Excellent production. Both Arctic Cat and Polaris owe their lives to each other. Competition brings out the best in everyone. I have owned both as well as Ski Doo and Yamaha. In short, the competition improved all the brands. May it remain thru all our lives. It makes us all better people.
For sure. Personally i wish there were around 10 brands ( or more) but hopefully the Big 4 continue forever! I guess i just miss growing up in the 70s and 80s.
@Cliff Johnson Thinks have to be maintained. Ever hear of a "screwdriver" and "lock tight"? The engineering and production methods needed to make a product like this is overwhelming to one man, (and is a piece of profitable art), and you can't even keep some screws tight? Maybe you need to "learn right". Even things that do grow on trees, are not perfect. Get into manufacturing, and you will "learn right", what got mankind out of poverty. You sound like a helpless child to me. I was 12 with a tool kit to maintain my dirt bikes/snowmobiles. Why would the factories consider you, "A good customer"? I would not want a helpless child buying my stuff. I would be happy to tell you, "Go to my competition."!
Edgar (and his wife Hannah) Hetteen not only started Polaris and Arctic Cat but also ASV Inc, makers of rubber track skid steer vehicles. He also designed, patented and sold several devices for handicap people including several different wheelchairs. He lived to be 90 years old.
I was a supervisor of the company that made their domestic and over seas crateing. Was located just about 4 blks from AC factory. Both snowmobiles and atv's. If ever in Thief River Falls Minn area go for the tour.
What a Awsum throwback with great history. I had tears and a big big smile taking this in. I was a drag racer from 2001-2019 through Team Arctic With my wife beside me pushing throttle also. After watching this I just learnt about appreciation. Thank you to who put this together. 🙏🙏🙏. And Al Shimpa. Your the best!!!! He was always helpful on long phone call talks from Canada.Thank you !!!
I'm an artic cat faithful supporter, I had no choice my Dad always drove cat and has instilled in me brand loyalty. Can't ever see myself driving anything else
Very interesting video. I will never forget my friends Jag, his big brother's El tigre and their dads old Cheetah, in the late 70's. I just picked up a '77 Lynx 2000t for my son, it will be his Christmas present this year !
I am 57 now, and about 30 years ago I met an older guy, (about 10 years my senior), and went to some even with him and a few other guys in a motor home, (I can't remember what the event was). His name is Jeff Smith from Michigan, and he had a old Pro racing license. He told me a story from just a few years before that time about him and another guy dusting off their Pro license to race the "I 500", ( think it was in the UP). The story goes, the guys and their wives set out on the road to race, and his wife was telling him during the trip, "You are too old for this!". Well, they got there, asked weird questions that had the race authorities check out their licenses, (all was good), and they started racing. Jeff got off in a corner, made his way back to the pits slightly beat up, and told his wife, "You are right Honey, I am too old for this." Her reply: "Bull Crap. You are in the top 10! You're RACING!!!!!!" :)
I am 60 years old and in 1973 my dad bought a 440 Puma for my mother to ride and I ended up winning a lot of local stock races with it at age 13 because I weighed about 85 LBS. One day at a lake some old guy had a 640 Rupp Nitro and he was afraid of it so my father said let my kid try it. I held it wide open and I went so fast the windshield broke. People there said I was going over 90 MPH. Those were the best days ever.
What fantastic documentary, I have had this save in my watch later list for 3 years now and finally had time to sit-down and watch it. Awesome!! I have been a diehard Cat fan my entire life and will be forever.
I grew up on Bombardier ( Doo's and Moto-Ski's) but my god do i love Cats too! El Tigre's in the late 70's were incredible. Pantera's were nice too. Great video!
In the days of cold and snowy winters in the Midwest we had a 1977 El Tigre 5000 and a Jag 340 and we rode the heck out of them in the corn and bean fields of Indiana! I remember racing the El Tigre along side cars on I-65 and pulling away from them...that was a fast sled! So true about the 80's, no snow and had to travel to the other side of the lake to southwest lower Michigan to ride. Amazing memories of all the other sled by Yamaha VMAX, John Deere Liquafire, Kawasaki Invader and Intruder, Ski Doo Futura! Fun times! Thanks for loading this video up!
Edgar Hetteen started what we all know as Arctic Cat and I was a number one fan with my first 1969 Panther and other models later. They were ahead of the game but Artic Cat's biggest challenge was marketing and dealerships..............and this one aspect killed them ! Bombardier on they other hand built a heavy dealership foundation and took the sales and aftermarket by storm ! Today, I've left that world (I'm no longer of that age) but my days on an Arctic Cat are my best winter times !
That has to be the most dedicated company ever to go down in flames 🔥 in 1982 and come back from ashes of their former self and become very passionate today even if things don’t go well as expected with Techron and they shake them loose they will rise again other than Harley-Davidson success story after AMF shook them loose there’s no stopping them either even with a stuttering economy shrinking them down doesn’t mean it’s over so hang in there I happened to ride both so I guess I share their Passion 👍🇺🇸
My first sled was a Lynx series2 that my father stuffed a 300 single rotax into. That was in the mid 1990's and I rode that baby til I was 16. Fat 17" wide track with growser bars and picks. It was a great sled for a beginner due to the short length and floatation from the wide track. So much character is the old iron compared to the new plastic out there.
my life long friend who has passed away. he had the arctic cat with the 392 single jalo engine. vibration broke the thing into lots of cracks. I had a welder and welded up the engine so it ran good and he sold it to buy another arctic cat with the 340 twin kawasaki. that was it. the best snow mobile.
I always thought Arctic Cat had style. Ski-Doo had some, Polaris had some, but in the '70's, the best look often went to the Cats. Per my personal experience though, Polaris won the dependability award. We rode and rode and rode and rode... while everyone else was backing out because they needed to do some wrenching. I have sleds with over 10k miles and those motors just keep starting and running! I will always have a soft spot for the Arctic Cat looks though!
My first sled was a 1973 Arctic Cat 340 Cheetah. Sold it to get a newer sled, & went without for 20+ years. Drove an Arctic Cat EXT, & it gave me back the bug, & I couldn’t wait any more to have my own sled again.
A '73 Polaris Colt SS 340 for me, but went 20+ years without a sled and it was a '97 XC 440 that put the bug back in me! My best friend had a Panther 399 and we just went nuts competing, but I will say, he got the wrenching award. I was always bugging him about, "When we gonna ride man?" lol In his honor though, since getting the bug back, I've picked up an '81 Pantera 500. I'm slowly improving it with new/updated parts. Can't explain it, but I always had a soft spot for Panteras... and I never even knew anyone that had one. They just looked nice, comfy, but still fast! I might even pick up another some day!
