Full Review of the 2019 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Thundercat 137

Motorhead Mark rekindles all his fond memories of Arctic Cat’s iconic lake racer with his review of the 2019 Thundercat ZR 9000 137.
Details and pricing on the 2019 Arctic Cat Thundercat ZR 9000 137.
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[@douglasborgaro6801]

I have heard of a number of those who have purchased the TCat and hated it because it was too heavy. As a result they got rid of it. You must understand what it’s alll about going in. It’s a dragster! Made for lake racing and groomed trail riding. That’s it. Not a ditch banger or boon docker. If you know this going in, you will be much happier.

[@snowtrax]

If you're looking for a ditch banger, get a 2-stroke!

[@camaro69green31]

THE BEST Snowmobile review EVER!. Clever, funny and entertaining! Well done man!

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Just picked up a 2018 TCat brand new! I liked the look of the 2018. Can’t wait to get it out! I have dreamed of the TCat for many years.

[@chadsanislo560]

Let me know how ya like it.Im a polaris guy but really liking these new cats

[@douglasborgaro6801]

There’s a dyno test viewable on KZbin for 2017 TCat. Holy moly!! 211 Hp at top rpm. That’s mind blowing when I think of the 1970’s Cheetah at 36 HP. As with the technology improvements, we are in a new word to say the least. I’m stunned at how much power that is in a snowmobile! I haven’t totally been under a rock, but wow! That’s having a jet engine behind you! Nobody needs that much power in a sled, but I love it!

[@bflo716]

Lol at the people bitching and hating on cat. As if their skidoo or Polaris never has problems. There’s not one perfect machine out there. However, as far as four stokes go arctic cat is the best, period. Any true sled head and real mechanic knows this. Yes 4 strokes aren’t as easy as 2 strokes to work on but they’re no more complicated than your quad or side by side. They’ve been doing it the longest and have mastered their craft. Especially with the use of the Yamaha engines. My ski doo has given me nothing but problems for years, every single year there’s been something wrong with it. It’s gotten a new top end, new stator, new voltage regulator, new fuel pump, carbs have been rebuilt, fuel lines replaced, and new coil pick ups. It’s a 2006 bought new and has roughly 4500 miles on it. I’m not an aggressive rider by any means, I trail ride only and don’t WOT much (not enough straightaways in my area). That sled and that sled only is why I bought a new 2017 arctic cat zr7000 el Tigre. I’m tired of the typical 2 stoke problems. It keeps me from riding more than riding. In fact, my back up 98 Polaris xlt has been ridden more the last four seasons than my ski doo. That sled only cost me $500 had 3500 miles on it, and ran flawlessly aside from needing a carb cleaning after a year with me. It wasn’t the prettiest when I got it but after $300 it looked damn near restored. At the end of the day it all comes down to how you take care of a machine and whether or not you simply got a bad one. It happens. I would venture to say my ski doo was one of those lemons.

[@carelesswaystv8717]

I think you should say that AC and Yamaha are equally the best, as they share the same engine...

[@mikefoehr235]

Your sled sounds like my Ford i owned. One KZbinr that I read made a great point...no amount of maintenance will overcome poor build quality and/or engineering...this applies to anything made. BTW...I am a huge Toyota and Arctic Cat fan...back in the late 70s and into the mid 90s...cat had Suzuki engines and they were the cats ass...no pun intended.

[@douglasborgaro6801]

It’s great how technology has continued to develop.

[@jeremysolem2494]

Exactly just like that a week ago I saw two broken down skidoos guess what they're buddy had a perfectly running Arctic cat so I would say all sleds have problems around the same amount

[@joshuavollert8519]

Lol I didnt hear anyone bitching about anything in here till u came along

[@bflo716]

Love my zr7000 el Tigre, the zr9000 thundercat is my dream sled!

[@douglasborgaro6801]

God I love snowmobiles!!!

[@frostyriffs]

I wish that you guys at SnowTrax would add in a Cat 6000 RXC in your “rough” trail sled comparisons along with a Doo iron dog and whatever Polaris has for an XC race machine. Those things ARE the real rough trail sled. I have a 15’ 6000 RXC and it’s built way tougher than any production sled. They are also available to the public.

[@camaro69green31]

Great job on this video...… The fastest keeps getting better.

[@mitch1955]

I highly doubt this sled is as sole purposed as you described it to be. I've ridden an arctic cat turbo 4 stroke with a track longer than the one reviewed, I really enjoyed it on the trail. These turbo 4 strokes are not just lake racers by any means.

