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Klim Added To Genuine Yamaha Apparel

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If you think Yamaha’s clothing line looks familiar this season it’s due in part to Klim joining FXR brand clothing as official Genuine Yamaha Apparel.

Look for the more functional mountain and enduro styles Klim has made famous to be front and center in the new Yamaha-specific clothing line.

Klim is also getting increased traction across the flatland marketplace as a result of some very cool styles and functionality improvements catering to the cold weather, higher speed nature of trail riding versus mountain shredding.

On top of this reality – check out women’s Klim threads for this season. Very appealing styles and fits just for the female rider.

Klim will continue to offer its wide line of snowmobile gear through myriad dealers and distributors across North America.

2010 Arctic Cat CFR800 Keeps Winning and Grinning

Press Release –

Worlds Fastest Snowmobile Update

Weekend after weekend, D&D pilot, Scott Moser proves that his CFR800 is definitely the Worlds Fastest 800 in grass drag racing.

Moser of Lowville, N.Y., once again beat up on the competition with wins in both the Stock 700 (F7) and Stock 800 (CFR) classes at the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association Grass Drags & Water Cross in Fremont, NH.

As well, Team Arctic racer, Bernard Rodrique took first place, aboard another one of the World’s Fastest Snowmobiles, a Stock Crossfire 1000.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our racers and the 160-unmatched horsepower of the new 800HO engine. Line ‘em up and knock ‘em down has never been truer,” said Mike Kloety, Team Arctic Race Manager.

About Arctic Cat – Arctic Cat Inc., based in Thief River Falls, Minn., designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles under the Arctic Cat brand name, as well as related parts, garments and accessories. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the ticker symbol “ACAT.” More information about Arctic Cat and its products is available on the Internet at www.arcticcat.com.

Arctic Cat M8 HCR: King Returns with More Power

Press Release –

In the RMSHA hillclimb circuit, Team Arctic racers will go over-the-top with a more powerful and potent M8 HCR (Hill Climb Racer).

Powered by the all-new 800 H.O. that pumps out 162 hp and has a 4.3-pound lighter, quicker-revving crankshaft, the 2010 M8 HCR comes to a knife-fight bearing a big gun.

In addition to the more powerful engine, the new HCR gets a wider 42-44-inch adjustable ski stance; more aggressively-calibrated FOX Float shocks in the rear suspension and Zero Pro shocks on the front; the new tall and extra light M seat; FrogzSkin-covered hood vents; and a harder 90-durometer 15 x 153 x 2.25-inch Power Claw track.

“The HCR was the dominant sled in RMSHA competition last year, with our phenomenal racers claiming 15 World Championship titles at Jackson Hole, 78 out of 172 first place finishes, 15 King titles and five High Point titles during the season,” said Mike Kloety. “We’ve provided them an even more-capable HCR this year, so I can confidently expect another stunning season.”

Arctic Cat Sno Pro 500: Poised to Grow

Press Release –

Racers who are aiming at the 85-hp and Junior classes are will have the ultimate entry-level racer in the all-new Sno Pro 500.

Based on the same championship-winning chassis of the 600 Sno Pro, this new consumer-available sled offers an 85-hp, EFI-equipped engine and oil injection for simplicity, ease and a level of performance that matches most riders’ abilities.

Besides the engine, the Sno Pro 500 is nearly identical to the cross-country version of the 600 Sno Pro, the only significant exception being the non-reservoir FOX IFP shocks and their calibration.

“The Sno Pro 500 is truly a gas-and-go race sled,” said Kloety. “To go racing, racers will simply have to stud the track, add more aggressive carbides and put on their race number. With EFI, there’s no jetting to mess with. And with a suspension calibration by Kirk Hibbert, it will be ideal for anyone in cross-country, and for less-aggressive snocross racers.”

“We built the Sno Pro 500 to make it easy for would-be competitors to go snowmobile racing. It’s a fun, durable and extremely competitive sled that’s going to bring added attention to the 85-hp class this season.”

Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600: More Race-Ready

Press Release –

Leading the charge is an updated, race-only Sno Pro 600 that builds upon its place atop snocross and cross-country competition via a handful of improvements aimed at improved durability.

The 4130 chrome-moly and extruded-aluminum chassis sees reinforcement to the rear of tunnel for increased strength where the heat-exchanger mounts. A longer, more durably-mounted rear bumper complements the stiffened upper-chassis spar brackets for increased rigidity.

Additional focus was given to both suspensions, with more durable tie-rod ends for the upper A-arms (and on the steering arms), and a more robust front arm, idler arm and rear shock pivot in the Slide Action rear suspension.

The race-only 600 laydown engine proved to be the performance-leader last season and returns for 2010 with a new exhaust manifold that emphasizes quicker throttle response for improved holeshots.

Stainless steel baffle plates in the resonator and additional welding on the exhaust pipe seams reinforce the system’s durability. A new metric-threaded crankshaft bolt is now used for commonality with other Arctic Cat engines. Horsepower for this ultra-light, high-performance engine remains 127 with pump gas.

The drive train on the Sno Pro has also been beefed up, with a 15-wide chain and gears, a stiffer driven shaft and stronger drive belt.

As it did last year, Arctic Cat produced dedicated snocross and cross-country versions of the 2010 600 Sno Pro to bolster its commitment to terrain racers and circuits.

The snocross Sno Pro incorporates a 15 x 128 x 1.7-in. lug Camoplast track, the Peak Torque Limiting (PTL) driveshaft system and 9-tooth drivers, C&A Pro skis, a 7-gallon fuel tank and unique calibration for the clutches and suspensions.

The cross-country Sno Pro utilizes a 1.25-in. Ripsaw track; a dash-mounted choke cable; 11-gallon fuel tank; the new ACT skis; 10-tooth drivers on the standard (non-PTL) driveshaft; a dash-mounted speedometer/tachometer; standard snow flap; and taller mid-height windshield.

Both versions of the 600 Sno Pro are equipped with high-performance goodies like V-Force Reeds, remote-reservoir FOX IFP shocks and TEAM driven clutch.

“Last season, Team Arctic racers won 32 out of 60 finals in the ISOC Pro, Semi-Pro and Sport snocross classes, as well as 39 of 87 possible class victories in USCC cross-country competition,” said Team Arctic Race Manager, Mike Kloety. “Clearly we have the best race sled in the business, and our focus for 2010 was to introduce this incredible platform to new and experienced racers, and to build upon our unmatched success.”

Impressive Snowmobile Sales Numbers For 2009

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When the numbers were finally counted, model year 2009 snowmobile sales looked pretty stout.

Amongst all powersport products including ATVs, motorcycles, boats and marine products, snowmobiles were most impressive, posting the smallest decrease in sales in an otherwise dismal powersports marketplace during calendar year 2008.

In fact, Canadian sales of sleds tallied almost level while US sales that, as a result of a slightly harder hit economy, were down less than 10%.

Big Wheel Goes ‘Round

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Robbie Malinoski has signed to race – you guessed it – for Team Polaris with the legendary Scheuring Speed Sports team.

On top of this announcement comes word Hentges Racing and Judnick Motorsports, top Polaris factory backed teams, will share R&D responsibilities, component manufacturing and in-season development chores.

Polaris racing czar Tom Rager Sr., the man who turned Polaris Sno-X fortunes into pure gold, appears bolstered entering this season’s ISOC schedule. Under Rager’s leadership, in concert with son, Tom Jr, Polaris has gone from “also ran” status less than a decade ago to a virtually unbeatable championship machine.

We wonder if this move for Malinoski, who appeared less than inspired last year on Ski-Doo in his final season with Boss Racing, will return back to championship form.

Other than scoring the first WPSA National Sno-X win for a 4-stroke sled (Yamaha), the strong-as-an-ox Canadian has not seen significant success since he left Arctic Cat earlier this decade.