I worked up in the mountains in CO in the late 70's. Ev en then, my coworkers were lamenting the earlier Cats that were ungoverned and go could over 100mph. They said it was "crazy", but the Cats could do it. Curiously, I've never been on a snowmobile except to ride on the back. Looked to me like an expensive winter hobby.
Knowing that is was our factories that got mankind out of poverty, I just had to spend my time watching this. Now I have to get to work. I am behind schedule, but it was worth it for another great story of our great past. :)
Good job John Sandberg, I was a M800/162” rider. Had a couple of them. Looking at the new Alfa 1 now. I like my Cats... haha! Got to know Tucker with the mountain bike racing also. Great guys. Ride on!
Had a 1973 artic cat lynx 340 , kawasaki motor I think, sold it a few years ago and regret it ever since. It had been rode and used , but was all complete, still had Original seat and all. Was in decent shape not showroom but with a little work. My uncle bought it brand new, then my dad had it and then me. Once you get on a new sled just the thought of riding an older one hurts your back haha. But everyday I regret selling it. Ubar track or whatever they called it. Man I miss that, now everytime someone bugs me to buy my old bravos or enticer I say no, thinking how much I wish I still had the lynx. If nothing just for the memories with my dad and sisters.
Maybe the textron guys can watch this and prevent repeating their Polaris debacle. The new Alterra 600 announcement seems intriguing. Not 100% sold on it, but that GPS, 27" wheels, and low centre of gravity make me want to at least test drive one.
yes they were fast! yamaha set 3 marks that become milestones for the others to beat. the 1981 SRX, then the 1998 SRX then the 2019 SRX. all 3 were the fastest production sleds on the planet.
@@charleswitfoth9490 SORRY CHUCK THATS A FACT! we rode with yamaha in 1981 and sat in the stands to watch in 1998. 2019 needs no explanation arctic cat came close but their clutch didnt compete.
That was a great documentary. I will say if Cat wants to be top "dog" ;) again they will have to focus on building the best sxs's on the market. Not just the big crazy wide and bulky sxs's but the smaller 50-60" wide units as well. Everyone is going huge with sxs's it reminds me of the mid 90's/early 2000's when sleds were becoming like tanks. Feels like you are riding a tank in the woods. Build some good smaller sporty yet utility style sxs's like the Polaris General and also a kids 4x4 quad. Get kids hooked on sleds/atv's and sxs's so they'll remain loyal and buy Arctic Cats for their kids.
I actually bought one of those big crazy wide and bulky sxs this summer, a Prowler Pro crew and so far so good. It's quiet, very roomy and surprisingly capable off road for something so big. There are a few things I would change about it but I can say that about everything I've owned and I've had just about every major brand. I really hope that Cat can get through it's current difficulties, they seem to be able to get the big stuff right like 2 stroke engines that can hold up but struggle with the small details.
The best thing for Arctic Cat was separating from Yamaha they have now reinvented themselves with the catalyst and I know we don't know enough about that sled but I know it's going down as a great one.
Back in the 70's in my area everyone had Ski Doo's and Moto Skis, my day bought me a Cat. Everyone made fun of him saying there's no way I could go places they could go. :) I could blow them all way! I started racing when I was about 16 years old with cats and had a room full of trophies. All the machines we had where all stock and I would enter all the classes racing that day and still would often win every race. We would race at Lee raceway on Friday, New England drag strip on Sat, anyplace having a race on Sunday. New England drag strip was the most fun for me because they had a cross county, a drag race and at 1/2 time I got to put on a show doing the 1/4 mile using just my feet and coming back tipped riding tip up on one ski.
im From Cortland N.Y. and grew up being driven at TOP speed thru the woods,jumping barbwire fences covered in snow ect.Artic Cat JAG.73-77? if ya need a tech LMK.
im a arctic cat man i grew up riding them i have a 71 303 panther the year of the cat and i have a puma i hope to get restored with the big mouth hood i only like the old vintage cats because thats what i grew up with they were the real deal
I love Arctic cats I had a 2016 Wildcat X (SXS) and Now Upgraded to Arctic Cat branded Wildcat XX It's all black on black on black, I will now proceed to name it "PANTHER" cool story!! I now feel good about where my money went business is always difficult but survival is a natural "Cat Instinct" .
Survival is natural for all living things, true. But because of the mind of man, (the ability to reason, build concepts, and figure out reality in our universe), that no other living entity on Earth has, it is our nature to achieve and grow. So, if you ever had a teacher who compared mankind to any other living thing on earth, (communists love to use an "ant colony" for example of how man should exist), you should sue your school. :)
By the way. I have a small business by myself in my shop, (porting little 2-stroke engines, known and respected world wide in the RC car industry). Other than using my own mind, it is the easiest work I ever did. I have never put in such little effort, (after a lot of effort working for others and paying my way through college), for more money than I ever made as a employee. The trick? Pick something that government does not control, or as little as possible. I think we can now count out the restaurant business. After our marxist governments shut them down because of a cold virus, does anybody want to buy a restaurant now,--or anytime in the future?
I have not watched the vid yet, but I am seeing a lot of comments about sleds they consider "junk". I am a manufacturing expert with decades in manufacturing and several college degrees for manufacturing. Quality, (one of my engineering degrees), is harder to come by for a lot of products we buy today, and I can tell you, it mostly comes from government interference that raises the cost of production, (some managers have cut corners on quality systems to save cost), and the fact that we gave our free market to communist china 40 years ago, forcing many companies to have parts made there. The fact is, if we were truly still "free market", quality would still be a high priority for any company who wants to stay in business long term.
@@nybergsgarage well mr love artic cats when your dealer refuses to make good on a year old machine with the same over heating issue my 1st and 2 year it sat at the dealer more than it sat at my trailer same block doesnt cut it
@@scottbowerphotography736 i don't love arctic cat sleds. I've never owned one. However, when I read your comment I was at the part of the video where it was showing the 60's sleds and I kind of assumed you were talking about a sled from that era.
I grew up riding Polaris, but I've always had a soft spot for Cat. I remember the early EXT's and how sick I thought those looked. And the ZR sleds were a SUPER strong competitor to my beloved XCR. Today, I wish Cat the very best (screw Ski Doo and their lawsuit) and will always root for the green and purple from afar. Great video!
