Quick Facts
- Engine: 599cc C-TEC2 EFI
- Use: Factory snocross race sled for ISOC national and regional events
- Shocks: FOX EVOL RC2 front, Fox 2.0 Front Track Shock and Rear
- Chassis: Reinforced ProCross race chassis with updated steering geometry
- Notable handling traits: Predictability, improved chatter-bump control, consistent landing behavior
- Legacy: One of the most balanced and rider-friendly Arctic Cat race sleds of the 2010s
By 2018, Arctic Cat had accumulated years of race feedback on the ProCross-based SX platforms and the ZR 6000R SX reflected that maturity. It was fast, aggressive and predictable.
The heart of the machine was the race-calibrated C-TEC2. Unlike older laydown motors, the 600R SX’s power delivery was crisp, responsive, and holeshot-focused. Riders could charge into a face of a jump or launch out of a corner knowing exactly how the sled would behave.
The chassis refinements were just as important. Arctic Cat re-worked the steering ratio and tie-rod geometry for even more precise handling, added reinforcement to the bulkhead, and paired the whole package with FOX EVOL RC2 shocks that allowed deep, controlled compression in rough tracks.
The 2018 SX was the most sorted, the most intuitive, and arguably the most confidence-inspiring race sled on the track.
Racer Insight: Matt Pichner
National Snocross Champion
AI: What was the first thing you noticed the moment you got on the 2018 SX?
MP193: How well it could turn even though it sat higher than previous models and how light it felt. It was also the first year with a factory 2” FOX center shock. It was one of the first Arctic Cat sleds that would blitz rhythm sections and tracked straighter in whoop sections thanks to that center shock.
AI: What part of a snocross track did this sled excel at the most?
MP193: It was the first year with 136” track and would find more traction than any other brand on the start. And off the line, there was no comparison.
AI: Was there anything about the chassis that helped you through a long heat or final?
MP193: They were very easy to hold on to and easy to grab with your legs if you ever made an error.
AI: Compared to the older ProCross race sleds, what felt ‘fixed’ or improved?
MP193: Ground clearance and ability to soak up/blitz whoops with the center shock improvement and longer track. Not only did it help with traction, but with keeping the sled straight through rough sections. The re-defined EFI, with improved throttle response, was a game-changer.
AI: If you could describe the 2018 SX in three words, what would they be?
MP193: Predictable, powerful, light
AI: What is one lasting impression you have from the 2018 SX?
MP193: When lining up for any race, the only sled I had to worry about beating to the first corner… was another Arctic Cat.
Race the 2018 SX? Wrench on one? Still have one sitting in the shed? Drop your favorite setups, victories, or battle stories below.