Good question! I don't know, but when I was at the photo shoot we asked and people said it was very unlikely - just not enough room. But, look at what Ski Doo did - they took their 2-stroke chassis and made it a little wider, then they could fit in a 4-stroke. So, I wonder if Cat could modify the Catalyst a little bit and have a separate 4-stroke version of it. The ProCross was built to fit in all different sized engines, but the Catalyst only fits one (both the 600 and 858 are roughly the same size on the outside). I think they have a 4-stroke in their plans, but I doubt it will be in the Catalyst.
@@MJCART-be9nb I think they will definitely keep 4-strokes. However, I think big changes are coming. There's been a persistent rumor about Cat developing their own 4-stroke. Then, there's the problem of not being able to fit the engine into the current Catalyst. If I was betting on it, I'd put my money on a platform derived from the Catalyst and their own 4-stroke. I really don't expect Yamaha to supply engines for much longer, and I also don't think the ProCross will last much longer. We could see another big announcement in a year.
I have been considering this not only for price but weight. Cant remember if I ever sat on one. My question is, would I feel comfortable on this all day riding? Does it really feel like 7/8 size? What is the weight? For a new sled, under 10k with a warranty, it would be a good option.
You're gonna need to see one in person. That said, yes it absolutely FEELS smaller, by quite a lot. When I was growing up, the hottest sleds were elTigres, Blizzards and TX's. Compared to modern sleds, those "adult-sized" sleds are tiny. The Blast Platform feels like it's that size, although I think they're a bit larger in actual size. Same with weight - they FEEL like they're about the same weight as those old 70'smachines, but they might be a little heavier. When I think back to those days, I remember how nimble those sleds felt and how easy it was to get them to do whatever you wanted them to do. But, I also remember riders wearing kidney belts and coming home with ringing in my ears and frostbitten fingers. The Blast models are all of that without any of that. They ride really well, handle well, but are nimble and easy to get them to do what you want them to do. They even have reverse, which comes in handy. That said, they are only 65 horsepower. I have seen adults get on and not want to get off. So, maybe power isn't a big deal. Just be clear that these things won't bend the space-time continuum. There are a few of these sleds in some dealer inventory, and hopefully there's one or more near enough to you that you can go check them out.
Isn't the Neo a full-sized sled? I think each manufacturer has approached the same segment with a different solution - they're not copying each other. Thus, I'm not sure I can agree with you, because I don't know the what the best approach is. Like everything Ski Doo does, they are beating the competition badly - it's the state of snowmobiling right now. But, I don't know if their lineup is packed with winners or if their market domination is driving sales, regardless of whether they have the best to offer. I suspect it's a little of both. I'll take Polaris or Cat any day over Ski Doo, because I'm more used to them - the Ski Doos have a different "feel". I suspect it's the same for Ski Doo riders, and since there's more of them, I think that drives repeat sales more than anything else.
@@dskofich If people should look at the Neo, and pass over the equivalent Arctic Cat model then that could be useful for people to know. I created this video to highlight the broad range of Blast models available by Arctic Cat for 2025, but I could certainly create another one to compare the equivalent 2025 sleds from each manufacturer, if people are interested in that.
@@dskofich That could very well be, I don't know. Without physically seeing and/or riding them, a comparison video probably wouldn't be valuable. However, I've got a fair number of videos on newbie-related topics and I think that might be something I can and should put together. Last Hay Day's, my goal was to skip the Ski Doo trivia contest and cover the Arctic Cat presentation. This year, a comparo on the entry-level sleds from all 3 might be a good project. I doubt I'd get to it before then, just because of the amount of research I'd have to do, and that doesn't do buyers much good for those ordering this spring. We'll see, I appreciate what you're saying.
Great video, I’ve been looking at those blasts for a couple years now, if I had the money I’d go out and buy one
thank you for this video.
Will Arctic Cat put a 4 stroke in the Catalyst platform? Even if it's a twin...
