Hi, I am an avid snowmobile rider. Backcountry boondocks and mountain riding are my mo. My buddy posted a snowbike video and now I must have one. So my question is what kind of bike do I need and what kind of track do I want to get? All help will be greatly appreciated!
Beginner questions! Need guidance
- Thread starter akscott907
- Start date
6'2" 185. Alaska. Usually steep and deep. No bike yet Need the whole show. And if it's financible budget doesn't really matter. Like to stay under 10k if that's possible. But 12 14k would be ok. Thanks for you assistance
Also riding style is extremely aggressive!
Steep and deep, leads me to lean towards the 2016 LT. I would get the TSS fit kit to help with being aggressive. I would think the yeti would perform well for what you are doing, but a bit more money. You could also get a used LT dirt cheap and install a new timbersled or C3 track.
As for bike if you want an affordable good performing machine, yz450f, relatively light and good power. There are several good choices for KTM machines if you want Estart etc.
If you want to keep the budget down and have even more hill shredding power get a cr500 and prepare to install a few mods, still cheaper.
If you want to spend 20k total you could have an insane climbing machine with a turbo.
I'll fill you in on what I am doing and why. I'm rebuilding my cr500 and converting it to an aluminum frame. Picking up a '16 sx120 with tss. I like climbing but I know it would be hard to replicate on a bike what sleds can do, but it's getting closer to being possible. So instead I am going for something that will be extremely light maneuverable, jump and do drops well, handle trees, but might suffer slightly on the deep with the much less flotation and the track angle of the sx. I want the short track so I don't have as much hanging up off the back when jumping or dropping. So in essence I'll get smoked by some of the guys I will be riding with since they will be doing serious climbs but I should get around to anywhere just as well or better, the hills and poweder will be a bit more of a challenge. With that said, I have no experience on a snow bike....
As for bike if you want an affordable good performing machine, yz450f, relatively light and good power. There are several good choices for KTM machines if you want Estart etc.
If you want to keep the budget down and have even more hill shredding power get a cr500 and prepare to install a few mods, still cheaper.
If you want to spend 20k total you could have an insane climbing machine with a turbo.
I'll fill you in on what I am doing and why. I'm rebuilding my cr500 and converting it to an aluminum frame. Picking up a '16 sx120 with tss. I like climbing but I know it would be hard to replicate on a bike what sleds can do, but it's getting closer to being possible. So instead I am going for something that will be extremely light maneuverable, jump and do drops well, handle trees, but might suffer slightly on the deep with the much less flotation and the track angle of the sx. I want the short track so I don't have as much hanging up off the back when jumping or dropping. So in essence I'll get smoked by some of the guys I will be riding with since they will be doing serious climbs but I should get around to anywhere just as well or better, the hills and poweder will be a bit more of a challenge. With that said, I have no experience on a snow bike....
Probably the most popular 4-stroke bikes bikes would be the yz450, KX450 or KTM 450 or 500. There is also a very large group of 2-stroke riders, i.e. CR 500 or KTM 300. Personally I don't ride anything without E-start. Just hate trying to kick start a machine in the cold with snow boots on. I would also recommend a later model bike with EFI. The other thing to look for is a dealer for Mountainhorse in your area that will support you and help you. That is huge IMO.
R
Rush44
Well-known member
Seoinage and madmax have some good info for you. For now I wouldn't really consider the Yeti until it's been on the snow for a season with more customers in varying situations. Timbersled is definitely the proven platform and with the TSS and new track on the 2016 I don't really see why you would want anything else.
I dual season my bikes so for me building a dedicated 500 smoker is out although I would ride one off and on during the winter if i had one. The 450 thumpers are pretty much turn key bikes that just flat out work. If you like the steep and deep I perfer the close ratio MX race bikes over the wide ratio enduro's like the 500xcw or WR's. I don't know the terrain in Alaska but from what I've seen your steep and deep could be completely different from ours here in NW Montana with tight trees and tons of drainages to traverse. The less tight things are the less important the wide ratio trans is.
With a few mods the 4 stroke bikes are start and go, swap the oil, fill the gas and ride setups. So cash wise all new you are looking at roughly spending:
- New MX bike = $7,500 - $9,500 depending on what you want
- New LT + TSS suspension and fit kit = $7,300
- misc. mods and extras = $600 for the essentials (pegs, handguards, thermostat)
So you're in the neighborhood of $16,000ish to get going. Plus if you buy a bike that works for you in the summer you get to dual season. At least, that's what you tell your wife.
