AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
A side of 125(ish) hp
We had more than enough fun stuffing our faces with the 800-class sleds, but what could be better than completing a full plate of testing with what’s becoming a very intense competition between the 600cc 2-strokes and Yamaha’s 4-strokers? Nothing could be better!
Cat’s ZR 6000RR was lined up against Yamaha’s Viper R-TX LE. Both are what we consider each OEM’s race or rough-trail suspension packages. Both utilize the 129-in. Cat ProCross chassis. The 6000RR uses the much-admired new 600cc C-TEC2 2-stroke while the Viper employs the equally-liked Genesis 4-stroke. Let the fun begin!
The pure brute strength of the Yamaha engine showed well here, outrunning the RR across the board. However, it was not a lopsided affair. Less than 2.5 mph separated the two at top speed. Again, weather interfered and prevented us from getting a 1/4-mile time or speed for the Yamaha. The results we did get were wider than one might expect from a sled using the same chassis, but the Viper holds a slight horsepower advantage according to our dyno testing at this season’s New York Shootout (see Feb. 2015 issue). Of course, at the New York Shootout the Viper also showed strongly.
What is incredibly encouraging for 4-stroke fans is the wet weight testing. Yamaha was quoted in several recent issues on making big strides in closing the weight gap between 4-strokes and 2-strokes. Neither Yamaha nor Arctic Cat publish their sled’s dry weights, but luckily AmSnow brings you the wet weight of our demo sleds!
If you look back at last season’s Real World Shootout (Spring 2014 issue). You’ll see Arctic Cat’s ZR 6000 El Tigre was 98 lbs. lighter than Yamaha’s SR Viper. Hop in your DeLorean and come back to 2015, and you’ll see the gap between a comparable 6000RR from Arctic Cat and Viper R-TX LE is just 37 lbs! That might be the most impressive number from our Real World Shootout!