2023 cat reveal!!

[edgey]

The running boards are are plastic, there is no coolers in the tunnel pics. How does it cool?
Cat has had 11 yrs since there last new chassis, and they bring an incomplete mock up sled for there big reveal. Just crazy!!!
I like the looks of it, I hope it works good, but come on 1 more year before you can ride it. 2 yrs before a 800+ motor also crazy to me.
Do you think Textron might have considered doing away with sleds at first and now there scrambling to get the new chassis from drawing board to on the snow?
I remember when the axys came out they actually had some of test mules going around to the dealers to hype the new chassis.

 

[polemite.productions]

seems to share the blunt nose of the blast, but that's about it.
why does the tunnel look so deep at the footwell?
it appears taller... but will that still be the case when it has an engine in it?
how's the slop in the handlebars?
how's the handlebar position? right in your crotch like always?

i like the idea of losing weight and centralizing mass. that's great. but do those 2 aspects really qualify as "a revolutionary new chassis"?
my knee-jerk reaction is that, aside from moving the engine placement, you could capture everything that this chassis attempts to achieve with an elevate kit, a belt drive, and a few other mods.

 

[m1kflyingtiger]

I really like it. Best I’ve seen from cat since 2005. The tunnel reminds me of an old van amberg. As long as it still rides like a cat I think it will be a hit. I’m really excited to see a sidewinder motor in it from yamai too. I’m sure they are just doing a staged release and we will have a new motor at least announced and test rideable before we see this on the snow in a 600.

 

[goridedoo]

We have not been so lucky with the Polaris 800s, we had 4 of them go down in one season. This is the reason I ride cat now, have not had an engine failure since switching and usually put about 5k miles on them before selling them. That prehistoric chassis still does anything any of the others do, so I just don’t get the hate.

I’ll agree the reveal could have been better, more info even about the changes to the chassis compared to the old chassis would have been nice. This is where cat seems to fail in the marketing department, they don’t even tell anyone what they have or have improved.

Luckily I typically ride a sled for 5 years or so, so I got a few more to go on my ‘20. Maybe by time I’m ready to buy they’ll have the bigger engine and any bugs worked out.

I won’t argue your experiences. We rarely run our sleds past 1,500 miles. I seriously don’t care about reliability much past that. I like to keep up with new tech and typically keep a sled 2 years.

The Alphas absolutely keep up with the 850 NAs. Prehistoric comment relating to the lack of selling features. Really nothing to pull new buyers in. Old style boards, bulky controls, chaincase, horrible intake, etc. Again most of thats the past now ??

 

[goridedoo]

The running boards are are plastic, there is no coolers in the tunnel pics. How does it cool?
Cat has had 11 yrs since there last new chassis, and they bring an incomplete mock up sled for there big reveal. Just crazy!!!
I like the looks of it, I hope it works good, but come on 1 more year before you can ride it. 2 yrs before a 800+ motor also crazy to me.
Do you think Textron might have considered doing away with sleds at first and now there scrambling to get the new chassis from drawing board to on the snow?
I remember when the axys came out they actually had some of test mules going around to the dealers to hype the new chassis.

There is a bulkhead cooler and one under the tank. If you have instagram SnoWest posted a video and you can see it pretty clearly.

 

[goridedoo]

I really think they will atleast have an 800 available in the Catalyst for 2024. Pretty sure that guy did a poor job explaining the plan with motors.

 

[spoon]

I see the jackshaft is still nice and low so the secondary rotating mass is low as well. I dont see how the 800 would not fit as it is not signifigantly larger than the 600 other than the pipe.

 

[Vern]

Only reason I could see the current 800 not working is if the way the new engine mounts is drastically different.

 

[Devilmanak]

Looks like cat has produced a new promising sled. Looks raised and narrowed overall. New tunnel and plastics look good (storage and quick release). Belt drive is great. Finally a tunnel attachment system. If they can pop a 900ish power plant in there making 190-200hp for 2024 model snowcheck I’ll try one out. They will be selling very very few 600’s out west. Feels like a big tease if that’s the only option for snowcheck in Feb/March. You’d think with 2022-23 snow season they could get a power plant finalized for snowcheck.

Don’t kid yourself, The other brands put out a bad product and everyone makes excuses for them and it gets swept under the rug. Their almost 20 year run of garbage 800 engines is proof of that. Meanwhile on social media cat can do no right. Cats still not allowed to live down the 2012 problems for some reason, even though the current sleds are a far cry better. Why is that? Polaris just has marketing with social media figured out. Meanwhile cat on the other hand hasn’t had a marketing team since the m-chassis.