Well Polaris was the top dog in the snowmobile industry until the 90s when Arctic Cat got the Hibbert's and the ZR 440. Do you notice when they talk to the hardcore old time Arctic Cat guys that they have a real hard time even speaking the name Polaris. In fact. Polaris Industries was the first name it had before the two guys split up and one stayed at Polaris and the other one started Arctic Cat.
uhn not true,, polaris is in roseau mn, and cat, in thief river falls (I have family at both, worked 10 years at cat, 4 at polaris),,,polaris was founded from hetteen derrick and hoist by 2 ,,,brothers,,,but edgar was "bought out" and forced out,,,so went to trf, got a note from lb hartz, for 100k ,,started polar enterprises which became arctic cat,,,and the arctic was always neck in neck with polaris, the eltigres were a runaway faster sled,,,the thundercats, the time when people used motors with discpacements some suzuki samarais had,,were going into sleds,, (both companies build fantastic machines)
www.mprnews.org/story/2011/02/14/hetteen-obit the arctics and polaris rivalry is amazing, neck in neck,,was always,,, only 50 miles difference tween factories,, testers would sometimes run into each other on lunches to test run on lake of the woods,,,
@@jstavene You have good knowledge of the companies. I am confused as to what has happened to Arctic Cat following the acquisition by Textron. Is it true that Textron subsequently spun off Arctic Cat? If so, does it still exist, and who owns/controls it?
In 74, I had a Suzuki Nomad 340. It shared no resemblance to an Artic cat, and could not compare in the snow either. Also, I think Artic Cat at that time were using Kawasaki engines, at least in some of their sleds.
I think the 70's el tigre is still a very very great machine. I would rather have it than a new sled. If it were not for the intrusion of the EPA in our industries, Artic Cat could break out the old tooling, and sell millions of them IMO.
@@EarthSurferUSA I would love it if the gov't got their fat schnozzes out of our buissiness and they could still sell their old sleds. I don't care for modern sleds. Too complicated and expensive. I want to fix my own stuff.
You're right. I still own a 2004 650 Arctic Cat with the Kawasaki V-twin. The 650 motor was great. But the frame broke in less than 2000 miles of moderate use. (Frame not gusseted at the joining of tubes up top, near the front of the seat.) It was a common problem. What's worse was that after more than three months of haggling, I had to initiate legal action for them to cover the frame replacement. I could write a book on how consistently abysmal their so called 'customer service' was. This in itself killed my interest in their products. I've bought three Polaris and two Can Ams in the years since.
I own both, as well as Can Am. Of the three, Can Am wins, Polaris second, Arctic Cat third. And for reliability and less challenging terrain - Honda - hands down
I don't think Suzuki was the first to build a ATV. They never made a 3-wheeler. The 4-wheel ATV came after the government banned 3-wheelers, that Honda and Kawasaki made (Yamaha too? not sure) for a off road performance machine. I could never ride a 3-wheeler well, and only tried a couple of times. But man could some guys fly around the local MX tracks with them.
@@rexkramer4938 Thanks for confirming. My first two quads were Arctic Cat, beginning in 2001. Abysmal handling of warranty issues and defects lead me to buy both Polaris and Can Am since then.
@@gman77gas I think Arctic cat is the last thing you gotta worry about being the end. I think we got bigger problems with the world ending. We are in a dam pandemic!!!
The bankruptcy of 1981, just a decade after a huge boom. The economy goes up and down with the majority of it caused by government policy that affects our business and market. I never fully understood, (and there may not be a rational explanation), why a company that is making good profit that allows growth, chooses to take out 48 million in loans during great times. Let profit be the guide to growth IMO, so when hard times hit, you won't have debt that can shut your doors, forcing you to sell or liquidate. It was one of the bases of the founding of the USA, to achieve ownership, so nobody could take away from you what you earned. 48 million in debt and hard times: All that work for nothing, where the only ownership left is the ownership of a great memory, paid in full.
Back in the late 1990's myself and eight of my friends bought the 500 4 wheelers and everyone of us had either front suspension ball joint failure and or the ball joints developed excessive play. Some had complete ball joint failure out on the trail which caused some people to wreck. Also the air filters which were supposed to be so great let fine dust pass through them destroying the engines. Arctic Cat did nothing for any of us. That was the end for me owning a Arctic Cat machine and I had owned two Arctic Cat snowmobiles prior to buying the 500 quad. Just stating the facts and keeping it real.
@@KTMrider-bn4vq well then they better do something quick or they'll be no more Arctic Cat or are you not paying attention see what they did to the dealerships it's called loyalty it's not to undercut them with Pro Bass Shops very bad move that is a Textron bunch of crap if they don't try to do something with the current lineups there's going to be no more arctic cat either you stay with the with the best or you die like the rest
I used to work at a dealership in canada, and I can tell you that since Textron took over our customers and us were really mad at all the seasonal releases. They've been cutting in the atvs and utv's lineup every year and now the are cutting in the snowmobile's line up, just check there website, buyers have barely options now its sad. I was present at one of those announcement event when Textron took over Arctic Cat, I can certified you that none of those line up cutting where announce to dealers at the meeting it was all sunshine and rainbows.
@@nightmove78 What prompted cat to team up with Textron? Usually selling out to a mother company is done if the business is about to go out of business, (or just got a pretty penny). I want to know what put Cat in enough stress to sell out? Wanna bet it was government intervention, (something you may not have been aware of at a dealership)? That becomes very costly,---every time.
Great industry's that helped get mankind out of poverty always started with "One Mans Dream". But we are almost a totally collectivist/communist world now, no individualism or a true free market allowed. And just like Preston Tucker, (tried to start a car company, "Tucker", after WW2), if your dream does not coincide with government wishes,---your dream will never get off the ground. How can we get our free market back? Separate business from the state. Free people created the free market, not the state. The state just stole it from us over time,---and our dreams. Define "human freedom" please. It is so much more than simply not being in jail.
