COMPARISON / BIG BORE SHOOTOUT
Arctic Cat ZR 858 Sno Pro 129 Polaris Patriot 9R Indy XCR 136 Ski-Doo MXZ Adrenaline with Blizzard Package 850 E-TEC 137
holding it back now are the skis ,” which was reiterated when we rode a more precise-handling MXZ X-RS with the new skis later on the same day .
The ZR 858 Sno Pro finished third in handling , which doesn ’ t sound very encouraging but it really wasn ’ t bad . Testers raved about how the lightweight Catalyst design , unique steering system and free-flowing , minimalist ergos made the Arctic Cat immensely fun to toss around on a trail .
However , the ZR we had with us had the 129-inch track and related uncoupled rear suspension , and that required more of the rider ’ s attention when hustling it through turns .
“ The ZR was so incredibly fun to ride , but you had to stay on top of it ,” is how one rider described it . “ It was quick in both good and bad ways : Quick to pivot in turns , quick to transfer weight and lighten the skis , quick to chase a groove in the trail but it can also easily be pulled back into line .”
“ It definitely has a dirt-bike feel to it , thanks to its light weight and the rider ’ s ability to so easily manipulate the machine ,” another tester noted . The Catalyst design ’ s incredible balance was also showcased when we aired it out a few times , another tester noted . “ I could really push it through the bumps , knowing I had such great influence over its direction .”
Like the Ski-Doo , we also feel like the ZR 858 Sno Pro could benefit from new skis from Arctic Cat .
A snowmobile ’ s braking ability can definitely influence its handling , so we ’ ll cover that here as well . The Indy XCR had by far the most grabby , aggressive brake , which most of our team preferred but it also caught some off-guard .
“ After constantly grabbing a handful of brake to try to whoa-down the Ski-Doo , I practically threw myself over the handlebar the first time I grabbed the XCR ’ s binder ,” one tester said trailside , and then other folks shared similar stories .
The ZR ’ s brake was most neutral
– strong enough feeling with a tug on the handle to properly impact the momentum but not overly responsive . The Ski-Doo brake was panned by our test team for being too “ mushy feeling ” when grabbing the handle .
“ When I then went from the XCR to the MXZ , I thought I was going to have to drag a foot to help slow me down ,” another tester said in the aforementioned trailside conversation .
Ride Quality
Ski-Doo ’ s rMotion rear suspension has undergone a few changes over the years , with adjustments to its geometry , varying length suspension arms and other tweaks . But in broad terms , it is entering its 14th season on the snow in model year 2025 .
Our testing with this batch of sleds confirmed what we have written annually since it was first introduced for model year 2012 : In terms of soaking up energy , isolating the rider and providing a smooth experience , the rMotion is
20 / JANUARY 2025 / SNOWGOER . COM