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Like most of the Arctic Cat sleds the F8 is a pretty good one, too. It looks tiny because of the short track, but it actually performs very well on the trails and especially in the deep snow (believe it or not). Handling and suspension are excellent. Bumps are no longer something to be afraid of…the F8 just runs them over like they’re not even there. You have the speed and you have the comfort. It’s a good sled, but not one that shines over the others in the Arctic Cat family. Here are the specifications for it:

MODEL    F8
M.S.R.P. *    $9,499.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    794 cc
BORE X STROKE    85 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    142 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms with Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks and sway bar; 9.5 in. travel
Rear: Slide-action frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic ski saddleless
LENGTH    122 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 15 x 1 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    503 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.2 gal.

The only problem people complain about is the gauges. It may be some wiring problem cause after some time they just go crazy or entirely stop working. That’s an easy fix with one visit to the dealers, but you may wanna keep it in mind before you get the sled. The price is ok I think, it’s a 2007 model after all. You won’t be sorry if you decide to go with the F8, but it won’t be such a big loss if you go with something else.

The Jaguar – Z1 is all it’s talked up to be. Comfortable after hours of riding, fast enough as a trail performance sled, handles great on trail and holds straight through the flat out straightaways. The power of this thing is awesome – mainly because of the 4 stroke engine, but the most noticeable thing in it really is the comfort level. I can’t think of any other Arctic Cat sled that can beat up this one when it comes to comfort. The thing is also very maneuverable and easy to control. I’m sure you’ll love it. Here’re the specifications for it:

MODEL    Jaguar - Z1
M.S.R.P. *    $10,499.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    1056 cc
BORE X STROKE    98 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    48 mm dual throttle body EFI
HORSEPOWER    123 hp
IGNITION    Full transistor/coil at plug
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic 4-roller (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms with Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks and sway bar; 9.5 in. travel
Rear: Slide-action frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Dry sump
EXHAUST    Stainless steel
SKIS    UHMW plastic ski saddleless
LENGTH    118 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    49 in. (top of windshield)
TRACK LXWXH    128 in. x 15 in. x 1.00 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    575 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    9.4 gal.

The only downside I can point out is the small fuel tank, but the machine is actually very economic so I don’t think size matters too much in this case. It’s a great sled to have. Especially if you’re tired already of the noisy and environmental unfriendly 2-stokes. The price is pretty fair too. I’m sure you’ll fall for this sled only after a few miles on it. Perfect may not be the right word since there’s always room for improvement, but this sled is pretty close of being just that – perfect.

This is one fast machine we’re talking about. The thing climbs like no other with any loss of power or torque. It has the most unbelievable flotation through rough terrain. The M8 is extremely reliable and you can depend on it getting anywhere you want it to. The comfort level is great and the handling is an easy job. Speed is pretty much the only thing you wanna watch out for. The M8 has plenty of power in it so you really need to be an advanced rider to handle it. Check out the specifications:

MODEL    M8 162
M.S.R.P. *    $10,099.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    794 cc
BORE X STROKE    85 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    142 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VI double-wishbone A-arms with lightweight aluminum Fox Zero Pro gas (IFP) shocks and adj. preload springs; 9.2 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail, adj. torsion springs, lightweight aluminum Fox Zero Pro (IFP) shocks; 19 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe, pipe sensor and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic saddleless
LENGTH    139 in.
WIDTH    46.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    162 x 15 x 2.25 in.
SKI STANCE    39 - 41 in. adjustable
DRY WEIGHT    510 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    11 gal.

It’s a big sled, but as I said handling it is an easy job. You have to get used to the cornering, but once you do you won’t have any problems with it. Mileage is awesome, even though the fuel tank is not the biggest one out there. With the M8 you get great performance for a decent amount of money. It’s a 2007 model after all and you can’t really complain about the price. You should definitely consider getting this thing. It’s a challenge, but if you can handle it you can really call yourself a good rider.

The 2005 Z 570 wasn’t really the perfect snowmobile. Well, the 2007 edition isn’t that much different. Many of the problems still remain and I really can’t believe 2 years are not enough for Arctic Cat to do something about them. The comfort level still isn’t that great, you certainly won’t be happy with the mileage and check this out – the 07 model is actually slower than the 05 one. Go figure. Then there’s also the problem with the electric start which is not uncommon with Arctic Cat sleds, but it’s bugging that it’s still there after all those years in the business. So if you’re still reading, here are the specifications:

MODEL Z 570 LX
M.S.R.P. * $5,999.00
ENGINE Suzuki, 2-stroke, fan-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT 565 cc
BORE X STROKE 73.8 x 66 mm
CARBURETION 2 in. x VM 34
HORSEPOWER 62.5 hp
IGNITION CDI
CLUTCH Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam)
SUSPENSION Front: AWS V double-wishbone A-arms with hydraulic twin tube shocks and sway bar; 8.4 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail, adjustable torsion springs, hydraulic twin tube shocks, TSL rear arm; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION Oil injection
EXHAUST Tuned pipe and canister
SKIS UHMW plastic saddleless ski
LENGTH 112 in.
WIDTH 47 in.
TRACK LXWXH 121 x 15 x 0.85 in. Quiet track
SKI STANCE 41 in.
DRY WEIGHT 497 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY 11.7 gal.

