Any snowbikes in the great falls Montana area??

[kylerf150]

Hey guys I'm going to be getting a LT Kit for my 012 Ktm 500xcw. I was wondering if there are any riders in my area (little belt mtns)? At the moment that's the only thing holding me back on the purchase. I'll most likely buy it from penco in kalispell which I hear the area is full of timbersled riders. I'm new to the sport so what have you guys done to your Ktm snowbikes any input would be appreciated

 

[albertaguy]

I would be hesitant on the long track from my research, never even rode one yet but picking up my standard track kit this friday. The long stroke motors like the 500, 525, 530.... don't rev as high as a 450 and don't generate as much wheel speed. Everyone I have forced into a corner about the issue tells me the 450's do the best. That being said there are tons of guys running your bike and husaberg 570's etc that love them and they make great sense for a snowbike with headlites e start power for heated grips if you want. I just wouldn't assume that because yours is a 500 it will pull harder than a 450. My personal experience is Penco guys don't seem to know much about them. Bau (like bow and arrow) is the owner of fasttoys in Kalispell and has been a timbersled guy hard core since they came out and is the most knowledgeable source I know of other than the guys at timbersled. He's a kawi dealer so runs them on kx450's, he rides a standard track and if I understand what he's saying you would want a turbo before you ran a long track. Again for what it's worth from a guy who has only looked at them and researched them. In the sand dunes a 450 will walk away from every othet bigbore long stroke machine out there (we run paddle tires). Why? it's all about the wheel speed and I assume powder it would be the same. More set up snow could be a different story. my 2 cents.

 

[kylerf150]

Thanks albertaguy thats a great point you have about the power differences between the 450 and 500! Im glad i posted this i was leaning towards the 137" just because i figured it would do better but i understand what you are saying compleatly. I have been looking at these since they first came out and haven't been able to decide what i wanted. I've rode the 2 moto kit on a suzuki 450 and a husaberg 450 but i did not enjoy it. lets just say we dug a lot of holes with that kit which made me think the 137 would stay on top better.thanks for your comments i really appreciate it. Kyler

 

[mtn-doo]

Great Falls is a great area. The Belts, hwy 200 toward Licoln, on The Front off hwy 2 at Sky Land. Sports City is the local dealer there. Go in and bug "Scott", there is a ton of guys there that need to get on bikes. Let me know if you need some help! I would love to join you. We could build a big group of riders there.

 

[Cberg]

I grew up in southern alberta and my family used to have a cabin in the flathead valley and we spent a lot of time in Kalispell and Whitefish as well as Great Falls. I miss going there, I'm going to have to go down there for a trip with the bike sometime. I would love to go exploring the back country of Montana.

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

120 what

you won't give up anything with the 136, you buy a 120 you end up later with a track you have no use for and spend more money to step up to the longer track.

 

[kylerf150]

Great Falls is a great area. The Belts, hwy 200 toward Licoln, on The Front off hwy 2 at Sky Land. Sports City is the local dealer there. Go in and bug "Scott", there is a ton of guys there that need to get on bikes. Let me know if you need some help! I would love to join you. We could build a big group of riders there.

That's the thing I've never really been up to any of those areas in the winter ride it in the dirt but no snow yet. We have a family cabin in monarch (little belts) which would be the ideal area but i haven't really seen any snowbikes around here. I don't believe sports city has any new kits just last years models i think they have only sold a few. So i will most likely be coming up to you neck of the woods to get one. Getting a group of riders around g-falls would be awesome maybe i can give some of my buddies the timber fever.

 

[kylerf150]

I grew up in southern alberta and my family used to have a cabin in the flathead valley and we spent a lot of time in Kalispell and Whitefish as well as Great Falls. I miss going there, I'm going to have to go down there for a trip with the bike sometime. I would love to go exploring the back country of Montana.

