Schooled with Bret on the 2012 cats..PICS!

[M8Chris]

well I got the opportunity to go demo the 2012 cats with my dealer and Bret Rassmussen. Heres the pics. and wow! TALK ABOUT CONFUSED FOR NEXT YEAR!! I thought I was set on a PRO and was very skeptical about the cats I talked bad about them but I do believe those of you who snowchecked the new cats are going to be very happy and its going to give the Pro a run for its money! I will have a full review on later but heres some pics and another note. I thought I was riding a 153 with how easy it was to ride in the trees and to tight donuts all that but I found out I was on a 162 which I have always hated but man this sled is FLICKABLE! It is balanced perfectly it handles so much better then the M series and handles just as good maybe even better then the pro...Like i said Ill write more about it later..

oh yeah theres video to come too..look for that with the update maybe tonight but probably tomorrow

 

[Skinner]

Can't wait for the vid!

 

[ACG]

Riding with Bret is an awesome experience! Looks fun, awaiting the review on the 2012s...

 

[BossRev]

That's awesome. can't wait to here the full report.

 

[M8Chris]

Well I went into today being stoked to ride with bret and get a chance to ride the new sleds but I didn't think I was going to fall in love with the cat. I was all about the pro and wanted to snowcheck. I'm glad I waited but its making the decision harder.

The cat 800 was so flickable I couldn't believe it. I took it into the trees(hoping I wasn't going to smack it on a tree) put myself in a few hairy situations and got out of them a lot more comfortably on the pro climb then on my m. The sled feels like it gets on its side a lot easier then the pro does. I have noticed a few times the pro did wasn't as comfortable but I think its due to the handle bar length I don't like my bars up high. I like having them low for more leverage. It also feels like it holds a sidehill as good if not better then the pro. Theres no doubt its better then the M series.

I hate absolutely hate 162 m sleds. I have tried them and hated them never got used to them I could for sure feel the extra 9 inches when I rode an m8 with a 162. Today I jumped on the 800 did some really tight donuts on the meadow as tight as i've done with the pro...tighter then with my m8 and then took it in the trees picked my lines sidehilled with the sled and only to come back to find out I was on a 162 i was literally in shock I couldn't believe it I didn't believe them until i went and scraped the snow off the tunnel and sure enough it was a 162 i couldn't even tell. My thought now is that if I was able to do such tight turns with that 162 which I've never been able to do imagine HOW FLICKABLE THE 153 MUST BE!! wow Talk about much more of a boondocking tree riding sled then the pro. I know people think 162 is better for that but I love how easy a 153 is to throw around. but hey with this new pro climb chassis a 162 feels like a 153. I can't wait to try a 153 perhaps the one i have next fall..we'll see...

The 1100 Turbo was a fast sled I loved the power. ONly thing I didn't like was the horizontal steering post. If I can swap that out with the vertical steering post I'd be a happy rider. To me the weight didn't seem to bother me I really think it was just the steering post making it a little more difficult. theres no 4 stroke out there that compares to this sled thats for sure. My mind is wanting the 1100 turbo swap out the steering post with a vertical one and spend a little money to lighten her up and have a 4 stroke tree boondocking sled. Sorry I just threw this together quick if it jumps around a lot just know I"m excited and just ask me some questions if you ahve any.

after riding the turboed sleds like the 11 with a boondocker turbo and the 1100 turbo it just makes me want one so much more. I see how its addicting.

I recommend the pro climb to anyone. This is coming from a guy who was set on the pro and thought the new cats were retarded. One thing i learned from this experience don't judge a book by its cover. Arctic CAT did a GREAT job on the 2012 sleds and theres going to be a lot of surprised people out there. I'll have some videos up tomorrow.

Thank you Kenny and Bob Buttars for the call last night to go try out the new cats with Bret!

 

[M8Chris]

another thing...my 2010 m8 feels like a tank after riding the new cats

 

[i'llDooit]

its easy to see in the pic's of the new cat's,,,, they have refined the chassis to a point that will be a top contender. a little different looking till we get used to them. but the power is prodooven

 

[wjl]

Thanks for sharing info, pictures and the time to write up.
Wow to bad winter is ending and we will have to wait awhile. (7 months)

 

[Sunridge Sledhead]

I have two questions....
1) The tall spindles, and nearly horizontal upper A arms, seem like side hilling ease would be decreased. Sounds like you didn't feel that was the case?

2) Did they say anything about why they are not getting these sleds out to the masses to ride? Something tells me they are still prototypes???

 

[goforbroke]

Best looking sled was the old m chassis, Can't get used to those tall spindles. Great report. Good luck deciding

 

[mtnpull]

So did they pay you to make this post? Did they offer you a smoking deal on a new sled? Did Bret offer to put you in the next schooled film for good feedback? Hahaha. Just kidding. Glad to hear the report. I still think it's a huge mistake of Cat not to have lot's of them on the snow for people to demo. I think it will show drastically in their sales.