This is absolutely the first time (and most likely the last time) that I will suggest if you really insist on getting the Z 570 sled you go with the 2005 model and not the 2007 one. Guess there’s a first for everything. The sled’s just gotten worse with the time – same problems…less power. Total degradation if you ask me. Too bad it’s such a cute sled.

The Bearcat WT is one big, heavy snowmobile. Big and heavy usually means slow, but this
4 stroke engine sled has plenty of torque in it. Well, it really is not the perfect racing sled, but it sure gets you where you want to go. It’s also extremely comfortable sled. And very reliable. It’s probably the easiest sled to control of all the Arctic Cats - the huge track has lots of stability. Plus it has tons of traction for pulling heavy things if that’s what you want to use it for. See the specifications:

MODEL    Bearcat WT
M.S.R.P. *    $8,999.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, 3-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    660 cc
BORE X STROKE    68 x 60.4 mm
CARBURETION    Electronic fuel injection
HORSEPOWER    53
IGNITION    CDI
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic Wide Ratio (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic Wide Ratio (roller cam)
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS V double-wishbone a-arms w/ Ryde FX shocks, adjustable preload; 6 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack ALTS slide-rail, adjustable torsion, 2 in. rear arm shock, fiberglass overload springs, TSL rear arm, adjustable preload front arm; 8.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Wet sump
EXHAUST    Single muffler
SKIS    UHMW plastic (wide)
LENGTH    133 in.
WIDTH    46 in.
TRACK LXWXH    156 x 20 x 1 in.
SKI STANCE    40 - 42 in. adjustable
DRY WEIGHT    700 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    15 gal.

The weight is pretty much the only downside I can point out. Being so heavy makes the thing slower and is also an obstacle before the deep snow riding. And that’s about it on the bad side. it makes a great family sled or a great working sled. If that’s what you need you should consider getting the Bearcat WT. The price is pretty fair considering the performance level and I think the sled totally deserves that money. The decision is all yours, but I think you won’t regret if you decide to go for it.

The Crossfire 7 is overall a sweet package for just about any riding style. Cruising the trails or busting powder, this machine does it all quite well. It’s light and powerful and I think you’ll enjoy riding it very much. It’s pretty comfortable although it takes some getting used to. It’s quite easy to control, but you have to be careful with the speed and cornering. It’s a great climber as well as track sled. You may be surprised with the ease it takes those hills. It’s a nice machine to have all around. Here are the specifications:

MODEL    CrossFire 7
M.S.R.P. *    $9,199.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    698 cc
BORE X STROKE    79.7 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    140
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VI double-wishbone a-arms w/lightweight aluminum AC gas (IFP) shocks, adjustable preload & swaybar; 9.2 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail, adjustable torsion, lightweight aluminum AC (IFP) shocks, TSL rear arm; 15 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic
LENGTH    127 in.
WIDTH    46.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1.25 in.
SKI STANCE    42 - 44 in. adjustable
DRY WEIGHT    485 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    11 gal.

The only thing I advise you to do to any of the Crossfire models before you rush to ride them is to reinforce the tunnel, as it’s pretty weak. If you land on hard snow on the track, and you haven’t reinforced it before that, you can easily bend it. Not that it’s big deal, but you’ll only loose riding time while you get it fixed. Other than that the sled is great. You’ll be happy with the speed, with the mileage and the comfort level. And the price is normal for an 06 model, so if you’ve made your mind don’t hesitate on getting it.

This is one great first sled to have. Not just because of the way it performs, but also because of the price. You don’t want to risk it with expensive, fast sleds before you really learn how to control them. The Family Trail Z 570 LX is a nice way to start. It’s one very steady, fan cooled model that starts all the time with no problems. It’s pretty comfortable and with great gas mileage. It’s not top end orientated sled, but if you want you can push it up to 85-90 mph pretty easily. The Family Trail Z 570 LX is extremely easy to control and that’s exactly what every beginner needs. That’s why I think you’re gonna like it. Here are the specifications for it:

MODEL    Family Trail Z 570 LX
M.S.R.P. *    $5,799.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, fan-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    565 cc
BORE X STROKE    73.8 x 66 mm
CARBURETION    2 in. x VM 34
HORSEPOWER    70
IGNITION    CDI
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam)
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS V double-wishbone a-arms with hydraulic twin tube shocks and swaybar; 8.4 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail, adjustable torsion, hydraulic twin tube shocks, TSL rear arm, adjustable preload front arm; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    Tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    Plastic
LENGTH    112 in.
WIDTH    47 in.
TRACK LXWXH    121 x 15 x 0.85 in. Quiet Track
SKI STANCE    41 in.
DRY WEIGHT    497 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12 gal.

