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I had spent a ton of saddle time on Arctic Cat's nimble 2005 F7, so I had a pretty good idea how the '06 test pony, the F6, would ride.
I expected pop from the EFI 599cc engine and its new exhaust pipe sensor that was supposed to cut emissions, boost acceleration and prevent cold drive away hesitation. But I also was thinking of the quick hook-up and light, responsive handling we had seen from our F7. No disappointments here, and our F6 was extremely reliable.
First, this electronically fuel-injected engine is nearly as peppy as its 700 stable mate, just with less top-end power.
We ran this baby hard in our Real World Shoot-Out and it hit a top speed of 98.28 mph, just behind Polaris' Fusion 600 H.O., and ripped off the quarter-mile in 14.15 seconds, second fastest of our four tested 600s.
By comparison the F7 hit 103.85 mph and did the quarter in 13.29 seconds. Both were Sno Pro models, and our staff, Cat engineers and many of you readers know the standard Firecats with the 1-inch lugged track are about 3-4 mph quicker. But we gotta run what we brung!
Those are the numbers, but often it's the seat of the snow pants that tell us what we really want to know, and the F6 has plenty of quickness to grab your attention. Running an open lake is a hoot, plus you'll get a good jump on some of your buddies because the sled is light and the throttle pull seemed smoother this year.
The ACT Diamond Drive hooks up well and helps lower the sled's center of gravity. That's no big deal on the lake, but once you're into the woods you'll be glad this sled handles so easily. I'm no heavyweight and I never had any trouble whipping this thing around.
Those hooked bars help, naturally, but the F6's light nose and balance make it a winner on the trail and in the ditches. And aren't those the places where most of us spend our time?
I like the Sno Pro's 1.375-inch lugs too. They give it the traction you need, no matter the snow conditions.
The sled's Fox Float shocks, another weight saver, also improve the Sno Pro's ride in those choppy stutters that can rattle your fillings. These air-filled shocks resist fading so you can zip along long, rough trails for a whole season without worry that your shocks will need to take a break somewhere along the trail. Just don't forget your air pump!
While ride and handling are good, the F6 also doesn't vibrate as much as some mid-line performance sleds. The riding position is comfortable too, but has been trumped for '07 by Cat's Infinite Rider Positioning system.
Trust me, the older the eyes get, the more they like F6's big speedometer, the easiest one out there to see while at speed. Plus our Real World tests showed us the readings are pretty darned close to your actual speed. Not true for all sleds.
I'm not as wild about having the handlebar heaters all on the right bar, preferring the toggles some use on either bar. Toggles are easier to adjust while riding.
While I like the F6's taller seat and handlebar positioning, I found this seat a little hard on long rides. But that's a personal thing. Yet these foot rails are wide and useful, and I still love the huge gas cap for fueling.
Final thoughts? We enjoyed the F6 because it was a hoot to ride on trails and because you're always in control. We wish it could get a little better gas mileage, but this one delivered about what we expected, ranging from a low of 8.5 mpg to 15.27 mpg. We averaged about 12.2 mpg. A year earlier we got just 10.2 mpg with the 700.
The 2006 F6 was a strong and steady steed, and the '07 F-series looks to be even better!
Arctic Cat F6 EFI Sno ProEngine: 599cc Suzuki EFI II
Exhaust: APV w/tuned pipe & canister
Drive/Driven: Arctic (rpm sensing)/Arctic roller cam ACT drive system
Front Suspension: AWS-VI double-wishbone A-arms with lightweight aluminum Arctic Fox Float shocks and sway bar
Rear Suspension: FasTrack Long Travel slide-rail w/coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs, 2-in. IFP rear arm shock
Ski Stance: 43 in.
Track: 13.5x128x1.375 in.
Fuel Capacity: 12.6 gal.
Weight: 468 lbs.
'07 MSRP: $9,399 US/$11,999 CA
Real World StatsTop Speed: 98.28 mph
1/4-mile time: 14.15 sec.
MPG: 12.2