B
barefooter
Well-known member
So over the Easter weekend I had an opportunity to put in a lot of seat time on the 2017 KTM's and Husky 450. Both had 2017 Yeti 120 kits. The one was stock, the other had the Thumper Racing 499 Big Bore kit in it. Cory Derpak at Monashee Adventure Group gave me the opportunity to go crazy on them. He is a great guy, and a fantastic snowbike coach.
Wow is the best description for those rides. The Big Bore especially.
A little bit of a analogy. My KTM 300 gives nothing up to a pre-2016 KTM\Husky 450. Everyone who has ridden it says it is one of the most fun bikes they have been on, and runs extremely well. It is light and snappy. I have a 2017 Yeti 120 kit on it, set up identical to the 450s I rode. At the Silver Star hillcross last weekend, I was shifting between 3rd and 4th up an extremely rutted up track, after letting off a bit for a couple of monster whoops (by then) that had built up at the bottom of the first steep section.
On the stock 450, I was able after the whoops to grab 4th and hold it all the way up the course with no issue. If I had been quicker fanning the clutch I might have grabbed 5th. But it strongly held 4th the entire way up.
On the 499 big bore, I grabbed 4th, accelerated up the steep section, grabbed 5th and was accelerating through the entire rest of the course.
Easter Monday I spent the day riding in the backcountry on the big bore on the backside of Owlshead up the LaForge road. Wasn't the best day - it had snowed overnight and some rain in the am so it was wet, heavy fresh snow. Not exactly ideal for a snirtbike. BUt the big bore pulled everything that I threw at it. I was totally impressed. The other thing is both bikes weighed practically the same as my 2015 KTM 300. Might even a bit less. They are the first 4 strokes I rode that give you the 2 stroke "feel" when you are riding them. You can feel the weight is situated a little higher on the bike, but I definitely did not feel as rat-bagged at the end of the day as I usually do after riding a thumper hard.
Verdict. The 499 Big Bore was the best all-around snowbike I have ever ridden, hands down. My 300 may grab the first two gears quicker in the trees, but once in 3rd it was all over. Plus you have to shift less during the course of the day. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to ride a lot of different bikes, Turbos, Big Bore 450\500s, CR500s, etc. They were hands down the best performing snirtbikes that I have ridden.
Wow is the best description for those rides. The Big Bore especially.
A little bit of a analogy. My KTM 300 gives nothing up to a pre-2016 KTM\Husky 450. Everyone who has ridden it says it is one of the most fun bikes they have been on, and runs extremely well. It is light and snappy. I have a 2017 Yeti 120 kit on it, set up identical to the 450s I rode. At the Silver Star hillcross last weekend, I was shifting between 3rd and 4th up an extremely rutted up track, after letting off a bit for a couple of monster whoops (by then) that had built up at the bottom of the first steep section.
On the stock 450, I was able after the whoops to grab 4th and hold it all the way up the course with no issue. If I had been quicker fanning the clutch I might have grabbed 5th. But it strongly held 4th the entire way up.
On the 499 big bore, I grabbed 4th, accelerated up the steep section, grabbed 5th and was accelerating through the entire rest of the course.
Easter Monday I spent the day riding in the backcountry on the big bore on the backside of Owlshead up the LaForge road. Wasn't the best day - it had snowed overnight and some rain in the am so it was wet, heavy fresh snow. Not exactly ideal for a snirtbike. BUt the big bore pulled everything that I threw at it. I was totally impressed. The other thing is both bikes weighed practically the same as my 2015 KTM 300. Might even a bit less. They are the first 4 strokes I rode that give you the 2 stroke "feel" when you are riding them. You can feel the weight is situated a little higher on the bike, but I definitely did not feel as rat-bagged at the end of the day as I usually do after riding a thumper hard.
Verdict. The 499 Big Bore was the best all-around snowbike I have ever ridden, hands down. My 300 may grab the first two gears quicker in the trees, but once in 3rd it was all over. Plus you have to shift less during the course of the day. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to ride a lot of different bikes, Turbos, Big Bore 450\500s, CR500s, etc. They were hands down the best performing snirtbikes that I have ridden.