[@Fv_TimeBandit]

The commentary reminded me of a grand theft auto 5 car advertisement

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Every prospective TCat and Sidewinder owner should know about the simple issues that can wear out with some, so these issues can be corrected. They are not overly complicated. The top gear and bushing, the shift fork pads, the chain tensioner and roller and the drive shaft. The parts that correct these items and aftermarket fixes are readily available and dependable. Install is not a major undertaking. For the driveshaft, there is a small part that fits in the tip of the shaft & eliminates play and prevents the shaft from wear. These OEM parts can be subject to wear and failure in some sleds. Particularly if you stud or tune the sled. After the heavy duty aftermarket parts are added, you live a long happy life with no problems. Some companies that offer these parts include Barn of parts, Hurricane, PEFI, any numerous others. The 998 is a great engine!

[@jordanlittle5391]

they make a bolt on 1500+cc kit for the old thundercat and its a trail motor over 200hp

[@bpm2074]

Great descriptions with all the corny jokes. "My speed demented friends."

[@dewey636]

Beautiful looking hot rod...🍻

[@johnfila6480]

nicest sled ever built

[@stanleykania7184]

Got a Arctic cat for sale.. 4000 bucks.. 1300 miles on it..2011 F800 LDT.. I live in Pennsylvania.

[@mcce11]

Ive never had any issue with the old handle bars and functions that were sooo outdated. They just worked fine but ok

[@mikemyers6155]

Love the comments....Haters always gunna hate...po larious don't have a sled in its line up to run with that thing!!...and thats COOL...They DO have some bad ass trail sled... I bleed GREEN...but have mad respect for all sleds really...love the sport...and what the T cat brings to the table.....I am a 2 stroke smoke guy 100% but come on man...a 180 HP turbo sled screaming down a lake ....how do ya hate on that...are ya going ditch banging on it...NOPE and the guy rideing its like ...ditch banging WTF is that....hes looking for a radar gun...who ever watched this video Is into OUR sport......just go shred snow and dont talk shit....respect1 all sleds. All riders...and keep it 100 on the best winter sport of all fricken time!!!!...be safe guys!!!👊

[@anthonywallman4608]

Well said bleeding green

[@jayz1719]

I want one right now!

[@dillankulczycki3342]

Cat needs to bring the triple back with the new ctec 2 technology an 800 triple would make over 200 hp and a 1000 would just be rediculus

[@KTMsoldier1988]

Old 1999 thundercat 1000 cc 2 stroke triple...king of the lake

[@curtekstrom6600]

Triples have a problem with overheating of the center cylinders. Hence the reason Cat chose to eliminate Triples as much as possible. If you can get the same power and performance from twins as others have to use Triples while reducing weight and extra moving parts.

[@thomasbarlow4223]

EPA..... Fucking EPA

[@heybubbah]

Unfortunately, I don't think a triple 2 stroke is possible anymore with modern emission requirements.

[@georger.9176]

I like how it says review like it's going to be independent pros & cons and then in the first 30 seconds it's extremely obvious it's a complete sales pitch.

[@douglasborgaro6801]

@George No pitch needed as far as I’m concerned! Long live the beast!

[@camaro69green31]

You forgot to mention that there is not a current production sled that can even come close to match the power or speed of the T Cat or ZR 9000 ….. not even close...….

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Same engine as sidewinder, built by Yamaha. Factory skis on the cat are better.

[@joshuavollert8519]

Clutches on sidewinder r better....wouldn't trust cat over yamaha

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Ha ha, you know that cat and Yamaha are sharing the work notes & working together. Many use the term yamacat. Wether it be sidewinder or cat. I wish they were lighter, but that kind of power does have its price. PS: I understand your brand specific devotion, but nowadays sleds are a different world. The big manufacturers are all making sleds worthy of admiration.

[@chadsanislo560]

It's not necessarily that you need 120mph or whatever that t cat will do,it's the torque and mid range pull that is exciting.Im not a cat fan but I really like what cat is doing.The mid range to top end pull on that t cat has to be freaking awsome.

[@robertmoulton2656]

So is this a green and black Yamaha SRX ?

[@stud3737]

Robert Moulton but better...

[@Bradygoodz]

Arctic Cat 💯

[@calebm.5698]

How is the quality? Has cat moved away from cheap feeling plastics?

[@frostyriffs]

Caleb M. Doos look like a fucking duck these days. What’s next....an anteater? And yes the fit and finish is way better than they use to be.

[@mv3380]

@@frostyriffs hate the doos that's fine, but the fit and finish on them are insanely good.

[@sapavlov.]

Как регулируется подвеска?

[@johnathanpark7339]

Is it a 2 stroke or 4 stroke?

[@Snowridermagazine]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Mainecat21]

Call that a review? Nothing about handling at all. Just a dig at Cat and the typical rider.

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Yes, it is 200+ HP.