 

[TGitt]

So did they pay you to make this post? Did they offer you a smoking deal on a new sled? Did Bret offer to put you in the next schooled film for good feedback? Hahaha. Just kidding. Glad to hear the report. I still think it's a huge mistake of Cat not to have lot's of them on the snow for people to demo. I think it will show drastically in their sales.

Couldn't agree more. I talked with Chris a lot about how we hated the new cats after sitting on them in Jackson (Same with a lot of people up there). But after riding one it seems as if he's changed his mind. Now if Cat would allow more people the opportunity to ride these (like Polaris last year) they might even out sell Poo

 

[M8Chris]

I have two questions....
1) The tall spindles, and nearly horizontal upper A arms, seem like side hilling ease would be decreased. Sounds like you didn't feel that was the case?

2) Did they say anything about why they are not getting these sleds out to the masses to ride? Something tells me they are still prototypes???

So did they pay you to make this post? Did they offer you a smoking deal on a new sled? Did Bret offer to put you in the next schooled film for good feedback? Hahaha. Just kidding. Glad to hear the report. I still think it's a huge mistake of Cat not to have lot's of them on the snow for people to demo. I think it will show drastically in their sales.

Couldn't agree more. I talked with Chris a lot about how we hated the new cats after sitting on them in Jackson (Same with a lot of people up there). But after riding one it seems as if he's changed his mind. Now if Cat would allow more people the opportunity to ride these (like Polaris last year) they might even out sell Poo

The sled sidehills better then the M series. Some how with the geometries of the spindles makes it easier... don't ask me how or what but it tips over very easy and holds a easy sidehill.

nah bret just wanted me in the schooled movie after seeing my skills ha jk. It's been a huge mistake on cats part to not demo these sleds. They would've sold a lot more then they are going to...oh well maybe 2013 will be their year if these sleds hold up.

Like tanner said I HATED the way the new sleds felt just sitting on them at Jackson but they rode very well. I think the Pro is still going to get on top of the snow better but I have no idea. Guess we'll find out next winter. Very impressed with the new cats but I think with them not being as light as the pro the pro might still have the edge on the rest of the competition. I'm still planning on snowchecking two assaults from Polaris this year.

Heres the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-4Yzy9BHUo
My stupid helmet cam was full so none of the good stuff of riding the 800 in the tight trees was on there.. sorry but they were sick.

 

[MOWER800]

2 Assults?

ya I'll believe it when I see it! lol
After watching a few vids of the new cats I don't think cat lovers wil be diapointed after buying one. But I can say that I am not at all disapointed with my 2011 Pro800 and would buy anouther one if I could afford it for the wife so I could get her out to ride more

 

[M8Chris]

ya I'll believe it when I see it! lol
After watching a few vids of the new cats I don't think cat lovers wil be diapointed after buying one. But I can say that I am not at all disapointed with my 2011 Pro800 and would buy anouther one if I could afford it for the wife so I could get her out to ride more

I still think the pro will be the sled to beat

 

[1MEX]

So did they pay you to make this post? Did they offer you a smoking deal on a new sled? Did Bret offer to put you in the next schooled film for good feedback? Hahaha. Just kidding. Glad to hear the report. I still think it's a huge mistake of Cat not to have lot's of them on the snow for people to demo. I think it will show drastically in their sales.

This could of been the best year for demo rides.. New snow on spring and still forecast to have more. Bad deal on cat for not using it to their advantage

 

[sitzerlandwyo]

Well it's been a hard choice. Talked to Suze at Kmotive on Saturday about ordering a new cat for next season.

Was told the weight of the cat and its heavier than my Nytro by a few pounds. After long and hard debate I am ordering another nytro with boost. Will just have to order another aftermarket fuel tank for it to get 10.4 gallons.

New Cat looks great but, a Cat will never compete in quality or reliablity. Hope they prove me wrong. I would ride green again.

 

[harrysmith500]

Chris, I imagine you are going with the powder track?
Also, f-bomb hates the assault tunnel braces, he said he has a killer insert that's "stronger" than stock boards.
Look into that

 

[1MEX]

Well it's been a hard choice. Talked to Suze at Kmotive on Saturday about ordering a new cat for next season.

Was told the weight of the cat and its heavier than my Nytro by a few pounds. After long and hard debate I am ordering another nytro with boost. Will just have to order another aftermarket fuel tank for it to get 10.4 gallons.

New Cat looks great but, a Cat will never compete in quality or reliablity. Hope they prove me wrong. I would ride green again.

Sounds like another lost potential sale due to no Demo ride.... What was Cat thinking

 

[sitzerlandwyo]

I agree totally before I sign an order for almost 13 grand I want to test ride it.

Rode Cats untill 2007 they where great. Went 4 stroke Yammi because of the miles we ride. We always have 4 or 5 sleds and ride atleast 2500 miles a season. I think the z1 turbo is a sweet machine the engine is proven but not the rest of this new sled. But if I couldnt try it on the snow I am not going to order it because I got to sit on it. So have to order what I know works and will last. Yammi has their faults but quality and reliablity are not one of them. I love the 4 strokes. Have 2 2008 Phazers MTX 2 Nytros MTX and Apex Mtx.

But No Demo ride no order! Next year After I ride one then I may order for 2013.