As they say Montana is gods country Haha. Alberta has some awesome country too i plan on heading up there this summer for vacation.if your ever down in the area feel free to give me a ring i ride almost every weekend in the spring. 4zero6 7niner niner 03six7

you won't give up anything with the 136, you buy a 120 you end up later with a track you have no use for and spend more money to step up to the longer track.

that's a good point too. Decisions decision Haha. I guess if the old 500 can't handle a 137 i could always throw some nitrous or maybe even a turbo thanks for input guys

 

[dirt rider]

I would be hesitant on the long track from my research, never even rode one yet but picking up my standard track kit this friday. The long stroke motors like the 500, 525, 530.... don't rev as high as a 450 and don't generate as much wheel speed. Everyone I have forced into a corner about the issue tells me the 450's do the best. That being said there are tons of guys running your bike and husaberg 570's etc that love them and they make great sense for a snowbike with headlites e start power for heated grips if you want. I just wouldn't assume that because yours is a 500 it will pull harder than a 450. My personal experience is Penco guys don't seem to know much about them. Bau (like bow and arrow) is the owner of fasttoys in Kalispell and has been a timbersled guy hard core since they came out and is the most knowledgeable source I know of other than the guys at timbersled. He's a kawi dealer so runs them on kx450's, he rides a standard track and if I understand what he's saying you would want a turbo before you ran a long track. Again for what it's worth from a guy who has only looked at them and researched them. In the sand dunes a 450 will walk away from every othet bigbore long stroke machine out there (we run paddle tires). Why? it's all about the wheel speed and I assume powder it would be the same. More set up snow could be a different story. my 2 cents.

You obviously talked to the wrong person at Penco. I've spent every free moment riding a Mountain Horse this season on three different bikes with short and long tracks. Couldn't last season...why? Because we sold every single kit we could get our hands on and couldn't even keep a demo available.

Until you have ridden a long track or have experience with them, your 2 cents means nothing. If you call Beau you will find that his bike now has a long track installed because he couldn't climb with the long tracks. Yesterday he rode with a Husky 511 with a long track and a KX450 with a short track and the short track struggled and had to poach tracks all day to go where the long tracks went.

 

[bdoe22]

137

The 137 long tracks are at a whole new level. The stock KTM 500 xc-w with the '13 137 kit is nothing short of magical in its ability to rock the nasty terrain. I wouldn't second guess your decision on the long track, you will not be disapointed (unless you plan on racing or something). I have spent several days on the short tracks and this long track is the only way to go.
(Hence why Bau is now running a long track lol)

 

[mtn-doo]

That's the thing I've never really been up to any of those areas in the winter ride it in the dirt but no snow yet. We have a family cabin in monarch (little belts) which would be the ideal area but i haven't really seen any snowbikes around here. I don't believe sports city has any new kits just last years models i think they have only sold a few. So i will most likely be coming up to you neck of the woods to get one. Getting a group of riders around g-falls would be awesome maybe i can give some of my buddies the timber fever.

Get a hold of Scott Daily there at Sports City and bug him! There is a large group there that would be snow bikers. We need to get them out on the snow!

 

[albertaguy]

You obviously talked to the wrong person at Penco. I've spent every free moment riding a Mountain Horse this season on three different bikes with short and long tracks. Couldn't last season...why? Because we sold every single kit we could get our hands on and couldn't even keep a demo available.

Until you have ridden a long track or have experience with them, your 2 cents means nothing. If you call Beau you will find that his bike now has a long track installed because he couldn't climb with the long tracks. Yesterday he rode with a Husky 511 with a long track and a KX450 with a short track and the short track struggled and had to poach tracks all day to go where the long tracks went.

