Your Thoughts on the new RIOT 3 and RIOT 3 S ??

[CB-BLR]

What are everyone's thoughts on the newly released RIOT 3 and RIOT 3 S ?

I don't have a lot of experience on a RIOT...so I don't know what to think.

I do know that while my ARO 3 has a noticeable amount LESS ski pressure than my ARO 137 had...but I still think that the ARO 3 has too much ski pressure. (and yes I am very aware of how to adjust the pre-load of the springs...put a stiffer spring in front...put a softer spring in the rear...shorten the TSS...raise the forks in the triple clamps...etc) I still think it has too much ski pressure.

I want a kit to do it all...light ski pressure...easy turning...great climbing in deep snow...awesome and stable side hilling always.
I really don't care if it wheelies.

Also...I can see that making a RIOT S would reduce the height of the pivot point...thus reducing the amount of travel in regards to pivoting...ie it can't pivot rearward as much because the central pivot point has been lowered as well.

Thoughts?

I would love some discussion on this.

Chris

 

[john6719]

I’m a newbie on snow bike. Had a riot s this year on KTM. I was amazed at how well it would dig in and climb. First time out west I couldn’t get stuck, was low snow and a little shift one way or another I could always go. Last weekend I was out in deep snow and found it pretty impressive. I just don’t think a 3” would do a ton more except maybe pull a little better in a gear lower. If I don’t have track speed it suffers quicker but if I can keep in 2nd or 3rd, it will climb more than I would expect.

I ended up swapping the gears around on the kit to lower gearing some. Worked perfect as I could pull 2nd all the time and get 3rd quite a bit. Before swapping I would lose power in 2nd and 3rd wasn’t even a thought outside of flats or packed.

 

[M5-]

Looking at the pics of the 2 kits side by side, the Riot S has a away better approach angle on the track. I gotta think that's a plus for deep snow riding. My question is would I be bottoming out the Riot S all the time vs the straight up Riot? To me lower CG is always a good thing so Riot S but not if the suspension isn't there, I also want plush which usually requires travel . My number one gripe with the Camso kit is the lack of suspension travel, yah it's heavy but you don't feel that really and the kit goes anywhere but it has $hit for suspension. Good as the Aro 3 is its not the kit for me just feels too much the same as my old TS but they do work well. I always liked the EZ-Ryde suspension in sleds, it worked really well in deep snow, the Riot is basically a rip off of that design. I'm down to Riot, Riot S or 2022 Yeti 129. I'm leaning towards the Yeti right now but would love to try a Riot.

M5

 

[eric82930]

I put a 137 on my riot last year and was planning on running it as a 120 again in the spring but it still has the long track on it. It is still more fun than a typical kit this way. The lower s models might have a flatter approach but it will be negated by the foot pegs dragging more so no real perf gain there at all.

 

[CB-BLR]

Looking at the pics of the 2 kits side by side, the Riot S has a away better approach angle on the track. I gotta think that's a plus for deep snow riding. My question is would I be bottoming out the Riot S all the time vs the straight up Riot? To me lower CG is always a good thing so Riot S but not if the suspension isn't there, I also want plush which usually requires travel . My number one gripe with the Camso kit is the lack of suspension travel, yah it's heavy but you don't feel that really and the kit goes anywhere but it has $hit for suspension. Good as the Aro 3 is its not the kit for me just feels too much the same as my old TS but they do work well. I always liked the EZ-Ryde suspension in sleds, it worked really well in deep snow, the Riot is basically a rip off of that design. I'm down to Riot, Riot S or 2022 Yeti 129. I'm leaning towards the Yeti right now but would love to try a Riot.

M5

I have been riding a ARO 3 S pre-production since last year. I weigh 245#'s stepping out of the shower and am using 275# springs both front and rear. The ARO 129 S comes with 250# springs stock. I find my suspension to work well. I am just looking for a more nimble kit...without loosing its climbing and side-hilling prowess. I am also hoping that the rifled bypass technology of the PRO models provides a plush ride and bottoming resistance. Allen shortened and re-valved my current shocks...and the suspension works wonderfully.

 

[GaNiBiS]

CB pm sent

Sent from my LM-G900 using Tapatalk

 

[needpowder]

I’m a newbie on snow bike. Had a riot s this year on KTM. I was amazed at how well it would dig in and climb. First time out west I couldn’t get stuck, was low snow and a little shift one way or another I could always go. Last weekend I was out in deep snow and found it pretty impressive. I just don’t think a 3” would do a ton more except maybe pull a little better in a gear lower. If I don’t have track speed it suffers quicker but if I can keep in 2nd or 3rd, it will climb more than I would expect.

I ended up swapping the gears around on the kit to lower gearing some. Worked perfect as I could pull 2nd all the time and get 3rd quite a bit. Before swapping I would lose power in 2nd and 3rd wasn’t even a thought outside of flats or packed.

We have multiple riots in our group and a couple 3 inch aros. The 3 inch kicks the snot out of the riot in deeper snow. Often in lower snow also. That track just hooks up. The riot is a blast to ride and still does pretty well, but I will be checking a 3 inch riot. This is in Utah.

 

[needpowder]

I am still on the fence between the S and non-S version . I am 6’ 1” 170. I still would definitely prefer a lower kit.

