We had the chance to visit located at 189, chemin des Poirier, Montmagn. Opened in 2003 in St-Jean-Port-Joli, this dealership has been moved in 2008 in a large and modern site located in Montmagny.
Besides Arctic Cat recreational products (snowmobile and ATV), they also offer Polaris recreational products and snowmobile rental services.
We received a warm welcome from the owners, Mr Gilles Hudon and his son Guillaume. Two brand new 2014 snowmobiles were handed to us for our trail test on this December 27th 2013. We rode from Montmagny to Tourville, the «Heart of Côte-du-Sud» in the MRC de L’Islet. Here are our three pilots’ impressions after over 100 km on FCMQ trails, in respect of snowmobiling regulations such as speed limits.
The following elements have been evaluated :
- riding, ergonomics, track noise
- aesthetics, finish quality
- engine, noise, fumes
Modification
For our tests, we used Mr Gilles Hudon’s personal snowmobile; its odometer indicated less than 200 km. No modification had been brought.
Riding
The riding position on the Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Sno Pro is excellent for the legs; since you can adjust the handlebar according to your size, it is also excellent for your back. Our test machine was equipped with a high windshield on which both mirrors were mounted. We all liked this one-piece molded windshield that really protects the upper body against wind. The lower body is protected adequately against wind by the cab. All controls are located on the left handle (brake). The thumb and hand warmer controls offer 2 heat levels that are very efficient.
The deluxe gauge lets you choose between digital and analog speed and tachometer readouts.There's also an odometer, two trip meters and reverse indicator.The ergonomy of the hooked handles provides a great grip.
According to the manufacturer, the design of the ProCross chassis reduces the snowmobile weight and balances the performance of the front suspension with the rear suspension. The rear Slide-Action suspension offers a 13,5 in. rear travel. With its Fox Float 3 shocks and 10 in. travel, the front Arctic Race Suspension (ARS) works perfectly.
We especially liked the riding stability as we did not experience any darting despite the various trail conditions we met. The pilot gets the feeling that he is in full control of his machine on trails, thanks to Arctic Cat competent engineers. However, we must say that the 129 in. Ripsaw track with 1.25 in. studs is a little noisy on hard-packed snow.
Aesthetics
The brand new design of this ZR 9000 Sno Pro is quite a success. The graphics nicely match the orange / black colors and this superb look catches the eyes on trails. The ZR 9000 is equipped with a rear storage bag and a goggle holder under the handlebar. A wide variety of Arctic Cat accessories are available if you want to customize your ZR 9000 Sno Pro.
Engine
The ZR 9000 Sno Pro is equipped with a 4-stroke turbocharged bi-cylinders engine of 1100 cc that develops an outstanding power of 177 hp. Some say this is the most powerful production snowmobile of the industry. No need to ride at high speed to appreciate its power; this engine reacts at any speed. It produces a soft sound and we do not ear it when the turbo gets to work. With such an engine, the ZR 9000 Sno Pro is designed for experienced pilots because beginners could be in danger if they touch the throttle by mistake. No other snowmobile can match the ZR 9000 Sno Pro.
Conclusion
We have been impressed by the 2014 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Sno Pro with its power and stability on trail. We call this arctic cat the «The feline to master designed for experienced pilots only»
SledMagazine.com is sincerely grateful to
189, chemin des Poirier, Montmagny (Qc) G5V 4L2
Toll free : 1-877-948-1919 Local : 418-248-1919 Fax.: 418-248-2288
www.pro-arctic.ca
Thanks to Kimpex for their appreciated collaboration during these tests.
www.kimpex.ca
Effectively, our test pilots wear Kimpex clothing and accessorie. During these tests, we had the muffs with window and we greatly appreciated it. One of our test pilots rode without any gloves. For complete details, please click on https://catalogues.kimpex.com/Snowmobile/2014/en-ca/#1197/z
Jacques Bélanger
Maurice Fecteau
Jacques Turgeon
SledMagazine.com Test Pilots