So, 1300 miles on a 2017 Arctic Cat Alterra 500 and the belt fails after only 2 1/2 years of mild operation on flat terrain in central Florida. Only used for hunting to and from tree stands. No plowing, no pulling. The warranty was up in July 2020. This is my first ATV. Not impressed, not impressed at all. Six months out of warranty and the belt fails and leaves me stranded. Customer care is a joke. There is secondary damage that resulted from the belt failure. Clutch cover always seemed to be warm but I was told that was normal for Cats. I still think its an issue. A new belt is almost 200. and the other parts brings the total to just under 600.. Customer Care is no help at all and not interested in customer satisfaction. My dealer informed me that my warranty was up so I began the work myself and have to wait on parts so the ATV right side is disassembled. Customer care said I would have to take it to an authorized dealer for inspection. I say bull shit! I'm not about to take my ATV in disassembled. They just don't care. I used to work for a major boat motor manufacturer and I know how this is supposed to work. I should have be put in touch with a field rep and a plan of action could have been arranged. I'm done. I will repair my 500 myself and sell it. I will then go buy a Honda and not have to worry about reliability. The guys in the group I belong to all use Hondas and are totally happy and best yet, never been left stranded. My lesson in this, you get what you pay for! Lesson learned.
A LONG time ago, I also had warranty problems with Arctic Cat. They were so consistently abysmal, that I've bought five other ATVs since (800, 850, and 1000 CC) and never even considered Arctic Cat as a contender for purchase.
For what it's worth I own a 2017 500. I bought it brand new and it on its 3rd belt @1400 miles. This last time I put the "updated" clutch bushings in it. I was told ( after purchase) they were known for poorly designed clutch bushings which caused the clutch halves to open unevenly which tears up belts. Again. For what it's worth.
@@jpoppinga8417 If I were you, I'd either dump it or buy an aftermarket clutch from the likes of STM, QSC and others. That is inexcusable from any company, let alone one with decades of experience to draw from. They're clearly incompetent and should go back to buying the engine/transmission from Kawasaki, Suzuki, etc. stmpowersports.com/ quadshopcustoms.com/
Actually, they had serious problem LONG before Textron. I own six ATVs. That's all but one that I've ever bought. My my first two were/are a 2002 Arctic Cat 400 and a 2004 Arctic Cat 650. Both had SERIOUS defects, poor honoring of warranties, and extremely harsh bump steer. Particularly annoying was frame failures (top tubes)
Arctic Cat is a horrible brand who used it's customers as guinea pigs. Extreme poor design was passed of to you to worry about. I remember a 1993 Wildcat I owned that was lower to the ground than it had suspension, with a plastic belly pan. On the first ride it hit a hidden rock under the snow that totaled the snowmobile. We ate it. Luckily, they had a metal pan for our brand new Thundercat that we had to buy and install to keep it happening again. Garbage machines that always broke and made us laughing stocks in Canada where we rode. I CERTAINLY DON'T MISS THOSE DAYS!
To be fair, all side by sides are junk... Give me a side by side with a 1200cc carbureted four cylinder engine with a five speed manual transmission. Rather than electronic fuel injected engines with cvts. Phooey.
There's passion for Arctic cat I never understood in my self and now this video helps explain my addiction with there snowmobiles.
Excellent production. Both Arctic Cat and Polaris owe their lives to each other. Competition brings out the best in everyone. I have owned both as well as Ski Doo and Yamaha. In short, the competition improved all the brands. May it remain thru all our lives. It makes us all better people.
👌
For sure. Personally i wish there were around 10 brands ( or more) but hopefully the Big 4 continue forever! I guess i just miss growing up in the 70s and 80s.
@Cliff Johnson Thinks have to be maintained. Ever hear of a "screwdriver" and "lock tight"? The engineering and production methods needed to make a product like this is overwhelming to one man, (and is a piece of profitable art), and you can't even keep some screws tight? Maybe you need to "learn right". Even things that do grow on trees, are not perfect. Get into manufacturing, and you will "learn right", what got mankind out of poverty. You sound like a helpless child to me. I was 12 with a tool kit to maintain my dirt bikes/snowmobiles. Why would the factories consider you, "A good customer"? I would not want a helpless child buying my stuff. I would be happy to tell you, "Go to my competition."!
Wow that was special 😂
Edgar (and his wife Hannah) Hetteen not only started Polaris and Arctic Cat but also ASV Inc, makers of rubber track skid steer vehicles. He also designed, patented and sold several devices for handicap people including several different wheelchairs. He lived to be 90 years old.
I was a supervisor of the company that made their domestic and over seas crateing. Was located just about 4 blks from AC factory. Both snowmobiles and atv's. If ever in Thief River Falls Minn area go for the tour.
What a Awsum throwback with great history. I had tears and a big big smile taking this in. I was a drag racer from 2001-2019 through Team Arctic With my wife beside me pushing throttle also. After watching this I just learnt about appreciation. Thank you to who put this together. 🙏🙏🙏. And Al Shimpa. Your the best!!!! He was always helpful on long phone call talks from Canada.Thank you !!!
I'm an artic cat faithful supporter, I had no choice my Dad always drove cat and has instilled in me brand loyalty. Can't ever see myself driving anything else
Very interesting video. I will never forget my friends Jag, his big brother's El tigre and their dads old Cheetah, in the late 70's. I just picked up a '77 Lynx 2000t for my son, it will be his Christmas present this year !
Awesome he will love it, we got our boys in to sleds early and now they are 18 and 21 and travel out west and to the UP all winter long
Thank you Arctic Cat ....that was fantastic Muskoka Dave 2021 cheers 😃👍
I am 57 now, and about 30 years ago I met an older guy, (about 10 years my senior), and went to some even with him and a few other guys in a motor home, (I can't remember what the event was). His name is Jeff Smith from Michigan, and he had a old Pro racing license. He told me a story from just a few years before that time about him and another guy dusting off their Pro license to race the "I 500", ( think it was in the UP). The story goes, the guys and their wives set out on the road to race, and his wife was telling him during the trip, "You are too old for this!". Well, they got there, asked weird questions that had the race authorities check out their licenses, (all was good), and they started racing. Jeff got off in a corner, made his way back to the pits slightly beat up, and told his wife, "You are right Honey, I am too old for this."
Her reply: "Bull Crap. You are in the top 10! You're RACING!!!!!!" :)
I am 60 years old and in 1973 my dad bought a 440 Puma for my mother to ride and I ended up winning a lot of local stock races with it at age 13 because I weighed about 85 LBS. One day at a lake some old guy had a 640 Rupp Nitro and he was afraid of it so my father said let my kid try it. I held it wide open and I went so fast the windshield broke. People there said I was going over 90 MPH. Those were the best days ever.
Haha probably more like 80 but the way the ride felt back then it probably felt like 120
What fantastic documentary, I have had this save in my watch later list for 3 years now and finally had time to sit-down and watch it. Awesome!! I have been a diehard Cat fan my entire life and will be forever.
Great video! Brought back a lot of nostalgia from the 70s. And I learned a lot about the newer stuff too.
