Opinions Arctic Cat 1M 900 Mountain Cat...

[MACDJ]

I currently have a 2000 Mountain Max 700 and have the opportunity to purchase a 2004 Arctic Cat Mountain Cat 1m 900. I've never owned a Arctic Cat...any opinions? Good/bad? I'm fortunate to live in an area for real mountain climbing. I've heard good things about the Skidoo REV but not much about this Arctic Cat. Does anyone own this or have any experience with this machine?

Thanks.

 

[joshua335]

yah, I got a 03 900 151" carb and so far I really like it. It is an old style sled, but for the price you can buy them for I highly recommend. You should be able to get a good one for $3500...
The rev is a nice sled,, but there worth about $2000 more... and the reliability of them are poor....

Pros:
-good price, this is the best sled for the price in the market right now
-lot of aftermarket parts available
-nice power
-reliable
-really strong chassis (this sled can really take a beating... unlike a rev or xp)
-easy to work on

Cons:
-recoil is pretty stiff
-when in deep powder it will bog on right side turns (this can be eliminated)
-old style chassis (crappy suspension, seat is really low)

 

[Raff_9001M]

Does the 04 have the chain case that hangs below the belly pan. My 03 900 does and I have to say this is a huge design flaw. It is a magnet for under snow landmines.

Other than that. I love my 03 9001M.

 

[Rixster]

The drop and rill chaincase help the sled go through the deep better, The early build 03 didnt have it covered up. the production 03,04,05 and 06 had them covered up. I own 2 2004 900s, love them, I have ridin all the new cats and still would rather have my 1m 900. They have monster torque and handle very well if you setup the suspension for you. The flaws are the stock pull start rope will break and they can eat chains if you dont take care of the chaincase. The 04 and newer have a lighter easy to remove seat that the 03 didnt have. Get a hight rise seat and a good bar riser and you will love this sled.

 

[anchorman]

I have an '03 with a 156" and I love the heck out of it! I keep thinking that "I'm ready to buy an newer sled", but the thing still runs so strong and climbs like a mountain goat. For the money, I wouldn't have any other sled!

 

[snowmanx]

yah, I got a 03 900 151" carb and so far I really like it. It is an old style sled, but for the price you can buy them for I highly recommend. You should be able to get a good one for $3500...
The rev is a nice sled,, but there worth about $2000 more... and the reliability of them are poor....

Pros:
-good price, this is the best sled for the price in the market right now
-lot of aftermarket parts available
-nice power
-reliable
-really strong chassis (this sled can really take a beating... unlike a rev or xp)
-easy to work on

Cons:
-recoil is pretty stiff
-when in deep powder it will bog on right side turns (this can be eliminated)
-old style chassis (crappy suspension, seat is really low)

I agree, my son has a 05 and it is a great sled, I ride it occasionally and I love the way it handles in the deep. Power is still one of the best even by todays standards and if you are into modding there are a lot of options.

I always look at the used Cats and contemplate buying one, for the money you can't beat the what you're getting for the buck...by far the best buy out there for used sleds right now!

 

[Rush44]

Love mine to death. Add a 2.5 track, do some clutching, and then watch her climb. It's a fun sled and keeps up with the $11,000 new toys well.

 

[Sunridge Sledhead]

I owned that exact sled. The best sled of its' day, in my opinion. I also owned a 200 700 Mountain Max. The 900 1M is a perfect progression. It is a great mountain sled and does well with mods.

 

[Kong]

Does the 04 have the chain case that hangs below the belly pan. My 03 900 does and I have to say this is a huge design flaw. It is a magnet for under snow landmines.

Other than that. I love my 03 9001M.

This was one of the biggest gutsy deals that Ac did in 03. Changed the attack angle of the track on the snow and kicked butt.

I had one for 4000 miles and no problem at all. 100% boondocking. You could potentially do damage, but it really wasn't an issue you heard about. If you look at it, it's pretty protected by the skis unless you perfectly hit something.

I hit a huge boulder under the snow on a climb and busted my drive line. Never touched the case.

People spent mucho time and money droping and rolling their chain case and AC did it stock. You could feel the sled pulling itself up on the snow.

