Fordtruckin,
I agree that the 2 speed transmission is not a deal breaker, and I am glad you understand the advantage of the articulating rear rail.
The big problem for us recreational users is that a sled will sit for weeks at a time. It will be out in the cold, with a small battery with little reserve capacity due to the small size.
Electric start is the norm these days, especially with us older guys. If the Sled does not have a pull start, and I do not believe that the 900 Ace does, then its a common experience to have a dead battery or worse, a weak battery that then fails.
For some reason, Arctic Cat is the leader in the solution with a Capacitor Discharge Ignition that does not need a battery. The CDI works with you pulling the starter cord, and winding up a magneto at the same time it turns over the engine. The EFI Fuel pump gets a charge, and the thing starts up and then uses its own power to run the fuel pump for the EFI.
Very Very cool, but apparently discontinued by Arctic Cat.
For the rest of us with no rope start, all that you can do is try and keep a charger on the battery for the long periods between use, and carry one of the new Lithium booster packs with you in case of trouble.
For ice fishing, the secret is not just getting us out there, its getting us back. That is why a rope start backup is so important.
Drewski
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