Dave McClure – Mountain Riding Powerhouse

About Dave McClure:

• Backcountry and hillclimb rider based in Idaho
• 8× World Champion hillclimb racer with multiple King of the Hill  titles and RMSHA season points wins
• Competing professionally since 2006, McClure has carved a name for himself in both racing and technical backcountry terrain
• Featured in Arctic Cat films and major snowmobile publications for his deep-snow experience and technical style
• Sponsored by major industry names including Arctic Cat, Klim, and Fox

By Alicia Martin Pichner | Expert commentary from Dave McClure

CATALYST M: ARCTIC CAT’S LEAP INTO THE FUTURE

When Arctic Cat unveiled the Catalyst platform, it wasn’t just another new sled. It was a ground-up chassis rebuild, a deliberate departure from the ProClimb/Ascender and ProCross lineage that had defined Cat’s identity for more than a decade. For loyalists and skeptics alike, the question was the same: Was it worth the wait?

To find out, I connected with Dave McClure, multi-time world champion hillclimb racer and Arctic Cat backcountry rider. Dave has spent real time on the Catalyst M in big mountain terrain, and his feedback hits hard.

Small. Nimble. Built to Respond.

“Right away you notice how small and lightweight the chassis feels,” McClure says. “It takes far less effort to get the machine to react to what you want it to do because there’s so much less weight.”

That first impression is no accident. The Catalyst chassis was designed around mass centralization, mounting the 858 engine low and tucking the fuel tank close to the jackshaft. The result? A machine that feels under the rider, not just beneath them.

“It’s like riding a dirt bike,” Dave adds. “All the weight is right underneath you.” Compared to the Ascender, the Catalyst feels narrower, more planted, and far easier to throw around in steep-and-deep terrain. The ergonomics, chassis geometry, and bodywork were all reengineered with mountain riders in mind, and it shows.

Durability That Doesn’t Weigh You Down

Weight reduction didn’t mean compromise. Dave emphasized that Cat’s legendary durability remains intact, with strategic reinforcements in the chassis where needed, and material removed where it wasn’t pulling its weight.

“Rider fatigue is substantially less,” he explains. “Just due to the fact that you’re not throwing around as much weight all day long.”

That’s a big deal for riders who spend hours pulling technical tree lines or pushing into backcountry zones boldly going where no sleds have gone before.

At the heart of the Catalyst M is Arctic Cat’s long-awaited 858cc, built for elevation. It’s not just fast, it’s tractable.

“The 858 pulls hard in the mountains,” says McClure. “But clutching is very important, you want to keep it pulling 8150 on a long hard pull. That’s easy to do with the correct primary weights.”

As for suspension? Whether you’re running Arctic Cat’s own clicker shocks or the optional FOX IQS air package, the sled is tunable out of the box.

“If you don’t like how it’s riding, spend some time making adjustments to your shocks,” Dave says. “It’s crazy how good they can be when you play around with the settings.”

Who’s It For? Everyone.

The Catalyst M doesn’t cater only to hardcore backcountry riders. It’s designed to elevate performance for everyone who throws a leg over it.

“Everybody, from young to old, will ride the Catalyst chassis better,” McClure says. “It does everything easier for everybody.”

And that’s the biggest takeaway. Whether you’re a seasoned, athletic mountain rider or someone looking to upgrade from a well-loved Ascender or ProClimb, the Catalyst isn’t a marginal improvement, it’s a whole new ride.

Even Dave’s 12-year-old has been out carving on the Catalyst M. A testament to how light, flickable, and intuitive this chassis really is

Final Thoughts: Was It the Right Move?

For Arctic Cat, the Catalyst M represents a bold investment in the future of the brand and a necessary one.

“100%,” Dave says. “This chassis has been in the works forever, and it shows with how refined it is. I’ve heard a lot of magazine guys say, ‘Cat has the best chassis out by far right now.’ And I have to agree!”