Hi all, I have a chance to buy a 2000 TCat at a very good price. *Most of my riding is done on trails and seasonal roads with some lake riding. *I'm curious what TCat owners have experienced with their sleds on the trails. *Do they handle well *just like any other heavy sled (I ride a ZRT 800 and am a big guy - 230 lbs.) or are they more at home on the lake doing 120 mph? *Thanks!

atyszka,
*i can't wait for what you just started. it is going to be as big as my aunt louises butt.

If you like your ZRT on the trails you'll love the T-Cat. I had a new 95 ZRT and loved it on the trails and that was before the aluminum bulkhead, and AWS 5.
The great thing about the triples is they can motor down the trails at 50 mph and are so smooth, and if you want to run her up to 120+ you can......

You will find that the T-Cat is a point and shoot kind of ride. Very fun but 300 mile day rides end up placing you on the couch for the day after. Light weight twins seem to be much more forgiving on sunday morning when I decide if I'm going out for another day of riding. Not to much different that the ZRT except for the new suspension. http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

snowblow, I agree that the T-cat may be desrcibed as point and shoot, although it is still definetely capable on the trails. *However I disagree that it it harder on you on the rough stuff. *I believe that the mass of the triples absorbers more of the blows from the bumps and saves the body some. *The lighter twins transfer more to your body. *Given that the suspension is equal. *I am seriously considering a 02 T-cat with the smart ride if I can find one left over or slightly used. *Know where I can find one?

I did a poor job explaining what I meant by saying hard on the body. I'm 35 years old and still try to ride like I'm 18. I have owned the T-Cat, Wildcat, and the older ZR'S. All of them are machines that demand alot of driver input when riding them down a rough twisty trail. The newer light weight machines require far less muscle expendature to ride at the same or even harder pace. The ZR 500 is a great trail machine for the simple fact that it is light in weight and is not super powerful so it can be ridden wide open much of the time and it isn't always trying to remove your arms from your shoulder like the T-Cat or the 800's. *http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

hi there if your looking for good handling good ride for trails its a very good sled. if its power,drags and speed your looking 4,dont waiste your money.

Paul, you called this one....sit back and watch 'em go!!!!!!!!!!

Oops, wasn't trying to stir things up. *I'd just like to get a few people's impressions of their TCats on the trails. *For the price on the '00 TCat I'm looking at I almost feel obligated to buy it but have never ridden one.

I can't remember how much the T-Cat weighs, but it can't be much more than the ZRT800. *So picture your sled, with better suspension, & more power. *Never rode one, but I can't see it handling much different than the ZRT. *Just more power.

MACH 69, what are you talking about?http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif? For power, speed and drags don't waste your money?http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif Are you drunk?http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif 130 mph I guess isn't real fast uh? I've seen more T-Cats blast Machs then the other way around.
The 2000 T-Cat weights in at 565 dry, according to cat.
I have ridden them for years with guys that have ZR's and I don't seem any more fatigue then they do. They are heavy but you don't plan on carrying it around on your back do you?

Jayjaysin theres a 02 for sale on Ebay in Penn I think......

I rode my buddies 99' T-Cat 1000 this past weekend with a fresh M-10 suspension in it at Tugg Hill and I loved it!! He also has it trail ported and clutched up a bit also. Man that sled has some serious power! I agree that a heavier sled helps soak up the bumps a bit. It was like riding a Cadillac! Very nice machine..... http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif. I own a 97' ZRT 600 and I am thinking about taking a different approach for the trails next year. Seeing that for the most part I ride in tighter bumpy trails, I am concidering a 03' F5 Firecat with a Sno Pro suspension. It sounds kinda crazy going from a 600cc back down to a 500cc, but where I ride your top speed about 80-90 miles an hour. Its all about suspenison. Getting back to the actual T-Cat topic, They are an awesome sled, If where I rode was more open like Tugg Hill or Canada, I would definetly own one myself... http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I have only seen a t-cat take a mach twice. *both times diffrent machines. *

Stock for stock the mach z goes faster period. *It accels faster period. *But it is harder to master in the trails. *

The T-cat or any triple for that matter is %50 better then any twin on the trails. *You feel like your cheating someone having all that power and paying the same gas as a 600 twin. *They are silk smooth and have tons of power. *

I drive my mach all day and dont have a problem. *It has such a good ride. *My favorite speed to cruise is about 90km because that is when the engine is just reved up past idle and slowly entering the powerband. * It is so smooth and you can hardly hear it on the sled. *You only hear it when you touch the gas. *

I let to guys on mxz 700 try it out last weekend and there all hooked on triples. *Get them well you can.

do you sleep with that thing?

http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Man you guys have some weird ideas sometimes!

