Backcountry (and some trail) riders looking to swap the stock Arctic Cat hand controls with something that's less bulky and less likely to shred in the event of a HOLY CRAPETH moment might appreciate the Handlebar Control Kit from Speedwerx.

Engineered for 8000/6000 Series machines, the kit replaces the stock controls with momentary buttons for the engine stop and electronic reverse switches on the handlebars, with rocker switches for the hand/thumb warmers and the high/low beam on the dash. A heavy-duty aluminum throttle block is also included.

The kit comes with an OEM-quality, pre-wired handlebar wire harness for a no-hassle plug and play installation. Plus it saves .45lbs over the stock set-up!

Interested? Speedwerx sold the first run of inventory, but you can pre-order for the next round and be ready to rip this winter.

It's been a few years since Arctic Cat has offered a premium boot featuring the latest materials and technology.

The new Boss Cat boots are a return to that category, and something that I'll be checking out this winter.

Click to get the skinny on this @$$-kicking boot.

I have seen the future of snowmobiling.

It’s a 7-year-old kid from Toronto, a 10-year-old from Old Forge, and a yet-unborn child from Grand Forks.

And it's a 200cc, mid-sized machine that will be ably ridden on trails and every condition that winter offers.

Click to read why the Arctic Cat ZR 200 is the ArcticInsider 2018 Snowmobile of the Year.

World leaders from North America and beyond officially declared that September was "Team Arctic Rules the World" month following a series of grass drag racing exploits. So complete and crushing were the performances of Team Green the last several weeks, that grown men wept, the climate refused to change and Democrats and Republicans were talking nicely to each other.

Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but the drubbing handed out by Arctic Cat racers has been especially brutal this grass drag season. Click for a brief recap on Hay Days, Excell Park (New York) and the Ohio Snow Bash.

Arctic Cat and the Black Cat team of Cory Davis, Rob Kincaid, Dave McClure and Brett Turcotte set a new highmark in snowmobile video sweetness.

I'm personally responsible for at least 598 of the views on various media channels, with more to come.

Watch and enjoy. Repeat.

Four months ago, John Collins, vice president of the consumer business for Textron Specialized Vehicles, talked with us here about Textron's purchase of Arctic Cat.

In terms of what Arctic Cat would look like under Textron ownership, that first interview offered only a few broad-brush strokes, and less specific detail.

Now that we’re nearly six months into the new Arctic Cat and Textron Off Road, Collins (above right, shown talking with Arctic Cat legend Roger Skime) offers new insight into the integration; what they’ve learned about Arctic Cat and its loyal customers; the just-released model line of ATVs and side-by-sides; and more.

You name it, and it was at Hay Days: snowmobiles, racers, races, ATVs, legends, fans, winter, summer, mud, food, greatness, grossness, old car tires and more.

It is an amalgamation of nearly everything that touches any aspect of snowmobiling, with just enough weirdness.

Because...Hay Days.

Click for a pictorial tribute to a mere slice of what went down at the 2017 edition.

Team Arctic's Tucker Hibbert and Logan Christian will head into stock-class snocross battle this season on an all-new 2018 ZR 6000R SX race sled that they spent considerable time and testing this past spring.

Here's a snipit of Tucker and Logan doing a lap on prototypes of the machine.

"It’s a night-and-day improvement.” — Tucker Hibbert

"It’s substantially better everywhere on the track.” — Logan Christian

Click to read MORE of what they say about the big changes to the track, front suspension and rider ergo's.

Despite winning the 2017 I-500 cross-country, Iron Dog and USXC championship, the ZR 6000R XC getting more than just bold new graphics for 2018.

There's a new seat, new TEAM driven clutch with tubular driven shaft, FOX QS3R shock, new TEAM Rapid Response II drive clutch, new Ripsaw track and more.

Click for some cross-country deliciousness (and all the details).

In case you were wondering how serious Arctic Cat is about winning in stock class snocross racing this season, the all-new 2018 ZR 6000R SX race sled has 350 new parts compared to last season, including:

* 20 lbs. lighter

* New 136-in. track

* A heavily updated ARS front suspension with taller spindles and new geometry

* A heavily revised C-TEC2 6000 EFI engine with new cylinders and exhaust valve configuration

* Lightwight, no-slosh 3-gal. fuel tank

* All-new lightweight and ergo-friendly seat design

* New TEAM driven clutch and tubular driven shaft

* And a WHOLE bunch more.

Double-jump over to the main story to learn all the details.

For a measly $600, why WOULDN'T you buy this custom Arctic Cat Prowler?!?

The handlebar and 10-plus-10-in. riser combo alone is easily worth $300. And the True Timber camo paint job would fetch $100 at any art fair.

True, the seat does scrub some off the overall value. But on sled like this, there ain't no sittin'.

Click here to see the original craigslist ad. Seller would probably deliver to Haydizzle this weekend.

Hurry, because I'm interested.

I'm thankful for when the three-martini lunch fueled the creative fire of advertising agencys' copywriters.

I'm thankful I wasn't the only young kid who, in the early 1970s, just barely detected the subtle sexual innuendo of Kawasaki's advertisement touting the big jugs on the Arctic Cat EXT.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.

There's camo, and then there's CAMO!

The new Arcticwear Sno Camo is an example of the latter...a jacket that can and will be seen.

Click to learn a little more about the latest threads from Arcticwear.

The grass drag season has fired up and already the Arctic Cats are rippin' up the turf.

Dale Roes of D&D Racing checks in with a report from the recent event in Hermon, Maine, where Team Green left the competition all black-and-blue.

Click for a quick recap.

Who is #WaitingForWinter besides you and I and Waiting For Winter Guy? Everyone else, including Arctic Cat!

It's the 1970s. Your a kid...part of the baby-boomer generation. Chances are, the prospect of riding a minibike was as powerful as any desire you'd yet experienced, although puberty might soon deliver some next-level desires.

The only desire that matched that of minibikes/dirt bikes, was the desire for snowmobiles.

Click to read more.

Today marks the first of what will be a semi-regular feature here that I'm calling "My Favorite Sled."

To make it work, I'll need your help and submissions (click on the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page).

Today's story is from Wisconsin's favorite son, Rodney Dragan, and his 100-105 MPH 1991 Arctic Cat Pantera.

It's a great story of machine that's been ridden hard and put away wet.

Click and enjoy.

Today Textron Off Road took the wraps off its 2018 model line of ATVs and SxS machines, including the new:

Wildcat X

Wildcat 4X

Wildcat Sport

Wildcat Trail

Stampede

Stampede 4X

Prowler 500

Alterra VLX 700, Alterra TBX 700, Alterra 500 and Alterra MudPro 700.

Click to see the summary of these machines, with more detailed info to come shortly.

Today Textron Off Road unveiled its 2018 line of ATVs and Side-by-Sides, including the model families: Alterra, Wildcat, Prowler and Stampede.

The company clarified which models will constitute its new line, as well as which models will remain while inventories last.

As I look at the announcement, it looks like 2018 is a transition year for the company, which makes perfect sense considering the monumental process of bringing Arctic Cat into the Textron family.

Click to read the official release from Textron Off Road.

2018 marks the first model year of Textron Off Road that incorporates Arctic Cat into its family.

Here's a short video that captures the spirit of the new family.