Realizing there’s a big market for sleds that fall under the “adventure rider” category, Arctic Cat has designed two new models that are based on the former 141-inch CrossTour concept but zero in on extreme ride compliance and long distance touring comfort without losing their macho looks or appeal to performance customers.

The 2016 XF CrossTour is based on the Pantera’s Pro-Tour chassis and has a 146-inch fully coupled suspension, uses the Yamaha 1049cc triple and includes huge amounts of storage space and a 4.3-gallon auxiliary fuel tank plumbed right into the sled’s fuel system.

This sled should make big-mile riders drool as it will get incredible range on a fill-up and deliver optimum comfort on long days in the saddle.

Next in the new XF line-up is the XF CrossTrek. This sled uses the 137-inch Sliding Arm skid and is fully coupled for rider plushness.

It comes with a warm, mid-height windshield with mirrors and includes very nice expandable bags and an oversized tunnel bag.

The CrossTrek uses Fox Float air shocks up front and gas shocks in the skidframe. 600 and 800 2-stroke choices are available with this sled as well as 1049cc triple and turbo 4-strokes.

Third in the new XF line-up is the XF High Country. This sled uses Cat’s 141-inch Fox Float air-suspended, non-coupled skidframe and has pure vertical features like a lightweight mountain seat, 2.5-inch PowerClaw track and the mountain-specific new front end Cat is using on its mountain sleds.

This sled also uses the longer ProClimb tunnel and 7-inch wide mountain skis. 600 and 800 2-stroke choices are available as well as 1049cc triple and turbo 4-strokes.

Clearly, Cat is targeting freeriders with sled that is so close to being a mountain sled yet still capable of some trail duty and certainly having the maneuverability to play in powder all day.

Cat’s mountain sled program has appeared to be playing catch-up with the competition but this year things are looking different.

The engineering team has started with a completely new front suspension package that includes new, tall and very svelte spindles, forged aluminum A-arms and as much as 4-inches available variation in width. These new spindles and A-arms save about 2.4 lbs. and cut snow way better.

There’s also a new, lighter skidframe called Float Action (available as a 141, 153 and 162) designed to dig out faster and ride on top of powder more effectively. The rails on this suspension have been radically developed by computer engineering to offer amazing strength while dropping mass.

The biggest deal with Cat’s mountain sleds is the choices potential buyers can have. Get this: There are too many models to mention here plus three variations on track lengths (141, 153, 162), three different mountain tracks (2.25-inch and 2.6-inch PowerClaw, and a 3-inch PowerClaw that is 2.5-lbs lighter than the 2.6.

There are seat and storage choices, two different handle-poles (one telescoping) and an incredible selection of colors and graphics.

Engine variations abound, too. The 800 and 600 CTEC-2 2-strokes are available and the 9000-Series Turbo and Yamaha 1049 triple 4-strokes are available in various models.

Cat has sent a message it intends to compete hard in the mountain category. Certainly, these sleds are intended to move altitude buyers away from Polaris and Ski-Doo and into the Arctic Cat brand.

Although Arctic Cat hasn’t made sweeping changes to its trail marketplace for 2016 there are some pretty significant upgrades and differences.

This year, what was called the XF 137-inch crossover line-up is now under the trail banner as merely a ProCross 137 along with the ProCross 129 in LXR, Sno-Pro (and Limited) RR-Series and El Tigre versions of both track lengths.

A couple of big upgrades grace these models. For instance, all ProCross Cats get a set of TEAM clutches this year.

This is big news as Cat has produced its own clutches for many years with great success. The in-house rationale is that it cuts out a whole department of quality control, R&D and calibration. Besides this, the TEAM reputation for quality, durability and performance is simply beyond reproach.

Also, Arctic Cat has moved to drivechain and sprockets produced by Borg Warner for exactly the same reasons already mentioned.

There’s been big changes in suspension calibration for MY 2016 and although the LXR is not radically different, the Sno-Pro, RR and El Tigre have been tuned for more ride compliance.

We felt last year’s Cats (MY2015) were the best suspended Arctic Cats ever, but the brass feels its important, with the competition crowing about their own suspension compliance, for Cat to exceed in this important area.