I dual season my bikes so for me building a dedicated 500 smoker is out although I would ride one off and on during the winter if i had one. The 450 thumpers are pretty much turn key bikes that just flat out work. If you like the steep and deep I perfer the close ratio MX race bikes over the wide ratio enduro's like the 500xcw or WR's. I don't know the terrain in Alaska but from what I've seen your steep and deep could be completely different from ours here in NW Montana with tight trees and tons of drainages to traverse. The less tight things are the less important the wide ratio trans is.
With a few mods the 4 stroke bikes are start and go, swap the oil, fill the gas and ride setups. So cash wise all new you are looking at roughly spending:
- New MX bike = $7,500 - $9,500 depending on what you want
- New LT + TSS suspension and fit kit = $7,300
- misc. mods and extras = $600 for the essentials (pegs, handguards, thermostat)
So you're in the neighborhood of $16,000ish to get going. Plus if you buy a bike that works for you in the summer you get to dual season. At least, that's what you tell your wife.
You don't have to spend anywhere near $16k to get into a good setup, but that's what new will run ya.
I dropped $9500 last fall on a basically new setup. New YZ450 and ST kit with a bunch a accessories. Bike never saw dirt and the setup had only a few rides on it.
I spent the last 2 winters in AK on a sled, didn't have a bike. didnt ride much terrain or conditions that I would have really preferred a Sno bike. Either really cold or really wide open terrain, or both.
After riding mine in WA this winter, if I had one in AK, I'd want a LT kit and a bike with a big stator or install one for hand warmers and a light. Gets dark quick!
In general, track bikes with close ratio gearing are best suited for pulling a track, but I think it boils down to the best deal you can get on the best 450+ cc bike.
Lat ride down here last week.
I dropped $9500 last fall on a basically new setup. New YZ450 and ST kit with a bunch a accessories. Bike never saw dirt and the setup had only a few rides on it.
I spent the last 2 winters in AK on a sled, didn't have a bike. didnt ride much terrain or conditions that I would have really preferred a Sno bike. Either really cold or really wide open terrain, or both.
After riding mine in WA this winter, if I had one in AK, I'd want a LT kit and a bike with a big stator or install one for hand warmers and a light. Gets dark quick!
In general, track bikes with close ratio gearing are best suited for pulling a track, but I think it boils down to the best deal you can get on the best 450+ cc bike.
Lat ride down here last week.
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Check out Seattle Craigslist. With the horrible winter and being end of the season, it's the right time to buy one. There are kits for sale, $4k and pretty much new complete setups for $11k. Also a cheap CR 450 with a LT kit.
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I would try out a bike first.
I just got back from Arctic man and Valdez and would not want to go there without a sled period.
I also bring my snow-bike for dedicated rides and fooling about , but steep and deep Valdez and Hoodoo style is not bike stuff.
It can be done but this stuff make my new summit feel weak -- longing for the old Yamaha turbo when it gets real steep and deep.
This is not bike bashing just the reality in the big stuff. We even had a guy with a LT KTM 500 turbo he also jumped on the sled for the bigger rides.
Bikes are awesome fun in the tight trees and with a group of bikes-they do not play well with sleds. Any 450 MC bike will do just fine with a ST kit Make sure to upgrade the track to the latest version it is the biggest improvement The new TSS kit is a must in my book. I only ever run the SX myself for just that reason.
I just got back from Arctic man and Valdez and would not want to go there without a sled period.
I also bring my snow-bike for dedicated rides and fooling about , but steep and deep Valdez and Hoodoo style is not bike stuff.
It can be done but this stuff make my new summit feel weak -- longing for the old Yamaha turbo when it gets real steep and deep.
This is not bike bashing just the reality in the big stuff. We even had a guy with a LT KTM 500 turbo he also jumped on the sled for the bigger rides.
Bikes are awesome fun in the tight trees and with a group of bikes-they do not play well with sleds. Any 450 MC bike will do just fine with a ST kit Make sure to upgrade the track to the latest version it is the biggest improvement The new TSS kit is a must in my book. I only ever run the SX myself for just that reason.