[@Murse20]

Your jokes are corny and hillarious. Keep it up.

[@idkidk-rk6sd]

Murse20 your*

[@Murse20]

@@idkidk-rk6sd lol! Thank you!

[@Kirkorr123]

Which handles better the acrtic cat or the yamaha?

[@stud3737]

kirk orr ac

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Same chassis and same engine.

[@brianmorrison9066]

The 998cc triple was making about the same power almost 25 years ago, weighed about 50 lb less and this is almost twice the cash. In other words you doubled the price, added no extra power dispite forced induction, added weight, exc. Yawn. Progress. Sounds like poo too

[@2strokeme64]

The 1000 tripple made around 180. This sled has been proven at around 210, and the torque and arm stretch this thing provides is not to be compared.

[@bradclarke6016]

but all this tweeking about speed has me wanting to head to a trailer park ….

[@deanheath8022]

To be with your girlfriend?

[@2strokeme64]

@@deanheath8022 no his parents

[@Dabman007]

1000cc motor should be called zr 1000, zr 9000 makes no sense

[@EmilForsberg_GRYBO]

Or Zr 10 000 would make a bit more sense and would sound BIG and FAST

[@Kevin-ix4qz]

A sled that only .0239% if the market wants! Way to go arctic cat. Leading the trend once again. Ac garbage. (Yamaha has given up too)

[@douglasborgaro6801]

@Kevin Blah blah! Line up next to the Yamacat and see how that works for you.

[@Kevin-ix4qz]

@@douglasborgaro6801 no problem. We can line up and run em through some twisty trails, or we can go in some steep and deep.

[@douglasborgaro6801]

👍😃

[@jeremysolem2494]

Of course we need this much power why not

[@DJaquithFL]

I don't think this counts as an overview let alone a review. Imagine this motor but no you can't see it and so on...

[@Velislide]

Making 180 sound like it's 280. That's damn near stock levels now days.

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Many dyno tests say 200+

[@drewscagnetti6225]

Whats the cc?

[@carelesswaystv8717]

998 turbo

[@cattin1972]

But Yamaha claims 200 horsepower. Last time I checked 200 was more than 180. Wouldn't a 200 horsepower sled be faster than 180 horsepower sled?

[@pavmentsurfer13]

Same sled, same motor, same power. The offical claim from Arctic Cat is 180... some dynos show 180, some show significantly more. Dyno runs are NOT all equal and therefore, NOT comparable and not a universally reliable way to make horsepower claims. Usually we say 180+ horsepower. Yamaha has made other claims... but the sleds are essentially the same.

[@douglasborgaro6801]

I’ve heard of some with a dyno of 210 hp. That’s nuts!

[@shperax]

So most importantly fastest down the lake. Ok how fast? Were you too afraid to open it up....

[@carelesswaystv8717]

about 125 stock, up to 150 with only a tune and an exhaust (91 and 110 mix).

[@mcce11]

Im sure it has plenty of power to go any speed it wants, you'd have to re gear and clutch to increase top speed. HP will help get there faster but theres only so much it'll do in stock clutching and gearing imo.

[@pavmentsurfer13]

Top speed is so affected by so many factors there no point in us trying to claim an official top speed number. Everyone will get a different top speed so go find out for yourself.

[@darrrenbetker4266]

BNG?!!!

[@snowtrax]

Bold New Graphics

[@brianmcdowell8021]

A thunder cat review, and all I am hearing about is suspension 😑

[@clarknawrocki3851]

Those cats are mean

[@jeremysolem2494]

Now imagine this but with 3 cylinders

[@adamm2837]

The Yamaha 998cc turbocharged four-stroke engine in this snowmobile is a 3 cylinder. The engine it replaced, which was the old turbocharged Suzuki engine that had its roots in the old Z1 turbo, was a two cylinder. I don't believe that engine was ever in a Thundercat.

[@SuperDodoe]

it is a 3 cylinder

[@AustinMBecker]

Pretty soon it will probably be an Electric Cat.......

[@frostyriffs]

Austin Becker ET-Cat haha

[@darrrenbetker4266]

All this for the low low price of just over $20,000 canadian.....enjoy

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Will you go extremely fast? Yes. You will still have a hard time keeping up with the ZR 9000. Suspension on the ZR is far improved and the ZR engine is a brutal force. This is the snowmobile Lamborghini!

[@AZBADBOYz]

Real world, I never hear anything good about AC, not even in other segments like SBS. Can't get away with building junk nowadays, everyone in the world knows and talks about it instantly.