I ride a ZRT600, I have ridden a 1998 Thundercat. It had picks galore. Hook up and run like HE.. well you know the rest (scary fast).

I have also ridden a 2000 ZR500 (among many other sleds). Lighter is better in all circumstances. This is why the manufacturers are making the sleds lighter.

I like the TTTrrriiipppllleee TTTrrriiipppllleee TTTrrriiipppllleee alot.

You have a ZRT800, it is the same thing with more power, riding the Thundercat to me did not seem much different than the ZRT600 except the throttle requires a bit more care.

As for soaking up the bumps more, The lighter 500 I noticed less of the trail and the bumps than my ZRT. Granted, the ACT shocks that come on the 2000 make a world of difference.

Also the heavier sleds do require more driver input and they are more stable as a result, but I don't feel that this qualifies as saying that it will absorb the impact of bumps better.
Personally, as for handling, I like the AWS 4 better.

As for the MachZ 800, The 1999 that I rode for a day I was able to master that machine in about an hour.

I ran heads up against that same Mach when we went to the UP and beat him up to 100mph with my 600. Granted mine is geared (and tops out at 100 at which time he vanished) and tuned and his is stock but.......

The same stock Mach800 when my ZRT 600 was stock, raced fairly even, but the snow conditions only let both of us spinnnnnnnnnnnnn the tracks.

The Mach is faster than my 600 but not faster than a Thundercat. Read the numbers. They weigh the same, 150 HP against 172 HP, in a stock sled race the Mach may actually win the SPINNING TRACK contest, LOL http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif .

The ACT shocks that come on the 2000 make a world of difference.

I have dont this about 5 times. *Me and a buddy with a SRX and a Buddy with a thundercat go flat out down a runway with hardpack. *The SRX is only good in the begining but the Mach will pull on the T-cat and remain 2 to 3 mph faster. *Meanwhile the SRX is left behind.

Thundercatzr. *Once after a lake crossing I was so far ahead of the group that i was lying down and fell asleep. *Does that qualify.

I'll add my .02.
It all comes down to rider preference. *I don't own a T-Cat (would love to) but I do own a 500ZR and a 600ZRT. *I prefer my ZRT if I had to make a choice. *It rides smoother and runs much, much smoother. *The powerband on my ZRT is more suited for cruising than the point-and-shoot ZR500. *This is my experience. *
As far as weight goes, I agree with the guy that says he doesn't plan on carrying his sled, neither do I. *Just don't get it stuck...
I've talked to guys that have ridden the T-Cat and their first comments were how smooth the power was. *Whether they were running 20mph or 100mph, the motor ran like silk and the power was just a thumb-twitch away. *These were Polaris guys and far from Cat-loyal.

Well regardless which sled is faster, the Mach and the T-Cat are both awesome machines. It doesn't matter how many ponies you have if you cant get the power to the snow.
There are tricks to getting a T-Cat to hook-up and with the addition of studs they are unbeatable. But then even with a 15 pitch chain you can snap them like a twig.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AKCAT @ Feb. 20, 2002, 8:54pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">But then even with a 15 pitch chain you can snap them like a twig.[/b][/quote]
AKCAT can you elaborate on this a little. *It might just be my ignorance but I&#39;m not sure what you mean. *Thanks.

I think what hes saying is. Once you eliminate all track spin buy having studs and great suspention set up, all the engine power can snap a drive chain. *

Snaping a drive chain is not fun. It can destroy the chain case, Cause a loss of control when the track locks up, or have a loss of brakes.

Exactly MachZZ, I have learned track spin (a little) is a good thing...........

Gotcha, thanks.

Thanks for all the input guys, it was really helpful. *I made up my mind and am now the proud owner of a &#39;00 Thundercat.

You&#39;ll love it, the great thing with a T-cat is a little clutch work and you have a rocket that does 14-16 mpg and that motor is bullet proof, the ride is awesome (its no ZR- snopro)
but at 80-90 MPH the front is so stable you can ride it with one hand *Good luck ,,,

LOL * THIS IS ALWAYS GOOD. THE THUNDER IS NOT FAST OR QUICK... THATS WHY CAT DROPPED IT OF THE LINE A HAVE OWNED THUNDERS. THE MACHZ WILL WALK ON THE THUNDER ALL DAY LONG. WHAT ARE U TALKING ABOUT 130MPH.....LOL EITHER YOUR REALY YOUNG OR JUST LOST.WE DO RADAR RUNS ALL THE TIME IF U WANT COME UP THIS WAY I HAVE A GUN AND WILL RADAR U! A THUNDER THAT HITS 115MPH IS A REALLY GOOD THUNDER. LOL *THIS WAS FUN

