AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Arctic Cat Sabercat 700 EFIArctic Cat seems to get it. The biggest differences between the high performance muscle of the Firecat F7 EFI and the Sabercat 700 EFI are that the Firecats come with the smoother shifting Diamond Drive planetary gearbox, higher-grade shock absorbers and stiffer ride setup. Otherwise, statistically speaking, you'll find little to separate a top line Firecat from the top line Sabercat trail performance model.
I'll cut Cat some slack on not equipping the Sabercats with Diamond Drive technology as I expect to see it in more models in future seasons. It's the first full season for the Firecat to get the system and I suspect Cat is erring on the safe side of warranty issues this season. If all goes well, which I expect it will, the Diamond Drive should become a staple for Cat enthusiasts.
Since it replaces the chaincase, jackshaft, chain and gears of the traditional Sabercat setup, Diamond Drive has a number of advantages - an 11-pound weight savings, fewer parts, lower center of gravity (improves handling) and less maintenance.
As for shocks, the Firecats feature racer-oriented internal floating piston shocks vs. Ryde FX gas shocks up front on the wishbone front end. Rear suspension shocks on the Sabercat are a combination of a ride-sensing variable shock and another Ryde FX shock. The Firecat gets 2-inch diameter IFP gas shocks.
Other differences include the use of dual runner skis for the trail-performance Sabercat and a single carbide plastic ski for the Firecat series. Rider-friendliness reigns with the Sabercat, as electric start comes standard on the LX version. It even offers remote location starting so you can fire up your Sabercat without leaving your fishing hole. Reverse is standard too, as are rearview mirrors.
Most importantly the two sibling sleds can be ordered with the same 140-horsepower, electronically fuel injected Suzuki-built 698cc twin. Extreme performance is standard as these Cats really motor!
It doesn't really matter which Cat you choose, the highest performance F7 or slightly more civilized Sabercat 700 LX both offer fantastic ergonomics. Cat engineers have really gotten this wind deflection thing down to a fine science. Even the sports sleds have windshields that work- and they're stylin' while they do it! The instruments are readable at night or high noon and the controls allow you to make adjustments without taking your eyes off the trail. These may seem like minor issues, but at the speeds that these Cats can achieve, you want to be paying attention!
Yes, I can rant about the differences between the personal luxury sleds and the high performance models, but Cat has chosen to put more sport in its personal signature sleds than the competition. Next year, I expect that we'll see the gap between all-out performance and extreme personal sports/luxury models closed a bit in the Cat lineup.