[@Trooperx86]

Still have my 06 crossfire. Thing is bullet proof. The new 600s are pretty much issue free. No issues with my 2015 XF6000 as of yet.(knock on wood) seems the bigger the displacement the more chance at issues. The turbo models always seem to have problems

[@mikeh4053]

if your only listening, then your hearing wrong. get out and ride one. obviously you don't know. newsflash, a review is just an opinion. everyone has one.

[@adamm2837]

My '05 Firecat F6 has been basically bulletproof other then a kind of finicky speedometer sensor, very solid machine. Our older ZRs, other then the absolutely junk 9-tower primary clutches on them, have been solid runners as well! I cant speak for the new Procross chassis machines though, I don't have any experience with them, or know of anyone who has one.

[@KTMsoldier1988]

Still a 4 stroke.

[@holokyttaja5476]

And?

[@KTMsoldier1988]

@@holokyttaja5476 heavy and 2 strokes make more horsepower..... Fact!

[@howespine8642]

Ktmsoldier... I’m with ya man! I had a four stroke sled and traded back to a two stroke after one year. Never again will I own a four

[@douglasborgaro6801]

Make more power? Bull!

[@KTMsoldier1988]

@@douglasborgaro6801 2 strokes with the same cc make 30% more horsepower!

[@michaeljoyce7847]

Thought it was 200hp

[@carelesswaystv8717]

204 on a dyno but Yamaha only claims 180 because that is the least amount of hp you will ever have, for example, at high elevations.

[@webbwalle]

bla bla bla

[@average_moto7792]

Literally this is a Yamaha srx with different colors

[@frostyriffs]

RC HAVEN 77 No it is not. Yamaha uses Cats chassis. It’s more Cat than Yamaha. You can have all the power you want but you have to put it to the ground. Yamaha never figured out how to make their sleds handle like a Cat on shag. So literally you are wrong.

[@daver5149]

@@frostyriffs srx goes 110mph in 1000ft yammie clutch and gearing is far superior to cats all cat has is better skis!

[@frostyriffs]

Dave R that’s funny

[@jasonwulff8341]

I'll pass on a 4 stroke snowmobile's. There hard to work on. There expensive to fix ,heavy to ride and i was told that because the motors are high RPM rebuilding them is a possibility at less than 10k miles.

[@R1D387]

Rebuild at less than 10k miles is bullshit, this is the yamaha engine. And if you can't do a simple oil drain and change filters don't buy a snowmobile period.

[@bflo716]

I know many people, including myself, with 4 stroke arctic cats. Not one has ever been rebuilt and range in age from early 2000’s to brand new 2018. The oldest one has 14,000 miles on it and runs just fine. All you need to do is a yearly oil change. No big deal. Fucking top ends on 2 strokes need to get done every 3000 miles for aggressive riders and like every 5-6000 for everyone else. What’s your point?

[@carelesswaystv8717]

They're hard to work on but guess what, you never have to work on them.

[@jasonwulff8341]

@@R1D387 I assure you that i can work on it the question is, is it worth it? I don't like 4stroke anything, i know a couple of Poeple who had Z1 turbos and those things wore worse than any 2 strokes

[@daver5149]

@@jasonwulff8341 yea you have to check the valves @ 25k on a yammie motor how many smoker sleds you gonna go through before then and the z was Suzuki motor that was a slug!

[@tackdriverCA]

The new Mach z by ski doo would destroy the T cat

[@blazenamber9176]

Lol

[@cledussnow9507]

Well the VR1 850 and sidewinder/T-Cat have plenty of proof on youtube blowing the Mach away as if it was tied to a tree. So, no, the Mach will not. The only people who thought the Doo was something special was Doo owners, everyone else knew better.

[@DEVUNK88]

It should just say T9 on the side or something, not Thundercat, thats just gay

[@jasonwulff8341]

Poeple used to say the real thunder cat was heavy this thing is heavy and sounds like a lawn mower

[@deanheath8022]

You prove that you just do not know shit! And this isn't a gay forum so you can leave now......

[@DEVUNK88]

@@deanheath8022 must have bought a Thundercat

[@DEVUNK88]

@@deanheath8022 I know its a helluva Sled, it has a following I get it, I had a buddy who had one years back, relax it doesnt mean your gay, but the name is just a little much....

[@DEVUNK88]

@@deanheath8022 Even the worlds fastest plane "the Blackbird" has a letter/number designation "SR71" which sounds mysterious and formidable like an Audi S6 or BMW M7, or maybe a Aston Martin DB7, or a Yamaha R1 Generally fast expensive top of the line machines are named this way so they dont embarras themselves with a corny name even the Firecat had F7 plastered on the side of it so maybe you dont know shit and are gay? I dunno....

[@cheezzees3982]

Wouldn't ride this if cat paid me to. Junk. Shitty small track lugs. Blehh