running wild on the new 2001 mountain cat

They liked it so much, they bought one.

That "one" is the 2001 Arctic Cat Mountain Cat 600. Cat dealer, All Season Sports in Rexburg, Idaho, and its owners, the Rudds, couldn't resist the lust.

So, what's all the fuss with the new whiskers and sharp teeth? It's the ZR Sno Pro refinements that drip from this next generation mountain sled from Arctic Cat.

Gone is the standard exhaust port system. In is a new variable exhaust valve system called Arctic Power Valve (APV).

Gone is the love-it or hate-it hood. In is Cat's new ZR style hood. Black of course. Bad guys always wear black out west.

There is more to Cat's 2001 600cc mountain sled than those features mentioned above. One such favorite is the name, "Mountain Cat."

What is it, exactly? A snarling, clawing and hill shredding 600 EFI. A mountain rider should never claim the 600 is a weak class. Cat's new 600 can (and probably will) defy the odds for the 600 class by laying to rest the misconception that the 600 is the "beginners class."

When climbing aboard the new Mountain Cat 600, Cat owners will notice a much improved seat and fuel tank configuration. The seat foam appears denser. Perhaps it is this author's impression, regardless it is catchy; in more ways than one. The seat cradles one's southern-forty better than former Cat sleds. Wrapping the new butt holder, is an anti-slip shell.

Back to the fuel cell. Cat's tapered fuel tank has an extremely wide fill hole, larger than other manufacturer tanks. According to Cat's Media Relations Specialist, Jay Lusignan, the large fill hole keeps the fuel pouring where it ought to flow - in the tank. Next to the filler cap, on the left, is a mechanical fuel gauge about the size of a silver dollar. This fuel gauge, not part of the filler cap, is a permanent fuel gauge that is easy to read.

The handlebars and mountain bar on the center post are friendly and waiting to be yanked into steering. The cowling displays the ignition key on the right and choke lever on the left. Watch for what you're grabbing when jumping aboard this sled from another.

What did we learn on our test ride? It is a keeper. How do we know that? Because we busted up the mountains in Island Park, Idaho with the new 600, stacking it up against our 700 and a tweaked 600.

Against our '00 Polaris 700 RMK with a 144- by 2-inch track? You guessed it. Near equal. The RMK pulled a higher mark, due to its fatter 700 torque and longer track, but the 600 MC did not give up much real estate.

The new Mountain Cat is nimble on a steep ascent. The FasTrack Long-Travel suspension tucked underneath the all-new steep tapered Extra Travel Tunnel allows the operator to stand on the running boards and shift his weight side to side allowing the Cat to sashay up the hill- all under control.

Against a yesteryear fuel injected Powder Special 600, burning through twin tuned pipes and a performance chip, the new '01 MC was equal, dead on. In fact, the '01 600 may stretch more and throw cat litter in its face. The '01 MC is that strong.

The running boards have gained more traction for an icy boot. The boards are wide, even to the rear of the tunnel's. A foot can stay planted within the area between the tunnel and the outer lip.

On the trail, the 37-inch ski stance braced to Cat's lightened AWS V suspension is positive. The Ryde FX shocks and 5.75 inches of travel keep the nose planted where it ought to be. However, I will say, the Mountain Cat needs Cat's new high-tech gassers up front and on the rear suspension rails. The technology placed on Cat's new 800 MC should also be on the 600. The moguls that westerners bust through require it. However, the Extended Travel Tunnel housing the 13.5-inch travel rear suspension is, as always, superb.

New to the Mountain Cat is Cat's unique parabolic mountain ski. The hourglass shaped ski is wide at the tip and rear and carved in to a narrow mid-section. The ski's design allows the sled to float, lay a deep cut on a sidehill and turn sharp, according to Lusignan. It is a strange looking ski, very unconventional. But, so was Polaris'. The ski is also designed to keep snow from boiling up onto the rider.

The Mountain Cat tested this past February was running the factory set up for 5,000 to 9,000 feet elevation. The only change made was tightening the driven clutch spring one notch. The 600 pulled 8,200 revs. It probably would prefer 8,400, but with a heavy break-in formula of pre-mix fuel in the tank, the motor was hampered a bit.

Special thanks to All Season Sports for loaning us its new toy for evaluation. All Season Sports, 160 W. Main St., Rexburg, ID 83440 • 208/356-9247.