2009 Arctic Cat F6 Review

[sledheadjoe]

Hey All,
My cousin is looking to buy a 2009 F6 with about 1000 miles on it from his local dealer. He was also looking at a new 2010 F5 Sno Pro but there is an obvious price difference. I've read some reviews in the past but I've always been a Ski-Doo guy so was hoping you might be able to add some input on the F6. Anyone have one? Problems? Recalls? Good sled or not? What would it be worth (I live in Canada and prices here are always an arm and leg higher than in the US).
Thanks!
Joe

 

[zrjes]

Although you are looking at an 09, it sounds like the 2010 is the way to go......AM Snow and Dynotech had a stock 2010 F6 @ 129.00 HP this year. I cant seem to find a whole lot of information on what has changed with this 600 motor (If anything), but supposedly the 10's are running much better than they have in the past. Overall this is a slightly heavy chassis, but a very good handling machine. Probably one of the most comfortable trail sleds I have ridden.

Stack

 

[Hoosier]

You said the 2010 is an F5 while the used one is an F6. I don't think the F5 had that much horsepower. Snowtech loves those sleds though.

 

[bryan t]

WRONG!!! The F-6 has dynoed anywhere from 118 to 122 HP depending on who did it.... The Sno Pro 600 (limited build for racing) is 129 HP. There is a big difference between a 2010 Sno Pro model, and an F-series sled.

The F-series sleds are good trail sleds..Good Wind protection..excellent ride, and handling. They are heavy though..in fact an F-6 LXR is 10 lbs heavier than a yamaha vector.

For normal trail riding the LXR is the better sled..the softer set-up is smoother through those annoying stutter bumps..and unless you really ride hard and fast the suspension is perfect for the average trail rider....F-series Sno-Pro models are much stiffer, and not as complaint through stutter bumps, especially at slower speeds (it feels like somebody punching you in the kidneys)...if you like pounding ditches or catching some air the sno pro is the way to go.


Neither F-series Cat (500 or 600) is fast for it's class...in fact in just about every magazine shoot out they are at or near the bottom of their class in acceleration and top speed.

The new Sno-Pro 500 is a different animal..much quicker, much lighter, probably would give an F-6 a run for it's money. Not gonna be as warm, doesn't have as nice gauges..much more raw.

Sn0-Pro 600 is a limited build..haven't seen one anywhere but a race track.

 

[sr22ger]

in fact an F-6 LXR is 10 lbs heavier than a yamaha vector.

State your source.

 

[harvest1121]

When is the last time they made a F6 LXR 2008?

Just looked up a 2010 LXR f5 est 485 2010 Vector est 570 2010 lxr 800 est 518

from Supertrax

 

[snow_monkey]

All the magazines I have read mention the sno-pro's are the smoothest of the ditch bangers. Two of my friends have 2006 models and rave how smooth they are.

 

[harvest1121]

A 2006 would still be a Firecat not in the F series chassis. They say the f series is a great trail sled. If he likes it go for it.

 

[zrjes]

WRONG!!! The F-6 has dynoed anywhere from 118 to 122 HP depending on who did it.... The Sno Pro 600 (limited build for racing) is 129 HP. There is a big difference between a 2010 Sno Pro model, and an F-series sled.

The F-series sleds are good trail sleds..Good Wind protection..excellent ride, and handling. They are heavy though..in fact an F-6 LXR is 10 lbs heavier than a yamaha vector.

For normal trail riding the LXR is the better sled..the softer set-up is smoother through those annoying stutter bumps..and unless you really ride hard and fast the suspension is perfect for the average trail rider....F-series Sno-Pro models are much stiffer, and not as complaint through stutter bumps, especially at slower speeds (it feels like somebody punching you in the kidneys)...if you like pounding ditches or catching some air the sno pro is the way to go.


Neither F-series Cat (500 or 600) is fast for it's class...in fact in just about every magazine shoot out they are at or near the bottom of their class in acceleration and top speed.

The new Sno-Pro 500 is a different animal..much quicker, much lighter, probably would give an F-6 a run for it's money. Not gonna be as warm, doesn't have as nice gauges..much more raw.

