47 minute read
GOT RISERS BRAH?
www.osmmag.com GOT RISER
Stand up and let the loud can bark! At our recent journey to Hay Days 2022, we tasked our starving, striving, and one time only photojournalist Jason Kawczynski, to find a few big risers and sharing his thoughts on why he picked them. We were a bit shocked to see what he came back with. One of them could possibly be the winner of all time. If you have seen a crazy handlebar riser set up in your neck of the woods send it to us at info@osmmag.com If we use it, expect to find a crispy, freshly pressed OSM t-shirt jammed in your mailbox.
The Widescape just made me laugh with Boncher on it. This riser is needed, and this is actually a stand-up snowmobile, making big riser blocks completely required. Photographed here is the kid’s riser, but we think adults would require a minimum of a 12” riser. This is as serious as you can get, needing more inches of riser to match your riding style. The riser combined with 6” of the natural Pro Taper Bar rise says it all. The combo got me thinking as to why snowmobiles have bothered to evolve past this. They could have stopped here and everyone would have been happy Brah’. I know many of you are saying that you could order a 10” riser block with your new sled back in 2013, and this sled should not qualify. This is true, but I wanted to include this riser simply for the sales sticker. In typical swapper fashion the “sticker” price has been slashed from $5,500 to $5,000, to Sunday’s “Make Offer”. This means it will probably be back for sale next year, and hopefully, the owner will be wearing a fresh smelling, free OSM shirt.
And the winner goes to Kale Wainer at the Arctic Insider. This multi-level 6’4” riser/screen combo is the next industry standard. No need to ever think of sitting again, while crushing the deep snow and launching off picnic tables at the KOA in Rochester Minnesota. The plaid skinned MXZ 800 caught my eye from afar, as it resembled a Christmas tablecloth from the 70s. But when I got closer, it was a little more Franken’Sled than Christmas themed. The 12” riser with 90-degree handle bar hooks looks hard to ride unless you were giving it hard, pulling Supermans all day long in the deep “Pah”. The owner also installed an old Polaris mountain seat on the 136” MXZ, which tells me he isn’t just pulling Supermans in the backyard, but also seat grabs…Bitchin’
Standing up blurping the throttle on this turbo, four-cylinder (we counted the stickered exhaust pipes on the side) Hemi engine could not have been made easier or safer. The builder clearly thought of everything that the industry has been asking for. Now, there is no excuse not to notice what your speed is, or what the turbo Hemi is revving with the 55” multi use screen. Unbeknownst to me, some of the key features of this 6’ 4” riser/screen combo is MapQuest, and the ability to stream old episodes of the Golden Girls.
2023 Switchback Assault Boost (Turbo)
2023: THE BEST YET
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Polaris recommends that all snowmobile riders take a training course. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Always wear a helmet and other safety apparel. Never drink and ride. ©2022 Polaris Industries Inc.
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WORK & PLAY
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2023 Polaris Titan (4-stroke)
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ALWAYS LEADING
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Polaris recommends that all snowmobile riders take a training course. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Always wear a helmet and other safety apparel. Never drink and ride. ©2022 Polaris Industries Inc.
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Three Guys Go Deep HAY DAYS 2022
When we arrived at the Pearlie Gates at Hay Days 2022 to set up this year Jason Kawcynski unwrapped his new Nikon and three guys; Boncher, Kawcynski and Kehoe, went deep into the swap, where, no man, no beast has ever gone before… well at least has ever come out empty handed.
They ventured deep into the madness in seek of some of the best deals and some of the best swappers delight for 2022.
If you haven’t been or missed a few years, it’s time to dust off the old work boots and Levi’s for next fall and start planning to head to North Branch, Minnesota. But for now, lean back crack a cool one and check out why Jason is known for writing editorial and not snapping photos.
Arctic Cat unveiled their future moves.
Everyone can look like a hero when the Widescape isn’t moving.
Boncher photo bombs the Polaris intro.
When Arctic pulled the sheets of their new chassis the crowds were there in anticipation.
We found the other part on the grill two aisles over.
When you go deep, the deals get better. Even late in the day, our collective math said that 6 Busch Lights are a lot cheaper than $20.
Sometimes we had to leave Jason behind to explain what/why he was taking pictures of.
The nights can make the days very long at Hay Days.
Argo introduced their all-electric model and allowed the media to test drive it. Kehoe demonstrated that smooth is fast and smooth is enjoyable for the passengers. Boncher launches the 8-wheeled electric beast off the whoops and tests all the suspension that the tires had to offer. Demonstrating that not being smooth is damn right terrifying for the passengers.
Hand painted masterpieces can still be found. The vintage section featured monster three cylinder sleds this year and it didn’t disappoint.
#1 Snocross racer Ishoel’s precision keel cut skis. Dead giveaway. When a fresh piece of yellow tape is being used as gas cap you know that the gas isn’t fresh. OSM’s rookie wheel man Jake decided we’d all be safer and better off if he rode in the passenger seat back to Canada.
The future is bright. If you have little guys engage them and bring them to Hay Days, there’s a lot for them to check out.
