2017 Arctic Cat SVX450

TailSoHard
Profile picture for user TailSoHard
Posts
1656
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI US
TailSoHard
Edited Date/Time 3/4/2016 9:42am
First OEM Snowbike on the market... Wonder how it will do with wheels on it

http://www.snowbikeworld.com/2016/03/arctic-cat-2017-svx-450-snowbike#







|
308
Profile picture for user 308
Posts
3123
Joined
10/18/2010
Location
Des Moines, IA US
Fantasy
4990th
308 3/2/2016 8:39am
3/2/2016 8:39am
Good lookin' Sherco

pete24
Profile picture for user pete24
Posts
2733
Joined
10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA US
pete24 3/2/2016 8:40am
3/2/2016 8:40am
arctic cat is the reliabilty laughing stock of the snowmobile world, that thing says china all over it, betetr off with one of those kits for a real bike
TailSoHard
Profile picture for user TailSoHard
Posts
1656
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI US
TailSoHard 3/2/2016 8:54am
3/2/2016 8:54am
pete24 wrote:
arctic cat is the reliabilty laughing stock of the snowmobile world, that thing says china all over it, betetr off with one of those kits for...
arctic cat is the reliabilty laughing stock of the snowmobile world, that thing says china all over it, betetr off with one of those kits for a real bike
Yeah I agree, but hopefully this one won't be the same as the sleds... Sherco bike with a track kit developed by Camso so it should be pretty decent. Plus this will hopefully push other manufacturers to start developing some competition in the form of a fully functional out-of-the-crate snowbike. Not saying that being able to buy just the kit and slap it on whatever bike you want is a bad thing, but it should (theoretically) help get costs down by offering it in a complete package.
bh84
Profile picture for user bh84
Posts
1756
Joined
8/20/2012
Location
Peterborough , ON CA
Fantasy
1974th
bh84 3/2/2016 10:07am
3/2/2016 10:07am
Apparently you wont b e able to put wheels on it. Almost defeats the purpose if you ask me.

And why oh why does it have to be so damn long? There are kits out there that barely lengthen the bike. I have a feeling it wont handle anything like a dirtbike...

The Shop

See All »
Kanista
Profile picture for user Kanista
Posts
73
Joined
8/23/2015
Location
CH
Kanista 3/2/2016 10:16am
3/2/2016 10:16am
Sherco is a good brand, thats what i know. So the base is solid.
RandyS
Profile picture for user RandyS
Posts
6182
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Grass Valley, CA US
RandyS 3/2/2016 10:20am
3/2/2016 10:20am
Every picture I've seen of these converted bikes has been on powder or at least untracked snow. How sketchy are they on packed trails, seems like they would be scary unlike a sled which does fine everywhere.
pete24
Profile picture for user pete24
Posts
2733
Joined
10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA US
pete24 3/2/2016 10:22am
3/2/2016 10:22am
you sure its sherco? i heard kymco aka china rubbish maybe im wrong but cat is already using kymco crap in one sled model and a couple of their atvs
TailSoHard
Profile picture for user TailSoHard
Posts
1656
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI US
TailSoHard 3/2/2016 10:30am
3/2/2016 10:30am
RandyS wrote:
Every picture I've seen of these converted bikes has been on powder or at least untracked snow. How sketchy are they on packed trails, seems like...
Every picture I've seen of these converted bikes has been on powder or at least untracked snow. How sketchy are they on packed trails, seems like they would be scary unlike a sled which does fine everywhere.
They don't turn worth a shit on anything that's been packed down, which is part of the reason we aren't carrying them around here yet: they're worthless on snowmobile trails. You need a lot of fresh snow (and arguably, elevation) to really use these things to their potential. You need to lean them to turn, and with the fat front ski and track, the bike naturally wants to stand straight up on hardpack. If they could get a narrower front ski it might help, but you'd lose flotation when you got into some deeper snow...

It will be interesting to see how this sport grow in the coming years...
TailSoHard
Profile picture for user TailSoHard
Posts
1656
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI US
TailSoHard 3/2/2016 10:37am
3/2/2016 10:37am
pete24 wrote:
you sure its sherco? i heard kymco aka china rubbish maybe im wrong but cat is already using kymco crap in one sled model and a...
you sure its sherco? i heard kymco aka china rubbish maybe im wrong but cat is already using kymco crap in one sled model and a couple of their atvs
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Kymco (or at least had some Kymco parts on it here and there), but when they leaked photos of it a few months back it was pretty clearly stated that they were working with Sherco on it... But I could be wrong.
yak651
Profile picture for user yak651
Posts
7148
Joined
8/26/2006
Location
Appleton, WI US
Fantasy
173rd
yak651 3/2/2016 10:55am
3/2/2016 10:55am
pete24 wrote:
arctic cat is the reliabilty laughing stock of the snowmobile world, that thing says china all over it, betetr off with one of those kits for...
arctic cat is the reliabilty laughing stock of the snowmobile world, that thing says china all over it, betetr off with one of those kits for a real bike
Really? I know there fit and finish isn't always the greatest, but I believe they've been more reliable than the Polaris and Ski Doo 800's. I have 3 600 c-techs (brother, wife and mine) in the garage and knock on wood they've been reliable so far (1 '14 and 2 '15s)
Beast666
Profile picture for user Beast666
Posts
682
Joined
8/13/2013
Location
Englewood, CO US
Beast666 3/2/2016 11:33am
3/2/2016 11:33am Edited Date/Time 3/2/2016 11:35am
Polaris and Ski-Doo will have there own models in 2018Wink Once those 3 get into there horsepower wars it will make all the big 5 450F motocross bikes look super reliable Laughing