Wow, kind of sensitive today. I stated from the beginning I had never been on one, short or long. However I have spoken with timbersled 3 times(whoever answered the phone each time) trying to decide on what setup to go with as I would happily buy a 570 berg or whatever if that was the machine to have. Everyone kept telling me the 450's seem to pull the best due to the increased rev therefore wheel speed/track speed. Helps that I own a few 450's anyway and use them all spring summer fall. I was seriously considering a new ktm 450 or the 500 and wondered between the short or long track setup. I don't know who I was talking to but when I said things like "how do the long stroke motors pull in the deep compared to the 450's" he seemed to not understand the question and continued on with how the 500 was more of a bush bike and the 450 a track bike... And "can a 450 handle the long track ok..." He was like well the long track is great for powder and the short track more tree riding, all pretty generic answers. I've bought lots of stuff from penco over the years and they are often good and then there's been times I went in with the intention of buying and left with unanswered questions. I got the impression that day that they must have just started selling these kits. I stopped in at fast toys, not knowing any of them personally but they had short tracks on the 450's and ride a lot and shared all kinds of helpful info to a guy trying to figure out what to do. I never brought up penco and neither did they. In sharing my personal experience your knee jerk reaction to a customer who was less than satisfied is that I am the one with the problem and my 2 cents means nothing. That's fine, in the future I will avoid any refference to specific shops or individuals as not to offend anyone. Personally I would love it if the long tracks work out and guys find bikes that pull great with them, I sold my rmk pro 800 and committed the rest of this season to snowbiking so I won't walk away from it too soon. FYI, I may not snowbike yet but I dirt bike as much as anyone I know between MT ID UT and Alberta/BC both track and off road. I do two dunes trips a year with paddle tires which is my closest comparison to powder and how 450's would do in the snow. I currently own 4 ktms,2 kawi's, and 2 hondas and buy a new bike or two every season (one even from penco last year). I'm quite decent on a bike and not bad on a sled, figured my 2 cents might have at least been worth something?? Come to think of it I'm probably the kind of customer a bike shop would want to keep. No offense intended.

 

[dirt rider]

It was an overly sensitive answer and I offer my sincerest apologies. I had a bad morning and I took offense to it as I've committed every available minute to promoting these kits and what they can do. I wish I or my Accessories Manager could talk to every single interested customer, but sometimes a less experienced or non experienced employee talks to a customer and we dont even know it.

If you get the chance, try a long track kit. If possible do it on a day when you have a short and long available so its the same conditions. Unlike last year, this year I have demo bikes available and will gladly take you out. Ask for Steve or Brock if your interested.

To answer your question on bike/stroke/etc..... I think the reason the 450 MX bikes and the Husky work so well is not a bore stroke issue but the close ratio transmission. If you jump off a close ratio bike and jump on our 13 500 KTM the differences in RPM drop between gears is very noticable in deep powder. The wide ratio bikes work great but the close ratio bikes definately have an advantage as the bike stays in the RPM sweet spot much easier without dragging the motor down too much in my experience.

 

[albertaguy]

I grew up in southern alberta and my family used to have a cabin in the flathead valley and we spent a lot of time in Kalispell and Whitefish as well as Great Falls. I miss going there, I'm going to have to go down there for a trip with the bike sometime. I would love to go exploring the back country of Montana.

So from your name should I assume you ride husaberg, you have a timbersled kit on it? Last year probably 90% of the TS bikes I saw in the parking lot or down the hiway were bergs and most were 570's. This year tons of ktm's and jap bikes too, seems to be catching on. I've waited and waited not wanting to be a guiny pig but got tired of waiting, got a good offer for my sled so it was either buy another new sled or try snowbiking the rest of the year and see what I think. I would love to convert a few more guys in our group. Every guy in our sled group rides dirt bikes all spring summer fall, they are all curious what it would be like but they're running turbo 800's and can't imagine how their bike could get around. I'm a little nervous about being underpowered myself, hope I'm not disappointed.

 

[albertaguy]

It was an overly sensitive answer and I offer my sincerest apologies. I had a bad morning and I took offense to it as I've committed every available minute to promoting these kits and what they can do. I wish I or my Accessories Manager could talk to every single interested customer, but sometimes a less experienced or non experienced employee talks to a customer and we dont even know it.

If you get the chance, try a long track kit. If possible do it on a day when you have a short and long available so its the same conditions. Unlike last year, this year I have demo bikes available and will gladly take you out. Ask for Steve or Brock if your interested.

To answer your question on bike/stroke/etc..... I think the reason the 450 MX bikes and the Husky work so well is not a bore stroke issue but the close ratio transmission. If you jump off a close ratio bike and jump on our 13 500 KTM the differences in RPM drop between gears is very noticable in deep powder. The wide ratio bikes work great but the close ratio bikes definately have an advantage as the bike stays in the RPM sweet spot much easier without dragging the motor down too much in my experience.