Free 16th place trophies are not abundant, but we found them. While in the swap remember to steer clear of Free S**T!
BY JASON KAWCZYNSKI hoices, that’s the name of the game these days in the snowmobile world. Even with only four manufacturers alive in 2023, versus the 250+ since the first single track snowmobile inception in the 1950’s, you still have more model choices than ever to fit your overly specific needs. But if you must pick just one segment for a do-all group of sleds, there is an industry definition that fits perfectly, the crossover market. This might be a contested definition of the segment when you get deep in discussion with your riding buddies. We consider a crossover as a sled that could be your primary trail sled but still get you home safe on those epic snowstorm days… especially while hitting your favorite off-trail shortcut, or even crushing some high elevation powder from time to time.Our top 5 wasn’t easy to agree on, but we gave our test riders one simple directive; “Pick a 2023 sled that is your favorite easy riding, do-itall machine.” The only rule was that it must be naturally aspirated, so no turbos or power-adders allowed. Here we go!
Number 5:
2023 Arctic Cat Riot ATAC 8000
This was one of my personal picks as I spent a lot of time on it last season, and for 2023, it didn’t really change a whole lot. For me, Arctic Cat Chassis are somewhat of a different animal compared to say a Ski-Doo or Polaris. The front-end geometry is unique and takes some getting used to when bouncing back and forth between brands. But after racking on quite a few miles and playing extensively with the Fox Zero iQS shocks controlled by the ATAC adjustable on-the-fly electronic suspension, it was quite easy to dial in the settings without having to get off the sled, let alone break out the tool bag. On the trail, this sled really shined. The longer track balanced out the chassis nicely, and setting the ATAC a bit stiffer, you were able to rail the corners with little to no ski lift. Jumping off trail, we softened it up a bit and got some more playful response from it.
The new to 2022 Adapt CVT clutching works really well in a crossover sled, keeping
THE NEW TO 2022 ADAPT CVT CLUTCHING WORKS REALLY WELL IN A CROSSOVER SLED, KEEPING THE BELT AT A SEEMINGLY CONSTANT OPERATION, WHETHER YOU WERE ON A HARD PACKED TRAIL OR IN DEEP POWDER.
HUGE REAR GRAB BAR GIVES PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THOSE BIG HANDED, HEAVY LIFTING RESCUE BUDDIES. CONTOURED RUNNING BOARDS OFFER SUPERB GRIP TO KEEP THE RIDER ON THIS PONY. the belt at a seemingly constant operation, whether you were on a hard packed trail or in deep powder. Before the days of Adapt, we did occasionally run into belt issues when burying some of our Cats in the deep, and smelling that dreaded rubber scent. But with this setup, and running in a lot of different conditions, there was none of that nonsense to worry about.
Of all the sleds in this article, we felt that it was a bit more work to get on edge or power through some of the off-trail terrain. Maybe this was due to the tighter coupling between the skis, as I know of some other riders who swear by a quick disconnect sway bar for their off-trail use. But with the adjustable 41.5-43.5-inch stance and the 7-inch wide G2 Proclimb skis, it’s relatively easy to change on a pre-ride basis, and can make a big difference when you are planning where you will spend the majority of your ride.
Number 4:
2023 Ski-Doo Renegade X-RS 850 E-Tec
If you want a Ski-Doo Gen-5 package in a crossover sled, then the Renegade is the best, and more or less your only option. Outfitted with a 137x15x1.5-inch Ice Ripper XT, she churned through the powder surprisingly well. This track is a good compromise for people that want a bit of hard pack traction, but not the added weight of a full set of studs. The only change we made from stock was to order a set of wider Ski-Doo OEM DS-2 skis, and set the adjustable 42-44-inch spacers to the narrowest setting. Okay, yea this is cheating a bit, but this was kind of a mandatory need for this sled. Considering that BRP makes this extremely affordable as an accessory at time of order for only $339.00, which includes two EXTRA complete skis with loops and carbides, it’s something that everyone should consider from day one.
What do you get with a Gen5? Well, the ride is not too much different overall, but more importantly, it addressed some of the biggest complaints that Ski-Doo was lacking with the Gen4. First, a standard LED headlight. Sure, many modded their G4’s to fix this, or added the LED auxiliary light bar, but seeing is believing, and this was a huge box to check as a standard option. More importantly, the Gen5 redesign allowed for a more secure 4-point motor mounting which nearly eliminated the annoying vibrations at idle that the E-tec of previous G4 lineage delivered. At idle you now have to listen much closer to hear the sled running, and you can read your display and/or GPS much better as the sled isn’t shaking, not to mention that the
THE X-RS PACKAGE ON THIS RENEGADE GIVES YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS ALL AROUND. DON’T THROW AWAY THOSE OLD G4 ACCESSORIES, THEY WILL MOUNT RIGHT UP TO THIS NEW G5 CHASSIS. huge 10.5-inch screen that is standard on this X-RS package is fantastic.
