Just got back from Cook City last night late. Rode in from the parking lot
Rode Mon-Wed
Snow conditions were pretty bad. Cooke Needs snow (Just like everywhere else)
Snow was not set up at all until Monday afternoon. (They got a storm Friday/Sat just before we got there)
Rocks and land mines everywhere......
The bad news
First thing I noticed is the skis. They are brutal! This sled dives Baaadddd!! in deep powder, especially downhill off throttle. A new set of Simmons Gen 3's are on order!
There were times when I was going downhill in untracked fluff, when the sled dove so bad, I thought it would keep going and nose over.
On the trail, the skis dated all over the place as well. That could have been set up, but I dont think changing the set up will have much effect on darting.
The skis do not have enough area on them for proper flotation.
The steering was brutal. I found myself bending down way too far to keep that thing on a side hill. As soon as the vertical steering comes, I will be getting that. The amount of steering throw seemed fine though, it is just the angle of the post that makes it ackward to sidehill.... With the right effort it would sidehill.
Snowflap: Brutal! I had an aftermarket flap on my sled, Hilly still had the stock flap on his 1100T. The lack of area in which to grip the rear bumper on the stock flap is pathetic. No way can two guys get their hands on the bumper to lift it out of a hole. I liked my flap much better, even though it kept getting caught up in the track (I am going to trim that sucker off a few inches)
Weight: It is what everybody thinks it is - Heavy. It feels heavy when trying to get it unstuck, and sidehilling (THe steering plays a role in the sidehilling part though)
The good news:
This sled pulls like a Mofo! When you grab throttle it pulls on your arms unlike anything I have ever ridden. The second day my forearms and hands hurt from hanging on under power. You have a total feeling of confidence that you will make it up a hill with that kind of power.
Trail performance: Outstanding! It rolls over those "corn on the cob" "Whoopty doops" extremely well.
Goggle bag: It is fantastic! We put sammiches in there and they were hot and the cheese was melted. Muff pot,,,,,,,,, schmuff pot, you dont need one of those.
Handwarmers/thumbwarmers: Worked extremely well. low was plenty for most situations, high got very hot and was nice for very cold conditions.
Fuel mileage: Great!! We rode mainly off trail and I was shocked on how good the fuel use was. Hilly and I both got just over 10 mpg. That is on two identical sleds with the same amount of miles +- 130
I think that number will improve as the sled loosens up even more.
Starting: Every morning at 10-15 degrees, the engine immediately started.
Belt life: No issue there, I put on about 130 miles and the belt looked brand new. By the way, I only babied this thing to break it in, on the way in from the parking area, of about 10 miles or so. As soon as I hit powder, it was WFO through the trees, and play areas.
Ski stance: I dont think you need the 38" stance, the sled rolled over very easily
Jumpability: I am no expert jumper by any means, but there were a few times when I got her in the air and it handles the landing quite well. The shocks work very well.
Overall comments:
The Arctic Cat vision for this sled: A
Execution in delivering that vision: B-
Would I buy that same sled again if I knew then what I know now? YEP!
Does it have limitations? YEP! but how I ride and where I ride, the limitations dont get uncovered very easily.
If you expect it to ride like a Pro or Proclimb 800, you will be sorely dissappointed.
I know this is a bit of a fickle review, but I truly tell you that there is so much that I like about this sled, and a few things I hate. Given more time on the sled, those "Hate" items will turn into "dislike" items.
Rode Mon-Wed
Snow conditions were pretty bad. Cooke Needs snow (Just like everywhere else)
Snow was not set up at all until Monday afternoon. (They got a storm Friday/Sat just before we got there)
Rocks and land mines everywhere......
The bad news
First thing I noticed is the skis. They are brutal! This sled dives Baaadddd!! in deep powder, especially downhill off throttle. A new set of Simmons Gen 3's are on order!
There were times when I was going downhill in untracked fluff, when the sled dove so bad, I thought it would keep going and nose over.
On the trail, the skis dated all over the place as well. That could have been set up, but I dont think changing the set up will have much effect on darting.
The skis do not have enough area on them for proper flotation.
The steering was brutal. I found myself bending down way too far to keep that thing on a side hill. As soon as the vertical steering comes, I will be getting that. The amount of steering throw seemed fine though, it is just the angle of the post that makes it ackward to sidehill.... With the right effort it would sidehill.
Snowflap: Brutal! I had an aftermarket flap on my sled, Hilly still had the stock flap on his 1100T. The lack of area in which to grip the rear bumper on the stock flap is pathetic. No way can two guys get their hands on the bumper to lift it out of a hole. I liked my flap much better, even though it kept getting caught up in the track (I am going to trim that sucker off a few inches)
Weight: It is what everybody thinks it is - Heavy. It feels heavy when trying to get it unstuck, and sidehilling (THe steering plays a role in the sidehilling part though)
The good news:
This sled pulls like a Mofo! When you grab throttle it pulls on your arms unlike anything I have ever ridden. The second day my forearms and hands hurt from hanging on under power. You have a total feeling of confidence that you will make it up a hill with that kind of power.
Trail performance: Outstanding! It rolls over those "corn on the cob" "Whoopty doops" extremely well.
Goggle bag: It is fantastic! We put sammiches in there and they were hot and the cheese was melted. Muff pot,,,,,,,,, schmuff pot, you dont need one of those.
Handwarmers/thumbwarmers: Worked extremely well. low was plenty for most situations, high got very hot and was nice for very cold conditions.
Fuel mileage: Great!! We rode mainly off trail and I was shocked on how good the fuel use was. Hilly and I both got just over 10 mpg. That is on two identical sleds with the same amount of miles +- 130
I think that number will improve as the sled loosens up even more.
Starting: Every morning at 10-15 degrees, the engine immediately started.
Belt life: No issue there, I put on about 130 miles and the belt looked brand new. By the way, I only babied this thing to break it in, on the way in from the parking area, of about 10 miles or so. As soon as I hit powder, it was WFO through the trees, and play areas.
Ski stance: I dont think you need the 38" stance, the sled rolled over very easily
Jumpability: I am no expert jumper by any means, but there were a few times when I got her in the air and it handles the landing quite well. The shocks work very well.
Overall comments:
The Arctic Cat vision for this sled: A
Execution in delivering that vision: B-
Would I buy that same sled again if I knew then what I know now? YEP!
Does it have limitations? YEP! but how I ride and where I ride, the limitations dont get uncovered very easily.
If you expect it to ride like a Pro or Proclimb 800, you will be sorely dissappointed.
I know this is a bit of a fickle review, but I truly tell you that there is so much that I like about this sled, and a few things I hate. Given more time on the sled, those "Hate" items will turn into "dislike" items.
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