This year you get a set of new 3-position Fox QS-3 gassers front and rear on the El Tigre. These shocks’ compression dampening can be adjusted for medium, hard and soft with just the twist of an on-shock clicker. The El Tigre and RR-Series are only available as a 129-inchers.

A new model called the ZR Limited is available as both a 137-incher and a 129 and comes with arrestingly cool graphics and a full set of 3-position QS-3s. The green 129-inch version is only available as an early order Cat.

Sorry to report there’s no new 800 DSI engine as we had hoped and predicted. We want it but apparently Cat is being very cautious about releasing new and not thoroughly tested engines out to the public.

Kudos for that and the current Suzuki 800 is a great, strong performing mill – we just love that 600, though and anxiously await the day a bigger displacement version arrives.

For those who thought the Vector was going to be deleted from Yamaha’s 2016 line-up, there’s big news.

Yes, this original, all-Yamaha snowmobile will see some of the biggest changes it’s had since its first-version intro back in 2004.

We’ve often commented on how we always hoped Yamaha would stick with its mono-shock rear suspension and maybe even find a way to use it the Viper. We were taken by surprise to see a completely re-thought version of a single shock skidframe for the Vector (and Apex) this year focusing on extreme weight loss.

It’s called the SingleShot suspension and it’s now available on the Vector in 129 and 146-inch (X-TX) lengths.

You don’t have to look too hard to see where the weight has been pared either. A lighter, premium Fox Float 3 XV air shock is located on a completely different plain than the old KYB coilover monster on the Monoshock and there are now adjustable coupler blocks relocated further forward instead of the Monoshock’s older and heavier coupler rods.

Keep in mind the former Veck was available with only 121 and 136-inch track lengths but the new skid has allowed Yamaha to reduce weight in the trail-length skid (129) by over 10-lbs compared to the 121 and deliver a larger footprint with more floatation.

There’s a claimed 9-lbs savings with the 146 over the 136. We haven’t sampled this skidframe yet but we’ve heard it works very well and is at least as plush as the old Mono. Also available is a 146-inch Vector X-TX with a 1.75 Backcountry track.

Looks like a win-win here: Less weight more floatation.

Another big feature this year is the reworking of the Vector and Venture’s 1,049cc 4-stroke. The engine has received a new crankshaft, pistons and rods and now features a 3-mode YCCT (Yamaha Chip-Controlled Throttle) system for better throttle control, fuel economy and trail comfort.

The YCCT’s drive-by-wire setup is similar to Ski-Doo’s ITC system and its D-Mode feature offers the rider different settings to suit different riders, particularly novice ones riding varying trail situations. The desired mode can be toggled from the handlebars and is displayed on the gauge panel.

The 129 version comes with a 1.25-inch deep RipSaw track and uses KYB gas shocks and Tuner skis up front. Power steering is still standard on all Vectors.

Visit yamaha-snowmobiles.com for more!

The Apex gets another year on the books and gains more sizzle with the same 129-inch SingleShot skidframe used on the 2016 Vector.

In the process, there’s a weight drop of about 10-lbs for the trail version and about 9-lbs for the Apex X-TX, now with a 146-incher.

Both skidframes use a Fox Float 3 XV air shock out back and there are coilover gassers at the front. The X-TX is available with choices of 1.25-inch RipSaw II or a 1.75-inch deep Backcountry. Both versions of the X-TX use gas shocks up front and Tuner skis along with EPS.

There have been no changes to the basic Apex formula – it still use that sweet 4-cylinder with four throttle bodies and EX-UP and although the tunnel adjuster is no longer part of the deal, the reduction in weight should be pretty appealing.

For early-order buyers there are LE versions of both the Vector and the Apex available as RS trail sleds or as X-TX 146-inchers, all equipped with the new SingleShot rear suspension.

The LE Apex and the Vector LE come equipped with all the aforementioned 2016 features but also add in Fox Float 3 air shocks on the front suspension and Yamaha’s exclusive Performance Dampener, factory installed.

It all means your early Power Surge deposit will get you far more suspension adjustability and some bonafide upgrades.