Our X-RS was equipped with the KYB Pro Smart-Shox which are somewhat similar to the Fox Zero iQS package on the Arctic Cat and Yamaha sleds, with easy adjustments right on the handlebars. Instead of a hard to soft nomenclature, BRP adjustments are more exciting and descriptive… choose your mode, comfort, to sport+. A big difference here that gives the KYB package an edge is that it uses an integrated sensor to provide feedback and on-the-fly adjustment, which was very effective on keeping the sled flat and the skis planted on the corners.
While it might take a bit more talent to plow through the deepest powder, any rider with some seat time on this sled figured it out quickly and was taunting some of the mountain sleds on a few rides with skillful maneuvers, jumping everything in sight.
Number 3:
Polaris 850 Assault 146 with a 2-inch lug
The Assault has always been a popular choice for every one of our test riders, and moving it to the Matryx chassis two years ago just made it better. The 850 Patriot is a great motor, and on season three of production, it’s now proven reliability is a breath of fresh air for Polaris die-hards. Truthfully, we do love the Patriot Boost in this sled even more, so that was in the back of a lot of our minds while riding the naturally aspirated version.
Paired with the 15x146x2-inch crossover track, it performed really well in all conditions, even on the trail. Its fully clipped design was a good match for the 850 motor versus the 650, as the 850 turned the larger track and somewhat softer lugs to perfection. Quick note here; we likely have said plenty about the Ride Command 7S display and the thermostat controlled SmartWarmers before, so we won’t elaborate too much, especially considering this Assault is mostly unchanged for 2023, other than the color choices.
The WER Velocity shock package and the IGX rear suspension aren’t new, but are great for all around riding,
THE WER VELOCITY SHOCK PACKAGE AND THE IGX REAR SUSPENSION AREN’T NEW, BUT ARE GREAT FOR ALL AROUND RIDING, AND GIVES THOSE HARDCORE RIDERS LOTS OF OPTIONS FOR FINE-TUNE ADJUSTMENTS.
and gives those hardcore riders lots of options for fine-tune adjustments. One of the only complaints that we have with this sled is that it has a non-adjustable 42.5-inch ski stance. Being a longer 146 track versus the 136-inch XCR, we wish that it could have been narrowed down a bit. Simply put, the option to order it with the 39-inch front end, like the 2023 SKS 146, would have been appreciated.
POLARIS OFFERS MANY ACCESSORIES BASED ON THE LOCK & RIDE SYSTEM SUCH AS THIS BURANDT BAG FOR EXTRA STORAGE. THE SCULPTED PANELS AND BOLD COLOR ACCENTS ON THE MATRYX CHASSIS GIVE THIS SLED A GREAT LOOK.
Number 2:
2023 Ski Doo Backcountry X 146 with 1.6 lug and SHOT
I need to have a disclaimer here; this snowmobile is one of my favorites, and I have personally owned one for the past ten seasons. It might have just been higher than number two on the list, but in 2023, BRP elected to leave it on the Gen4 Chassis when the trail and mountain lineup got bumped up into the Gen5. That was a very interesting decision, as it’s one of Ski-Doo’s big sellers and the flagship of their crossover lineup. However, I guess we told ourselves that it was such a good sled from 2018 onwards into its current Gen4 package, why change it?
One of our favorite features is the narrow-mid width 39-41-inch adjustable front end and the classic DS2 ski. This ski/ stance combination alone makes for a perfect balance between a mountain and trail sled, and this should be a basic feature of every model across all the different OEM crossovers.
For the huge weight savings and simplicity, the SHOT starting system is an awesome compliment to any sled, and is even more useful in those off-trail days
FOR THE HUGE WEIGHT SAVINGS AND SIMPLICITY, THE SHOT STARTING SYSTEM IS AN AWESOME COMPLIMENT TO ANY SLED, AND IS EVEN MORE USEFUL IN THOSE OFF-TRAIL DAYS WHILE LEAVING THE BATTERY WEIGHT BEHIND.
FOUR LINQ MOUNTS COME STANDARD, GIVING YOU SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ACCESSORY OPTIONS. GEN4 SLEDS STILL RUN THE STANDARD HALOGEN LIGHTING SYSTEM WHICH NOW ENDS ON GEN5. while leaving the battery weight behind. Also don’t forget those frigid mornings when you are swearing at yourself, wishing you had also ordered that extra pull start option instead of scrambling to find a jump pack to bring your frozen battery back to life.
Why not the X-RS versus the X package you ask? Well, we loved the looks of the Matte Grey with red accents on the X. Plus, you still get a KYB rear shock and two matched HPG Plus shocks in the front and center that work extremely well; AND, you can save well over $1,000 versus the X-RS, while not sacrificing much in the performance level for a 50/50 crossover. So, while the decision is close, it’s only worth the upgrade to the X-RS if you spend most of your time on super bumpy trails, and always feel the need to hammer down.
