• Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

Should i consider this as my first snowmobile

P
Dec 15, 2018
1,060
872
113
I've been OCD shopping for my first real snowmobile . Been bugging people all over the interwebs to help me not get burned. If this is ok what value would you give it ? Thanks Charlie
 

Big Dawg 51

Member
Premium Member
Dec 3, 2007
127
15
18
Walla Walla, WA
I would keep looking for a 2014-16. 14 has lots of updates (weight loss, painted rails and tunnel, front end and skid geometry, clutches, etc.)And 16 has even more with 36 inch front end, new ski, team clutches, more weight loss and more geometry improvements.
If you found a 14 or 15, you can update to new front end.
We have both a 14 and 16 in our riding group. Arctic Cat has worked hard to improve this chassis since it's release in 2012.
Hope that helps.


Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk
 

summ8rmk

Most handsome
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Feb 16, 2008
12,368
6,039
113
yakima, wa.
I agree with big dawg.
Ill add, the 14 has a couple upgrade musts, two 15+ parts to make it reliable . The lower steering bracket and jackshaft. The 16 front end isn't a must for reliability but definitely a huge improvement for handling.
The 16+ clutches are a huge improvement also. So the 16 is easily worth $1,500-2k more than the 14, not to mention the 3in track..


Sent it
 
Last edited:

bgraff1

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 29, 2007
894
323
63
Lloydminster, Alberta
i personally wouldnt get anything older than a 16. better front end, better clutching, better track (also in 15), better geometry etc etc etc. you can do all of this to a 14/15 but the costs would be much greater than if you just got a 16+. this is also your first sled i suppose so you might like the wider more stable 38" stance of the 13-15. depending where you plan on riding, and how much, would dictate what i would get. a 14/15 600 might suit you just fine or you might immeditly wish you got the 800
 

boondocker97

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Oct 30, 2008
4,076
2,794
113
Billings MT
As others have said in the Cat world I would get a 2014 minimum. The 2016+ is even better. If you are a beginning rider the benefits of a 2016 over a 2014 might not be as noticeable other than long term durability of the clutches. $6000 for a 2015 600 is a little high in my opinion. Friend of mine picked up a 2014 600 with 43 original miles on it for $4500 this fall, but that was a unicorn deal. The one in Spokane looks like it might have the newer 2016 style a-arms on it already.

You seem to be looking around Bozeman. A lot of the riding close to there is 8-10K feet elevation where you're down on power so it might be worth it to get a 800. That being said me and a friend used to ride all over there with 6 and 700s in college and still had a blast and that was on sleds 10 years older than what you're looking at.
 
Premium Features