i've gone to three different demo rides now to compare my 16 with the new 18s, doing so i have been able to trade back and forth between my good running and lightweighted 16....the new 18 is improved in many ways, and i figured there wouldn't be enough improvement in the 18 to sway me over, but there is...i wish there was a 174, but the 162 3" is pretty darn good...i seriously don't know how a manufacturer can come up with enough graphics to make everyone happy, which is why the after market does well...all in all, cat has addressed virtually all the complaints of the last few years, some of which were pretty trite in my opinion...the new engine/clutching is very good, handling/ride both on and off trail is sweet and better than any poo i've ridden....cat dependability is better than either of doo's or poo's that i've been with over the last several years...i think the new cats are an awesome improvement over pre 16 efforts, and overcome virtually all significant shortcomings....i put a ti can on my 16 le, along with belt drive and oil delete, and am two pounds heavier that a 3" 163 polaris, and 8 lbs lighter than the 174, all full of fluids on the same hook scale....most of the poo guys add front and rear bars and tunnel strengtheners which make the supposed weight differences negligible anyway....my cat can take a front hit that would buckle either a poo or doo front suspension/bulkhead, and yes i've owned both....so bottom line to Cat, i think you've done an excellent job with the 18s..:face-icon-small-hap
