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HomeFeaturesCross-Country Racer Unveiled: 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 6000R XC

Cross-Country Racer Unveiled: 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 6000R XC

Arctic Cat unveils the 2015 ZR6000R XC snowmobile at Hay Days. Photo by ArcticInsider.com

Arctic Cat unveils the 2015 ZR6000R XC snowmobile at Hay Days. Photo by ArcticInsider.com

The biggest news from Arctic Cat at Hay Days is the unveiling of a new cross-country race sled powered by the C-TEC2 6000-Series DSI engine with EFI and electronic oil injection.

Built to satisfy the 91 Octane/oil-injected intent of new cross-country rules, the 2015 ZR 6000R XC is aimed directly at the USXC Winnipeg-to-Willmar I-500, as well as other USXC races, USCC East, CorPowersports and other cross-country events.

The new sled bridges the gap between the stock ProCross-chassis ZR 6000 and the full-on ZR 6000R race sleds of recent years. The race sleds featured a carbureted Suzuki 600 twin that was not exactly cross-country race friendly, at least in terms of cold starting, the need for jetting and the propensity for racers to use expensive, high-octane race gas.

Here are key features and what’s new on the ZR 6000R XC:

• Arctic Cat Built C-TEC2 with Electronic Fuel and Oil Injection

 

ProCross chassis with added cross-country racing features for improved performance:

– Additional tunnel brace added around lower chaincase for increased strength

– New outer rear suspension brackets for increased strength

– Front bulkhead, front spars, and rear spars use 10mm hardware for increased strength

 Arctic Cat unveils the 2015 ZR6000R XC snowmobile at Hay Days. Photo by ArcticInsider.com

43.5-in. wide (center-to-center) Arctic Race Front Suspension:

– This compares to the 42-in. stance on other ProCross models

– Race-style spindle/ski damper adds pressure to the rear of the ski for improved cornering and handling

– Larger diameter tie rods (the same as 2014 race sleds) for increased strength

– 5-in. Trail Skis (compared to a 6-in. wide skis on other models) enable the snowmobile to maintain the required 48-in overall vehicle width required in certain states and provinces

 

Offset Ski spacers for Adjustable Ski Stance:

– Additional ski spacing options for Ice racing applications

 Arctic Cat unveils the 2015 ZR6000R XC snowmobile at Hay Days. Photo by ArcticInsider.com

FOX FLOAT EVOL RC ski shocks with wide-range, hand-adjustable compression and rebound adjustments:

– Different length to accept the wider ski stance

– XC race calibration, which is a little stiffer than the current RR package

 

Stationary Clutch Guard with Spare Belt mounting:

– New clutch guard design with exhaust pipe mount and spare belt mount

 

Arctic Cat unveils the 2015 ZR6000R XC snowmobile at Hay Days. Photo by ArcticInsider.com

Race Proven TEAM Secondary Clutch with Race Driven Shaft

– TSS-04 TEAM clutch, same model that has been used on the 2014 (and prior) XC race sleds

– Race driven shaft to mate with the TEAM Secondary clutch

 

Revised XC race Drive clutch calibration gives a little more aggressive punch stepping into the throttle

 

2.86-in. Pitch, 8-tooth Track Drivers for Added Ground Clearance:

-Other ProCross models feature 9-tooth 2.86-in. pitch track drivers

 

2.86-in. Pitch 15 x 129 x 1.25-in. Cobra Track

 

Torque Overload Sensing (TOS) Bottom chain sprocket for reducting spike loads into the drivetrain:

– Same TOS sprocket as 2014 XC Racer

– 23/40 gearing (changed to accommodate the 8-tooth drive sprockets)

 

Race Proven Brake Caliper and Pads for improved wear and increased stopping power:

-Same Brake Caliper as 2014 XC Race Sled

-Larger bridge bolts for increased stiffness

-Low-pressure seals for less resistance when the brake lever is pulled

-Offset friction material on brake pads for more even wear under high pressure

– New brake pad friction material has increased braking power at elevated brake temperatures