Visit yamaha-snowmobiles.com for more!

For 2016, the Viper stays with its basic components and doesn’t add the new SingleShot skid to any of its models.

There is, however, some suspension shuffling with the 137 and 141 Viper skids and even a new cross-country model with a 146-inch skidframe (not Singleshot).

The Viper S-TX series loses its 141-inch uncoupled, air suspended skid and goes with a fully coupled 137 this year. We think this makes way more sense for a sled targeted primarily at long distance trail riding with the occasional off-trail adventure thrown in.

The coupled sliding front arm suspension will offer much better ride results and the slightly shorter track will help with handling. Any loss in deep snow performance will be long forgotten because the sled comes with a 1.6-inch deep track.

The S-TX 137 DX uses gas shocks front and rear, has a nice windshield and comes with some awesome touring bags. The rears are hardshell flexi-bags that will stretch to hold a lot of gear and there’s a standard goggle pack, heated seat and a lot more built-in performance sizzle than last year’s 141.

Just to amp up the category, there’s a new S-TX 146 DX that uses an Arctic Cat-derived 146-inch skidframe and an auxiliary 4-gallon gas tank in a pickup-truck-like cargo box at the rear.

We think this is a great idea for one-up riders who want maximum ride comfort and incredible range between gas stops. This is a cool-looking snowmobile with a high, warm windshield, 1.25-inch RipSaw and coilover gas shocks front and rear. The 146-inch skidframe is a very plush dual shock unit.

The Viper 129-inch R-TX SE series moves away from air shocks up front to a nice set of Fox PB coilover 3-position damping adjustable piggyback gassers.

The same shock is used on the skid’s rear arm and it’s great to see this kind of adjustability on the Viper SE. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay for a decent windshield for this sled if you intend to ride it in the winter. A pair of sunglasses will provide more protection than the SE’s stocker.

The Power Surge Viper R-TX LE comes with fully adjustable shocks, too but these are upgraded to Fox Float 3 EVOL RC (compression and rebound adjustable) up front and 2-inch diameter Fox PB Zero-X units on the rear arm.

Early-order LE versions of the Viper not only get the shock upgrade but come with a Performance Dampener and a heated seat.

Visit yamaha-snowmobiles.com for more!

Last year, Yamaha made a statement with the introduction of a 162-inch Viper MTX powered by its steadfast 1,049cc triple.

The sled got the attention of a cadre of mountain and hill riders who were looking for a reasonably light, high-floatation deep snow 4-stroke with the potential to make some mountain men forget about their 2-strokes.

The sled was a limited success and accomplished what Yamaha set out to do. This year the ante has been raised and there has been more mods and much rethinking of the category.

The 2016 SRViper M-TX 162 has a completely new front end this year with skinny and streamlined wide-spaced front spindles. The new SRV-M front end is 36-inches wide and has dropped weight in the process. It uses gas coilovers front and rear and has a 2.6-inch lug PowerClaw track.

The early-order-only MT-X 162 LE uses Fox Float 3 EVOL airs up front, an EVOL 3 on the center arm and a Fox EVOL R on the rear arm. It also comes with a heated seat, a special tunnel bag and a 3-inch PowerClaw track.

Really worth considering if you’re a serious mountain man. The Viper M-TX LE 153-inch version gets exactly the same equipment package.

The MT-X 141 SE is clearly a mountain sled targeted at the freerider. This shorter and more nimble sled has the new SRV-M front end but with a 40-inch ski-stance (also has a swaybar) and comes with a 2.25-inch PowerClaw track. Fox Float 3 air shocks are used up front and on the rear arm of the skid. There is no LE version of this sled.

All 2016 viper M-TX sleds come with a new, redesigned mountain ski this year generating better floatation and quicker ramp-up out of deep snow situations with less resistance when blowing through powder.

Clearly, Yamaha is addressing the needs of mountaineers and wants to establish the fact that 4-strokes have the potential to go anywhere and do pretty much anything 2-strokes can. It will be interesting to see if they can pull it off.

Visit yamaha-snowmobiles.com for more!