Xmas greetings to all!
Hope someone can help me here. I just returned from an Arctic Cat dealer and have a deal in the works for the above
machine. I have 2 questions for the knowledgeble group.

1. Will the 400 have enough power for what I want? Hunting in Northern Canada once each year, hopefully dragging out a moose carcass or deer. Most other riding done around the prairie river hills over rocks, trees, and cactus. I would use this machine mostly for enjoyment, and would rarely use it as a work machine hauling logs or plowing snow. By the way, I have owned a 91 Polaris 350 4x4, and currently own a 86 Honda 350 4x4. They seemed adequate power wise, but sadly lack in other areas!

2. The dealer said that the 4004x4 (not the independant suspension model) will have 4 tires on the ground when the opposite front/rear tires are on 10 inch blocks. Is this true? Will the ATC suspension in the rear let the machine do that? I am sure I have read some posts on this forum regarding this subject, but I only recall the 500i in the pictures.

I want the better suspension ride because my daughters like to ride as well. My old 350 honda has thrown me a few times because of the solid axle front and rear. I am very concerned about the girls doing so....not that they are riding in areas where it could happen. i just do not want to take a chance. I did look at the new Hondas 350 and 450 but because of the solid rear axle have chosen Arctic Cat. Did I do wrong?

So help me out 400 owners or anybody else that has an opinion. Thanks.

 

You'll be able to yard those carcasses anywhere. I've put my 02 400act on 9" ramps and the opposite wheels don't contact the ground.The AC brouchure lists the suspension travel as 8.5 front and 7.2 rear. But get one anyway; after riding DP cycles for 20 years, this thing's a hoot.

 

I own the 02 375. It has more than enough power for me. I ride my 4 year old son often and it rides like a dream. I remember a post here somwhere where a rubicon owner test drove the Arctic Cat and commented on how much better it handled the bumps that the rubicon.

As far as power is concerned, i think you'll find the AC to be heavier that your other bikes so it may not accelerate quite like them. But as far as having the torque to pull a moose. I pulled a 1990 Ford aerostar out of the mud on the side of the interstate a few weeks back. They had bald tires and it was raining, they lost traction and found themselves in the median. I put my 375 in 4 wheel, low range and pulled it out like it was nothing. My tires didn't even spin.

If you like auto's at all, check out the 375 auto. It'll out accelerate the 400 everytime and you wouldn't have to worry with shifting the gears. It's even 100 bucks cheaper MSRP. It is exactly the same bike as the 400 and 500 except for the engine. The 375 has 376 cc's and the 400 has 371 cc's. The 375 also sports a higher compression ratio which allows it to generate more horsepower than the 400. If you have to have a manual, the 400 is the way to go!

Hope this helps! And good luck on your search!

EtherNut

 

Hey bblomert. My father bought the 1986 Honda Foreman TRX-350FM in '86 when the first came out. He still has it to this day, with serious miles on it, beats the hell out of it (farm work during non-winter and snow plowing during winter @ upstate NY). What you will find extremely different about getting an Arctic Cat is the ride. That ACT suspension really does do what they say, it's the best implementation I've seen from a straight axle. $200 more bucks will get you AC's latest engineering feat, the i model. The 400i is THE EXACT SAME body, frame, and suspension as my 500i that you've seen. Just has a 400 versus 500. I can't say enough, how fun that thing is to ride through the technical stuff. You will have no problems hauling out whatever you want with either the 400 i or ACT models. That whole cc race is mainly for those who drag race their "utility" ATV's and like to go as fast as they can. A good driver can even make a 250 - 300 go anywhere the big guys go, so don't let them get to you. The only problem with the i model, is you might have to wait. But seeing how you keep you ATV's for many years, I would recommend waiting and paying the extra $200. If you liked that awesomely tough TRX-350, then you'll fall in love with either AC400 for their toughness and ride.

 

The 400 will do everything you want it to do, I am certain. I've never had one of the tires on a 10" block so I don't know what the results of that test will be, but I've never had a tire leave the ground either.

I don't use mine for heavy work, only for trail riding. I wanted a machine that would be comfortable, durable, and could handle about anything I took it through. The 400 does all this in spades.

The only thing the cat may dissappoint you on is top end speed. They're not built to be fast so their not. I've had the speedo to mine up to 53mph (no idea what "actual" speed that is). But the type of riding I use barely ever exceeds 20mph and is often under 5, so speed isn't an issue with me.

Cat's are heavy too, at least 100 lbs more than a comparable Honda. I don't think of this as a bad point, they're heavy because they're built tough (think Tank), but you might want to consider that. I occasionally let my 11 year old ride mine and have schooled him to take extra caution because of the weight. He's an exceptional rider, though.

My brother owns the 375, and if how you shift isn't an issue to you, you might want to consider this bike instead (as ethernut said). It's physically identical to the 400 and yet it feels much lighter and sportier. This is sporty compaired to the 400, mind you, not sporty compaired to the Kodiak or some other sport oriented machine. ALL the cats (except that 90) are WORK oriented machines.

Hope that helps.

 

Hey dude's . buddy I have had both the act& irs, I really liked the 2001 -400-4x4, I like the power it had , but I really like the 400-I ,It ride's great and you have 2-4 wheel drive option , 2001 didn't have that; but witch ever you chose , power or working wont be a problem they both are horses , good luck , MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL