farmermark
New member
I'm thinking about buying a 2011 Z1 LXR. Would appreciate any comments.
Artic Cat Z1 LXR
- Thread starter farmermark
- Start date
ohiosledder
Active member
I've been thinking about one, too. I'd like to hear from someone that has one. My main concern from what I'm hearing is that the gas mileage isn't any better or much better than an F6 and of course it weighs a lot more.
T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
My next sled will probably be the Z1. If I ever get a chance to ride my '07 F6 LXR enough to wear it out. (No snow). Or Cat comes out with an all new 150 hp 4 cycle motor.
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snow_monkey
New member
lxr's are an easy sell!
T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
I don't want to hijack farmermark's thread. But I do really like my sled, its been great, but if I wore it out I'd get the Z1. Unless... Cat came out with a new motor, maybe a 3 or 4 cylinder 4 stroke. Around 150 hp, maybe sounded like a big cc sport bike in a twin spar type chassis.....
groomerdriver
New member
I test drove a Z1 Turbo on 12/23/10. Here's my report that I posted on another site.
Went on my annual b-day ride yesterday with SNO4ME and GD Jr #1. Stopped at a Cat dealer and took a short test ride on a leftover 09 Z1 Turbo LXR. I wanted to ride it longer and the dealer said it was OK but they would have had to run over to a local gas station to get more gas for it. SNO4ME has an 07 Z1 Jaguar and I knew I could put some miles on his during the day to get a feel for the sled.
Here are some random observations...good or bad...about the sled:
1. Sales guy (owners kid) said that the sled was set up for a 180 lb rider....I go 205 w/o suit. Rear suspension still felt a little tight.
2. Front end didn't feel planted like my Vector. I wouldn't call it darty, just not planted like I'm used to.
3. Seat felt hard. It had the heated and adjustable seat if that makes a difference.
4. Was wondering if I'd hear the turbo...I didn't. Kind of disappointing.
5. Sled has PLENTY of power for me. SNO4ME's non-turbo Z1 has enough power for me. I could get used to 177 ponies though!
6. Stock windshield was useless.
7. Seating position was just OK. My left hip sometimes gives me a reminder when it's not in a comfortable position and I felt that reminder 2X. I didn't adjust the seat but I did adjust the handlebars and riser. That is a cool feature...very easy to adjust!
8. No track howl like my Vector has which is very nice!
9. Exhaust tone sounded OK on both the turbo and non-Turbo engines. Better than I expected.
10. If you've hung with me this far you read my biggest dislike about this sled, and one that might prevent me from ever owning one....the engine vibration. :thumbdown: Maybe it's because there's two big jugs swinging inside the block, but the engine reminds me of a Harley motor. No matter what the RPM's are, I could feel a constant vibration through the handlebars. I'm not sure that I could get used to it. Dealer said that it was the 177 hp motor, but SNO4ME's sled also did it, but admittedly a little less.
11. Sled didn't feel front heavy at all. Turned very easily. My Vector has Doolies which will contribute to more steering effort.
Summary: I'm sure I could get the front dialed in to feel planted like my Vector. Ditto for getting the rear skid to ride like I want it to. Seat position and seat comfort? = My guess is that I could get the position dialed in but the seat hardness is a concern. Gauges were easy to read but I'm used to a digital speedo not an analog one. All other controls were easy to operate.
I always hope for a "I gotta have one of these" types of feelings right from the get go, but I didn't get that riding this sled. But it is a fine trail cruiser!
Next up? = I gotta test drive a Doo GSX 1200 4S.
Went on my annual b-day ride yesterday with SNO4ME and GD Jr #1. Stopped at a Cat dealer and took a short test ride on a leftover 09 Z1 Turbo LXR. I wanted to ride it longer and the dealer said it was OK but they would have had to run over to a local gas station to get more gas for it. SNO4ME has an 07 Z1 Jaguar and I knew I could put some miles on his during the day to get a feel for the sled.
Here are some random observations...good or bad...about the sled:
1. Sales guy (owners kid) said that the sled was set up for a 180 lb rider....I go 205 w/o suit. Rear suspension still felt a little tight.
2. Front end didn't feel planted like my Vector. I wouldn't call it darty, just not planted like I'm used to.
3. Seat felt hard. It had the heated and adjustable seat if that makes a difference.
4. Was wondering if I'd hear the turbo...I didn't. Kind of disappointing.
5. Sled has PLENTY of power for me. SNO4ME's non-turbo Z1 has enough power for me. I could get used to 177 ponies though!
6. Stock windshield was useless.
7. Seating position was just OK. My left hip sometimes gives me a reminder when it's not in a comfortable position and I felt that reminder 2X. I didn't adjust the seat but I did adjust the handlebars and riser. That is a cool feature...very easy to adjust!
8. No track howl like my Vector has which is very nice!
9. Exhaust tone sounded OK on both the turbo and non-Turbo engines. Better than I expected.
10. If you've hung with me this far you read my biggest dislike about this sled, and one that might prevent me from ever owning one....the engine vibration. :thumbdown: Maybe it's because there's two big jugs swinging inside the block, but the engine reminds me of a Harley motor. No matter what the RPM's are, I could feel a constant vibration through the handlebars. I'm not sure that I could get used to it. Dealer said that it was the 177 hp motor, but SNO4ME's sled also did it, but admittedly a little less.