For the more experienced riders this sled may feel like a toy, but remember they’ve also started riding on something like that. It’s a good sled that will not fail you and will soon take you to the next level. The price can’t be better - $5799 is pretty cheap for a 2006 model and I suggest you take advantage of it.

The next High Performance sled in line is the 2006 F7 Firecat Sno Pro. The differences between the 05 F7 Firecat Sno Pro and its 06 equivalent are not that much actually. The two are pretty much identical except for some suspension modifications and the price. Believe it or not but the 06 High Performance F7 Firecat Sno Pro is even cheaper. If you’ve read the 2005 F7 Firecat Sno Pro review you’ll know that it’s one highly rated sled. Same thing goes for this one, too. People just love it. It’s fast, it’s comfortable and it’s capable of doing anything you expect it to, no matter how much you decide to push it. Here are the given specifications for it:

MODEL    High Performance F7 Firecat Sno Pro
M.S.R.P. *    $9,099.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    698 cc
BORE X STROKE    79.7 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    2 in. x TM 40 with TPS
HORSEPOWER    140
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VI double-wishbone a-arms w/ FOX Float shocks & swaybar; 9.2 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail w/ coupling blocks, adjustable torsion, 2 in. diameter IFP rear-arm shock, sliding front arm; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic
LENGTH    118 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 13.5 x 1.375 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    468 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.6 gal.

The sled is great, really. I don’t think you’ll have any problems with it. It’s light, but very steady and easy to control. It’s a sled I recommend for more experienced riders since it has much power in it (too much for some). It’s just as good as the 05 F7 Firecat Sno Pro model and since it’s cheaper I say go for it without any hesitation. You certainly won’t regret it.

This is one fast sled, we’re talking about. The High Performance ZR 900 EFI Sno Pro will simply blow your mind away. This time “high performance” really does mean high performance. And that’s exactly what you’re getting from this sled. You can speed it up to 125 mph (one very dangerous speed is I may add) and just leave all the competition behind. The sled is also very easy to control, but yet again you should be careful with the speed. Nothing’s easy when you ride with 125 mph, right? It’s a great sled though and I’m sure you’ll be happy to have it. Here’re the specifications for it:

MODEL    High Performance ZR 900 EFI Sno Pro
M.S.R.P. *    $10,099.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    862 cc
BORE X STROKE    85 x 76 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    150
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS V double-wishbone a-arms with remote reservoir shocks, adjustable preload & swaybar; 9.2 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail w/ remote reservoir shocks, adjustable torsion; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic
LENGTH    112 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    121 x 15 x 1.375 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    516 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12 gal.

It’s pretty much one problem free sled. At least I haven’t heard people complaining about anything specific. Again watch the handling when speeding. The sled is comfortable and pretty good when it comes to gas consumption. It’s great and ready to run even stock. Modifications are willingly, but not at all necessary. Just like with the previous sled reviewed, this one doesn’t come cheap for a 2006 model, too, but yet again is totally worth the money asked. It really stands up for the high performance.

What people say about the King Cat 900 EFI is that it’s the number one mountain sled out there. And that’s not just among the Arctic Cat sleds. The King Cat dos have a lot of potential.
It has incredible power and lots of speed in the mountains. It’s absolutely comfortable and easy to control. It really is something you should think of getting if mountain riding is your thing. The thing handles great no matter the conditions you put it through and is very less likely to disappoint you. See its characteristics before we begin:

MODEL    King Cat 900 EFI
M.S.R.P. *    $10,799.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    862 cc
BORE X STROKE    85 x 76 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    150
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing with titanium spring)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam with titanium spring)
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS V double-wishbone a-arms with FOX Float air shocks; 8 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail, adjustable titanium torsion springs, lightweight aluminum AC (IFP) shocks with titanium spring, Torque Sensing Link rear arm; 17 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic (parabolic)
LENGTH    131 in.
WIDTH    46.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    162 x 15 x 2.25 in.
SKI STANCE    39 - 41 in. adjustable
DRY WEIGHT    500 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    11 gal.

It’s one very dependable and strongly made sled that you’ll simply love. It really is no cheap sled especially considering it’s a 2006 model, but the King Cat totally deserves that kind of money. You get speed, you get reliability, and you get comfort…you pretty much get everything a sled can offer. There’s really nothing for me to point out on the bad side. I know I usually do, but this time the sled is just too perfect. Definitely go for it without any hesitation.