This move completes a full circle for Malinoski who has held contracts with all other factory camps over the past five seasons.

Klim to Sponsor Sheuring Speed Sports

Press Release –

John Summers announced today that Klim will continue to sponsor Scheuring Speed Sports; the Minnesota based pro snocross team.

Scheuring has a all new team this year comprised of Robbie Malinoski a multiple time champion in both pro and semi pro classes, and Andrew Johnstad a multiple time champion in the semi pro world who also has a season under his belt at the pro level.

Andrew and Robbie can be seen in the latest Klim gear tearing up the Amsoil Championship Snocross Series starting in Duluth on November 27th.

“This is a very exciting time for Scheuring Speed Sports and our Sponsors,” said Steve Scheuring, the team owner.

Steve has been instrumental in helping other teams get off the ground in the past and will surely have this new team ready for the starting gate come race day.

For more information on the team visit Klim.com

RIDE IMPRESSIONS: 2010 Polaris 600 & 550 Shift

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Staff Report

The Shift concept was originally designed to take Polaris customers back to the company’s roots when it offered very basically equipped sleds in a very limited model selection for a very reasonable price.

The idea was and still is: Simple is better. This is a perfect menu for a recession and even better for consumers who already own a sled but need or want a second one.

Just because the price is low, it doesn’t mean Polaris skimped on the Shift series. This year, the basic platform has been radically upgraded and both the Shift 600 and the fan-cooled 550 include the new-last-year cut-down and lightened front-end design used on the hard-to-get-hold-of 2009 SP.

Both get coupler blocks added to the skidframe, a shock upgrade and the 600 Shift has graduated from last year’s 120hp, carbureted 600 to the 4-injector Cleanfire injected rocket launcher producing 125hp. That’s a lot more sled for about a thousand smackers more.

Even the 550 Shift gets the chassis improvements this year. It’s been upgraded with a Ryde FX gas shock in the front of the skid and a Fox Position Sensitive damper in the rear. Sure, there’s no idler wheels at the rear, but this year the 550 gets coupler blocks and this is essentially the same skidframe you get on more expensive, full graphic IQ models.

Up front, the SP-style belly has shaved some weight and uses steel bodied Ryde FX gas shocks to take the hurt out of the moguls. Frankly, we’ve been really impressed with the ride quality of both 2010 IQ Shift models and feel the extra cost to get such high quality suspension components is a super-good buy.

The 550’s fan-cooled mill is a strong performer and delivers a steady 60-plus horsepower to the snow. It uses dual 34mm carbs and Nicasil coated cylinders to reduce weight. If you upgrade, the 4-injector Cleanfire mill in the Shift 600 is a wonder of smoothness and overachieving thrust. This engine, in this chassis, is a fabulous combo of perfect ergonomics, impressive acceleration and near-perfect snowmobile handling.

Certainly, with the 600 Shift, the most arduous horsepower addict would never wince at being “forced” to ride it because the “big pony” is out of service.

Likewise, either Shift is an excellent sled to put less aggressive riders on for the day. There’ll be no complaints about warmth and comfort and the suspension will hold up on the longest of the long trail rides.

Polaris has packed a lot of value into its Shift series this year and definitely upped the ante in the budget wars. Take a look.

LATEST ISSUE OF SUPERTRAX!

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The latest issue of SUPERTRAX is landing on newsstands and in mailboxes nationwide!

Volume 21, Number 2 features an inside look at the RUSH. You’ll get an entire history of its development and learn the real reasons Polaris did it.

Also we go back country riding with Ski-Doo’s Backcountry, let Cat’s F8 out of its cage and put he Yamaha Nytro RTX to the test.

You’ll also find 8 great places to ride and find our annual Vintage Calendar so you won’t miss a thing this season.

Now you can get 3 seasons of Supertrax (12 issues) for only $22.99! Subscribe online safely and securely now!