A block away from the Arctic Cat factory, and two road approaches later, we pulled up to the Highway 59 stoplight on 2021 Blasts and I yelled at Pat with a huge smile under my helmet, “This isn’t a F’n kids sled!”
Arctic Cat marketing arranged a visit and ride for myself and longtime buddy and powersports wordsmith/photographer, Pat Bourgeois, on the all-new 2021 Blast (ZR and LT) with some familiar faces from engineering, Lynn Berberich (Engineering Manager), Mike Conely (Project Manager) and Brian Dick (Director of Product Strategy and former Team Arctic Cross-Country racer).
“Enter the Right-Sized Blast.”
When starting employment at AC in 2004, I had heard references like pit-sled, entry-level, mid-size, three-quarter and transition thrown around the inter-sanctum of the product war room until my departure in 2019. And over that time, just as many concept versions of those sleds were built, and shelved, because the sled was never defined to meet a price point, styling, and size criteria for a given market – until now. Enter the Right-Sized Blast.
Cost has always been a factor to bring this type of snowmobile to market. If you don’t know, one of the biggest money suckers to build a new snowmobile is always the engine, followed by headlights and bodywork. If we rewind a handful of years ago, the chances of launching a 65-hp class snowmobile with a high rate of success would have been moderately low, given the amount of carryover units in the field.
Not following? Would you buy an $8K entry level snowmobile during a time when a carryover with two-to-three times the horsepower can be had for the same price? Probably not. Now that the vast majority of carryovers have disappeared, and smaller horsepower snowmobiles (Z 370/440/570 and the like) are getting long in the tooth and harder to find and maintain, the Blast seems right to enter the market.
So, since I’ve written more copy than most of us have read since highschool, I’ll break my iRide Review down nice and simple:
MSRP
I’m envisioning the comments section right now saying $8k is too much (maybe so) but I don’t think it’s out of line (Blast ZR $7,695 MSRP US). Some wish the Blast would be priced where the Polaris EVO is, and you have that rightful wish. I’ve spent a fair amount of time on the Polaris EVO, and it’s an admirable entry level snowmobile for beginners, but apples to apples, the EVO isn’t even close to the same excitement level, power, or feature category as the Blast, nor should the Blast be offered as a loss leader like Polaris is doing with the EVO.
SIZE – How big is Mid-Sized?
- If a ZR 8000 is full-size, a Blast ZR would be seven-eighths and the ZR 200 would be a three-quarter sled. I’d prefer to think of it as Right-Sized considering the Blast fits a wide variety of riders in a lightweight package.
ERGONOMICS
- Blast ZR and LT ergos feel right. I’m 6’4” and plenty of room on the ZR. Knees weren’t cramped and space to slide my size 14 boots forward in footwells.
- Narrow Blast ZR seat and texture of new thermo-formed seat cover provide easy side-to-side butt maneuvering when riding actively through corners.
- ZR Seat Foam was a bit stiff, but I’ll give a hall pass considering units were fresh off the line and foam is characteristically stiff when new on any model, including LT.
- LT seat adds 1- to 2-inches over the ZR. While I appreciated the taller LT seat and wind protection from the high windshield, the combo gave the Blast LT a slightly larger, full-size snowmobile feeling over the ZR. (Not a bad thing)
- LT seat could retrofit over to the ZR and M models.
NEW CONTROLS
- Blast is well-equipped with Powersport digital gauge and turn-key electric start located on the console.
- Also located on the console is the handwarmer and thumb warmer switches and high/low beam switch. Important to note here, the handwarmers don’t have variable heat settings like a fullsize ZR. Instead, the Blast employs an “all-or-nothing” switch. Regardless whether you think you’d like that or not, I found it easy to use, and the handwarmers were nice and warm, which is often an under-appreciated characteristic of Arctic Cat snowmobiles compared to other OEMs. Also standard is a console-mounted tether switch.
- Located above the thumb warmer switch on right side of console is a new rocker switch (Found on Blast models only) that engages engine reverse. Like the handwarmer switch, it took me a couple uses before adapting to the relocation from traditional handlebar location. All switches work as they should and I enjoy the look of a clean handlebar to add a high-quality handguard from Rox Speed FX.