I have ridden a timbersledded KX450 once and while it was fun I was begging for tires and loam in less than an hour. If I want to have fun in powder snow give me my Never Summer big mountain board ans a nice rocky mountain dumping.
Sheriff245 3/2/2016 11:48am
3/2/2016 11:48am
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though.

APLMAN99
Profile picture for user APLMAN99
Posts
10692
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Dallas, TX US
APLMAN99 3/2/2016 12:36pm
3/2/2016 12:36pm
pete24 wrote:
you sure its sherco? i heard kymco aka china rubbish maybe im wrong but cat is already using kymco crap in one sled model and a...
you sure its sherco? i heard kymco aka china rubbish maybe im wrong but cat is already using kymco crap in one sled model and a couple of their atvs
Kymco can build some decent stuff, I'm not sure I'd classify them in the same category as some of the mainland Chinese companies.
Krazyk2774
Profile picture for user Krazyk2774
Posts
378
Joined
12/20/2010
Location
Alberta CA
Krazyk2774 3/2/2016 12:58pm
3/2/2016 12:58pm
I wouldn't ride them in anything less than a foot of powder snow. way to sketchy on packed snow. you know your gonna crash it sooner or later and frozen dirt and ice doesn't provide much cushion! plus in stock form they are way underpowered compared to sleds, turbo them and they are ok.
TailSoHard
Profile picture for user TailSoHard
Posts
1656
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI US
TailSoHard 3/2/2016 1:14pm
3/2/2016 1:14pm
Sheriff245 wrote:
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though. [img]http://www.houseofrage.com/hawk/BNG1.jpg[/img]
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though.

Ah yes, the ole SnowHawks! Never got the chance to ride one, but I still see them out there every once in awhile.
yak651
Profile picture for user yak651
Posts
7148
Joined
8/26/2006
Location
Appleton, WI US
Fantasy
173rd
yak651 3/2/2016 1:16pm
3/2/2016 1:16pm
Sheriff245 wrote:
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though. [img]http://www.houseofrage.com/hawk/BNG1.jpg[/img]
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though.

TailSoHard wrote:
Ah yes, the ole SnowHawks! Never got the chance to ride one, but I still see them out there every once in awhile.
When I used to race snox in the early '00, remember WSA would have an exhibition race of these. Man they looked slow and underpowered. Forget the name of the company but remember they would give you a great price on them (almost free) if you would agree to race all the national races on them.
Cygnus
Profile picture for user Cygnus
Posts
14848
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Hanover, CO US
Cygnus 3/2/2016 1:27pm
3/2/2016 1:27pm Edited Date/Time 3/2/2016 1:28pm
Hasn't Arctic cat used Suzuki engines for a long time? Figured it was gonna be a rmz with a kit.

Pit Row

See All »
dak446
Profile picture for user dak446
Posts
1051
Joined
3/28/2011
Location
Idaho Falls, ID US
dak446 3/2/2016 1:54pm
3/2/2016 1:54pm
Cygnus wrote:
Hasn't Arctic cat used Suzuki engines for a long time? Figured it was gonna be a rmz with a kit.
Yes. I was thinking the same
MR. X
Profile picture for user MR. X
Posts
6914
Joined
6/24/2010
Location
North Tonawanda, NY US
MR. X 3/2/2016 2:09pm
3/2/2016 2:09pm
Sheriff245 wrote:
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though. [img]http://www.houseofrage.com/hawk/BNG1.jpg[/img]
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though.

C mon bro ,at least give props to the OG of snowbikes

TailSoHard
Profile picture for user TailSoHard
Posts
1656
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI US
TailSoHard 3/2/2016 2:12pm
3/2/2016 2:12pm Edited Date/Time 3/2/2016 2:14pm
Cygnus wrote:
Hasn't Arctic cat used Suzuki engines for a long time? Figured it was gonna be a rmz with a kit.
From what I've heard, they're phasing out the Suzuki engines... Yamaha has teamed up with them on a few sleds already, so if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the YZF.