So I had an 08 ktm 505xcf which had what they called a semi-closed ratio tranny, my 09 300xc feels similar but not as tall in 5th. Do any of the off road ktms have that or are they more wr? I won't go back to a carbed bike and never really liked the feel in the woods of the big bored woods bikes but would think about a 500 or a berg if they are pulling better. TS also told me set up snow vs powder really changes things. It's mostly very cold dry powder here when it's good out. Noticably warmer in Kalispell from my experience.

 

[Cberg]

So from your name should I assume you ride husaberg, you have a timbersled kit on it? Last year probably 90% of the TS bikes I saw in the parking lot or down the hiway were bergs and most were 570's. This year tons of ktm's and jap bikes too, seems to be catching on. I've waited and waited not wanting to be a guiny pig but got tired of waiting, got a good offer for my sled so it was either buy another new sled or try snowbiking the rest of the year and see what I think. I would love to convert a few more guys in our group. Every guy in our sled group rides dirt bikes all spring summer fall, they are all curious what it would be like but they're running turbo 800's and can't imagine how their bike could get around. I'm a little nervous about being underpowered myself, hope I'm not disappointed.

The name doesn't have anything to do with me riding a Berg, more to do with my name. I myself am just getting into snowbiking and I am putting the finishing touches on my timbersled . It is a 2010 Ktm 450 Sxf with a ST kit. I was in the same boat as you when I was trying to decided on a bike to put it on and after talking to several people about what works, one guy who has a few different setups and has rode on many different bikes has had very good luck on the Sxf's and says they work awesome. I will find out this weekend

 

[kylerf150]

In my opinion forums are probably on of the best ways to get information from experienced and informed members.the only down fall is sometimes things get interpreted wrong and lites that little fuse we all have Haha. I talked to Brock last week as a matter of fact and he seemed to know what he was talking about and when i bought my bike from them they treated me right.But hearing everybodys opinion really helps out me and hopefully future timber owners so lets keep em coming!

Mtn doo i will head in and talk to Daily's when i get back home Im at work for another 2 weeks so maybe by then we will get some much needed snow are most of you guys running carb heaters or just a snorkel and a prefilter?? Also can the gearing be changed to keep the revs up on the 500xcw?
Thanks again everybody for your 2cents.Kyler

 

[Rush44]

One thing I think should be cleared up is that the 120 kits will go all the places the 136 kits will go. I have yet to see a long track make it somewhere the 120 can't. What you have to understand is that in powder conditions the 136 floats better and has the 2 inch stiff paddles that do a much better job of grabbing traction. Traction + float = steeper attack angles. The 136 will have an EASIER time putting the steep mark in, but the 120 will be right behind it and occasionally might put in an extra turn or lengthen the first switchback to hit the top of the hill.

That being said, I have every intention on "long tracking" my 120 kit next season. I'm trying to find a 2.5 inch track (Challenger Extreme) I can cut down and I'll end up using WPS rail extensions. I think I can get the entire job done for under $800.

 

[dirt rider]

So I had an 08 ktm 505xcf which had what they called a semi-closed ratio tranny, my 09 300xc feels similar but not as tall in 5th. Do any of the off road ktms have that or are they more wr? I won't go back to a carbed bike and never really liked the feel in the woods of the big bored woods bikes but would think about a 500 or a berg if they are pulling better. TS also told me set up snow vs powder really changes things. It's mostly very cold dry powder here when it's good out. Noticably warmer in Kalispell from my experience.

Your absolutely right the XC models are a semi close ratio and split the difference between the SX and XC-W models. The Husky thread in here is mine and the initial bike I set up this year with a LT kit. That bike is magic as its a big bore but also has close ratios in 1st through 3rd and works amazingly well. That bike sold so I set up a 13 500XC-W with a LT kit. This bike works great and has all the cool features of lights, e and kick start, no problem running heated grips, big fuel tank, and of course efi. I'm very happy with this bike and may be one of the best featured bikes to put a kit on. I bleed orange and that's all I ride and race but I'll admit the Husky 511 has a performance advantage over the KTM and I believe it's mostly due to transmission ratios. The guy that bought the Husky traded in a Mountain Horse'd 570 Berg as the Husky would outperform it as well although the Berg is a great bike just like the KTM.

The bikes I would really like to try next year are a KTM 450SX and Husky TC449 as they build big power, have a close ratio, e-start, and efi. I think either of these could be an awesome bike with a kit.