I grew up on Bombardier ( Doo's and Moto-Ski's) but my god do i love Cats too! El Tigre's in the late 70's were incredible. Pantera's were nice too. Great video!
In the days of cold and snowy winters in the Midwest we had a 1977 El Tigre 5000 and a Jag 340 and we rode the heck out of them in the corn and bean fields of Indiana! I remember racing the El Tigre along side cars on I-65 and pulling away from them...that was a fast sled! So true about the 80's, no snow and had to travel to the other side of the lake to southwest lower Michigan to ride. Amazing memories of all the other sled by Yamaha VMAX, John Deere Liquafire, Kawasaki Invader and Intruder, Ski Doo Futura! Fun times! Thanks for loading this video up!
Edgar Hetteen started what we all know as Arctic Cat and I was a number one fan with my first 1969 Panther and other models later. They were ahead of the game but Artic Cat's biggest challenge was marketing and dealerships..............and this one aspect killed them ! Bombardier on they other hand built a heavy dealership foundation and took the sales and aftermarket by storm ! Today, I've left that world (I'm no longer of that age) but my days on an Arctic Cat are my best winter times !
Video gave me goose bumps remembering the rush I used to feel when racing!
I own a Artic Cat m7 and I love it. Its never left me stranded. Always starts and I can ride it in the mountians.
That has to be the most dedicated company ever to go down in flames 🔥 in 1982 and come back from ashes of their former self and become very passionate today even if things don’t go well as expected with Techron and they shake them loose they will rise again other than Harley-Davidson success story after AMF shook them loose there’s no stopping them either even with a stuttering economy shrinking them down doesn’t mean it’s over so hang in there I happened to ride both so I guess I share their Passion 👍🇺🇸
its Textron
My first sled was a Lynx series2 that my father stuffed a 300 single rotax into. That was in the mid 1990's and I rode that baby til I was 16. Fat 17" wide track with growser bars and picks. It was a great sled for a beginner due to the short length and floatation from the wide track. So much character is the old iron compared to the new plastic out there.
Nice documentary telling the history
That was a great documentary!👍
Amazing video! WTG for staying alive a 2 yr depression in 81 to 83! Great sleds and I would for sure drive one.
Thank you.
my life long friend who has passed away. he had the arctic cat with the 392 single jalo engine. vibration broke the thing into lots of cracks. I had a welder and welded up the engine so it ran good and he sold it to buy another arctic cat with the 340 twin kawasaki. that was it. the best snow mobile.
14:59 A few days earlier management was introduced to cocaine for the first time.
That lady is still recovering. Shes even wearing purple...
Enjoyed the video , I’m still running a 70 Panther , pulls a cat kutter with my grand daughter in it .
I always thought Arctic Cat had style. Ski-Doo had some, Polaris had some, but in the '70's, the best look often went to the Cats. Per my personal experience though, Polaris won the dependability award. We rode and rode and rode and rode... while everyone else was backing out because they needed to do some wrenching. I have sleds with over 10k miles and those motors just keep starting and running! I will always have a soft spot for the Arctic Cat looks though!
My first sled was a 1973 Arctic Cat 340 Cheetah.
Sold it to get a newer sled, & went without for 20+ years.
Drove an Arctic Cat EXT, & it gave me back the bug, & I couldn’t wait any more to have my own sled again.
A '73 Polaris Colt SS 340 for me, but went 20+ years without a sled and it was a '97 XC 440 that put the bug back in me! My best friend had a Panther 399 and we just went nuts competing, but I will say, he got the wrenching award. I was always bugging him about, "When we gonna ride man?" lol In his honor though, since getting the bug back, I've picked up an '81 Pantera 500. I'm slowly improving it with new/updated parts. Can't explain it, but I always had a soft spot for Panteras... and I never even knew anyone that had one. They just looked nice, comfy, but still fast! I might even pick up another some day!
I watch this video at least 3 times a year.
Remember our neighbors bought two new Prowler 440’s back in the 90’s. I thought those were the most beautiful snowmobiles I’d ever seen.
Love Minnesota, we pioneered Polaris and artic cat
I worked up in the mountains in CO in the late 70's. Ev en then, my coworkers were lamenting the earlier Cats that were ungoverned and go could over 100mph. They said it was "crazy", but the Cats could do it. Curiously, I've never been on a snowmobile except to ride on the back. Looked to me like an expensive winter hobby.
Knowing that is was our factories that got mankind out of poverty, I just had to spend my time watching this. Now I have to get to work. I am behind schedule, but it was worth it for another great story of our great past. :)
No dealers! No products! No buying Arctic Cat!!!
First sled was a 1971 Panther with a 634 Hirth. Dad bought it for me Christmas of ‘87 for $100. Wish I still had her.
I have a 1969 ski daddler super twin with a 634 hirth twin. Real powerhouse of an engine.
Good job John Sandberg, I was a M800/162” rider. Had a couple of them. Looking at the new Alfa 1 now. I like my Cats... haha!
Got to know Tucker with the mountain bike racing also. Great guys. Ride on!
Had a 1973 artic cat lynx 340 , kawasaki motor I think, sold it a few years ago and regret it ever since. It had been rode and used , but was all complete, still had Original seat and all. Was in decent shape not showroom but with a little work. My uncle bought it brand new, then my dad had it and then me. Once you get on a new sled just the thought of riding an older one hurts your back haha. But everyday I regret selling it. Ubar track or whatever they called it. Man I miss that, now everytime someone bugs me to buy my old bravos or enticer I say no, thinking how much I wish I still had the lynx. If nothing just for the memories with my dad and sisters.
'60's grandfather had dealership as 12 year old doing 'wheelies' in those machines and then getting stuck, oofta
They need to reinstate production of the 700 diesel quad.
Yup, I turbocharged mine, nothing stops it, also pretty fast!
@@formerice you will have to video the turbo one
Surprised they didn't talk about the Arctic Cat Jag.
Maybe the textron guys can watch this and prevent repeating their Polaris debacle. The new Alterra 600 announcement seems intriguing. Not 100% sold on it, but that GPS, 27" wheels, and low centre of gravity make me want to at least test drive one.
the best of times
I had the zr 440 back in the day man they handled good at the time
Had one also new out of the box best ditch banger ever!
Fastest dam sled i ever rode was my 98 ZRT800 loved the dam acceleration !! loved my cat
yes they were fast! yamaha set 3 marks that become milestones for the others to beat. the 1981 SRX, then the 1998 SRX then the 2019 SRX. all 3 were the fastest production sleds on the planet.
