2018 Timbersled Disappointments

[M5-]

Lets face it, there is only so much you can do to one of these things, all the new sleds look pretty similar.

I like the fact that all the welded parts are finally gone which should improve consistency of fit and finish and reliability. It should have also driven down the cost of production which I don't see being passed on so it may just be a bit of "What the market will bear" kind of thinking. The suspension is simpler like a 13 kit which should be cheaper.

If it is in fact 20 lbs of weight that's probably getting close to the most you will see without using CF. So that's good, but still no belt drive, that's bad.

The look of the ski doesn't blow me away, but I'm sold on the Yeti ski after riding it this season, it rocks.

I will reserve judgement until I see one and ride one in person.


M5

 

[Tahoe54]

Well then..... buy the Yeti they are great! You will like it. Or buy the Timbersled and keep $2500 - $3000 in your pocket! I think you will like the new Timbersled also. As far as what they changed, almost everything is new. I have a 17 TS 120 and the 18 TS ARO is quite different and looks very good! Brother to the CMX... not much in common other than a track and ski (Twin ski on your CMX picture). We have so many good choices and yes CMX is also a great choice! Keep an open mind until we have some reviews or you get a chance to ride one. What do you have now?

Snowbike world has a pretty good write up on it.

http://www.snowbikeworld.com/2017/03/timbersled-2018-aro-snowbike

 

[wellfed777]

that's a better writeup than TS release page
it'd be cool to hear from some regular folks when they ride it
sounds good so far

i want that light spindle and ski for my old kit
11 lbs ! that'd be sweeeet

 

[Cat Bandit]

Its not -20lbs. Its -11. Says it in their own literature.

Lol it says on the lt page its down 20

 

[Throndson]

I checked the US and Canada web pages and both still list the rear of the kit at estimated 115lb's. That's the same as last year so I'm thinking they forgot to update the weights......
Seems like a big fail considering how much they pumped into promoting the new platform.
Regardless Id like to see a aro and a 17 on the same scale!

 

[SNOW JW]

I remember when TS was bashing the CMX tunnel system & design when CMX hit the market at the snow shows. Funny how a huge company with tons of $$ in R&D & years later it looks very much like a CMX that a Father & Son build in there small shop in MT.

 

[byeatts]

I remember when TS was bashing the CMX tunnel system & design when CMX hit the market at the snow shows. Funny how a huge company with tons of $$ in R&D & years later it looks very much like a CMX that a Father & Son build in there small shop in MT.

Yes , The CMX out performs every current brand on the Mountain. The forward skid, Belt drive,Flat approach angle, suspension design does not buck and with the Yeti spindle and ski its flawless, cant want to run the T sled next to it and see how a steeper angle enhances deep snow performance, complete opposite from sleds? did I mention the CMX has room to except a 3 inch track! They will come. I love the competition and glad to see T sled Finally has a track that clears the chain.

 

[Lachoneus]

CMX -- Not the case for me

I am not "disagreeing" with you, your experience is your experience...BUT my '16 CMX 129" experience (last season) was a wild bucking bronco compared to Yeti and TS. I could NOT ride it sitting down (had to be standing on the pegs all the time) and spent most of the season fiddling with better ski (granted they have gone away from their failed double ski original design). Chewed up a belt on first ride. Maybe it wasn't installed properly and/or set up right, a lot of how a kit performs is suspension setup, etc. (so having a good dealer nearby is often reason enough to buy kit x, y or z). Lots of good things about the kit, just not sure it is "all that and a bag of chips" from my experience. I've not been on a Camso but good to see them come into the game and hopefully help drive quality up and price down.

 

[Hawkster]

What works for some doesn't for others .

TS is now owned by Polaris right ? Do you think they will ever step up to the plate when it comes to the quality that CMX and C3/Yeti put into their machines ?

They already screwed over their Victory riders with some feeble promises . Who says they won't cut their losses with these kits if the shareholders aren't happy . For the disposable or short lived consumer it doesn't matter .

CMX was building mountain sleds with the quality Poo can not produce . They where even using a secondary belt drive twenty plus years ago and along comes Poop with their pros that convinced the majority that secondary belt drives don't work and are a waste . Than C3 offers a carbon skid ...... how are you even gonna try to match that ?

As far as I'm concerned these small manufactures are gods and it'll be a sad day if they sell out .

A bigger question will be after making it as difficult as possible for TS distributors will they be able to reel them back in ?

 

[Grr]

I cant tell for sure in the pics but I want someone to tell me im crazy because it is what im seeing


Did they switch to 6 tooth drivers to get the driveshaft up that far? That is a .91" diameter change so you could technically move the shaft up 1.8" which is what it looks like. If that is the case that is a seriously tight bend and is very inefficient.


I don't want to dog them on this im kinda coming around and the kit is a great advancement for them. It just seems a little odd the way it looks.


I am very impressed with the track though the design is great. IMO the yeti track paddle design is garbage. I need a 129x3 challenger!! Or a 2.8, I think the 2.8 will be the next thing we will see it is a great compromise

 

[UPsnowbiker]

So just another reminder....... They reinvented the wheel that CMX, yeti, and others only refined.

Their product is solid and cost less than the other 2. Why the relentless hating persists is beyond me.

P. S. On vacation in FL not riding and drinking lots..... Nothing better to do than pic keyboard fights. But seriously though..... TS is f&@king solid...... You would thing yeti and CMX jerk you off while they are hovering above the snow on their completely original design the way guys bitch and cry about TS.

 

[Texask5]

So just another reminder....... They reinvented the wheel that CMX, yeti, and others only refined.

Their product is solid and cost less than the other 2. Why the relentless hating persists is beyond me.

