I sold my XCR to this year to purchase something a little newer. I must say that the XCR was a blast to ride. It was a little heavy but I was still able to hold my own on the trails and was quite fast across the lakes and sounded beautiful. Now I bought this brand new 01 ZRT 600. I've riden a 96 zrt before and it seemed a little
more limber than the XCR but didn't quite keep up on the lakes. People in this forum are saying that the older ZRT's were faster than the newer. Just how true is that statement? I really didn't want to buy a slower sled than the XCR, just something a little easier to throw around. Am I going to get my a$$ handed to me
by XCR's and the older ZRT's with my 01ZRT600? Please tell me it's not true. I'm hoping that my XCR was just a freak that went like hell and all others are much slower.

from my experience the zrt 600 of that time was the fastest 600 around if it was setup right. i have 2 98's and my buddies xcr 600 wouldnt stay with them. most guys on hear had the same experience. but it is true that the newer zrt's just dont have the stuff that the zrts from 98 and back had.
but the newer style chassis will be better. so what do u want? the faster sle dor the better handling ride?

I want the better handling sled, but i didn't want to sacrifice performance either.
when you say the newer ones don't have the stuff the older ones did, what do you mean by that? I know the pipes are different but did they make that big of a difference? I would of thought the power valves and flat sided carbs would have helped the performance. Would the chassis changes make a bigger difference?
What about the clutching, did they improve it or ruin it?

IMO you made a pretty good move. The newer triple's chasis handle better then the pre 99's and in 99 the resrticted the airbox and went with a different can. Not sure if they changed a whole lot with the cluchting though. Either way I still think you will be ahead of the XCR's with better handling and they didn't detune them in 99 so much that it will make a whole lot of difference.

if the 01 is anything like the 00's you will need to open the,
airbox. and rejet. plus get a D&D klutch kit.
then hang on to your a$$
you will be very happy with the cat. :thumbsup:

Originally posted by straycat@Nov 11 2003, 05:47 PM
if the 01 is anything like the 00's you will need to open the,
airbox. and rejet. plus get a D&D klutch kit.
then hang on to your a$$
you will be very happy with the cat. :thumbsup:
What Staycat said :!:

id say u made a wise choice. ironically my dad and i both own ZRT 600s, his is a 96 mine is a 01. the 01 has much better handling, ride and rider position. performance wise its got much better throttle response and low end torque. it does lack the high end power of the 96 but that is because of arctic cat detuning it. definitly gut the air box, its extremely easy to do, three screws hold the tool box on, take those out, lift the tool box off take the baffling and big plastic plate out, itll come out easy. if u wanna copy the 96 u can just use the exact same clutch setup the 96s and such did or u can do even better by getting an aftermarket kit and u should also jet it down (pay attention to the plug color and stuff, be smart). this will wake the 01 up. by no means is the 01 a slouch tho, i blew away a MXZ 670 with mine and the guy had a head start on me :hallo1: . my dads 600 absolutely flys i cant get over it. last year when i bought my 01 i left it stock but this year i found some good deals and bought D&D trail pipes, D&D power breather as well as gutting my air box, and the D&D clutch kit for the pipes. with the proper jetting this thing should really fly! good luck man, u definitly have a hot sled SWRules

I don't think Cat intentionally "detuned" the 99 and later ZRT's, they were trying to quiet down the intake noise, and they ended up strangling it. Just put a Power breather in it and you'll love it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I feel much better now. I guess she'll need some tinkering but it sounds like nothing to extreme. I figured I'd rejet after I get a few miles on it due to the fact it only has half of a mile on it. I'll get it all broke in before I start tearing into it. Whats this power breather all about. Is it a replacement for the stock air box? Does it come with any jetting instructions? SWRules

I did some searching for you and heres what I found
Power Breather(Reference #200-594)
D&D's latest Arctic Cat power accessory. Designed to give carbureted Cats the extra edge to smoke the competition! On some models, the Power Breather can produce gains up to 6 horsepower. Fits all Arctic Cats with tool box top airbox. Carbureted models only - not for EFI. Power Breather is a replacement airbox top with tool box and foam filter air openings. Easy installation. Fits 1997-01 models.
This is the best gain for the money for your Cat. Give your sled some more air and you will get more POWER. Comes with block off caps when temps get down below 0 install the caps for safe jetting. Easy to install. Colors come in Black and purple

NOw its got me thinking about getting it for my 800...hmmmm??

I have a 01 ZR 800 also, you've got me thinking too!!! Do you have to rejet when you put this on? I want to keep my engine as stock as possible.

Where did you get your info? D & D?

Also, I had a 96 XCR 600 SP. PSI Performance silenceer on it, clutched, bigger carbs on it, 144 studs.

I loved that machine(even though it was pink). I would pull up to a gas station and people would just stop and look.

On the lake, that machine was unbeatable in the 600 class. On the trail I was able to throw it around.

My parent's cabin burnt down and the sled went up with it. It was in a shed that caught on fire. So I got some insurance money, and a loan, and got a 01 ZR 800.

Thought I would try some big iron! I don't have as much top end as the 600, but on the trails, I can blow anything away! I can throw that machine around corners faster than I ever could with that 600. Plus the A-arm suspension, no pounding in my feet when I hit rocks on the trail(no trailing arms)

What I'm trying to say is that, anyone can go fast on a lake. Big deal, the real rush is when you're going 50-70mph on a trail going through the woods!

I don't think you'll regret the swap you made! Enjoy!

I can't remember the name of the site I got the first quote from, it was a dealers site and thats the description of it. The second quote is right off of D&D's website.

Does anyone have the link to D&D's website?

D&D Racing (http://www.ddracing.com)

The XCR's are a nice sled but the baby Cat triple is hands and feet above it in performance / handling and ride quality. With a decent clutch kit / jetting and a gutted air box it'll rock n roll.
I rode a '96 XCR and can safely say no you won't miss yer old ride.

Enjoy

Rick.