So now that there's been a full season on the new Arctic Cat front ends, what is the consensus on them compared to the previous offerings by Skinz, Alternative Impact, Barcode, etc. ? Since Cat started offering pretty economical kits to upgrade sleds to their latest design, some of these other front ends that previously had gotten good reviews have been pushed to the back burner it seems. Is the Cat front end really that good, or just the easiest option? How are the weight comparisons between all the options?
I've re-read the Skinz, Alt, and Barcode review threads. Here they are to refresh everyone's memories:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388215&highlight=skinz+concept+front+end
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=392411&highlight=Alternative+Impact
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=414333
I'm still riding with the BDX front end that came on my 2014 Pro-lite. After hearing all these reviews about how people's sleds got better and riding some 2016s I'd like to update mine. However, people who have read the other front end threads have probably gathered that I'm a fan of the 38" ski stance. This leaves me with the options of either the Cat or the Zbroz upper arm and spindle kits. Problem is I made an investment in a set of front shocks that I'm running now that don't clear the newer upper arms (see attached photo #1&2). I was hoping to be able to change the upper part of the shock that the reservoir is attached to so it's like the new versions of this shock (see attached photo #3). That doesn't look like it's going to pan out now due to thread changes.
So now I'm left with these options:
1. Running what I got
2. Getting a 38" upper arm, spindle, and trying to sell my shocks and reinvest in new ones.
3. Get a 36" wide front end that will work with my shocks. It looks like the Skinz upper arm would clear my straight mounted reservoir as well as the Alternative impact kit. Not a fan of the perceived lack of parts availability with Skinz or the price. Alt Impact upper arm looks like it would clear also and parts seem to be a non issue with them. Would need to source some older style spindles to work with it which I'm guessing can be had for a song right now. Alt setup in Ti might cut a couple lbs more off my front end as a bonus. My shocks already have spherical eyes on them to work with either of these kits, would just need spacers installed to shorten (which I can do myself).
4. Last option would be to do the 38" upper arm and new spindle and use my stock shocks. I'm not a huge fan of this since I'm a bit of a suspension snob and like my higher end shocks. This is definitely the cheapest upgrade option for me though.
Another reason I'm not sold on a 36" front end is that I don't think I'll be going to narrower boards to suck in my panels. Stood on a sled with them and it doesn't leave as much platform as I'd like to stand on. Seems I'm stuck in the worst possible middle ground situation of what I want vs. what I can get. What say the masses on this one?
I've re-read the Skinz, Alt, and Barcode review threads. Here they are to refresh everyone's memories:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388215&highlight=skinz+concept+front+end
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=392411&highlight=Alternative+Impact
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=414333
I'm still riding with the BDX front end that came on my 2014 Pro-lite. After hearing all these reviews about how people's sleds got better and riding some 2016s I'd like to update mine. However, people who have read the other front end threads have probably gathered that I'm a fan of the 38" ski stance. This leaves me with the options of either the Cat or the Zbroz upper arm and spindle kits. Problem is I made an investment in a set of front shocks that I'm running now that don't clear the newer upper arms (see attached photo #1&2). I was hoping to be able to change the upper part of the shock that the reservoir is attached to so it's like the new versions of this shock (see attached photo #3). That doesn't look like it's going to pan out now due to thread changes.
So now I'm left with these options:
1. Running what I got
2. Getting a 38" upper arm, spindle, and trying to sell my shocks and reinvest in new ones.
3. Get a 36" wide front end that will work with my shocks. It looks like the Skinz upper arm would clear my straight mounted reservoir as well as the Alternative impact kit. Not a fan of the perceived lack of parts availability with Skinz or the price. Alt Impact upper arm looks like it would clear also and parts seem to be a non issue with them. Would need to source some older style spindles to work with it which I'm guessing can be had for a song right now. Alt setup in Ti might cut a couple lbs more off my front end as a bonus. My shocks already have spherical eyes on them to work with either of these kits, would just need spacers installed to shorten (which I can do myself).
4. Last option would be to do the 38" upper arm and new spindle and use my stock shocks. I'm not a huge fan of this since I'm a bit of a suspension snob and like my higher end shocks. This is definitely the cheapest upgrade option for me though.
Another reason I'm not sold on a 36" front end is that I don't think I'll be going to narrower boards to suck in my panels. Stood on a sled with them and it doesn't leave as much platform as I'd like to stand on. Seems I'm stuck in the worst possible middle ground situation of what I want vs. what I can get. What say the masses on this one?
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