2015 Arctic Cat M8000 Review

[snowrideadventures]

I've had the privilege to ride the new 2015 Arctic Cat M8000, I can't stress how much better the sled is than the 2014. The suspension works really well, its plush in the initial part of the stroke yet has good bottom out resistance and no longer feels like you're riding a board. The clutching and engine mapping is also really smooth and makes great power. Overall, I was super impressed with the sled. Arctic Cat hasn't gotten as much hype they deserve IMO, the 2015 M8000 is a full-on ripper!!!! Definitely worth checking out before snow-checking.

2015 Arctic Cat M8000 Review by Jorli Ricker - YouTube

 

[adamg]

Wish I could own one of each!

 

[QuintinG]

Besides the 3" track swap out option and bng I didn't really hear about any upgrades they made. How is the 2015 differ from the 2014? What improvements were made?

Glad to hear they are working well.

 

[snowrideadventures]

For those that know me, know that I've been a huge fan of Ski Doo (their snowmobiles anyways) and I certainly like the XM a lot for how it rides. I began riding a 2014 AC M8000 this season with mixed feelings, in a large part because it was difficult to adapt to the vertical steering after having ridden a Ski Doo for so many years. The difference in ride quality between the 2014 M8000 and the 2015 M8000 is massive. Yes it looks like the same snowmobile with bold new graphics, but that is about where the similarity ends. The 2014 felt like a board, the suspension valving was too stiff or would just push through the travel and loose ride height if you passed below the magic threshold of air pressure in the shocks. To make the sled work, there was no finessing it, you had to ride it like you stole it and thats not my style. The 2015 is plush, the suspension valving is night and day better than the 2014, it gives the sled an intuitive feel rather than fighting it. The engine mapping and clutching seems to be vastly improved as well, the 2014 bogged a little off the bottom and then would hit hard, the 2015 has a far smoother engagement, linear powerband and seems to be better on fuel and oil economy, also I don't notice any bogging off the bottom. I would imagine the 162 M8000 will be equally as good in deep snow and climbing as the T3 because that track is such a monster and there is no doubt that AC has the strongest motor in the 2 stroke 800 category. (My honest assessment, personally I could really care less about bragging rights, I'm more concerned about how the machine feels when I ride it.) I like the horizontal steering that you get on the XM, its nice AC gives you the option for either however the vertical makes it much easier to sidehill the sled and I'm starting to really appreciate the telescopic riser as I like it a little higher on the trail and lower in the alpine.

This is pretty much the way I would describe difference between Arctic Cat, Ski Doo and Polaris. The Ski Doo is a great big mountain sled, they've got the edge-to-edge aspect dialed and the geometry and ergonomics favor downhill pow carving and I really like that. The Polaris is the side-hilling king, it holds an edge like no other in the steepest, gnarliest terrain, however I have a number concerns regarding their durability- glued A-arms. I also feel that the riding position is a bit far back on the machine, however it is great a tree rider. The Cat falls between the handling of a Ski Doo and Polaris, it sidehills better than a Ski Doo, but maybe not as well as a Polaris, it will pow carve better than a Polaris but maybe not as well a Ski Doo. The riding position is neutral and thus jumps well and drops well. Out of the box, I believe it has the best suspension of the lot- (better Summit and RMK- on par with the Assault and Freeride) If you are into all mountain riding, I think you would be very happy with a Cat. JMTs

 

[Modman]

Besides the 3" track swap out option and bng I didn't really hear about any upgrades they made. How is the 2015 differ from the 2014? What improvements were made?

Glad to hear they are working well.

Mainly some items to beef strength and not put on weight. The 2014 made some big small steps (nothing significant like adding a big track but had lots of little things that added up to a great sled in the end)
and they just refined some other pieces for 2015. If it ain't broke....

-used more magnesium on components like the idler wheel blocks etc,
-the jackshaft was beefed up at the chaincase end with a larger bearing and circlip.
-The SnoPro’s have improved suspension with collaboration with Fox on the calibration for the Fox Float 3 shocks
-added Fox Float 3 in the rear skid
-suspension braces were added

They are working on a 3" Powderclaw with Camoplast as well (u already heard that) and decided to maintain the contract with Suzuki a little longer.

 

[Caper11]

I rode the 15 m8000, it was ok, I found it harder to pull over than my XM As far as power I agree it's very linear!! And felt the sled had less power than a etec. On the same hill I had 10kmh better track speed on my XM. Could of been it's setup but that's what I noticed.


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[snowrideadventures]

I rode the 15 m8000, it was ok, I found it harder to pull over than my XM As far as power I agree it's very linear!! And felt the sled had less power than a etec. On the same hill I had 10kmh better track speed on my XM. Could of been it's setup but that's what I noticed.

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It sounds like the engine may have been previously flooded, I had that happen on the 14 after it spent some time upside down, it was really hard to start and then felt like it lacked power because the plugs needed to be replaced. I rode a 14 XM and the 15 AC the other day back-to-back and the AC had a whole lot more muster than the XM. They ride very differently but they both ride very well.