Number 1:
2023 Polaris 650 Indy XCR 136 with 1.6 lug
Yes, you read it right, there is a 600 class sled with the shortest track length of all the sleds in this group as numero uno! Let me start by stating that this Polaris 650 Patriot is really a great engine, and besides tearing across a lake, it really feels nearly as powerful as an 850 in most situations… but for some reason, the 650 just has a bit more of a fun factor. One of the other reasons to consider the 650 motor is our anticipated long-term reliability. When Polaris engineered the 850 motor, it started with a turbo and built it to withstand all the extra power. Remove the turbo and accessory components and you have the standard 850, but now drop the piston displacement while leaving the majority of every other part nearly the same, and you can make the same assumption that we did about this 650. This just might be an endurance gem that high mileage, 2-stroke riders are salivating for.
Continuing on our sales pitch on the 650 motor, not only does it save you $1,100 before leaving the dealer, but its cost of ownership could be staggeringly less, considering the economy of its fuel and oil consumption. The 650 runs on 87 Octane, not 91+ Premium fuel, which in recent times, comes at an added 25% cost at most stations. Plus, Polaris claims that riders will get 4-stroke competitive fuel mileage at an estimated 25-45mpg, which should be in excess of 40% more than even its 600 Liberty predecessor, and far less, very costly synthetic oil consumption in the process. Buying one of these might just give you bragging rights on taking one big step forward toward saving the environment... well maybe not.
PRO-CROSS SKIS AND WALKER EVANS VELOCITY SHOCKS MAKE GREAT COMPANIONS
Riding on a similar WER Velocity shock package as the Assault, the XCR comes with the Pro-CC rear suspension, which is the main difference, but the CC works great. I don’t 100% know why this sled feels so easy to throw around and plow through the powder, but I can assure you that it delivers. You see a drift? Jump it! An untouched field? Rip that pow turn! I can sum it up quite simply – it’s damn fun! Not to mention that it is one of the cheaper packages of all the sleds listed here. Compared to the Assault, which is technically badged as a crossover by Polaris, and the XCR a trail sled, you save 11lbs., and get a much more comfortable mid-sized riser for an average height rider. Again, we wish that you could get an inch or two of adjustability on the ski stance, but it felt less of a necessity on this more compact and lighter feeling Polaris 136.
Being that our rules were strictly based on the ride, and we disqualified all turbos, that limits the Yamaha lineup quite a bit. But if you are 100% on the blue team, and a Yamaha owner, we didn’t want to leave you out. While Yamaha also has a Transporter 800 that would fit in the power class mix here a bit more appropriately, the 800 has only one-track option, which is a massive Camso Power Claw 153x 15x 2.25-inch lug track that just doesn’t ride all that well on the trails. The Transporter 400 might be underpowered for getting tossed in this group, but the smiles somewhat make up for the lack of power. You are getting a 38-inch-wide ski stance, which is the narrowest of the group, but paired with the super wide Yamaha Mountain skis, she gets you where you need to go off-trail, and you can toss it around with ease. Just don’t forget to keep on the gas! Yamaha doesn’t gear or clutch these 400cc sleds any differently across the track lengths, but by going to a 2.86-inch pitch driver, it uses that to accomplish turning the 146” track length properly.
Kind of silly, but we really liked the rear rack. We couldn’t help but strap all kinds of random things such as our camera equipment to it. The rack gives great tie down point for whatever you could imagine you might need for the day’s adventure.
Honorable Mention 2023 Yamaha
Transporter Lite 400 146”
BY MARK BONCHER or the most part, those of us in the powersports industry have seen meteoric rises in the prices of sleds, UTVs, watercraft, etc. However, there are plenty of good deals on new 2023 sleds that realistically buck the inflation trend when you look at the whole picture. In this article, we list 22 sleds that all have an MSRP of under US$10k, allow ing that some are slightly over that mark, depending on which side of the border you are on. But many/most of these sleds have all the capability and a lot more technology than similar sleds of just 15 years ago. Example - a 2008 Yamaha Phazer was roughly $7,399 brand new. Prices have not changed much at all in roughly 15 years for arguably better entry level sleds. The Phazer’s power to weight performance is similar to say the new MXZ Neo+, but in 2023, you get the latest Gen4 chassis, a better suspension, etc. for a similar dollar amount. Bottom line, there are still good values in the snowmobile market, and these are those sleds. -
Ski-Doo offers options
If you would have told me 15 years ago that Ski-Doo would arguably be offering more value and smaller options than any other OEM out there, I probably would not have believed you, but that’s the truth for 2023. There are at least 7 different options in the yellow team lineup this year that come in under the $10k mark, and more if you include the 120/200cc machines that are offered in different iterations across the Cat, Yamaha, and now Ski-Doo brands (initially offered by just Arctic and Yamaha).
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MXZ Neo, MXZ Neo +, Summit NEO, and Summit NEO+
All these sleds are on the new for 2023 ‘NEO’ platform that is similar in idea to sleds that have been brought forth by other OEMs, being that it is a shorter; narrower; lighter; lower power; less aggressive machine, built realistically for the ‘tweener’ market. The standard NEO has a de-tuned roughly 40hp 600 EFI motor, while the NEO+ has a slightly more powerful 55hp 600 EFI motor. I’ve actually ordered one of these for my family of riders, making their way into full-size sleds, so I’m pretty confident in both the motor, chassis, and suspension. These are efficient, fun, and capable, smaller machines for the ‘tweener’ market.
