Dear Motorhead:
I need help. I purchased a 2007 Arctic Cat Jaguar Z1 early build last year for my girlfriend and she’s complained from the start that it is darty and just a handful overall to ride.
I’ve backed the springs as far off as they can go per the recomendations of the guys in arctic chat (she’s about 110lbs soaking wet) and the handling got better, but is still darty on hard pack and plows in the powder.
The sled has bergstrom 8″ ugly stick skegs with their ski skims and 96 picks. Some of the guys have recommended throwing the stock skis in the garbage and moving the SLP SLT skis to correct the issue.
Given the knowledge base you guys have and your dislike of nervous darty sleds I want to get this setup to give her the confidence she has when riding my sled.
Please help!
Jeremy H
Thanks for your email!
If you have an early build 2007 Jag then yours has a 121 inch track instead of a 129. Those first Z-1s were supposed to have 129’s but AC apparently had a supply problem or something and they were fitted with 121’s.
The 121 inchers were a handful in terms of tail wagging and feeling loose. The F-chassis was and always has been built for a 129 inch track and skid. If your Z1 is a 121 it’ll look short from the side – the tunnel is still the same length as the 129 but the track is tucked under the back end.
Softening up the rear of the sled will not really affect the darty-response and unless you go back to AC’s dual staggered stock carbides you will have darting issues with a single rod carbide.
Unfortunately those staggered stock carbides push in turns. One thing that we found did help was installing duallies on these skis. The darting is softened and initial turn-in will remain strong – however there may still be a measure of understeer in tight cornering situations.
If those carbides you’ve mentioned are actually 8 inches of carbide – not just 8 inch bars – then you’re GF is going to have arms like Lou Ferregno after a weekend of trying to lever that sled around – you should have no more than 4 inches – at the very most 6 inches of carbide for a rider of that weight.
Hope this helps!
Motorhead Mark