@@karlmorrison7933 that's not correct
@@charleswitfoth9490 SORRY CHUCK THATS A FACT! we rode with yamaha in 1981 and sat in the stands to watch in 1998. 2019 needs no explanation arctic cat came close but their clutch didnt compete.
@@charleswitfoth9490 um not sure why cat used a different clutch when yamaha powers their sleds now days, since they dropped suzuki in 2013 or 2014.
Because team clutches are superior in alot of riders opinions not to mention the 98 tcat was the fastest production sled
No Mention of the ThunderCat?
The atv? Yeah the mentioned it briefly
1:07:00
I have a 1993 Thundercat 900. It was the start of the muscle sled Era. I love that sled. It's so fast. I have a few videos on my channel.
That was a great documentary.
I will say if Cat wants to be top "dog" ;) again they will have to focus on building the best sxs's on the market. Not just the big crazy wide and bulky sxs's but the smaller 50-60" wide units as well. Everyone is going huge with sxs's it reminds me of the mid 90's/early 2000's when sleds were becoming like tanks. Feels like you are riding a tank in the woods. Build some good smaller sporty yet utility style sxs's like the Polaris General and also a kids 4x4 quad. Get kids hooked on sleds/atv's and sxs's so they'll remain loyal and buy Arctic Cats for their kids.
I actually bought one of those big crazy wide and bulky sxs this summer, a Prowler Pro crew and so far so good. It's quiet, very roomy and surprisingly capable off road for something so big. There are a few things I would change about it but I can say that about everything I've owned and I've had just about every major brand. I really hope that Cat can get through it's current difficulties, they seem to be able to get the big stuff right like 2 stroke engines that can hold up but struggle with the small details.
For the record Arctic did not invent the snowmobile.
What does the record show? I think you forgot the second half of your argument.
@@EarthSurferUSA I don’t think you understand. Have a good day
@@slspg He asked you an intelligent question.
WHO created the first snowmobile?
@@gregparrott Bombardier!
@@slspg Good to know. Thanks for the reply.
I have a 76 panther 5000.. 77 cheetah 5000 and a 78 el tigre 5000.. I still ride the guts out of them every winter.. Love the old cats
I love those old cats too man
I had a 1972 AC 400 wish I had pics of it yet just got my son a 1995 Pantera 440.
I had a 400 panther and 440 340 and a 3000 jag in my teens . The 400 was the fastest
The best thing for Arctic Cat was separating from Yamaha they have now reinvented themselves with the catalyst and I know we don't know enough about that sled but I know it's going down as a great one.
Huge cat fan here... i need to say , they talk a about Tucker... so the best one was Blair Morgan that’t the real one who revolutionize SnoCross!
Back in the 70's in my area everyone had Ski Doo's and Moto Skis, my day bought me a Cat. Everyone made fun of him saying there's no way I could go places they could go. :) I could blow them all way! I started racing when I was about 16 years old with cats and had a room full of trophies. All the machines we had where all stock and I would enter all the classes racing that day and still would often win every race. We would race at Lee raceway on Friday, New England drag strip on Sat, anyplace having a race on Sunday. New England drag strip was the most fun for me because they had a cross county, a drag race and at 1/2 time I got to put on a show doing the 1/4 mile using just my feet and coming back tipped riding tip up on one ski.
Your story could be the sequel to the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". :)
Did you no Harry Beckwith He was a young racer out of Connecticut
No I did not know him.
I only raced in NH, VT, MA.
@@josephrobichaud5198 Thanks for answering They operated a dairy farm and also sold Arctic cat snowmobiles back in the 70 80s
Good stuff
“and they painted the cruise ship purple”
But seriously, I got all emotional listening to Roger’s stories.
im From Cortland N.Y. and grew up being driven at TOP speed thru the woods,jumping barbwire fences covered in snow ect.Artic Cat JAG.73-77? if ya need a tech LMK.
I have a 1979 Arctic Cat Panther 5000. Working on making it a Pantera.
I just got a mint condition 90 440 prowler. Awesome sleds
Does anybody know what the S/M III on the tunnel of the 77 Z means?
1998 zrt 600. Still have it. 800 miles on it.
My dad has a 1998 Yamaha vmax XCT 600 and has 769 miles on it amazing sled
I still have and ride my 1991 Arctic Cat Wildcat 700 and a 1995 ZRT 800 Snowmobiles. ZRT 800 is Very Fast!!!
im a arctic cat man i grew up riding them i have a 71 303 panther the year of the cat and i have a puma i hope to get restored with the big mouth hood i only like the old vintage cats because thats what i grew up with they were the real deal
I love Arctic cats I had a 2016 Wildcat X (SXS) and Now Upgraded to Arctic Cat branded Wildcat XX It's all black on black on black, I will now proceed to name it "PANTHER" cool story!! I now feel good about where my money went business is always difficult but survival is a natural "Cat Instinct" .
Survival is natural for all living things, true. But because of the mind of man, (the ability to reason, build concepts, and figure out reality in our universe), that no other living entity on Earth has, it is our nature to achieve and grow. So, if you ever had a teacher who compared mankind to any other living thing on earth, (communists love to use an "ant colony" for example of how man should exist), you should sue your school. :)
By the way. I have a small business by myself in my shop, (porting little 2-stroke engines, known and respected world wide in the RC car industry). Other than using my own mind, it is the easiest work I ever did. I have never put in such little effort, (after a lot of effort working for others and paying my way through college), for more money than I ever made as a employee. The trick? Pick something that government does not control, or as little as possible. I think we can now count out the restaurant business. After our marxist governments shut them down because of a cold virus, does anybody want to buy a restaurant now,--or anytime in the future?
I don't know why but it makes me sad
I live in Minnesota and instead of arguing what is better I own both 1 artic cat and 1 polaris
I have not watched the vid yet, but I am seeing a lot of comments about sleds they consider "junk". I am a manufacturing expert with decades in manufacturing and several college degrees for manufacturing. Quality, (one of my engineering degrees), is harder to come by for a lot of products we buy today, and I can tell you, it mostly comes from government interference that raises the cost of production, (some managers have cut corners on quality systems to save cost), and the fact that we gave our free market to communist china 40 years ago, forcing many companies to have parts made there.
The fact is, if we were truly still "free market", quality would still be a high priority for any company who wants to stay in business long term.