A major upside in purchasing one of these sleds is that they are significantly less expensive than the similar Blast and Venom sleds from Cat and Yamaha. We are talking a well over $1,000 difference when comparing similar packages. The NEO sleds do have slightly less power, but in testing the jump off the starting line, it goes to the NEO+ and top end is very close. These are 120-inch track sleds, and besides the upgraded motor, the plus models get better shocks, color-way, and a few more add-ons.
Similarly, the Summit NEO and Summit NEO+ have the smaller and larger 600 EFI engines respectively. These are 146-inch-long sleds, built to take on more off-trail forays, and the tracks are different between a 146x14x1.6 Cobra on the standard, and 146x15x1.75 Hurricane FlexEdge on the Plus. The Plus also has upgraded HPG shocks and low mountain strap. Pricing is slightly more for the Summit versions, but still pretty reasonable in comparison to other new sleds in this market. MXZ Sport 600 EFI, Renegade Sport 600 EFI, Backcountry Sport 600 EFI, Expedition Sport 600 EFI
Again, all these start at under US$10k (which was our baseline for this article). Each has the Rotax 600 EFI motor, but power is not restricted, so power is roughly 85hp, per Ski-Doo specs. The ‘Sport’ editions from Ski-Doo are their value or intro line of sleds, and honestly quite fun! The Backcountry Sport is particularly a standout of these sleds, and while the motor lacks the crazy power of a modern 800, many people forget that 85hp was the level of many higher performance machines not that long ago.
The MXZ Sport and all the other sleds here are in the Gen 4 platform, with electric start, reverse, and the RAS X front suspension that are all things in common with more spendy sleds. This is a 129-inch sled with a full 15x1.25 Ripsaw track as well, so there’s no skimping on the things that really matter. Shocks, motor strength, and additional features are not top of the line for sure, but this liquid cooled 2-stroke motor will gladly run on 87 octane.
THE NEO AND NEO+ HAVE PLENTY OF POWER AND THE SUSPENSION FOR FULL SIZE RIDERS
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Yamaha quadruplets!
In the late 1980’s Yamaha dropped a bombshell on the small sled market with the introduction of the SnoScoot, and later the SnoSport. They already had the Bravo, but these two smaller, cooler, futuristic looking, motorcycle type sleds were truly something new. I can tell you that as a child of the 80’s, it did not matter how old you were, everyone wanted to ride them! Fast forward through the years of drought in the kids/tweener market, and Yamaha has teamed up with Arctic Cat to offer sleds to the recently minted snowmobile licensees in the market.
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SX Venom and SX Venom Mountain
Both of these sleds feature the 397cc lightweight 2-stroke, fuel injected, singlecylinder motor that also powers the similar Blast sleds from Arctic Cat. The Venom has a 14x121x1.00-inch Camso Hacksaw track, so slightly smaller lugs than the competing NEO trail sleds from Ski-Doo, but like we said earlier, this motor has a little more power. Truly the difference there is that this motor takes a little longer to get its legs under it, but has a longer stride at full speed. Stance is quite a bit smaller than a full-size sled at 38 inches, and it has a full, dual shock, long-travel rear suspension. The Stryke skis on this one really work well for this application, and turning is light and predictable. Hydraulic twin tube shocks do the job of settling the bumps.
The Venom Mountain has a 146-inch rear suspension, and the great part here is that this is the mono-rail single-beam rear suspension, better known as the Alpha rear skid from Cat. This skid is lightweight, and really gives younger riders a better opportunity to feel what it is like to carve and sidehill. Plus, you get the added advantage of a full 15x146x2-inch lugged track on the Venom, combined with the Yamaha mountain ski. All these have electric start and reverse as well. Transporter Lite 2-up
The Transporter light is aimed at the value/utility market, but it is also a good option for an ‘in-between’ younger rider sled that has both on and off-trail capabilities. There’s a big Cobra track with 1.6inch lugs, and a more utility oriented rear suspension that articulates in the back for crawling over obstacles or in reverse. The rear rack gives it the ‘utility feel’, but doesn’t really have an integrated storage system to go with it. A big windshield keeps the pilot nice and warm too.
The Transporter Lite 2-up is similarly a 146-inch sled with a 1.6-inch lug track, but the main difference is obviously the 2-up seat. In addition, this rear suspension has overload springs in it which allow greater comfort for the added weight of a passenger. As this is a touring machine, it comes with a nice big windshield and 20-inch tunnel bag to carry additional items for longer rides.
STRYKE SKIS GIVE THE VENOM A LEG UP ON MUCH OF THE COMPETITION IN THE TRAIL CORNERS
Arctic Cat is an influencer!
Arguably the Blast and Venom sleds really were the change-agent in the market, after the intro of the 200cc sleds that revived the smaller sled market. Much of that success is due to Cat, their chassis, motor, and certainly their collaboration with Yamaha. Cat really laid the groundwork with a fully new, purpose-built ¾-sized platform that they have built out to include trail, crossover, utility, touring, and mountain sleds. These are not diminutive versions of sleds that were already in production, so the task (and having the guts to do it) were monumental. 12-year-olds across North America should be thanking the guys and gals that took the steps to bring them a new group of machines, with all the bells and whistles that suit their needs.