Did you own a 2012? I did. Last Cat I have had other than my 2017 SX. Ruined me. I am joking (a bit) but your post is very valid. Polaris cannot build a reliable sled to save their lives, and now cannot even sell a sled due to recall issues. Don't hear a lot of complaining about that. I grew up Cat. 78 Panther, 93 ZR580, 94 ZR580, 96 ZR580. I think that all of the hate comes from the fact that Cat used to be the best, and then things happened. I wanted the reveal to be amazing, it sucked, but the sled does look amazing. I like it, but still feel the need to hate on it for some reason.

 

[john6719]

Cat simply needs to hire someone who has some energy and knows marketing. The. Put that person on stage and in front of a camera and create some actual excitement. That reveal could’ve been great even with some of the challenges others have discussed. I personally love what I see so far with the sled. The 600 thing doesn’t really bother me because I’d bet 600 is the highest volume model when you consider all chassis. I may end up with an RXC, but probably not an M with a 600…even though I’d probably have just as much fun on it as any other size sled. Hope to be able to ride one this winter somewhere

 

[F_ast]

Cat does put out wicked sleds. They are behind the curve when it comes to new innovations form a tech perspective. Alpha rail is awesome, but doesn't elevate the spectrum of sleds or revolutionized the market and it comes with some trade offs. Not offering a twin rail option (and who knows for the future) is still a mistake IMO for the not exclusive mountain guys or the guys who just can't get the feel for it..

But I am pumped to see what engines are coming, details on these new sleds and see how they perform.

 

[NHRoadking]

I think the new Cats look great and have promise, but no 800+ until the 2025 model year? What is Cat/Textron thinking? They are at maybe 15% market share and Doo and Poo are not going to just stop innovating for two years.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next two years between Cat, Doo and Poo. Cat's decision to go with a belt drive may finally push Doo to do the same. If Cat's sleds are really a lot lighter than Doo and Poo, those two will likely follow suit.

Competition is great and it's cool to try new stuff, but I wonder if it's too little too late for Cat. We'll see.

 

[gonehuntnpowder]

I guess I am confused. Old chassis this season, 600 Catalyst next season, and new engine the year after, so 2025 model year, or 600 this season, new engine next? Textron likes to speak in riddles and I an getting old.

 

[m1kflyingtiger]

I guess I am confused. Old chassis this season, 600 Catalyst next season, and new engine the year after, so 2025 model year, or 600 this season, new engine next? Textron likes to speak in riddles and I an getting old.

Haha yes.

 

[hansenmac]

i believe the way there playing it now its old chassis for this year new chassis 600 for 24 and the new engine for 25. thats the way it looks on cats sight too.

 

[TracSnake10]

You wouldn’t think they’re only going to offer 600s for 2024. Probably an 800 ascender still if there’s no 800+for the new chassis.

 

[sno*jet]

looks good to me. i think its going to make the ascender feel like an old boat. the single beam just looks right under this sled imo. i wonder if handling characteristics of the taller/lighter/more compact chassis will mask over some of the traits people dont like about the alpha skid. I mean, the M version was designed with the alpha rail in mind whereas the last sled it was just slapped under. new spindles look great, lower COG... I dont know if id want a twin rail version without riding it for a while first.
this is obviously a staged release, gonna ramp up as it gets into season. marketing genius' comments get old imo. Buncha mean girls!
chassis looks killer! no more goofy ski loops and bulky tail light/flap combo. Its got the built in lunch pale over the headlight every fat boy needs they were listening for sure. One thing i will say is the slash tunnel on the poo is still ahead of the game, i dont know if they have some kind of patent on dove-tailing tunnels or cat was just afraid to find out, but i think squared off rear sections will go away eventually, all makes.
nice sled though cat!

 

[Albatroz]

So lets move this 2024 talk to a new forum. Arcticat Catalyst whooop whoooop!!

 

[Albatroz]

I really like it. Best I’ve seen from cat since 2005. The tunnel reminds me of an old van amberg. As long as it still rides like a cat I think it will be a hit. I’m really excited to see a sidewinder motor in it from yamai too. I’m sure they are just doing a staged release and we will have a new motor at least announced and test rideable before we see this on the snow in a 600.

I would assume Yamaha and Arctic no longer sharing chassi 2024/2025 with this move.. Your not getting the 998 sidewinder into that frame. So eather Yama will sell arctics old chassi and their engine or its a clean break when arctic moves to only this chassi.

 

[goridedoo]

I like that they seemed to put some emphasis on fewer components, and combining function of components. Eliminating parts is the best way to eliminate weight IMO. Will be fun to see under the skin of this sled.