The cats are great stock but once you add aggresive mud tires to them they snap axles left and right. I busted two axles on my 500i I used to have, after I busted the second one I didn't drive it for months. Sold it a few months ago and I have never felt better once it left my hands.

The new '04 cats are supposed to have the axle problem fixed but I will wait 2 years and watch these forums to see how they work out. I bought a Kawi 650 and a solid axle is your best friend, reliability is key to having fun.

 

Cats rule, lets get serious ac's are really made as a UTILITY vehicle, its not really recognized as a recreational atv thats why the class on some of the other makes and models are utility/recreational. Cats in my opinion are well built for working thats why they have the mrp design platform for work and hunting. Dont get me wrong they are also fun to ride but when it comes down to stump pulling, field clearing, moose draging bad *** hard labour days i've never had a better built machine then you can sit back and see what reliability really is. if you like to ride trails any bike will do, there all made really well compared to 10 years ago.