Blast ZR
If you want a trail sled that anyone can ride, and have a hoot on, then look no further than the Blast ZR. It has been around for several years now, and we can tell you from personal experience that the only thing more fun than a bunch of dads blasting these around the trails is a bunch of dads (and moms) watching their kids having fun in a big group on these sleds. I’ve had the privilege to do both and can’t thank Cat enough for the smiles.
The ease of use for new riders is great with a turnkey electric start, and with push-button reverse, these sleds are easy-on and off the trailer, and the stability is excellent. That was a major concern with sleds like the old Ski-Doo Freestyle, or even the re-introduced Yamaha Phazer over a decade ago. They were more ‘tippy’ for lack of a better term, and that caused some reluctance in buyers. With an adjustable 37.5-38.5 ski stance, and a trail ski with split-dual carbide, this sled turns predictably and stays flat and low. It has a standard 14x121x1.00 lug track, so it is not too aggressive, but still has enough grip. Honestly, I feel that some slide in the rear end is good for beginners to learn how to ‘drift’ corners a bit, and with the stable front end, riders can learn this without too much apprehension.
The same 397cc single-cylinder EFI 2-stroke motor that is in the Venom, also powers all the Blast models, and a CVTech Trailbloc primary with CVTech Invance secondary clutch are mated to it. Braking on all the Blast sleds come from a Hayes Stealth hydraulic master cylinder with lightweight caliper. Blast LT, Blast XR, Blast XR Touring
Technically, Cat puts the Blast LT in the ‘trail’ section of its lineup, but it is a 146-inch-long sled, so we feel it is really more of a crossover/utility. It has a Cobra 146-inch track with 1.6 lug, so it is really beefy and has off-trail capabilities. Same as its kissing cousin, the Yamaha Transporter Lite, the Blast LT has an adjustable/ articulating end of the rear suspension. This Xtra-Action skid can be locked into place for more grip, or unlocked for flotation, or riding/backing-up over obstacles in deeper snow. It gets the same rear rack too.
Also new for 2023, is the Blast XR and Blast XR touring! These are both 146-inch sleds with the 1.6 lug Cobra track with the XR made more for performance trail/crossover riding and the touring, well, obviously a 2-up for you guessed it, touring! The XR has a straight dual rail, dual shock rear skid with 12.5 inches of travel to soak up bumps and provide pretty decent off-trail action too. There is a little less top-end on the trails with the longer 146 length and bigger lugs, but it isn’t too severe. The XR Touring has a wider 40-inch stance in front which helps keep it even more stable, once you put an extra person on the back that changes the roll center dynamic. You also have a swaybar, plus in the rear suspension, there are overload springs to accompany the extra weight of 2 riders. If you are keeping track, this and the Transporter Lite 2-up are extremely similar, but for graphics. Blast M and Blast M Limited
Featuring the Alpha One single-beam rear suspension, these are the most capable, deep snow ¾-sized sleds on the market. The Limited version has a narrow 35.5-37.5-inch adjustable ski stance up front that makes it even more easy to initiate powder turns and sidehills. The standard Blast M has an adjustable 3739-inch stance which still lets it be ½-inch narrower than the trail blast, where it’s already five inches narrower than a standard cat trail sled. Both M sleds have a 146inch Challenger track with big 2-inch lugs, which means more snow churning than anything else in the industry, in this size chassis. The Limited also has an IFP front track shock and even better, upgraded Fox Float 3 ski and rear suspension shocks. The standard Blast M has a 1.3 gallon larger fuel tank, but that is done to cut down on weight for the Limited model sled. Plus the Limited has a lightweight mountain seat.
YOU CAN’T STOP SMILING ON THE LIGHTWEIGHT BLAST WHEN RIPPING DOWN THE TRAIL
Polaris pushed evolution with EVO
While other OEMs helped really turbo charge the tweener market back into reality, it was Polaris that was the spark on the smoldering inferno. The Red team launched the EVO line of smaller sleds in 2018. This was following the earlier releases from Cat and Yamaha and their smaller, yet very capable, ZR 200 and SnoScoot sleds. Those 200’s were a shot across the bow, and either Polaris took note, or they already had the EVO in development. Chicken or the egg scenario here, and it depends on who you ask how it all went down. Either way, a ton of credit needs to be heaped on Polaris for finally addressing an issue and attempting to add some much-needed water to the tweener/ novice new sled market desert.
THE RMK ALSO COMES IN A 144-INCH LONG EVO VERSION, WITH A 1.75-INCH LUGGED TRACK
Indy EVO, RMK EVO
Two of the most affordable sleds of this large group, the Indy EVO and RMK EVO are also two of the longest offered machines. Both feature a twin cylinder 550cc fan-cooled 2-stroke motor (one of the few fans left in any new sled lineup). The Indy EVO is lower, narrower, and has a smaller lug track than the Indy 550 it originally replaced. The track is a 15x121x.91 Shockwave, and it is an easy-ride for smaller pilots, with features like compact ergonomics and an ‘easy-reach’ throttle. The sled is able to ‘grow’ with the rider as it is governed at 50mph, but an accessory stage tuning kit is available to up the power to the full potential of this 550 motor. Plus, the ski stance is adjustable from 39-41 inches. IFP shocks all around do the damping, Pro-Steer skis keep predictable on the trail, and there’s 13.9 inches of travel in the rear skid as well. Electric start is also an option.