Sn0-Pro 600 is a limited build..haven't seen one anywhere but a race track.

I know a thing or 2 about Cats, and I am reading directly what was printed from AM Snow, at their annual shootout. This sled was an F6 was dyno'd by dynotech @ 129.xx HP. Real world most 600 laydowns will dyno 118-122, and even the guys in the article were surprised (As was I). They compared this 129.xx hp against a few other 600 class sleds in the article. Is it the truth, who knows, but that is what they are saying the 2010 F6 made for HP. Seems the consensus is that even though the 2010 cat is improved, the weight is a very limiting factor on the performance of the F series.

Remember, Dyno #"s are really worthless, it all comes down to how the sled performs in real world conditions!

People were talking about it here as well:

http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=449631&st=40

Stack

 

[bryan t]

State your source.

correction.. 3 lbs heavier not 10 lbs ..either way it's heavier.

American Snowmobiler Magazine December 2008 Issue, page 21

"We weighed the LXR at 649 lbs wet".

Yamaha Vector 646 lbs Wet

HP listed on the 2008 was 117. 4 HP (according to am snow)

 

[bryan t]

I know a thing or 2 about Cats, and I am reading directly what was printed from AM Snow, at their annual shootout. This sled was an F6 was dyno'd by dynotech @ 129.xx HP. Real world most 600 laydowns will dyno 118-122, and even the guys in the article were surprised (As was I). They compared this 129.xx hp against a few other 600 class sleds in the article. Is it the truth, who knows, but that is what they are saying the 2010 F6 made for HP. Seems the consensus is that even though the 2010 cat is improved, the weight is a very limiting factor on the performance of the F series.

Remember, Dyno #"s are really worthless, it all comes down to how the sled performs in real world conditions!

People were talking about it here as well:

http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=449631&st=40

Stack

Stack,
I understand that's what they are saying at hardcore sledder..but go check out the review for the 2010 600 class sleds in Snow Goer....the f-6 is the slowest....if it gained 12 HP from where it was in 2008 - 2009..that would indeed be impressive..and I highly doubt it would still be the slowest 600 of the group.

BTW another dyno showed the Cat 600 Sno-Pro had 132 HP

 

[zrjes]

Agreed, the performance even at the AM Snow Shootout was not impressive from the times. Although the conditions were not ideal, if this sled was truly putting out the HP they say it dyno'd at, the performance would be better. I think even the current 600 laydown motor would be much better in the "new" consumer Sno-Pro chassis. Although the Current F series lineup handels very well, the power is where it has always lacked, partially due to the weight of the sled. Arctic Cat would not have had to bring out the Crossfire R series if their current F series had the power to weight ratio we have come to expect.

I am excited to see what 2011 brings, and hopefully for the trail guys it means we see more of the Sno-Pro chassis.

Stack

 

[bryan t]

I agree with you....I don't understand what happened??? The firecat 600 was a screamer...put the same engine in a heavier frame (the f-series )..and it gets poochy slow...even the F-5 gets wacked by the yamaha phazer..bad..(right chad??..lol)


My x-fire 600..which I bought used last year...is great. (had to put some money into her..she was a bit beat)...low end is ok..mid range is very good..top end....not so much...but it is a 136 , and I put a sno-pro 1.3 lug track on it...so I figured it would be slower.

If cat makes the new x-fire look like the Sno-Pro 500, and puts that 128-132 hp 600 motor in it...sign me up!!!

 

[zrjes]

My old sled, which my wife now rides is a 06 M6 141, and I think it has pretty good power throughout the band. I grew up with the ZR 600 and my Dad had ZL 600, so the 600 block is one I really like for some reason. I would love to see some new technology put into the 600 motor, maybe cleaner burning, more efficient, and uhh like 130 HP

 

[sledheadjoe]

Thanks for the replies!

Hey all, thanks for all the input thus far. I didn't mean to start a war over HP or enginer performance. I think the biggest seller for my cousin would be comfort, handling and reliability. What are your thoughts on the value of these sleds - do they hold up well or are there lots of maintenance issues with them? From what I've heard, handling is good for both.