Don't blame the company. They are not able to run their business as the founders of the companies wanted to. They are lucky today, if they exist.
i had 5 witnessed two arti cats that were total lemons over heating and that was it yamaha ever since
That wouldn't have been their fault. Back then they wree using the same engines as other manufacturers, hirth, jlo, etc.
@@nybergsgarage well mr love artic cats when your dealer refuses to make good on a year old machine with the same over heating issue my 1st and 2 year it sat at the dealer more than it sat at my trailer same block doesnt cut it
@@scottbowerphotography736 i don't love arctic cat sleds. I've never owned one. However, when I read your comment I was at the part of the video where it was showing the 60's sleds and I kind of assumed you were talking about a sled from that era.
Where’s the 1993-2002 tcat?
and they painted the cruise ship purple
But seriously, I got all emotional listening to Roger’s stories.
I grew up riding Polaris, but I've always had a soft spot for Cat. I remember the early EXT's and how sick I thought those looked. And the ZR sleds were a SUPER strong competitor to my beloved XCR. Today, I wish Cat the very best (screw Ski Doo and their lawsuit) and will always root for the green and purple from afar. Great video!
Well Polaris was the top dog in the snowmobile industry until the 90s when Arctic Cat got the Hibbert's and the ZR 440. Do you notice when they talk to the hardcore old time Arctic Cat guys that they have a real hard time even speaking the name Polaris. In fact. Polaris Industries was the first name it had before the two guys split up and one stayed at Polaris and the other one started Arctic Cat.
uhn not true,, polaris is in roseau mn, and cat, in thief river falls (I have family at both, worked 10 years at cat, 4 at polaris),,,polaris was founded from hetteen derrick and hoist by 2 ,,,brothers,,,but edgar was "bought out" and forced out,,,so went to trf, got a note from lb hartz, for 100k ,,started polar enterprises which became arctic cat,,,and the arctic was always neck in neck with polaris, the eltigres were a runaway faster sled,,,the thundercats, the time when people used motors with discpacements some suzuki samarais had,,were going into sleds,, (both companies build fantastic machines)
www.mprnews.org/story/2011/02/14/hetteen-obit the arctics and polaris rivalry is amazing, neck in neck,,was always,,, only 50 miles difference tween factories,, testers would sometimes run into each other on lunches to test run on lake of the woods,,,
Correction taken. Yes, I love both makers machines. Great Mn companies.
Skidoo 🏁
@@jstavene You have good knowledge of the companies. I am confused as to what has happened to Arctic Cat following the acquisition by Textron. Is it true that Textron subsequently spun off Arctic Cat? If so, does it still exist, and who owns/controls it?
Did they assemble the Suzuki branded sleds at Arctic Cat?
In 74, I had a Suzuki Nomad 340. It shared no resemblance to an Artic cat, and could not compare in the snow either. Also, I think Artic Cat at that time were using Kawasaki engines, at least in some of their sleds.
Suzuki built their own sleds, except the 75 Fury. That was an el tigre chassis that car provided Suzuki
its Rally and Skiing,Cool Combo eh?
Is Jim dimmerman still around i thought he passed back in 1999 during qualifying at eagle river
Jim is still around and active in snowmobiling still. Jim Herzig was killed in Valcourt in 1998
and now....Textron owns them! the end is near!
Yup. Textron owned Polaris for a few years and almost made that company go out of business as well.
Larry Coltom is Arctic Cat.
its crazy from how arctic came from like the el tigre to the new m 8000
I think the 70's el tigre is still a very very great machine. I would rather have it than a new sled. If it were not for the intrusion of the EPA in our industries, Artic Cat could break out the old tooling, and sell millions of them IMO.
@@EarthSurferUSA I would love it if the gov't got their fat schnozzes out of our buissiness and they could still sell their old sleds. I don't care for modern sleds. Too complicated and expensive. I want to fix my own stuff.
guy exaggerated the speeds a little bit id say 😂😂
Why is Kirk, and Tucker not in this?
They were both in the video
I don't think artic cat built their own engine for the 650. If they did it was heavily influenced by the kawasaki brute force motor.
The 650 v twin yes not the H1650
You're right. I still own a 2004 650 Arctic Cat with the Kawasaki V-twin. The 650 motor was great. But the frame broke in less than 2000 miles of moderate use. (Frame not gusseted at the joining of tubes up top, near the front of the seat.) It was a common problem. What's worse was that after more than three months of haggling, I had to initiate legal action for them to cover the frame replacement. I could write a book on how consistently abysmal their so called 'customer service' was. This in itself killed my interest in their products. I've bought three Polaris and two Can Ams in the years since.
I had the kaw 399 bored out in a panther, 👍
i love the arctic cat but im sorry i would buy a polaris
I own both, as well as Can Am. Of the three, Can Am wins, Polaris second, Arctic Cat third.
And for reliability and less challenging terrain - Honda - hands down
Built in Thief River Falls, with Chinese parts.
Thats everything now. My chevy tahoe is 75% Mexico parts.
I don't think Suzuki was the first to build a ATV. They never made a 3-wheeler. The 4-wheel ATV came after the government banned 3-wheelers, that Honda and Kawasaki made (Yamaha too? not sure) for a off road performance machine. I could never ride a 3-wheeler well, and only tried a couple of times. But man could some guys fly around the local MX tracks with them.
Suzuki made a 400 2 stroke that blew the doors off of everything, late 70's
Suzuki most definitely built a 3 wheeler!!
Polaris made arctic cat what it is today.
ARCTIC CAT was not founded by building
SNOW CATs ? What the hell is the CAT stand for then?
!
aime les cat mous o Québec
I live in Duluth Mn, close to both Arctic cat and Polaris and I'll only own Ski Doo's
I heard that Arctic Cat and Polaris were run by brothers. Is/was that true?
@@gregparrott you are correct
@@rexkramer4938 Thanks for confirming. My first two quads were Arctic Cat, beginning in 2001. Abysmal handling of warranty issues and defects lead me to buy both Polaris and Can Am since then.
@@gregparrott I did the same, went to an rzr and a summit
Arctic Cat is already writing the end with the abolition of 65% of snowmobile models.😤
now owned by Textron....the end is near!
Welcome to socialism/communism son. Enjoy.
@@gman77gas I think Arctic cat is the last thing you gotta worry about being the end. I think we got bigger problems with the world ending. We are in a dam pandemic!!!
@@fasterdura1772 yas... A pandemic with a 99.97% survival rate... Oooh the horror.
@@nybergsgarage yes. A bull shit Plandemic.