P. S. On vacation in FL not riding and drinking lots..... Nothing better to do than pic keyboard fights. But seriously though..... TS is f&@king solid...... You would thing yeti and CMX jerk you off while they are hovering above the snow on their completely original design the way guys bitch and cry about TS.

Agreed, Im curious to hear what you expected or would have made you happy from timbersled? Its brand new platform with some needed refinements and some nice upgrades/advancements in the process.

 

[Grr]

3" track on any kit is what is needed. That's really it

 

[chumbilly1]

I cant tell for sure in the pics but I want someone to tell me im crazy because it is what im seeing


Did they switch to 6 tooth drivers to get the driveshaft up that far? That is a .91" diameter change so you could technically move the shaft up 1.8" which is what it looks like. If that is the case that is a seriously tight bend and is very inefficient.


I don't want to dog them on this im kinda coming around and the kit is a great advancement for them. It just seems a little odd the way it looks.


I am very impressed with the track though the design is great. IMO the yeti track paddle design is garbage. I need a 129x3 challenger!! Or a 2.8, I think the 2.8 will be the next thing we will see it is a great compromise

I asked the same about drivers. Pretty sure that the switch to 6t was done in 16. And they work good

 

[teal_210]

They have been using 6 tooth drivers for a while now.

The drive axle has been lifted so that the center of the axle is now 1 inch above the bottom of the frame. As the track paddles exit off the driver they are now traveling down and back as they travel out the bottom of the bike frame where snow is entering the track verses the snow being able to enter over the top of the track and driver as it can with the axle mounted lower on the older kits and every other snow bike on the market. That makes the snow bike sticking in the snow when it bounces or hits mounds. With the axle higher it now rolls out smoother more like a snowmobile with a belly pan. Basically giving the track more left.

Also the frame is now arced to accommodate this for track clearance and the chain is routed over the top of the chain slider where the wheel adjuster use to be to also create track to chain clearance.

 

[Grr]

Thanks for that info. It is something I noticed with all the kits and I plan on making a solid bellypan to alleviate this and create this effect and increase floatation.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

I dont see how a guy could not be stoked about this update no matter what you ride.

The new frame bars are so simple and clean, Machined extrusion means exact fit and finish every time vs a welded structure. Forged adapter to the bike means ligther cleaner and stronger then ever. No more hacking up airboxes to run with the TSS which is IMO is such a big deal for a lot of guys who own ktm/husky bikes, no more 4-5 hour changeover. more like 1 hour or less. And i mean, dropping 20 pounds out of the kit, thats a big deal. Less weight means more agility, floatation, and most of all FUN!

For those who have ever rode an SX, the narrower kit with less push behind your heals feels FAR better. decrease in floatation is hardly outweighed by the increase agilitly and balance of ski/track and ergonomics. Also with the updated track we should still be seeing just as much push as before out of a smaller track.

Looking at some of the ski changes im VERY stoked. overall the 10" TS Ski was the best all around but gave some up to the yeti in some scenarios. It looks like this new one should almost perfectly bridge the gap without inheriting any of the negatives the yeti had.

And for the guys that complain about no belt drives.... stop it. Aside from the Junk JT chains that came on the 2016 TS kits I really have never seen chains being an issue. But everyone I know with a CMX or Yeti has gone through a few belts. No thanks... New chains once a year and never think twice about it.

As someone who has snowbiked for a few years now and put a lot of time on and around all of the kit not being stoked on this design is really just a bunch of brand loyal pouting in my eyes.

 

[capulin overdrive]

I dont see how a guy could not be stoked about this update no matter what you ride.

The new frame bars are so simple and clean, Machined extrusion means exact fit and finish every time vs a welded structure. Forged adapter to the bike means ligther cleaner and stronger then ever. No more hacking up airboxes to run with the TSS which is IMO is such a big deal for a lot of guys who own ktm/husky bikes, no more 4-5 hour changeover. more like 1 hour or less. And i mean, dropping 20 pounds out of the kit, thats a big deal. Less weight means more agility, floatation, and most of all FUN!

For those who have ever rode an SX, the narrower kit with less push behind your heals feels FAR better. decrease in floatation is hardly outweighed by the increase agilitly and balance of ski/track and ergonomics. Also with the updated track we should still be seeing just as much push as before out of a smaller track.

Looking at some of the ski changes im VERY stoked. overall the 10" TS Ski was the best all around but gave some up to the yeti in some scenarios. It looks like this new one should almost perfectly bridge the gap without inheriting any of the negatives the yeti had.

And for the guys that complain about no belt drives.... stop it. Aside from the Junk JT chains that came on the 2016 TS kits I really have never seen chains being an issue. But everyone I know with a CMX or Yeti has gone through a few belts. No thanks... New chains once a year and never think twice about it.

As someone who has snowbiked for a few years now and put a lot of time on and around all of the kit not being stoked on this design is really just a bunch of brand loyal pouting in my eyes.

Kit is fine, the disappointment is the fact that it's still just a kit.


Poo is taking baby steps, when many want a ground up rig.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

Kit is fine, the disappointment is the fact that it's still just a kit.


Poo is taking baby steps, when many want a ground up rig.

Honestly I dont see conversions going anywhere for a long while. They do amazing things and there is a great market for creating a dual season bike. I would love to see a dedicated build buit at the same time I can do so much crazy stuff on a snowbike and a new sled that I have a hard time imagining what on earth else I would want to do! but im sure given time I will find out.

 

[M5-]

Kit is fine, the disappointment is the fact that it's still just a kit.


Poo is taking baby steps, when many want a ground up rig.

I don't see the kit concept going away until all the government BS is resolved. As it stands now the kit makers don't have to worry about any regulatory issues as that falls on each individual user of the kit. Witness Cat.

M5