 

High-Grip Seat Cover Fabric

 

Arctic Cat unveils the 2015 ZR6000R XC snowmobile at Hay Days. Photo by ArcticInsider.com

New Rear Suspension Geometry for Improved Handling:

– The front torque arm has been lengthened 2-in. compared to other ProCross models, enabling more front-arm travel while maintaining transfer control

– New rail profile to match the front arm travel and 8-tooth driver diameter for optimal track/driver/rail interface

 

FOX 1.5 Zero C Front Track Shock with wide-range, hand-adjustable compression:

– XC Race Valve specification which is a little stiffer than the current RR package

 

FOX 2.0 Zero RC Rear Track Shock with adjustable Compression and Rebound:

– XC Race Valve specification which is a little stiffer than the current RR package

 

7-Position Rear Coupling for a wide range of transfer control

 

New rail cap for improved durability

 

Revised rear axle adjustment blocks for improved durability:

–        Race proven rear axle and adjustment (4-wheel kits available)

 

11.7 Gallon Clear Fuel Tank (same volume as Production RR)

 

Lightweight Torque Control Link (TCL) Engine Mounting System to Maintain Proper Clutch Alignment:

– Lightweight TCL engine mount with 4-bolt driven hub to work with TEAM Driven Clutch

 

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 6000R XC

 

2015 Arctic Cat ZR 6000R XC specifications, at ArcticInsider.com

2015 Arctic Cat ZR 6000R XC specifications, at ArcticInsider.com

2015 Arctic Cat ZR 6000R XC specifications, at ArcticInsider.com

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11 COMMENTS

  1. Kind of a love it or hate it graphics.Like the idea of making a reliable race sled available to the public. Hope those that snochecked a 600rr or TH 600(I am one of them)can exchange for 600rrxc if they so desire.
    Am very interested in what in Pol and Doo are doing with their race sleds with new rules.

  2. I love it! I do believe that making the switch to fuel injected machines for cross country, is a good move. While I will still be sporting the old ’08 sno pro 600, with carbs, and all the associated dirtiness, I will be wishing I had a new 6000 xc…

    John, are you going to give us the scoop on the sx version too, even though it will undoubtedly be more of the same old, same old?

  3. The new XC race rules are the best thing to happen to XC or any racing in years. The limited build, sno-x converted to XC race sleds are too finicky and temperamental for XC racing for the grass roots racer. This is a good step in the right direction. I’m glad to see Cat offering sled to racers! I’m curious to see if Polaris offers anything in response? Thanks for posting, I’d not heard or read anything about Haydays until I visited this site.

  4. I did a bit more surfing on this site and saw a post about a $10,000 price for this sled. I don’t know what the racer price is but it sounded pretty high. If the sled is close to ten grand on the race program than a base Indy with aftermarket WE shocks (like what I did last year) seems like a much better value.

    I didn’t have to deal with applying to a race program to buy a sled. I just got it from my dealer, just like any joe blow guy would do buying when an MX bike. I still think there production type rules are a step in the right direction but anything around $10,000 is too much money.

  5. acrider. Good point on the price but the Indy is no match for this sled no matter what shocks you put on it and those shocks if you bought new would put the Indy in the 10,000 price range. Polaris sucks for the most part. JK.

  6. Jim,
    Not looking to get into a battle on a Cat blog about Polaris but a base model Indy can be bought brand new for well under the $7,999 list price. A set of race valved WE shocks is $1350 from Bunke Racing. Even at list that gives you an XC capable sled for $9,350 and the price will be lower because I’m not aware of anyone selling base model Indy’s for list price.

    I’m really pleased that Cat is into racing as much as they are and supports XC racing as much as they do. I hope their new sled forces the other OEM’s to release comparable models. XC racing is where it is at! Sno-x is dead in my state and has become so specialized and expensive that it has very little relatable to the sleds consumers actually ride.
    Cheers!

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