2021 Arctic Cat Blast and Riot X demo rides at M&M Power Sports

[xsledder]

Chad - are you going to add the Blast ZR to your rental fleet for next year?

 

[ezra]

Today (Fri) & tomorrow Pokegama Lawn & Sports in Grand Rapids, MN have Cat demos. I went today, about 35 degrees & sunny. Rode the Blast LT & ZR both. For all the disbelievers out there, in my opinion, the engine & chassis are both spot on. Ride well, turn on a dime, run excellent, reasonably quiet & have good power. Crossing the east arm of Pokegama Lake, the LT hit 65 MPH one way & 67 the opposite way (head & tail wind). The ZR did 70 & 72 MPH.

Could they be improved; Yes. Are they perfect sleds; No and these are my reasons:
As stated in earlier posts, the switches surrounding the steering column are wrong. I'm OK with the handle bar & thumb heat switches being there. I'm even OK with just on/off (no high/low) but they should be larger and perhaps back lit. Same with the reverse switch. The hi/low headlamp switch should be on the left handle bar! When another sled is coming at you down the trail is not the time to take a hand off the bars & fumble for a switch.
The instrument gauge is hard to see when seated. Not too bad on the ZR but the LT & Mountain versions have a higher riser & a center grab loop. Both make viewing it harder. I'm 5'11", so a smaller person will have a worse view. The fix is to change the center console plastic to raise & tilt the gauge a bit.

Would I recommend buying one? Yes

just a fyi a lot of deep snow sleds guages,are hard to see. take a modern summit may as well not even be there completely worrhless after the first bit of snow comes over the bumper

 

[twistgrip]

just a fyi a lot of deep snow sleds guages,are hard to see. take a modern summit may as well not even be there completely worrhless after the first bit of snow comes over the bumper

Agree with being small but on a deep snow sled all you need is gas, temp and a rpm gauge. At least that's my take on it.

 

[ezra]

pretty much. after I am set up I really never look . my comment was to the mountain virsion of the blast guage being hard to see . also if tbe kid is ridding the M blast in the deep snow they will be standing any way

 

[chad66]

Xsledder,

I had thought about it but I feel our trails/customers are looking for a little more than the blast offers. We have pretty wide open trails and I wouldn't want someone to get on it and have it wide open to the harbor and back day after day...or any sled for that matter. I think it will be an awesome rental sled in Northern WI where the trails are tight and windy.

 

[nc666]

Xsledder,

I had thought about it but I feel our trails/customers are looking for a little more than the blast offers. We have pretty wide open trails and I wouldn't want someone to get on it and have it wide open to the harbor and back day after day...or any sled for that matter. I think it will be an awesome rental sled in Northern WI where the trails are tight and windy.

That's what people rent sleds for , is to pound them into the ground , so they don't have to beat their own.

 

[xsledder]

Xsledder,

I had thought about it but I feel our trails/customers are looking for a little more than the blast offers. We have pretty wide open trails and I wouldn't want someone to get on it and have it wide open to the harbor and back day after day...or any sled for that matter. I think it will be an awesome rental sled in Northern WI where the trails are tight and windy.

Yes, I can see that. I was thinking it would be a good rental for my wife and daughter. Just the right size sled for them. Both of them are under 5'-4" and just over 100 lbs. They don't like the feel of the normal size sleds, just to big for them. A long reach to the handle bars and the feet barely make it into the foot wells. They are very uncomfortable and don't feel like they can control the bigger sleds. That is why the Blast and Venom are a great idea. Something smaller, but can still hold its own. Their both fine going 70 mph. They don't need 80 or 90 mph.

 

[ezra]

That's what people rent sleds for , is to pound them into the ground , so they don't have to beat their own.

that is not what I see when passing crews of rentals .
most renters are pretty new to the deal .or they blew there sled up and need to rent . those guys deff will ride hard and put away wet.

 

[nc666]

that is not what I see when passing crews of rentals .
most renters are pretty new to the deal .or they blew there sled up and need to rent . those guys deff will ride hard and put away wet.

Sometimes its nice to take your frustration out on rentals.