11. Sled didn't feel front heavy at all. Turned very easily. My Vector has Doolies which will contribute to more steering effort.
Summary: I'm sure I could get the front dialed in to feel planted like my Vector. Ditto for getting the rear skid to ride like I want it to. Seat position and seat comfort? = My guess is that I could get the position dialed in but the seat hardness is a concern. Gauges were easy to read but I'm used to a digital speedo not an analog one. All other controls were easy to operate.
I always hope for a "I gotta have one of these" types of feelings right from the get go, but I didn't get that riding this sled. But it is a fine trail cruiser!
Next up? = I gotta test drive a Doo GSX 1200 4S.
farmermark
New member
Thanks everyone.
T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
farmermark, I dont know what kind of riding you do but the Z1 is a sled you can trail ride all day and not be tired or sore. They ride and handle fantastic. Fun to ride, and steer easy at any speed. Like I said before, I have a '07 F6, same sled 2 cycle motor. I have 5000 miles on mine. I haven't had any problems yet. As someone mentioned, the seat is alittle hard but I dont notice it unless I ride one of my older sleds. Its heaver than my old sled but you dont notice it while riding it. My wife has some back issues and she can ride 200+ miles a day and be fine. Hope this helps.
Dave
PS, I guess I should mention my wife has one too.
Dave
PS, I guess I should mention my wife has one too.
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T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
I miss the ZRTs, The sound! 
if you are a trail rider, you cant go wrong with the z1. i have a 08 and really enjoy it, just like everything else it has limitations. as long as you dont think it will be as light as a 600, and run with a 800, you wont be dissappointed. it handles well, rides like a dream, and gets good mileage. my only complaint was the extended break-in period. it really is a different engine after 1k+ miles.
ohiosledder
Active member
Is that when the gas mileage improves? I remember reading on Arcticchat.com that most people were only getting 80-90 miles out of their first tank of gas and that kind of scared me off.
ohiosledder
Active member
I miss the ZRTs, The sound!
I always wished that the triple 600 was in the Twin Spar chassis - dream sled for me.
snow_monkey
New member
I test drove a Z1 Turbo on 12/23/10. Here's my report that I posted on another site.
Went on my annual b-day ride yesterday with SNO4ME and GD Jr #1. Stopped at a Cat dealer and took a short test ride on a leftover 09 Z1 Turbo LXR. I wanted to ride it longer and the dealer said it was OK but they would have had to run over to a local gas station to get more gas for it. SNO4ME has an 07 Z1 Jaguar and I knew I could put some miles on his during the day to get a feel for the sled.
Here are some random observations...good or bad...about the sled:
1. Sales guy (owners kid) said that the sled was set up for a 180 lb rider....I go 205 w/o suit. Rear suspension still felt a little tight.
2. Front end didn't feel planted like my Vector. I wouldn't call it darty, just not planted like I'm used to.
3. Seat felt hard. It had the heated and adjustable seat if that makes a difference.
4. Was wondering if I'd hear the turbo...I didn't. Kind of disappointing.
5. Sled has PLENTY of power for me. SNO4ME's non-turbo Z1 has enough power for me. I could get used to 177 ponies though!
6. Stock windshield was useless.
7. Seating position was just OK. My left hip sometimes gives me a reminder when it's not in a comfortable position and I felt that reminder 2X. I didn't adjust the seat but I did adjust the handlebars and riser. That is a cool feature...very easy to adjust!
8. No track howl like my Vector has which is very nice!
9. Exhaust tone sounded OK on both the turbo and non-Turbo engines. Better than I expected.
10. If you've hung with me this far you read my biggest dislike about this sled, and one that might prevent me from ever owning one....the engine vibration. :thumbdown: Maybe it's because there's two big jugs swinging inside the block, but the engine reminds me of a Harley motor. No matter what the RPM's are, I could feel a constant vibration through the handlebars. I'm not sure that I could get used to it. Dealer said that it was the 177 hp motor, but SNO4ME's sled also did it, but admittedly a little less.
11. Sled didn't feel front heavy at all. Turned very easily. My Vector has Doolies which will contribute to more steering effort.
Summary: I'm sure I could get the front dialed in to feel planted like my Vector. Ditto for getting the rear skid to ride like I want it to. Seat position and seat comfort? = My guess is that I could get the position dialed in but the seat hardness is a concern. Gauges were easy to read but I'm used to a digital speedo not an analog one. All other controls were easy to operate.
I always hope for a "I gotta have one of these" types of feelings right from the get go, but I didn't get that riding this sled. But it is a fine trail cruiser!
Next up? = I gotta test drive a Doo GSX 1200 4S.
Thank you for a great review!!!
I took a 2011 z1 out a few weeks back. I did not feel any type of viberation. It did dart just a little. The dealer told me that someone that thy sold one to put duels on the front and it was like night and day for the good. I like that you can change the seat to a 2 up seat when you need one. And its not a 1+1 type of seat.
farmermark
New member
Thanks again everyone, I did purchase one. 2011 demo from Company Rep with less than 200 miles at a really good price. Pick it up on Wed and am really excited!!!
only thing I have to say is I would wait till mar 8 way upgrade