If you look in the dictionary, you will find the definition of “hardcore” is: “the most active, committed or doctrinaire members of a group or movement.” Arctic Cat picked up on this concept and designed a snowmobile specifically for a hardcore style of riders.
The 2019 Arctic Cat M 800 Hardcore is designed for riders who are as aggressive on the trails as they are in the mountains. This sled is for hitting everything at full throttle—slopes, bumps, jumps and powder.
The combination of the Ascender platform and the vertical steering post with 4.5-inch riser and mountain handlebar gives you a lightweight snowmobile designed to float through deep snow while allowing the rider to be up and aggressive in the handling of the sled. The vertical post is ideal for counter-steering on steep slopes while keeping the turning arc in a more neutral position.
The Ascender platform features a 1.125-inch dropped driveshaft for increased track-to-tunnel clearance. This opens the door for 8-tooth drive sprockets which create a flatter approach angle to allow the snowmobile to get up on the snow quicker. So when you’re in the trees and can’t just rely on the horsepower, the Ascender allows the Hardcore to go slow when you need to, and then explode out of the hole when you have to.
When racing down the rough trails or doing big drops off cornices, a performance Arctic Mountain front suspension is critical to keep you from being bounced over the bars. It features mountain-specific geometry, matching the spindles with the A-arms to glide through deep snow and cling to steep sidehills. The lightweight aluminum spindles have minimal surface area to reduce drag.
The Hardcore’s Float-Action rear suspension is designed with two 8-inch idler wheels and 5.5-inch rail mounted wheels for greater durability. This suspension can take a beating with no bending or breaking.
Fox 1.5 Zero QS3 shocks, both front and rear, come with three compression settings to allow you to tune your suspension for your activity. A dial mounted on the remote reservoir is easy to adjust to customize the compression calibration for specific riding conditions.