The RMK EVO sits on a 144-inch rear suspension and has a 15x144x1.75 Backcountry track on it. While not as beefy as the Cat/Yamaha Blast/Venom mountain tracks, this one still does quite well. Couple that track with the RMK ski and mountain handlebar with grab bar and a learner sled for the deep snow starts to take shape. The RMK has slightly less travel up front and in the rear suspension, which is noticeable on the trail, but allows the sleds to initiate turns in the powder better. Both EVO’s include PERC reverse too, so being nimble in the parking lot is a lot less stressful. Indy Sport, 550 Voyageur, 550 Indy LXT, Switchback Sport
The Sport versions in the Polaris lineup somewhat mirror the Sport line of Ski-Doo, in that they are all full-size machines, but just with the value powerplant. Polaris continues to use the Liberty 550 fan 2-stroke engine that has been tried and true, seemingly longer than Keith Richards has been alive. The Indy Sport has IPF shocks all the way around, and a small 15x121x.91inch Shockwave track. This is a staple of MANY rental fleets in the Northwoods and across Canada.
The 550 Voyageur is a more utility and crossover focused machine that Polaris has in its ‘recreational’ line of sleds. The front suspension is the RMK adjustable, so you get some additional offtrail capability there, plus it comes with a 15x144x1.0 Energy track. It’s got the standard IFP shocks as well, and a utility rack on the back, but basically, this is a longer trail sled with some more goodies. Similarly, the Indy 550 LXT is a 2-up version with the 2-rider seat and the same track as the Voyageur. The Pro-Ride suspension is up front for stability, and you get both mirrors and the utility rack.
Finally, the Switchback Sport is basically the same as the Voyaguer, but without a rack and with a deeper lug 15x144x1.35 Cobra track. There’s no rack or mirrors or anything like that, and it has the ProRide, more stable front suspension. It’s a great option for a first crossover sled for new riders.
SWITCHBACK SPORT IS A GREAT ENTRY CROSSOVER SLED WITH A 144-INCH AND 1.35 LUGGED TRACK FOR PLENTY OF FUN ON AND OFF THE TRAIL
2024 Catalyst is ready to feed.
BY JASON KAWCZYNSKI
Ever been to a mosh pit? If you were at the release of the brand new Arctic Cat chassis at Haydays this year you would have gotten a taste of the fever the Cat faithful have been waiting for. The pictures don’t do it justice as there were literally thousands of people smashed as close as possible to get a glimpse of the new sled. This event is the un-official start of winter season here in the
Midwest, so it was fitting to show the big bling that has been many years in the making. The summer-like weather did not stop snowmobilers from coming out in droves and the biggest news of the weekend by far was the Cat announcement. Honestly, you would have thought AC/DC was coming out of retirement judging by the amount of security and buzz around the 2pm unveiling.
s an insider of sorts, we have been teased with tiny tidbits of info for the past couple seasons that this was in the works, but finally seeing it materialize and being able to poke and prod both the machine and engineers was way beyond exciting. Keeping secrets is hard when you are a fanatic especially when your family wants to know what is coming just as much as anyone else! Imagine getting your sled license at 12 years old and finding out that your parent’s ordered you a brand new snowmobile for Christmas, but you can’t let them (or any of your friends) know you know. Embargoes are like this. Then, when you do finally get that sled you want to scream excitement to the world! Everyone we knew that bleeds green was
Apressing beyond belief to shed any info, so it was a powder keg when folks finally got to lay eyes on it. Textron engineering delivered something that might just shake up the industry and even the other OEMs were happy to see new life from another one of the big 4 manufacturers. The Catalyst comes with a HUGE weight savings (Figure about 10% less and do the math - but don’t ask on exact numbers because the engineers were tight lipped) but potentially this could be the lightest machine on the market.
THE ALL NEW CATALYST CHASSIS OFFERS A MODERN BUT SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR LOOK, SHARING SOME TRADITIONAL DESIGN ARCTIC CAT FEATURES.
Boom goes the dynamite!
Wait for it, wait for it, breath in, hold it, and release! If we had to describe the marketing theory on this sled that is how we would do it. We were as frustrated at not being able to see things sooner as everyone else, like having your birthday party delayed a couple times, but then having a massive blow-out bash like none-other!
Living in the Midwest, not too far from Cat’s Thief River headquarters, there are a lot of Arctic fanatics in our area, and they are some of the most die-hard loyalists around. Much of this was built on the past and their domination of race circuits like cross-country and snowcross for quite a while. Couple that with their chassis that defined much of the industry in the late 90’s to early 2000’s. Plus their ProRide/ ProClimb chassis that was released in 2012 has stood the test of time to be a dependable option, but it always seemed to be slightly lagging behind the fast pace of new innovations from other OEMs during its eleven-year tenure.
