2008 Arctic Cat TZ1 LXR

Since the earliest days of snowmobiling, Arctic Cat has claimed comfort as its touring technology. The first ‘comfort’ Cat was the slide rail equipped Panthers of the 1960s. That suspension made the Panther a ‘must have’ all-day cruiser. Fast-forward to 2008 and you can see that Arctic Cat engineering retains its flair for setting standards.

Cat’s touring legacy started with the early Panthers, continued with a series of sporty Pantera ‘Catillacs’ and is now showcased in an all-new series of 4stroke TZ1 models—Touring and LXR Touring.

In fairness, we must point out that the TZ1 bases itself on last year’s Z1 trail sports model. We suspect that many TZ1 models may be bought with the understanding that there will be a passenger along. However, given the TZ1’s competence as a one-up cruiser, we expect to see this luxury Cat being ridden solo.

Adaptability

Either as a two-up cruiser or as a solo-touring machine, the TZ1 will be smooth on the trail, powerfully playful in the twisties, and readily adaptable to any pair of riders. Adaptability puts the TZ1 ahead of the cruiser pack. If you can’t get comfortable on this sled, you can’t get comfortable in a Sleep Number bed!

Cat’s Twin Spar chassis suits this sled’s mission perfectly and the LXR seat features all the ‘goodies’ Cat can muster in its touring line. That means you can expect all that Infinite Rider Position offers. The seat can be moved to any one of seven positions—meaning you can adjust it 3.66 inches forward (or back again) and raise it upwards of 2.41 inches. There are an additional 11 positions of handlebar movement with another 3.32 inches of rake and add in 2.11 inches of rise. Then there’s up to 85 degrees of rotation in the bars as well. Oh, yeah, we’re forgetting the three positions available in the footrest area. Any doubt the TZ1 is adaptable for comfort?

Ready for more? Check out the TZ1 LXR and its electrically heated rider and passenger seats. In addition to the LXR’s rump roasters, you’ll find an adjustable height backrest, rearview mirrors, heated grips, soft rear luggage, and there’s a remote start capability that lets you fire up the sled from inside your weekend getaway suite.

You can even enjoy tunes on the trail with Cat Comm, Arctic Cat’s unique snowmobile communications system that can give you sled-to-sled, driver-to-passenger communication, as well as playing music from your MP3 player. You can push powder to Mozart, Kanye West or Shania Twain.

Action-Ready Ride

Embraced in comfort, you’ll like the feel of the new comfy Cat. Former ZR riders will note that they are immediately placed six-inches forward on the TZ1 and given a very good view of the trail ahead. You not only sit further ahead, but also sit taller in the TZ1 saddle compared to the old style ZR chassis. You are in a ‘ready for action’ mode as you can respond more quickly to upcoming bumps and dips. That sloping hood design gives you a much better view of the trail, yet the TZ1 windshield will protect you from the wind as well as that hulking, vibrating screen of the old-style ZR chassis-based touring sleds.

The TZ1 has a sporty side, too. Those new suspensions didn’t all go the F-series. The TZ1 comes with the latest state-of-the-Cat-art AWS VII front end. The key differences come in Ryde FX shock sets and swaybar calibration settings. You can count on the TZ1 slicing turns precisely and responding quickly to your steering inputs.

The rear suspension is an elongated Slide Action setup designed for superior ride and also to accommodate the longer track (15-inch width by 144-inch length) necessary on a two-up sled. Given its aggressive 1-inch lug footprint, the TZ1 can put power to the snow in a hurry.

Suspension travel measures 9.5-inches at the front and 13.3 inches at the rear.

4Stroke Power

Under the sloping hood, you’ll find the same 4stroke powerplant that was introduced in last season’s Z1 Jaguar. That means that the 1056cc 4stroke twin will use its 125-plus horsepower to let you take in hundreds of miles of winter scenery in a weekend cruise. While no engine is maintenance-free, the Cat-engineered/Suzuki-built Z1 engine won’t need an oil change for 3,000 miles and its first valve clearance check won’t come until you spin up 8,000 miles on the odometer.

One feature that Cat utilized from the beginning and that differs from other 4stroke makers is its anti-engine braking system. This allows the 4stroke TZ1 to freewheel like a two-stroke when you back off the throttle. Instead of having Cat riders adjust to the TZ1, Cat engineers adjusted the TZ1 to the riders, giving them a familiar experience in engine braking—or should we say lack of engine braking.

(As a note, Yamaha now uses anti-engine braking on some models. We admit that the 4stroke Yamahas took a bit of getting used to, but once we were acclimated we preferred engine braking on the Yamaha 4strokes. Because Cat opted for anti-engine braking on its 4stroke from the start, it’s never been an issue when test riding the new Cats.)

Complementary Design

Regardless of all that, Cat/Suzuki have done a wonderful job with this powerplant and found a chassis that complements the engine perfectly. We found last year’s Jaguar Z1 a bit of a mystery. Although it shared the F-series chassis, the Z1 was neither a speed sled nor as adept in handling as its two-stroke brethren. Now, in the TZ1 livery, the engine is completely at home. It is smooth at low end, midrange and competent enough at higher speeds to suit the needs of a two-up or solo cruiser.

Unlike Yamaha, which goes with three cylinders in its trail 4stroke, Cat decided to go with a pair of big bore cylinders in its one-liter 4stroke. They are fed via huge 48mm throttle bodies and controlled by an electronic fuel injection system. We found throttle response exceptional and throttle pull easy and smooth from idle to wide open. We figure the engine’s eager response comes from its double overhead cam design and computer mapping in the EFI.

Luxury Standout

With an eager engine, incredibly adjustable rider ergonomics, smooth ride and automotive touches like Cat Comm and remote start, the TZ1 stands out in the luxury-touring category. This two-up Cat is a joy to ride singularly, so if your partner hesitates when you tell them that you’re going out for a cruise, they best not snooze. Plug in your tunes, head down the trail and tell them later what they missed!