2018 arctic cat zr 8000 es 137

The 2018 Arctic Cat ZR 8000 ES was a test rider favorite for the entire season. As one of those test riders, I was surprised at how well the revised ZR carved up trail like it was a Thanksgiving turkey. After several first rides on this sled in its pre-production form, not all of our riders agreed, but after we got our full-season demo sled, minds began to change. Our Real World Shootout gave us a great opportunity to put on eight straight days of testing. Numerous riders of all age groups and riding styles spent time on this sled and we were all happy to get back on it when our turn came around again. The rest of the season was no different.

Here’s what we came away talking about at the end of the season, the goods and the bads.

If you went strictly by the numbers, most people might want to discount this sled. DynoTech, AmSnow’s official dyno testing facility, showed that this motor put out 152.4 hp. That power output does not make this the baddest bulldog on the trail when there are 850s to contend with now from both Ski-Doo and Polaris. Even compared to some of the other 800cc sleds, this horsepower is not tops.

Like we do with all our long-term demo sleds, we weighed this sled totally wet with all the fluids to get an idea exactly how much the sled weighs when you, the average rider, pull it out of your trailer for a day of riding. At 622 lbs. wet and without added studs or different carbides, this sled is heavier than other 800s and 850s, even with studs added to those sleds. However - and this is a big transition - the 2018 ZR 8000 ES is more fun, often by a longshot, in the trail than any standard 800 or 850. I would put this up against 800s from any other manufacturer.