 

[AllHatNoCattle]

I have a friend who lowered his kit this year (not a riot or a 3in). Following his tracks in reasonably deep powder you could see that his feet were dragging in the snow all the time. It almost looked like sled tracks sometimes. After running that setup for a while he has complained of having cold toes.

Everything about having a lowered bike is better. He turns better, gets on easier and has a lower center of gravity. My buddy is 6'2, so its not like he is worried about seat height. He just wanted the performance of a lower center of gravity. I go from his to mine and I feel like I am riding a horse I am so tall on my bike. The only thing I am worried about is the cold feet.

Nobody seems to talk about the cold feet on the internet. Can anyone with a lowered kit comment on that?

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

I ride with 3 lowered, 2 ARO and my RIOT, yesterday in some setup dense powder on good base was the first time I noticed my foot dragging on knarly side hills. Dan and I both have second generation KLIM boots, bought in spring of 2016, 15 above riding in deep powder, never experienced cold feet ? Off and on this season we have had a 2020 Yz450 with Camso kit. Bike with lots of extras, kit stock. My feet drag more on that kit than my RIOTs. The camso has collapsed suspension at all times ?

 

[teal_210]

I don't think you can really go wrong with either of the Riot3 kits. I'm 6' and prefer the standard one for the added suspension, it is easier to do wheelie turns on and will lift the ski more often with less effort.

When riding the 3s the first thing you notice is the lower center of gravity and how it leans side to side and turns quicker. The next thing is how forgiving it is. If you're a person that has those award tip-overs frequently, the s will reduce those for sure. It is very forgiving on all aspects, you don't have to be as precise with your body weight, it will crawl out of those awkward positions easier and help you avoid tip-overs. You can still get the Riot 3s to stand on end and pivot around, it just takes more effort than the standard one. Definitely take a hard look at the Pro kit, they have spend a ton of time dialing in those shocks for a plush ride and great bottoming resistance. Down side to the s is the loss of suspension travel, and feet in the snow more often.

Either way, the 3" track on the Riot is a blast to ride.

 

[eric82930]

Yes the cold feet dragging in the snow is a real problem and the dragging slows you down too. I've been on custom lowered bikes for years and some had lowered sub frames but the pegs and suspension are still higher and cg is high. That set up is way better for deep dense pow. the low pegs and low cg version is way better in spring snow and early season hard enduro snow biking. I ride my lowered kits a lot with my up hill leg off the peg and straight forward just under the bars to keep it from dragging.

 

[M5-]

Rather than guessing based in a dudes height or whatever, lets get some actual seat height measurements of the different combos. I will post mine later.

M5

 

[CB-BLR]

Rather than guessing based in a dudes height or whatever, lets get some actual seat height measurements of the different combos. I will post mine later.

M5

Sounds great...and I will post the seat height of my ARO 3S...but lets not get away from the Thread Topic please

Chris

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

In deep powder the lowered foot position just isn't an issue, the 16" dump, no problem, its the march and april side hilling you will notice it, a killer, I don't see it that way. Yesterday the slippery avalanche base with old powder was slipping out from under you if you got to stupid on the side hill, of course we had to do it.

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

2014 KTM 500 2020 RIOT kit with 1.3 inch spacer in shocks, fork height lowered the same, Enduro Engineering seat.......about same as stock for height.

38.125 seat height
17.350 foot peg height

 

[cbc76am]

My local Ambassador has put time on all the new models. Like me, he struggled to get the 2020 Riot suspension to do everything well. I've tried springs and preload and got it to be okay... but it slams through the travel on big hits and the rebound is just too fast. (Castleman knows all too well and has many posts on his changes to accommodate this) I've not tried to revalve the shocks, but am tempted to crack them open and find out the shim size. OR just snowcheck the new 3. Back to the ambassador, he has a velocity now and told me the IBP 2022 shocks feel just like the Walker Evans... and that it solved all his issues of bottoming, bucking, and kept the ride playful and fun on hardpack and climbing in deeper stuff. The QS3 was just never right - go PRO if you snow check or find a used velocity is the moral of the story.

The other note is S vs Regular. My buddy - the ambassador isn't super tall. like 5'9" I'd guess. He's all in on the 3 S Pro. Says everything is better on the lower kit. At 6' myself I'm on the fence - I don't want to loose travel as I'm used to blowing through it like a wet paper towel on my 2020 Riot. But, I do tip over sometimes, I do wish it was lower, I don't really blast big drops and kickers anymore. So the more and more I read threads like this, and talk to guys like him - the more I'm leaning towards the Riot 3 S Pro. on the snowcheck I just submitted

 

[needpowder]

Speaking fit kit here. I have heard the fit kit is the same for the S and non-S version. Can anyone confirm this? Also, what’s up with the trio? I have only seen one part number for it so is it the same one for the S?

 

[teal_210]

Speaking fit kit here. I have heard the fit kit is the same for the S and non-S version. Can anyone confirm this? Also, what’s up with the trio? I have only seen one part number for it so is it the same one for the S?

Fit kits are the same. New for 22, there are 2 trio options. The standard Trio (new valving spec for 22) and the Trio S.

 

[needpowder]

Thanks teal! So they must be different lenghts? Or can we just revalve?