I agree with Machz69. *I have seen MachZ walk thunders. *But machines offer more then just power and speeds. *The thunder is still a great great machine and the fact that so many people defend it is proof. *

atyszka: *Your going to love that sled. *Power, speed, Smoothness, its a racer/crusier. *Good choice

Machz69,
Ski-Doos must run better in Canada or something......
Yea I&#39;ve seen machs beat T-Cats but after 25 yrs of snowmobiling it is hard to determine the fastest sled out there buy a bunch of hill-billy radar runs.
The radar gun that clocked me at 127 on a 97 T-Cat must have been set on Kilos, because Mach 69 said it can&#39;t be done because hes got a gun, well good for you buck-o.
Machz69, Don&#39;t let your alligator mouth over load your canary @#$.........

As a former T-Cat rider, There is no way a T-cat that has been properly maintained and re-jetted down 3 jet sizes from the factory jets, will lose in a flat out race to a mach. May be they use the wrong drive belts in canada on the T-Cats? http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Paul, it&#39;s still going.......

well it looks like akcat already lost *3 mph.....lol first it was 130 and now its 127... *he has to be one of those guys allllll MOUTH. in a bar im the fastest..... lets go run but never shows up.....lol my brother has a hooper 1108. with 230hp. and if u know cats hopper is pretty good. he runs 130mph on ice and thats a little more than what u could run. my younger brother runs a 97 tcat with a 1inch preditor and 144 studs and a goodwin clutch kit. so i know what cats do. i will agree that the 97 is the fastest cat of all. *a thunder with the set up i just mentioned will run and sometimes outrun a machz. if the mach has a stock track and stock clutching. if u clutch the mach it will outrun the thunder again. and i will agree with u on another point. that different brands do run better in different ereas. if u go to the hotsled shoot out u will see that machz 2000 is fatser and quicker. there is no need to get all upset and start calling people everything under the sun to try to proove your point. just relaxx........lol * ps. akcat i could give u a realy good set up for drags if your nice....;)

machz69, are you familiar with Clutching at all or do you just buy the kits like your little brother on the T-cat? *I think what you are running into in Canada is a lot of people that do not know a damn thing about their t-cats. *As for your buddy with the monster Hooper kit, I have heard of a lot of people beating those so that does not impress me at all. *I get a big kick out of you guys swaring that your Mach Z&#39;s are the fastest things produced when the real problem is you are racing people that know absolutely nothing about Clutching and just end up De-tuning their sleds. *Another thing, you guys want to talk about your Ski-Duds all the time, find the section marked Skidoo in big black letters and click on that, then you can tell all your bull #### stories to your skidoo buddies.

2000 T-CAT is an awesome sled! *Don&#39;t listen to these "player haters"...You now own the best so forget about the rest! *When your out on the trails just remember to slow down from time to time so some of these other guys can tell you how fast THIER sleds are. *http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Belive me. *A MachZ and thunder cat are close but the mach will win more times in a stock for stock race. *Say what you want but those are the facts. *I go to the drag races all the time and very rarly do you see a t-cat win its normally polaris or doo. *Polaris and doo have the fastest triples right now. *They dont make the high hp like the thunder but they have better clutching and weight transfer and the engine has a better powerband. *

I have driven both sleds and both sleds are excellent. *I think thats all that matters anyway. *But the facts are in a drag a properly tuned stock Mach Z will take a Properly tuned Thunder. *I have emmbarassed a lot of thunder cat owners that talk big just because it has 1000 written on it. *Sort of like the guy in his 5.0 mustang that just got wasted buy a loser in a civic. *Just because the engine is bigger doesnt mean it will win every race. *

Mach Z Advantages - Lighter - More Areodynamic - Better belt and clutch cooling - Engine has a more aggessive timing curve - Digitaly mapped ignition - Better primary clutch - Rave Valves which give it a stronger flater powerband - Less restrictive exhaust with better design and higher compression heads. * And finnally better rear suspention for hook up. *

Thunder Cat Advantages - Better secondary roller clutch, More hp.

If im wrong then please correct me but any drag racer knows im pretty close to being perfectly right.

Ohhhhhh,....WE believe you...... http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif *Now take your pills like the doctor said..... http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif * It&#39;s funny though, I don&#39;t remember ever hearing a skidoo being named WORLDS FASTEST PRODUCTION SNOWMOBILE!....hmmmmmmm http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Closed by moderator. *This has been discussed too many times.