POWER
- My biggest surprise! Expectation was a 570 fan-like power delivery. Which in my opinion is a flat and boring power-curve. [Insert Zzzzzzzzz here]
- Cranking out 65hp class performance, the liquid-cooled power delivery with electronic fuel-injection is much more exciting. The all-new 397cc single-cylinder CTEC2 engine weighs under 50lbs and snaps to life via CV Tech clutches. Within the first few hundred feet after blipping the throttle, you know this engine and lightweight chassis want to play!
- At 6’4”, 250lbs, my Samsquanch-sized arse saw speeds of 72mph on the ZR and slightly less on the LT, primarily due to the track lengths, widths and lug heights. (121 vs 146 length track, 14- vs 15-inch width and 1- vs 1.6-inch lug respectively).
- The engine has a new design on the exhaust pipe, but utilizes the same resonator (muffler) as its big brother 800 CTEC2 engine. (See -8.8lb Speedwerx lightweight muffler)
NEW CHASSIS AND FRONT END
- The all-new lightweight one-piece flat top tunnel rides predictably as it should and feels nice and rigid.
- The front end (bulkhead) is shared with full-size models, but utilizes an adjustable 37-39-inch ski stance with AMS spindles, attached to the 6-inch Trail Ski for planted, front-end cornering.
- Single Runner carbides add a bit of speed, but I’m not a fan of the trail darting characteristics found with them. When I buy a Blast, I will be trading the single-runner out for a dual-runner set up and plan to lay off the cheeseburgers to make up for the minor loss in speed.
REAR SUSPENSION AND TRACK
- Not many snowmobiles employ a 121-inch skidframe anymore, which is a damn shame. The playful nature of this “shorty” slide rail suspension is new and works considerably well utilizing dual hydraulic twin-tube shocks with adjustable torsion springs. Again, with my large frame, the adjustable torsion springs were cranked up to highest setting and I never experienced the front or rear arm bottoming over multiple road approaches.
- The Blast ZR track adds to the element of fun. At 14-inches wide, the one-inch lug track releases smiles and is a pure pleasure for controlled drifting around corners under power.
- The Xtra-Action skidframe found on the LT is the same as found on the full-size Norseman but in 146 length and 1.6-inch lug. This Cobra track powers through surprising deep snow, and in my opinion, makes an ideal explorer/adventure snowmobile and light-utility performer.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
- Arctic Cat employs the Stealth master cylinder w/lightweight caliper brake system on the Blast and performs just as well as it does on its full-size counterparts.
- The Blast utilizes the Ascender skid plates and side panels from full-size ALPHA mountain snowmobiles for its narrowness, but the hood, along with a new air intake w/under-hood air draw, are all new which aids in the seven-eighths scale.
- Halogen 1-bulb headlight is the same found in the ZR 6000 R SX race sled.
- 11.7-gallon fuel tank is borrowed from full-size models. It may be overkill, but this single-cylinder will give you quite the range with that large tank.
- You can buy ready to ride accessory kits with the Blast which are: Blast ZR Trailblazer Kit – ProClimb Bumper, Trail Pack and Highwindshield. Blast LT Winter Essentials Kit – ProClimb Bumper, Hitch Kit and Handlebar Bag. Blast M Pro Kit – Pro Climb Bumper, Mountain Pack and Handlebar bag.
CAN’T THANK YA ENOUGH FOR THE TIME
- The Blast is the perfect Right-Sized snowmobile for anyone. I think AC did a great job coming to market with a unit that exudes fun in a lower hp class that has been absent for far too long.
- In a tight twisty, wooded section of trail on our ride, Brian Dick opened my eyes to the true performance the Blast is capable of (and Brian’s riding ability). If you ride these types of trails, the Blast ZR absolutely shines with its smaller slotcar-esque handling that will make lesser riders on full-size sleds eat humble pie. I admittedly couldn’t keep up to Brian when I was riding the ZR 800 (and him on the Blast ZR) in the woods. I get my size from eating humble pie with a large fork. [sigh]
- If you want to demo ride a Blast or other 2021 models, check the Arctic Cat events page on website, and visit your local dealer to inquire.
- Remember, if you want a 2021 Blast, you only have until April to order one under the Snowmageddon sales event, otherwise you’ll be left wanting if you wait.