Good question! I don't know, but when I was at the photo shoot we asked and people said it was very unlikely - just not enough room. But, look at what Ski Doo did - they took their 2-stroke chassis and made it a little wider, then they could fit in a 4-stroke. So, I wonder if Cat could modify the Catalyst a little bit and have a separate 4-stroke version of it. The ProCross was built to fit in all different sized engines, but the Catalyst only fits one (both the 600 and 858 are roughly the same size on the outside). I think they have a 4-stroke in their plans, but I doubt it will be in the Catalyst.
@@ponycarfan or do you AC will remove themselves from the 4 stroke market? I hope not...!
@@MJCART-be9nb I think they will definitely keep 4-strokes. However, I think big changes are coming. There's been a persistent rumor about Cat developing their own 4-stroke. Then, there's the problem of not being able to fit the engine into the current Catalyst. If I was betting on it, I'd put my money on a platform derived from the Catalyst and their own 4-stroke. I really don't expect Yamaha to supply engines for much longer, and I also don't think the ProCross will last much longer. We could see another big announcement in a year.
I have been considering this not only for price but weight. Cant remember if I ever sat on one. My question is, would I feel comfortable on this all day riding? Does it really feel like 7/8 size? What is the weight? For a new sled, under 10k with a warranty, it would be a good option.
You're gonna need to see one in person.
That said, yes it absolutely FEELS smaller, by quite a lot. When I was growing up, the hottest sleds were elTigres, Blizzards and TX's. Compared to modern sleds, those "adult-sized" sleds are tiny. The Blast Platform feels like it's that size, although I think they're a bit larger in actual size. Same with weight - they FEEL like they're about the same weight as those old 70'smachines, but they might be a little heavier.
When I think back to those days, I remember how nimble those sleds felt and how easy it was to get them to do whatever you wanted them to do. But, I also remember riders wearing kidney belts and coming home with ringing in my ears and frostbitten fingers. The Blast models are all of that without any of that. They ride really well, handle well, but are nimble and easy to get them to do what you want them to do. They even have reverse, which comes in handy.
That said, they are only 65 horsepower. I have seen adults get on and not want to get off. So, maybe power isn't a big deal. Just be clear that these things won't bend the space-time continuum.
There are a few of these sleds in some dealer inventory, and hopefully there's one or more near enough to you that you can go check them out.
@@ponycarfan Thank you so much for the response! Great info!
Does this mean my nytro 121 is a 7/8 snowmobile! 😢
😂
Ski Doo has them beat with the Neo badly
Isn't the Neo a full-sized sled? I think each manufacturer has approached the same segment with a different solution - they're not copying each other. Thus, I'm not sure I can agree with you, because I don't know the what the best approach is. Like everything Ski Doo does, they are beating the competition badly - it's the state of snowmobiling right now. But, I don't know if their lineup is packed with winners or if their market domination is driving sales, regardless of whether they have the best to offer. I suspect it's a little of both. I'll take Polaris or Cat any day over Ski Doo, because I'm more used to them - the Ski Doos have a different "feel". I suspect it's the same for Ski Doo riders, and since there's more of them, I think that drives repeat sales more than anything else.
@@ponycarfan LOL
@@dskofich If people should look at the Neo, and pass over the equivalent Arctic Cat model then that could be useful for people to know.
I created this video to highlight the broad range of Blast models available by Arctic Cat for 2025, but I could certainly create another one to compare the equivalent 2025 sleds from each manufacturer, if people are interested in that.
@@ponycarfan IMO The N oe out blasts the Blast in every way especially price
@@dskofich That could very well be, I don't know. Without physically seeing and/or riding them, a comparison video probably wouldn't be valuable. However, I've got a fair number of videos on newbie-related topics and I think that might be something I can and should put together. Last Hay Day's, my goal was to skip the Ski Doo trivia contest and cover the Arctic Cat presentation. This year, a comparo on the entry-level sleds from all 3 might be a good project. I doubt I'd get to it before then, just because of the amount of research I'd have to do, and that doesn't do buyers much good for those ordering this spring. We'll see, I appreciate what you're saying.