I also posted this in another topic on the page but I figured that that post had enough interest and questions that I'd just start a new one. I wish I could have had this kind of info when I bought my last sled.
I was very lucky to be invited by a dealer to ride the 2012's in Island Park at the Cat demo ride. This is about as unbiased a review as you're going to get, the only Cat I've ever owned is a 99 ZR580 shorty.
I have been on a 300+ hp MCX "lightweight" Apex for 4 years. I think to give a real world opinion of the M1100T it is tough for 2 stroke guys. Anything other than a 2 stroke anything is going to "feel" heavy. Even factory Cat guys think a 4 stroke is heavy. Anyone who has made the switch from a 2 stroke knows what they are getting themselves into. No one tries to convince themselves "it's almost as light".
The rider that has the Snowest post is dead on with the M1100T opinion. Stock to stock it wasn't that close, took lines that other riders were doing on the M8's and I wasn't struggling in some of those spots they were. I didn't ride the 2 stroke anything other than my dealer's Stage 2 Cutler on a 2011 M8. I would rather ride the stock M1100T, not because it had more power obviously, but I could never get used to the old chassis. I felt so at home on the new chassis that I could ride it more aggressively than the sled I've rode for 4 years. The rider forward steering post will not be on the 2012 but will be available as aftermarket I understand. I rode the M1100T Snow Pro with the 40" ski stance and the "mule" as they call it with the rider forward post and the 38" stance. The forward post location was perfect for me. It made the ability to flick the sled around way easier than the difference the ski stance made IMO. It didn't hurt that that sled also had an extra 20-25 horse, even thou they said they were all the same. Right.
For anyone who doesn't know, the MCX kit on an Apex is a rear mount turbo. I obviously don't dance thru the trees like a 2 stroke but my favorite riding type is boondocking so I've learned to ride with weight and rear mount turbo lag. The front mount on the M1100T felt like no lag to me. It's building boost at 4000rpm! I'm used to nothing until 6K. Guys used to 2 strokes were talking how the throttle response was slower, and well it will be. I can say when I get on a 2 stroke that it has no torque. Again, if you don't ride 4 stroke it's not like changing from a 600 to an 800 on the same chassis. You have to learn to ride it differently. I'm not trying to say I'm the best rider in the world but I can ride a 4 stroke better than a 2 stroke after 4 years of being on one. My dealer buddy stretched a ZR1 EXT with anywhere between 220 and 280hp and rode it this year. He will not be going back to his 2 stroke turbos he's riden for the last 5 years. He is sold.
I will be riding a M1100T SP this fall. I know what it is and I know what I will do to make it ride how I want. It is nothing new, anyone that gets into 4 stroke will not leave it stock for very long. I can tell you that I can't remember very many days that I had that much fun sledding, and on a stock sled to boot. That thing is probably lighter than the 10K spent on lightweight parts for my Apex. You can't complain that 560lbs is still too heavy, you are never going to see a 4 stroke close to 2 stroke weight from factory. I think it is unbelieveable how much they did to get a factory sled to that weight. Check out the other manufacture's 4 stroke weights.....
Seat heater sounds a little wussy, but it's cool.
The goggle warmer pouch is killer.
I've never been more impressed with a sled, stock or otherwise. The balance of the sled was so right for me. I'm 6'2" 230.
I can't beleive I just waved a Cat flag. My buddy hassles me now, but not as much as I give him grief after all the smack he talked about 4 strokes for the last 4 years.
I was very lucky to be invited by a dealer to ride the 2012's in Island Park at the Cat demo ride. This is about as unbiased a review as you're going to get, the only Cat I've ever owned is a 99 ZR580 shorty.
I have been on a 300+ hp MCX "lightweight" Apex for 4 years. I think to give a real world opinion of the M1100T it is tough for 2 stroke guys. Anything other than a 2 stroke anything is going to "feel" heavy. Even factory Cat guys think a 4 stroke is heavy. Anyone who has made the switch from a 2 stroke knows what they are getting themselves into. No one tries to convince themselves "it's almost as light".
The rider that has the Snowest post is dead on with the M1100T opinion. Stock to stock it wasn't that close, took lines that other riders were doing on the M8's and I wasn't struggling in some of those spots they were. I didn't ride the 2 stroke anything other than my dealer's Stage 2 Cutler on a 2011 M8. I would rather ride the stock M1100T, not because it had more power obviously, but I could never get used to the old chassis. I felt so at home on the new chassis that I could ride it more aggressively than the sled I've rode for 4 years. The rider forward steering post will not be on the 2012 but will be available as aftermarket I understand. I rode the M1100T Snow Pro with the 40" ski stance and the "mule" as they call it with the rider forward post and the 38" stance. The forward post location was perfect for me. It made the ability to flick the sled around way easier than the difference the ski stance made IMO. It didn't hurt that that sled also had an extra 20-25 horse, even thou they said they were all the same. Right.
For anyone who doesn't know, the MCX kit on an Apex is a rear mount turbo. I obviously don't dance thru the trees like a 2 stroke but my favorite riding type is boondocking so I've learned to ride with weight and rear mount turbo lag. The front mount on the M1100T felt like no lag to me. It's building boost at 4000rpm! I'm used to nothing until 6K. Guys used to 2 strokes were talking how the throttle response was slower, and well it will be. I can say when I get on a 2 stroke that it has no torque. Again, if you don't ride 4 stroke it's not like changing from a 600 to an 800 on the same chassis. You have to learn to ride it differently. I'm not trying to say I'm the best rider in the world but I can ride a 4 stroke better than a 2 stroke after 4 years of being on one. My dealer buddy stretched a ZR1 EXT with anywhere between 220 and 280hp and rode it this year. He will not be going back to his 2 stroke turbos he's riden for the last 5 years. He is sold.
I will be riding a M1100T SP this fall. I know what it is and I know what I will do to make it ride how I want. It is nothing new, anyone that gets into 4 stroke will not leave it stock for very long. I can tell you that I can't remember very many days that I had that much fun sledding, and on a stock sled to boot. That thing is probably lighter than the 10K spent on lightweight parts for my Apex. You can't complain that 560lbs is still too heavy, you are never going to see a 4 stroke close to 2 stroke weight from factory. I think it is unbelieveable how much they did to get a factory sled to that weight. Check out the other manufacture's 4 stroke weights.....
Seat heater sounds a little wussy, but it's cool.
The goggle warmer pouch is killer.
I've never been more impressed with a sled, stock or otherwise. The balance of the sled was so right for me. I'm 6'2" 230.
I can't beleive I just waved a Cat flag. My buddy hassles me now, but not as much as I give him grief after all the smack he talked about 4 strokes for the last 4 years.
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