definitely needed some track tightening, which is extremely easy on the F-series. That was pretty much the extent of our maintenance needed on this sled for the entire season. Put in oil and gas, and we were good to go.
We did end up changing the 8-inch carbides for 10-inchers after the first couple hundred miles, and we dialed in a bit more ski pressure because the 2007 F-sled had a tendency to push in the corners, and we needed more bite. We would suggest going a step further and getting a pair of deeper keeled C&A, USI, Simmons or other aftermarket skis as this will help to get the front end to stick more in the corners.
We also installed a set of Acerbis hand guards from PowerMadd halfway through the season, which helped make up for the lack of wind and debris deflection provided by the small windshield.
TestingTesting the F8 proved more difficult than we'd thought because everyone on the trail wanted to take a closer look at the sled. Obviously it's an eye catcher, but it performed well too. As far as big bump sleds go, this is one of the best '07s from any manufacturer. Only the 700 Dragon from Polaris has a better riding position for us.
Arctic has taken it on the chin this year from many of its loyal "straight-line speed" consumers, but this sled isn't a slouch AND is much easier to handle. You won't have to contort your body nearly as much on this F-sled as you did on the old Firecats to get it to go where you'd like. With the adjustable seat and handlebar system on the LXR Sno Pro, you get a full range of positions, so riders big or small, aggressive or cruiser-minded, can feel comfortable. Without a doubt, the strong Twin Spar chassis was the most comfortable in our fleet this year, and the seat was too.
The low-sitting ACT Diamond Drive with added push-button reverse worked flawlessly and, again, was maintenance free all winter. Unlike Ski-Doo, Cat's reverse does not shut down the engine, so you don't have any unwanted stalls like you sometimes get on the REV machines when putting them into reverse. Cat's mechanical reverse works perfectly, even if the sled has just been started and is still cold.
The 4-roller primary and Cat's factory clutching gave the F8 good power in the mid-range and decent top-end, but we were disappointed that there wasn't ever that solid power-jolt like we were used to feeling with previous Cats. We would say that the power was adequate, but not hair-twisting exciting. Our gas mileage also was just 11.64 mpg, only slightly better than in our former F7.
We also were happy with the steering ease of the F8. Don't confuse this with actual turning ability though. It was easy to turn the bars, but pushing through corners was a problem. Cat has fixed this for the 2008 crop of F-sleds. Finally, the slide-action, snocross tested, rear suspension bump capabilities of the F8 Sno Pro were stellar.
Take awaysIf you are a high-mileage guy who still fancies yourself an aggressive rider, then the F8 Sno Pro is worth a long look. This sled is comfortable and does not give up much to anything else on the snow in performance. It's not as light or as quick off the line as the old Firecat, but it's an all-around higher quality machine that was maintenance free all winter.
Arctic Cat F8 Sno Pro Tony Stewart EditionEngine: 794cc EFI liquid twin, 2-stroke
HP: 143.7
Exhaust: APV w/tuned pipe and canister
Ski Stance: 43 in.
Front Susp.: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms w/Fox Float shocks & sway bar Rear Susp.: Slide-Action frame slide-rail with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs, 2-in. dia. (IFP) rear arm shock, sliding front arm
Track: 15x128x1.0 in.
Fuel Tank: 12.2 gal.
Dry Weight: 500 lbs.
Wet Weight: 652 lbs. (with 153 Stud Boy PowerPoint studs)
Price: $10,299 US/$12,999 CA
Real World Results: F7 vs. F8
Top Speed: 103.85 mph vs. 104.87 mph
¼-mile time: 13.29 sec. vs. 13.18 sec.
Avg. mpg: 10.2 mpg vs. 11.64 mpg