 

[kcdavidak]

I've had several of them from 00-06's.like the rest have said strong as heck,don't loose any sleep over the chain case,a couple things to do when you get it,change the pull cord out to some spectra line or similar,there a bear to pull over when cold,pull4-5 short pulls just bumpimg it over,then start.put new chain and sprockets in it. rebiuld the shocks and have them valved for your weight and style of riding. if clutched properly they will hang with the lastest and greatest out there. enjoy.

 

[Chubbydog]

My old man had one last year, and I had a chance to ride it a few times. It had decent power, and pulled over real easy. The part I didn't like, was it sat way too low. A boss high rise seat and some 6" risers would take care of that problem. I sold it for him for $5,000 back in Oct. of last year. That's about what you can get a 04 Rev for. IMO, there both about the same powerwise. I like the Rev a little better for handeling, but it might just be that I'm used to the rider forward position. All in all, it's a good sled for the money.

 

[CatndHat]

If the original owner did not mess with it too much and it does not have over
5,000 miles on it, get it, and ride it hard! If it runs good the first two hours,
you scored nice. Then go buy the mild mods it may not have come with.

I do not think I will ever sell mine even when I do buy a new one, six years strong and and seldom disapointed. (no reverse)

 

[milehighassassin]

They are good sleds but after riding a REV, the chasis is way too dated. You have to work harder to get them to move.

 

[doors4u]

The chassis does need a little updating. Guys on their Revs will go through two motors before that Cat dies. A little tweaking on the motor and they will waste a Rev. It's all about torque.

 

[countryboymt]

Does the 04 have the chain case that hangs below the belly pan. My 03 900 does and I have to say this is a huge design flaw. It is a magnet for under snow landmines.

Other than that. I love my 03 9001M.

they call this a dropped and rolled chain case, it drops the drivers lower giving you a shallower approch angle on the track!!!!!this is a plus.

 

[Raff_9001M]

they call this a dropped and rolled chain case, it drops the drivers lower giving you a shallower approch angle on the track!!!!!this is a plus.

Apologize, I know this a dropped and rolled chain case. I have popped it 2 or 3 times on stumps. I just don't like it hangin below the belly. That's all - even with the chain case guard. To my discredit, I know one time I had no business being off-trail with low snow conditions.

I love this sled and I wouldn't discourage anyone from owning one though, and I what I think is a design flaw probably has more to do with the area I have ride most often.

 

[Nate]

Probably the best sled ive ever rode. I think I like it better than my M

 

[dog breath]

I do not have any of the problems that the other people are talking about. Same pull rope, no broken chaincases, manuevers well, etc. Only grip I would have is that I would monitor the electrical wires since it does rub. Seems Arctic Cat decided to add wires at the last minute. Very good climber, boondocker, and all around sled. I actually like the suspension but I came from an Xtra 10 Potatoe sled. Very strong motor, great track. Can't really complain except for maybe reverse and some more weight but we could say that about every sled.

 

[Coldfinger]

I bought a new 2004 900 151 carb two seasons ago and it has been a very good sled overall.

Pull rope will fray unless you get the King Cat rope guide.

Steering post is weak - I bent mine slightly and bent it back just by pushing up on it while beside the trailer, but since then I've been careful not to use too much body english.

Snowflap is junk. Mine has stress cracks and it hasn't been abused at all. I'll need to replace it this season.

Graphics on hood are starting to come off in the deep hood creases. No biggy.

Fuel mileage is decent. I was spoiled with my 670x but this thing isn't too bad.

Power is great.

It likes injector oil. I did a rough calculation last year which put it around 28:1 but I adjusted the cable a little and it seems to be doing slightly better this year.

Edge of running boards is super grippy. Very sharp too. I filed the sharp edges down a little.

 

[HIGHMARK]

I was a die hard Polaris fan for a lot of years until that poor excuse for a 900 that THEY came out with so I bought a 1M and I love it. I hated it at first until I bought a Rox Riser for it. That completely changed the sled. This summer it gets a complete makeover with a new tunnel and RMI drive. Although, if I was buying a NEW sled it would be a Rev hands down.