Is it true that Arctic Cats are heavy and get bad mileage? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

snowtrax00 · 10-14-2009, 12:46 PM

I was looking at a 1998 600 Arctic Cat and my friend told me that they get bad mileage and are heavy as oppose to something like a skidoo of the same year and size. Is this true?

SkiDooFormulaMX · 10-14-2009, 01:09 PM

comparing late ninetys cats and doo, your friend is wrong. he must be a skidont rider lol

snowtrax00 · 10-14-2009, 01:12 PM

I'm hoping my 2000 yamaha 500 will get good mileage

**kccats** · 10-14-2009, 03:23 PM

I still run a 98 ZR600 and it was the snowmobile of the year! And was one of the first power to weight ratio champs! As far as fuel millage about any of the 90's sleds any of them would only get 7-10 mpg!

xxxthebxxx · 10-14-2009, 04:56 PM

NO! You must be thinking Yamaha, at least for the weight part.

snowtrax00 · 10-14-2009, 05:01 PM

No here look at this comparison. The Yamaha only weighs 7 pounds more than the ski doo. 2000 Yamaha Vmax 500 Snowmobiles

polaris rider · 10-14-2009, 05:25 PM

You wont notice any difference on weight.. and yea, like KC said, Any sleds in the 90s will get like 9-12... unless its an older vmax with the tube shox, then youll get about 6!

JayC · 10-14-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowtrax00

I'm hoping my 2000 yamaha 500 will get good mileage

I have never cared about gas mileage in a snowmobile...why would you? if it needs gas..fill it up. The season is too short

**smallengineguy** · 10-14-2009, 08:14 PM

Because if it's a LONG drive between gas stations, why not go for the best mileage??

TwinsofMLB · 10-14-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowtrax00

I was looking at a 1998 600 Arctic Cat and my friend told me that they get bad mileage and are heavy as oppose to something like a skidoo of the same year and size. Is this true?

Your friend is jealous :P. Most sleds get bad mileage, but that's why they aren't cars (aside from the obvious... well... you know). The ZR600's are gas hogs, especially the older ones, but they're worth the bucks because of the power. If you don't want to pay a lot for gas, get a smaller engine.

xxxthebxxx · 10-14-2009, 08:23 PM

My Brother's 01 ZR 600 gets about 120 miles to a tankful

justmytailights · 10-14-2009, 08:36 PM

and if you added a turbo or supercharger,what about mileage then,i say let her buck and when you need to fill up,fill up no questions and don't let it bother you.
justmytailights

**kccats** · 10-15-2009, 08:43 AM

A stock ZR (non APV) should get 10 if you ride it gentle! But then on a ZR you will want to hamer it corner to corner! Then expect 8?
A smaller engine only makes it worse! A 500 trying to keep up will always do worse! My 800 Pantera gets 12-14!

**RJ Gleason** · 10-15-2009, 10:30 AM

EFI does better, if I ride easy, I can get up to 15mpg.
Hammering on it, it goes down to 10.

xc sp 500 rider · 10-15-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kccats

A smaller engine only makes it worse! A 500 trying to keep up will always do worse! My 800 Pantera gets 12-14!

people always say that polaris supersports get great milage not when there keeping up with liquids then they run out first.

JDS · 10-15-2009, 02:55 PM

Trail riding last year with 3 Polaris 500's, 1 Polaris 600, my ZR500, and my wife's Polaris 550F. We could all go over 100 miles on a tank, but the 550F was the worst and the rest about the same. Riding in deep snow carving, my ZR500 was getting maybe 5mpg.

convict charlie · 10-15-2009, 10:22 PM

I had a '99 zr500 for about 4yrs. I got 85miles consistently to a 10gal tank. Until for whatever reason maybe I burned something then got 55 miles to a tank. So I traded it in ran out of gas too many times. I then got a new f7 was around 10mpg and same now with an f6

**kccats** · 10-16-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDS

Trail riding last year with 3 Polaris 500's, 1 Polaris 600, my ZR500, and my wife's Polaris 550F. We could all go over 100 miles on a tank, but the 550F was the worst and the rest about the same. Riding in deep snow carving, my ZR500 was getting maybe 5mpg.

The reason for that is while carving, your speedo might say your doing 80 but in reality you're only going 30! Carving or breaking trail will always use alot more fuel!

jkust · 10-16-2009, 09:49 PM

My 98 ZR 600 EFI gets confusingly bad mileage and only has 1667 miles on it. I ride with two small kids and a wife on a 2-up so we literally go like 15mph on the trails. The zr burns through a lot more gas than our much heavier 2-up ski doo 583 with carbs. I am thinking about carrying some extra gas in a glass whisky bottle like my dad did back in the 70's in our AC Panther.

xxxthebxxx · 10-16-2009, 11:49 PM

Ok so we all know Arctic Cat's don't get the best mileage, but they're not the worst.