Comments on AC 2021 New Line Up?
- Thread starter whitedust
- Start date
Cat is wacked.
Picked up my spring order 2020 X Package 850 Gade with 3 year warranty and free financing til 3/31/20 yesterday and had to laugh at Cat.
T/A Motorsports posted a ton of Cats on Green Bay Craigslist today and the prices are laughable for leftovers. Total proof of what my Doo dealer said yesterday, "Cat dealers are getting no support in rebates to move this old stuff". Anyone who buys a Cat is gonna get hurt financially and the dealers..sad; sounds like lawsuits are in order.
The fact is my 2020 sled was less expensive than a 2019 ZR 8000 137 leftover; POOR BASTARDS.
Bear
Eagle River Mike
Member
$8k for a single cylinder mid sized sled. What they **** are they smoking in TRF???? I just bought my daughter a full size left over 2018 Indy 550 for $5,300. The mid-sized Polaris Evo's go for $5,500. $8k is not the right price point for this market. Yet another disaster for Cat.
Yes and remember over the years how the HP to displacement has changed, no rider reports yet but may be in for surprise, this single cylinder with todays technologies may perform like yesteryears 440 or 500's, may be in for a shock. I seem to remember a lot of talk of how Cat was done, lets hope they are here to stay.
Interceptor
Member
Glad you got the warranty. You will likely need it....
xsledder
Active member
65 hp for a single liquid-cooled laid back 400cc 2-stroke. The same hp as my '86 twin 400. Sounds about right. I would put it at a 70 mph sled. Fast enough for the teenager and petite women. Someone has to explain to me how this is a disaster for Cat? New body style. Nice colors. Pepe engine. Not a downsized old chassis. Not limited to 50 mph with out spending an additional $1,500 +/-, putting the sled over 6 G's. I do not see the logic of some people other then blinded by brand loyalty. I wish this was out when I got the '07 Phazer for my teenagers to ride. That was a disaster. I had to don't so much work and throw so many after market parts to make that thing ride and handle. (But, in all fairness, once it was setup it handled nice.) Also, tell how the what was it called again by Ski-doo? Oh yes, wasn't it the Freestyle? That was a real winner, wasn't it?
Hay Polaris, how are those laid back motors of yours coming? Have you figured out how to make one that actually runs?
Hay Polaris, how are those laid back motors of yours coming? Have you figured out how to make one that actually runs?
Kinda answered you're own question. There isn't a sustainable high end market for beginner, or mid sized sleds. There is an unlimited supply of older, smaller sleds, that can be had for under $1000 that are more than adequate for a beginner. I can buy each of my grandchildren 2 of those for the price of the new Cat. lol
And I put lots of miles on a Phazer, it wasn't a complete disaster, by any means. lol
xsledder
Active member
No, not really. This is not a starter sled. If you actually paid attention to what you read and looked at, it is a mid-size sled. It is not a beginner sled. The ZR 200 is the beginners sled. This sled will be close or at best equal to the Phazer in performance without the Phazer's weight or maintenance headaches. (I remember those days of having to take the Phazer half apart to change the oil filter.) Probably closer to the class of the Jag's, Yamaha SS, or Polaris Cutlass SS of old. (Think back to the 70's or 80's.) So, anyone is crazy to think of this as a starter sled. It is not. You have a new engine that is liquid-cooled with power valve. Not some whiney 300 or 550 fan. Plus you have a capable for its size mountain sled and work sled. This has the same tech as the bigger sleds. However, you would be crazy to expect this to climb a chute or operate really well in 12' of powder. You can tell Cat wasn't going for that based on the description of it.
This is not a beginners sled. This is a new market, once again by Cat. Think of it like the Sea-doo Spark. Now, who's behind the eight ball? It is not Cat.
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Here is a little something for all the people claiming Cat was out of the industry.
They sell a lot of those 200's at $4K, but this seems a stretch at closer to $8K. Cool sled at 400 lbs but price seems high to me. We'll see what happens. Good news is it's a new product - new chassis and engine. Bad news is no new full-size chassis for 2021. Not sure why they put these out so early...
xsledder
Active member
Yes, they do sell a lot of the ZR 200s. I have had dealers around me say they need a decent sled for around 8K like the Sea-doo has with the Spark and Cat is delivering. The dealers I have talked with think 8K is the sweet spot to attract new blood or for a decent second sled. As for the thinking that Cat has not done anything for the bigger sleds. Consider the following. We got an updated chassis in 2018. 2018 also brought us the 800 CTEC-2 and self-adjusting Team secondary. In 2019 they brought out the Alpha mono-rail suspension and iACT. Last year we got the Cross-Action suspension on the Riot plus the ARS II on the non-mountain sleds. So, while it is not a big change at once, these are not the same sleds as my '16 HC which was based off of the original 12 chassis.
I hear you - I bought an 18 ZR 600 last year, really happy with it. Rode the other brands too but liked the feel of the procross. Other than wanting a slightly higher seat and a better headlight I'm happy with it. Of course the leftovers were selling last year for about what they are asking for these new 400's. Hope it's a big success.
That's a good point about the spark. That's all we see at the lake now. I'd like to try one out.
You may be a little confused on the terminology. The ZR 200 is a children's sled, not a beginner's sled. My 6 year old granddaughter, who has been on a 120 for 3 years, would step up to the ZR 200.
A 12 year old, hitting the trails for the first time, or any other "first time rider" would be the target market for the new Cat. My opinion, is that market is not really an $8K price point market.
snobuilder
Well-known member
I'm seeing FX Phazer like Powerband in a lighter package.
Sled might be a hoot to have down here in SE WI ....or on any other twisty WI trails.
When they drop below $7,000 I might take a look.
Hopefully Textcat over builds in an effort to get their huge startup investment $$$ back.
If this is truly a modern starter sled I certainly would hope Textcat designed in a 2 or 3 setting power mode option.
Sled might be a hoot to have down here in SE WI ....or on any other twisty WI trails.
When they drop below $7,000 I might take a look.
Hopefully Textcat over builds in an effort to get their huge startup investment $$$ back.
If this is truly a modern starter sled I certainly would hope Textcat designed in a 2 or 3 setting power mode option.
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I agree the Zr blast is definitely a 8k beginner sled. The Zr 200 is a backyard/hay field child’s ride. The blast is over priced. I have a hard time believing people will pay that amount when you can get a 2s 600 from poo or doo for relatively the same price. I bought a 600 Indy last year for $8175 brand new.
LOL, very doubtful? fuji doesn't keep his sleds long enough to use any warranty!