 

[Vertical-Extreme]

I am interested in your suspension set up, can you elaborate on how you set it up?

 

[Summitric]

Too bad we couldn't compare 2015 to 2015 .... Comparing 2014 xm to 2015 is probably as bad as comparing the 2014 cat to 2015 xm..... Jus' sayin' .... I've ridden the t3 163" and 174"......

 

[Caper11]

I agree ric! My XM is a 13.

The sled was not flooded it was running around before I got it and I had it for almost 20 min.
I'm not trying to start something just posting my findings, the engine felt like it was lacking, to get to the point I felt bored riding it, when I said it felt linear it was, smooth powerband, but the track speed was lacking.


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[snowrideadventures]

Too bad we couldn't compare 2015 to 2015 .... Comparing 2014 xm to 2015 is probably as bad as comparing the 2014 cat to 2015 xm..... Jus' sayin' .... I've ridden the t3 163" and 174"......

That would be interesting, I was comparing a 14 Summit X 154 to a 15 M8000 Ltd 153. It doesn't sound like there have been many changes done with the 154 Summit X for next year besides color and tether so my comparison might be somewhat fair, and in saying that I think the 154 XM is already a great sled, however the development $ seem to have into the T3. The comparison I'd like to try is how the 15 162 M8000 stacks up against the 15 163 T3. I can probably already answer it, they both work amazingly well but handle slightly differently, one is green and the other is yellow.

 

[BLUE PLATE]

That would be interesting, I was comparing a 14 Summit X 154 to a 15 M8000 Ltd 153. It doesn't sound like there have been many changes done with the 154 Summit X for next year besides color and tether so my comparison might be somewhat fair, and in saying that I think the 154 XM is already a great sled, however the development $ seem to have into the T3. The comparison I'd like to try is how the 15 162 M8000 stacks up against the 15 163 T3. I can probably already answer it, they both work amazingly well but handle slightly differently, one is green and the other is yellow.

Another difference will be, the yellow one will need a new engine way before the green one.

 

[snowrideadventures]

I agree ric! My XM is a 13.

The sled was not flooded it was running around before I got it and I had it for almost 20 min.
I'm not trying to start something just posting my findings, the engine felt like it was lacking, to get to the point I felt bored riding it, when I said it felt linear it was, smooth powerband, but the track speed was lacking.


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I also have a 13 XM and really like the sled, but it certainly isn't as exciting as the 15 M8000. Something must have been up with the demo you tried, maybe a fouled plug or something. My XM is right on spec clutching wise, and without the additional injectors that the 14 XMs have, its doesn't pull quite as hard as they do. Either way, something was up with the demo you tried cause the 15 I rode absolutely rocks.

 

[Slamnek]

I agree ric! My XM is a 13.

The sled was not flooded it was running around before I got it and I had it for almost 20 min.
I'm not trying to start something just posting my findings, the engine felt like it was lacking, to get to the point I felt bored riding it, when I said it felt linear it was, smooth powerband, but the track speed was lacking.


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thats weird, all my buddies are riding XM's and after I got the 2014 clutch and gearing my sled pulls just as hard or harder than the doo's. There's no doubt that the XM will out climb mine but I think the track is the limiting factor for me. Just sayin, not trying to start wars. In fact I was really looking at getting an XM next year. They are wicked machines but my local dealer treats me very well.

 

[maxwell]

thats weird, all my buddies are riding XM's and after I got the 2014 clutch and gearing my sled pulls just as hard or harder than the doo's. There's no doubt that the XM will out climb mine but I think the track is the limiting factor for me. Just sayin, not trying to start wars. In fact I was really looking at getting an XM next year. They are wicked machines but my local dealer treats me very well.

You are correct I also believe the track is the only limiting factor. The cat engine makes good power. Perhaps what caper is experiencing is what I have experienced in the past. Just a slightly less feeling of forward momentum due to Less traction.


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[QuintinG]

Thanks for the informative and non bias response. I'd much rather read something like that than the brand bashing BS that goes on around here so often. It's nice to see all the manufacturers making small improvements and refinements without having to completely reinvent the sled. It seems all makes are getting better and continuing to compete with each other making it interesting year to year to see the sleds progressing.

 

[ferniesnow]

..................... It seems all makes are getting better and continuing to compete with each other making it interesting year to year to see the sleds progressing.

Seems to me that progress is the name of the game and I have been watching this progress for a lot of years!

 

[T-team]

I think becuase cat is pulling out of some advertising this year.... People are underestimating them. Just becuase you aren't seeing a bunch of commercials or seeing them at the sled shows doesn't mean they are gone. That is a good sled!! And its a competitor.. Anyone that writes Cat off, especially after the moves they have just made is making a mistake. The only thing more important than inovation is competition! Thats where it all starts!

 

[QuintinG]

Seems to me that progress is the name of the game and I have been watching this progress for a lot of years!

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Nice ride Doug!

 

[Clode]

you can't beat the suzuki motor in the cats, they last so well