The bankruptcy of 1981, just a decade after a huge boom. The economy goes up and down with the majority of it caused by government policy that affects our business and market. I never fully understood, (and there may not be a rational explanation), why a company that is making good profit that allows growth, chooses to take out 48 million in loans during great times. Let profit be the guide to growth IMO, so when hard times hit, you won't have debt that can shut your doors, forcing you to sell or liquidate. It was one of the bases of the founding of the USA, to achieve ownership, so nobody could take away from you what you earned. 48 million in debt and hard times: All that work for nothing, where the only ownership left is the ownership of a great memory, paid in full.
Back in the late 1990's myself and eight of my friends bought the 500 4 wheelers and everyone of us had either front suspension ball joint failure and or the ball joints developed excessive play.
Some had complete ball joint failure out on the trail which caused some people to wreck. Also the air filters which were supposed to be so great let fine dust pass through them destroying the engines. Arctic Cat did nothing for any of us. That was the end for me owning a Arctic Cat machine and I had owned two Arctic Cat snowmobiles prior to buying the 500 quad.
Just stating the facts and keeping it real.
Yet again. Nothing about mountain sleds…….: come on!!!!!
And now Textron is trying to kill the cat forever howsad
I don’t think there trying to ruin shit tbh I think there doing a GREAT job running Cat
@@KTMrider-bn4vq well then they better do something quick or they'll be no more Arctic Cat or are you not paying attention see what they did to the dealerships it's called loyalty it's not to undercut them with Pro Bass Shops very bad move that is a Textron bunch of crap if they don't try to do something with the current lineups there's going to be no more arctic cat either you stay with the with the best or you die like the rest
I used to work at a dealership in canada, and I can tell you that since Textron took over our customers and us were really mad at all the seasonal releases. They've been cutting in the atvs and utv's lineup every year and now the are cutting in the snowmobile's line up, just check there website, buyers have barely options now its sad. I was present at one of those announcement event when Textron took over Arctic Cat, I can certified you that none of those line up cutting where announce to dealers at the meeting it was all sunshine and rainbows.
@@nightmove78 What prompted cat to team up with Textron? Usually selling out to a mother company is done if the business is about to go out of business, (or just got a pretty penny). I want to know what put Cat in enough stress to sell out? Wanna bet it was government intervention, (something you may not have been aware of at a dealership)? That becomes very costly,---every time.
Too much gubmint wrecked snowmobiling.
Wrecks every industry,---and our opportunity to compete.
Great industry's that helped get mankind out of poverty always started with "One Mans Dream".
But we are almost a totally collectivist/communist world now, no individualism or a true free market allowed. And just like Preston Tucker, (tried to start a car company, "Tucker", after WW2), if your dream does not coincide with government wishes,---your dream will never get off the ground. How can we get our free market back? Separate business from the state. Free people created the free market, not the state. The state just stole it from us over time,---and our dreams. Define "human freedom" please. It is so much more than simply not being in jail.
So, 1300 miles on a 2017 Arctic Cat Alterra 500 and the belt fails after only 2 1/2 years of mild operation on flat terrain in central Florida. Only used for hunting to and from tree stands. No plowing, no pulling. The warranty was up in July 2020. This is my first ATV. Not impressed, not impressed at all. Six months out of warranty and the belt fails and leaves me stranded. Customer care is a joke. There is secondary damage that resulted from the belt failure. Clutch cover always seemed to be warm but I was told that was normal for Cats. I still think its an issue. A new belt is almost 200. and the other parts brings the total to just under 600.. Customer Care is no help at all and not interested in customer satisfaction. My dealer informed me that my warranty was up so I began the work myself and have to wait on parts so the ATV right side is disassembled. Customer care said I would have to take it to an authorized dealer for inspection. I say bull shit! I'm not about to take my ATV in disassembled. They just don't care. I used to work for a major boat motor manufacturer and I know how this is supposed to work. I should have be put in touch with a field rep and a plan of action could have been arranged. I'm done. I will repair my 500 myself and sell it. I will then go buy a Honda and not have to worry about reliability. The guys in the group I belong to all use Hondas and are totally happy and best yet, never been left stranded. My lesson in this, you get what you pay for! Lesson learned.
A LONG time ago, I also had warranty problems with Arctic Cat. They were so consistently abysmal, that I've bought five other ATVs since (800, 850, and 1000 CC) and never even considered Arctic Cat as a contender for purchase.
For what it's worth I own a 2017 500. I bought it brand new and it on its 3rd belt @1400 miles. This last time I put the "updated" clutch bushings in it. I was told ( after purchase) they were known for poorly designed clutch bushings which caused the clutch halves to open unevenly which tears up belts.
Again. For what it's worth.
@@jpoppinga8417 If I were you, I'd either dump it or buy an aftermarket clutch from the likes of STM, QSC and others. That is inexcusable from any company, let alone one with decades of experience to draw from. They're clearly incompetent and should go back to buying the engine/transmission from Kawasaki, Suzuki, etc.
stmpowersports.com/
quadshopcustoms.com/
Put a blower on your Cat's CVT like the 700 Diesel has, keeps it cool.
Why would anyone want an atv with a CVT anyway???
Lol... and then Textron took over and everything went to complete shit!!!!
Actually, they had serious problem LONG before Textron. I own six ATVs. That's all but one that I've ever bought. My my first two were/are a 2002 Arctic Cat 400 and a 2004 Arctic Cat 650. Both had SERIOUS defects, poor honoring of warranties, and extremely harsh bump steer. Particularly annoying was frame failures (top tubes)
The music junked another video 👎🏻💩
Rides an arctic cat,
and dude’s lmao
Arctic Cat is a horrible brand who used it's customers as guinea pigs. Extreme poor design was passed of to you to worry about. I remember a 1993 Wildcat I owned that was lower to the ground than it had suspension, with a plastic belly pan. On the first ride it hit a hidden rock under the snow that totaled the snowmobile. We ate it. Luckily, they had a metal pan for our brand new Thundercat that we had to buy and install to keep it happening again. Garbage machines that always broke and made us laughing stocks in Canada where we rode. I CERTAINLY DON'T MISS THOSE DAYS!
Where in Canada?
To bad they got cheap and shîty
arctic cat SXS's are total junk
Did a screw come lose on you too?
@@EarthSurferUSA 😂😂😂😂. Maybe a couple screws came loose.
To be fair, all side by sides are junk... Give me a side by side with a 1200cc carbureted four cylinder engine with a five speed manual transmission. Rather than electronic fuel injected engines with cvts. Phooey.