Wow! For those who have been following the ATV industry over the past 10 years, explosion is the only word to describe it! The industry has expanded over and over again with many new machines on the market. Each year Honda, Polaris, and Arctic Cat compete for the best new machine on the market. I think we can clearly award Arctic Cat for 2008.
The newest member of the already amazing Arctic Cat ATV lineup is the Thundercat 1000. This incredible machine has a twin 475cc engine totaling at 950cc’s. The Thundercat 100 weighs 716 pounds. The engine gets an amazing 188 ft-lb of power from an engine with less than a liter of displacement. The engine compares to a Jeep with the size being just a little less, but the weight is far less. Some are concerned that the engine is way too much for such a small machine, but Arctic Cat says the machine is so easy to handle, that you can use it for anything.
ATC riders today want to be able to go fast, have great get-up power, and yet be able to maneuver around trees and up steep hills. Arctic Cat assures that the new Thundercat 1000 can do all of the above. The Thundercat can spin out with extreme speed, yet maneuver through the toughest of trails.
The engine has been engineered to balance perfectly. The 90 degree twin engines have been placed so that the power maneuvers easily, while minimizing vibration. The two 475cc engines balance each other to offset any engine movement. Since the engines balance each other out perfectly, no other structure or weight is needed to offset the weight and movement of the engine. There is no doubt that this technologically engineered ATV has been designed to support the size of the engine.
The makers of the Thundercat 1000 were not willing to release horsepower numbers, nor the top speed this giant machine can achieve. Guess those numbers are only available to those who are willing to purchase the machine.
Arctic Cat boasts of this machines ability to please any rider. They say that the beefy machine will please any ATV activist, while also pleasing the joy rider on a Sunday afternoon cruise.
The chassis of the Thundercat 1000 is similar to the one used on the 650 and 700 models, but has been specifically altered to manage the V-twin engine. The rear chassis was stretched a few inches to give the Thundercat a whopping 52.5 inch wheelbase.
The seat on the 1000 lies a bit lower than on the other models, giving the machine a lower center of gravity. The suspension has the ability to give up to 2 inches if needed. This makes for better turning and overall handling of the machine. The handle bars were also lowered to match the position of the seat.
The Thundercat also has specially made tires for this massive machine. Maxxis has engineered a special 4-speed radial tire. The sidewalls are stiffer and the carcass of the tired provides better durability and traction. The stiffness of the sidewalls makes the steering much easier from a driver’s standpoint. The handling is so easy that most first time drivers are happily surprised. One would think this massive, powerful machine would require great effort on the driver’s part to maneuver through the trails, but after riding the driver quickly realizes that is simply not true.
One more fun fact about this ATV is that is has the most complete tool kit yet to be designed to fit under the seat. You will find almost any tool you may need while out on the trail, making any repairs easy.
If you are an avid ATVist, you will definitely need to check out this machine. Whether you purchase it or not will probably be up to your paycheck, not the performance of the machine. This machine performs so well, no ATV rider would turn it away!
