Artic Cat XF Owners

[Powder8]

Curious how you guys who bought new XF sleds this year, are liking them. I think this may be the next sled for me as I like riding the logging roads as well as the trails in northern WI. Did any of you test ride the 137in track vs. the 141in track sleds? Any feedback would be appreciated. How is the new ctec 600 motor holding up if that's what you went with?

John... How is the new High Country?? Don't recall reading much feedback on it yet in the journal. Thanks for any comments.

 

[garyl62]

Great question Powder8. I've been thinking this may be my next sled as well and I talked with Chad for a while about it when I was up last month. Would love to hear feedback about the 137 vs. the 141 as well as the 600 vs the 4-stroke. I'm planning to ride all the options this year to see what I can learn, but would be interested in what everyone else has learned too.

 

[ac600sp]

I have a 13' High country 800. It's a great trail sled and great off trail. Perfect Michigan sled , can do the best of both worlds. Powerclaw track is amazing Off trail! Fuel mileage isn't the best for extended high speed runs . Otherwise I'm very happy with this sled!

 

[ezra]

I only know 2 guys with the 600. 1 has only a few hundo on it.
the other got just over 1000 in it both very happy .fyi the guy with 1k on his also has a yammi cat 7000 that he is talking about trading in on a 16 600.
it is what I would have picked up for my around the house sled if money was not figured in to the situation. I just could not slap down 11g for a 600

 

[Wyelde]

I have quite a bit of seat time on an 2012 XF1100 with the 141' track and a 2014 XF7000 with the 137" track, Both are LXR models so they have the Fox Zero Pro shocks instead of the Floats. Even though the 1100 had had a fair amount of suspension work (Hygear Linkage kit and dual rate springs, as well as shock revalving) The 7000 with the 137" coupled slide rail suspension is the superior ride in pretty much all trail conditions. The 141 is slightly better offtrail, but not enough so that I would get another 141

 

[billandsandie]

I have the 2013 XF 1100 Turbo SP Limited. My first 4 stroke and my first electric start in 42 years of riding. This sled absolutely rocks . Much better and faster than my '09 Crossfire 800. The only thing I did was put a taller windshield and air vent on the belt side.

 

[snocrazy]

Friend of mine has the 2014 xf high country with the 800. The sled is awesome. decided on this sled because of the telescoping bars and the seat (more boss like).
Only negative for him is the top end running trails. It is geared more for the off trail. He said if could do it over he would go with the cross country. Less of a lug on the track but is geared better for the trail. Good riders can make this setup work really well in the deep too. You dont need a 172 with 3" lugs in the UP.

I have been a Yamaha rider fro a long time. Still holding on to the 2 strokes. My 2003 Mountain Viper (141" X 2") runs neck and neck with the 800 XF AC.
It kills my friend. Yes he obviously has more suspension, but I am always right there next to or close by him .

The XF 800 will prob be my first AC. Have rode all the new Yamahas and not a fan. One **** of a sled.

 

[baughcat]

I've got 1400 miles on my 14 cross country I went with the 141 1.6 lug track and it works great on and off trail. I think the XF platform gives lots of options to match your type of riding, don't want buyers remorse after dropping 13k on a new sled. I picked the 7000 and really like it.

 

[junior]

I rode a friends '15 XF with the 600 ctec motor. Could not believe how peppy that 600 was. It was the 137". Felt light and nimble. Dealer said he sold 18 of them and not one came back for any issues

 

[900RMtanK]

After 9 polaris's I bought a 15' XF 9000 Sno Pro Lmtd this year. I've got 500mi on it so far and absolutely love it. It was tough to switch brands but I had made up my mind to jump to the 4s crowd as I don't off trail as much as I used to.
I know it doesn't boondock like a 800cc 2s but the 137' does pretty well on the unplowed forest roads and such. As far as trail the 137' slide action is awesome. The other sled we have is a 15' Switchback Adventure 600 and we cannot tell which one handles bumps better They're that close. And getting the same fuel mileage with 177hp as a the 600 2s isn't bad either.
It was quite a chunk of change for the XF but the torque of that motor makes you grin ear to ear everytime you squeeze it.

 

[ezra]

After 9 polaris's I bought a 15' XF 9000 Sno Pro Lmtd this year. I've got 500mi on it so far and absolutely love it. It was tough to switch brands but I had made up my mind to jump to the 4s crowd as I don't off trail as much as I used to.
I know it doesn't boondock like a 800cc 2s but the 137' does pretty well on the unplowed forest roads and such. As far as trail the 137' slide action is awesome. The other sled we have is a 15' Switchback Adventure 600 and we cannot tell which one handles bumps better They're that close. And getting the same fuel mileage with 177hp as a the 600 2s isn't bad either.
It was quite a chunk of change for the XF but the torque of that motor makes you grin ear to ear everytime you squeeze it.

now put a 3tune box on it and u wont believe how fun it is.
then when that gets to be the new normal do the head bolts and turn the box to the 3rd tune u had installed . crazy fun

 

[Powder8]

Had a chance to demo ride the '15 XF LXR today and man was I impressed. The slide action rear suspension on that thing is amazing. Such a smooth ride, I was seeking out the bumps on the trail and it just soaked them up. The pep in the 600 ctec was impressive as well. Plenty of giddy up for me. I did feel that on some of the corners the sled was under-steering a bit, but that could have been set-up or the 3in. base of old crusty snow on the trail here in Oneida county. I did shoot down one logging road with untouched snow and got out on a lake to try and do some carving. I felt it was a little hard to get up on one ski and carve a turn, but there isn't really that much snow out there. I am use to using a lot of body english to move the sled around and it didn't seem to respond that great. It did stick to the snow as advertised. I am still curious how the XF cross country would compare with the fasttrack suspension and a deeper lug track. Overall a great trail sled and lots of positive feedback from riders and the mechanics.