Recall the two sleds are a 2010 F5 Snow Pro vs a 2009 F6.

 

[harvest1121]

To do wet weight they should use the same amount of gas the Ac has a 3 gallon bigger tank.

 

[timmer72]

On the maintenance end, the F5 might have a bit less because of the lack of power valves. Not sure it the sno-pros have the rider select options on the seat and handlebars, these are nice options. Probably the biggest difference is the horsepower difference 80ish versus 118ish. I have read that the handling is much improved for 2010, not sure though, I haven't ridin either one of them. Otherwise both machines should be pretty solid.

 

[sr22ger]

correction.. 3 lbs heavier not 10 lbs ..either way it's heavier.

American Snowmobiler Magazine December 2008 Issue, page 21

"We weighed the LXR at 649 lbs wet".

Yamaha Vector 646 lbs Wet

As a spoiler, I'm not trying to claim the F chassis isn't technically heavy compared to it's peers.

It's a good bet that I found the source Am Snow used, but forgot to quote. http://www.maxsled.com/absolutenm/templates/articles_layout.aspx?articleid=940&zoneid=4

With Am Snow's figures, take out the gas difference and the cat is around 14lbs lighter.

By the way, there the vector weighs even less according to that "source".

Sled weights really need to be standardized if they are going to be used to equally compare different models.

 

[bryan t]

As a spoiler, I'm not trying to claim the F chassis isn't technically heavy compared to it's peers.

It's a good bet that I found the source Am Snow used, but forgot to quote. http://www.maxsled.com/absolutenm/templates/articles_layout.aspx?articleid=940&zoneid=4

With Am Snow's figures, take out the gas difference and the cat is around 14lbs lighter.

By the way, there the vector weighs even less according to that "source".

Sled weights really need to be standardized if they are going to be used to equally compare different models.

Don't get me wrong...I would rather own an f-6 than a vector..but facts are facts..it is heavier when fully fueled..and why would yamaha add 3 gallons of gas to a tank or make the tank bigger?? They can already go 30-40 miles further than an f-6 with 10 gallons of gas...the sad but true fact is Cat needs the bigger tank...cause they are thirsty. How awesome would cat be if they had yamaha's motors??? Think about it..the best engines, in the best riding chassis. I don't care about what something weighs..as long as it handles and rides good...something the yamaha's don't do...if they did I would be on a yamaha...as of right now...my cat out rides and out handles any yamaha and it's stock.....I don't have to buy ski shims, different skis, dually carbides..nor send my shocks out to get revalved...it's very good stone stock.

Don't get mad blue riders...Not picking on the yamaha guys ..just saying.

 

[gogebic_sledder]

WRONG!!! The F-6 has dynoed anywhere from 118 to 122 HP depending on who did it.... The Sno Pro 600 (limited build for racing) is 129 HP. There is a big difference between a 2010 Sno Pro model, and an F-series sled.

The F-series sleds are good trail sleds..Good Wind protection..excellent ride, and handling. They are heavy though..in fact an F-6 LXR is 10 lbs heavier than a yamaha vector.

For normal trail riding the LXR is the better sled..the softer set-up is smoother through those annoying stutter bumps..and unless you really ride hard and fast the suspension is perfect for the average trail rider....F-series Sno-Pro models are much stiffer, and not as complaint through stutter bumps, especially at slower speeds (it feels like somebody punching you in the kidneys)...if you like pounding ditches or catching some air the sno pro is the way to go.


Neither F-series Cat (500 or 600) is fast for it's class...in fact in just about every magazine shoot out they are at or near the bottom of their class in acceleration and top speed.

The new Sno-Pro 500 is a different animal..much quicker, much lighter, probably would give an F-6 a run for it's money. Not gonna be as warm, doesn't have as nice gauges..much more raw.

Sn0-Pro 600 is a limited build..haven't seen one anywhere but a race track.

No I just read it somewhere the new F series 600 has 129 hp.