At last month’s pre-release, Arctic Cat challenged their riders to pick a name for this new chassis in their August teaser. We humbly submitted several requests such as the ‘Lion’, ‘Liger’, ‘Beast’, and a few we can’t mention here… but we wanted this new cat to be, to have a name that said ‘King of the snow jungle’. However, we were unfortunately over-ruled, and/or laughed at, and the name that they landed on was the CAT-alyst, (or “Catalyst” proper). This was actually statistically done and numerous names were in the top 3 (yeah, in retrospect ‘Liger’ was a poor choice) but Catalyst was proposed multiple times and the folks that did propose it were recognized by Cat.
It’s all about the chassis!
This is a lightweight aluminum subframe with some post frame components such as the footwell that is comprised of composite material. The design consists of far fewer parts overall, which is how they were able to shed off the estimated 10% of weight from its predecessor. Engineers claim that not only is it lightweight but it also it is extremely durable. The chassis is more rigid and flexes less, but things like the running boards in particular are more durable and retain shape longer. The boards have a thin metal frame with com-
ONE OF THE NEWEST CATALYST PLATFORMS COMES IN A 146” RIOT VERSION WITH A VERY IDENTIFIABLE ORANGE-RED COLOR SCHEME.
posite overlay that can easily be switched out if there is an issue, or we are guessing in the future for customization.
One of the most interesting features of the new sled is that is it utilizes a belt drive system. This is similar to what Polaris used on their high end mountain lineup in years past but Cat has designed theirs to be in numerous models of the Catalyst chassis, which is an industry first. Not only is the design simpler, but it eliminates the need for chain case maintenance, carrying and changing oil, and far less parts that can break.
So how does it handle? Well, we have not had the chance to throw a leg over this pony, but we talked extensively with Textron engineers who have had many hours of seat time. They expressed that jumping on this new platform isn’t going to be a completely unfamiliar ride to what folks have gotten used to before. It is not as big of a jump for example from riding a trailing arm sled to a rider forward design. However, the new Catalyst does have multiple improvements that we personally felt were urgently needed when comparing the former chassis to the latest and greatest from other OEMs. The geometry changes will give the rider more reactive control which results in easier steering and not having to force the sled to turn as much. This results in easier cornering, better bump and chatter control, and a more forgiving and agile ride for whatever you decide to throw at it.
Another interesting aspect (which honestly most people don’t talk about that much) is the fuel tank… more importantly the actual fuel IN the tank. That fuel load is a big piece of the weight control of the machine and affects the ride when it is moving around in turns, on the trail, on edge in the powder, climbing hills, etc. The redesign was able to eliminate much of the weight shift during these maneuvers and so you do not have 70 pounds of fuel fighting you while trying to do your best David McClure maneuvers in the POW.
For 2023 this new chassis will be available in three different models only. The ZR 137-inch trail version, the Riot 146-inch crossover and a M-Series 154-inch mountain sled featuring the Alpha one single
ONE OF beam rear skid. Besides the THE MOST obvious skid length differences, each of these chassis INTERESTING have a unique steering system that is designed specifically FEATURES OF for its riding segment, but the Catalyst will be completely THE NEW SLED capable and will certainly be IS THAT IS IT compatible for use across the market segments. UTILIZES A BELT Motor Choices? They are coming! DRIVE SYSTEM. Ok, I know that everyone was asking what’s up with the new sled coming with only an updated 600 Ctec2 motor. Well, the short and skinny is there is not anything wrong with it… sure, we want a bigger motor or a big 2 or 4 stroke turbo just as bad as you do! But this is year one, and this 600 is one of the most reliable around, delivers an ample amount of power, and in the new frame it will have incredible power to weight ratio after shedding so much baggage. We also don’t consider our readers to be kool-aid drinkers, and we are pretty sure everyone can read between the lines here. There is almost certainly a larger motor that will be paired with this chassis in the future for anyone without a crystal ball. SHORTER SPINDLES PAIRED WITH FOX ZERO QS3 SHOCKS ARE STANDARD ACROSS THE NEW CATALYST LINEUP.
Extra to love
In addition to the new chassis, Cat is also offering up other upgraded goodies. You’ll get full LED lights (if you’re a Ducati rider you’ll like them), ATAC electronic suspension, a completely new quick change accessory mounting system called ATACH, and a really mean looking front end. The lights are unique in that on low beam one side lights up brighter than the other, and the dispersion on hi beam is just fantastic. The ATACH system is also something long needed to compete with the systems from Polaris and Ski-Doo. It is easy on and off, has full locking capability, and the fit and finish is high quality. This is not just a ‘quick fix’ system to stay in the game and seems to be well-thought out.
Again, unfortunately our only ‘ride’ experience was talking to Cat engineers, sitting on the sled, moving it around, etc. We are hoping that as soon as the snow starts piling up that we can get our pilot goggles on and finally light that fuse we’ve been waiting on for so long. Maybe we can bust out the advent calendar early as Christmas riding time on the Catalyst can’t come soon enough!
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