The main reason for phasing out Suzuki is that Suzuki doesn't make snowmobiles, which is pretty understandable. No point in using an engine from a company that has no experience in sleds...
MR. X
Profile picture for user MR. X
Posts
6914
Joined
6/24/2010
Location
North Tonawanda, NY US
MR. X 3/2/2016 2:21pm
3/2/2016 2:21pm
Polaris found that out the hard way when they ran those junk air cooled fuji engines .
Sheriff245 3/2/2016 3:34pm
3/2/2016 3:34pm
MR. X wrote:
C mon bro ,at least give props to the OG of snowbikes[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/02/126396/s1200_snowbike.jpg[/img]
C mon bro ,at least give props to the OG of snowbikes

Never heard of those. Good call!
Beaudzz118 3/2/2016 4:39pm
3/2/2016 4:39pm
Sheriff245 wrote:
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though. [img]http://www.houseofrage.com/hawk/BNG1.jpg[/img]
Looks pretty nice. Definitely not the first OEM snowbike though.

MR. X wrote:
C mon bro ,at least give props to the OG of snowbikes[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/02/126396/s1200_snowbike.jpg[/img]
C mon bro ,at least give props to the OG of snowbikes

Haha! Forgot I have one of those buried in the shed.
web mx
Profile picture for user web mx
Posts
783
Joined
3/3/2010
Location
USA, MI US
web mx 3/2/2016 6:06pm
3/2/2016 6:06pm
Cygnus wrote:
Hasn't Arctic cat used Suzuki engines for a long time? Figured it was gonna be a rmz with a kit.
TailSoHard wrote:
From what I've heard, they're phasing out the Suzuki engines... Yamaha has teamed up with them on a few sleds already, so if I were a...
From what I've heard, they're phasing out the Suzuki engines... Yamaha has teamed up with them on a few sleds already, so if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the YZF.

The main reason for phasing out Suzuki is that Suzuki doesn't make snowmobiles, which is pretty understandable. No point in using an engine from a company that has no experience in sleds...
Except for the fact that in 1988 suzuki purchased 30% of ARCTCO [arctic cat] Suzuki has contracted to build engines for arctic cat since 1976 - suzuki spirit engines
MR. X
Profile picture for user MR. X
Posts
6914
Joined
6/24/2010
Location
North Tonawanda, NY US
MR. X 3/2/2016 6:43pm
3/2/2016 6:43pm
Beaudzz118 wrote:
Haha! Forgot I have one of those buried in the shed.
My buddy delivered papers on one when we were kids , eventually the plan is to add one to the collection of toys.
Hcallz5
Profile picture for user Hcallz5
Posts
2950
Joined
8/20/2013
Location
UT US
Hcallz5 3/2/2016 8:14pm
3/2/2016 8:14pm
That track looks way too long for the power of a 450. We have 3 timbersleds and they work great with the 123" SX track.
Ryno23
Profile picture for user Ryno23
Posts
707
Joined
1/13/2010
Location
Belgrade, MT US
Fantasy
1653rd
Ryno23 3/2/2016 8:39pm
3/2/2016 8:39pm Edited Date/Time 3/2/2016 9:14pm
It is a Sherco running platform I promise you. It also has some goofy things to make it "trail" legal for snow in certain states. Something about the clutch/brake setup that didn't get explained very well to me today while on the phone with the boss.

Answering another question yes, AC still uses Suzuki stuff for the 2t engines and Yamaha stuff in some of the 4t and SXS. Reportedly, there is another Wildcat coming with the Yamaha 1000 triple. Or at least that was what my boss reported to me last night via possible drunken text. He's at the dealer show in SLC now.

BTW, Polaris bought Timbersled not long ago so you can most certainly bet they have been working on a snowbike setup asap. I feel like Timbersled is going to be exclusive at Polaris dealerships soon which makes me wonder what thier future in the market is as well?
nrosso391
Profile picture for user nrosso391
Posts
2880
Joined
2/8/2014
Location
Millville, MN US
Fantasy
3087th
nrosso391 3/2/2016 9:22pm
3/2/2016 9:22pm
Kanista wrote:
Sherco is a good brand, thats what i know. So the base is solid.
Sherco is a good brand? Never heard of her until today...lol
nrosso391
Profile picture for user nrosso391
Posts
2880
Joined
2/8/2014
Location
Millville, MN US
Fantasy
3087th
nrosso391 3/2/2016 9:26pm
3/2/2016 9:26pm
So lets ponder at this.

Polaris acquires Timbersled last year. Makes the brand even better.
So then Arctic Cat wants to sell the whole bike and kit of their own with the cheapest China-crap bike they could get their hands on.

But that's just my theory.



I'm a Ski-Doo fan for life. #Summit174

Post a reply to: 2017 Arctic Cat SVX450