Iam thinking of trying and I never see anything advertised as beginner or more friendly to a beginner? I live in Montana and the conditions are varied but iam doing so bad at snowmobiling iam looking around at bikes lol. So is the 137 easier or 129 or how do you guys rate the bikes and kits as far as beginner to expert? Thanks in advance for any reolies
Beginners snowbike?
- Thread starter Pinchecharlie
- Start date
First thing you didn't clarify, It helps to know how to ride a dirt bike. The length doesn't matter in that respect, it would depend more on conditions than skill. The only thing that would appeal to a beginner would be a "short" s model timbersled and possibly a ktm\husky 500 that doesn't need perfect clutch\shifting skills to find the power. It's not going to matter much really you might be better off just finding something that's a good deal to buy and ride for this season until you get a feel for the sport. I've got beginner friends who got deals on Suzuki 450s with ts raw kits and they have a blast.
I won’t lie I haven’t riden a dirt bike in a very long time. I rode street bikes most of my life but iam guessing a old fat Harley will be quite different. Ok well I was going to learn as much as I could and rent a few times but want to know in case a good deal happens lol. I wouldn’t feel comfortable on a 450 on dirt I don’t think but I see guys by in large use them. I just thought I’d ask the newbie dumb questions. I can afford new but I’ll try and find used if I buy. There’s quite a few for sale from ktm to Yamaha and Honda locally. Just did the help me choose on Timbersled site and it was 120s? Are there any unicorn kits from years past that guys want? Or any specific to stay awa from! Just curious really. Thanks
Electric start is super nice.
Any clean low hours timbersled is ridable.
Clean Low hours bike is also a good starting point.
Being on Snow needs super aggressive power application vs dirt. A 450 on snow is equal to a crf150f on dirt.
I know I'm going to get flamed for saying this but sometimes the truth hurts. Whenever we take out a new "NEVER EVER" we always start them on the Yamaha 450FX with the Camso kit. The Camso weighs a ton and has no suspension but once you get to the goods it's by far the easiest setup to turn. Its low and turns on a dime because of the monorail. The track is flat out awesome from 2019 on, after they changed the durometer 2017 and 2018 had the floppy track. Kits are cheap as hell to buy, don't buy anything older than 2019. 2020s have all the bugs fixed (same brakes as Yeti, they put them on the DTS before the Yeti got them) and are super reliable. If Camoplast hadn't bought Yeti I'm sure they would still be making the DTS.
I still have a 2020 Camso kit on my backup ride and it goes everywhere my Yeti does. Full stop. My Camso bike has a full Yeti front end, spindle and ski which helps the Camso a lot, while the Camso ski is a little sketch on the trail it's really good in the spring on crust and it also works well in powder. The ski actually holds much better than it feels like it's doing but you really need to keep it on edge on the trail. The DTS spindle is absolutely bulletproof. I milled up a new deeper block for the spring preload adjuster which helps but the kit could benefit from a stiffer spring and more compression in the shock. If I didn't have the Yeti bike I would buy a new Ti spring from Renton with more rate and mod the shock. If you are over 200 lbs a spring change will probably be needed.
I've been preaching this since 2017 when I rode the first Camso, the monorail is the bomb. I always said narrow rails are the future and look around now. The Camso kit is the only cheap way into a narrow rail setup, IMO don't waste your time with an old wide rail TS, once you go narrow there's no going back so just start there.
We rate setups from easy ride to hard ride. My old CR500 with a TS 137 was top of the chart in hard ride, all it wanted to do was go straight, fast as hell but straight. It just wore me out. The FX/Camso is the winner of easy ride. Personally, I hate the FX but it's the easiest beginner bike out there and has a tall 5th gear. Depending on where you live you should be able to get and FX/Camso for really cheap. Ride it for a season then upgrade or keep it around to hook other newbies like we do.
M5
I still have a 2020 Camso kit on my backup ride and it goes everywhere my Yeti does. Full stop. My Camso bike has a full Yeti front end, spindle and ski which helps the Camso a lot, while the Camso ski is a little sketch on the trail it's really good in the spring on crust and it also works well in powder. The ski actually holds much better than it feels like it's doing but you really need to keep it on edge on the trail. The DTS spindle is absolutely bulletproof. I milled up a new deeper block for the spring preload adjuster which helps but the kit could benefit from a stiffer spring and more compression in the shock. If I didn't have the Yeti bike I would buy a new Ti spring from Renton with more rate and mod the shock. If you are over 200 lbs a spring change will probably be needed.
I've been preaching this since 2017 when I rode the first Camso, the monorail is the bomb. I always said narrow rails are the future and look around now. The Camso kit is the only cheap way into a narrow rail setup, IMO don't waste your time with an old wide rail TS, once you go narrow there's no going back so just start there.
We rate setups from easy ride to hard ride. My old CR500 with a TS 137 was top of the chart in hard ride, all it wanted to do was go straight, fast as hell but straight. It just wore me out. The FX/Camso is the winner of easy ride. Personally, I hate the FX but it's the easiest beginner bike out there and has a tall 5th gear. Depending on where you live you should be able to get and FX/Camso for really cheap. Ride it for a season then upgrade or keep it around to hook other newbies like we do.
M5
mounted a 17 120 ts kit on a kdx 200 to get a 13 year old boy the on snow bikes. thoiught it might work, one test ride, it way more than worked. mildly surprised. Now we will lower the shocks
I've got a 2018 Timbersled 137 in the Bozeman area if your interested ($3000). For the prices of used bikes right now, I would just go buy a new 23 Honda CRF450R-S for $8800 or so.
I've ridden sleds for 25 years and snowbikes for 5. Snowbiking is so much easier, its not even funny. Absolutely no comparison. I've put people on my snowbike that have never ridden a motorcycle and they do fine. If you have any experience with the clutch and shifting, you are good! A complete novice can ride circles around your average sledder.
Don't get me wrong, I like sledding too. However, I need at least 18" of fresh on a good base to be content. If there is a decent 2-4' base I'm happy on a snowbike. For our snow, I would say at least 75% of my days are better on snowbike.
I've ridden 120, 129 and 137 kits. I think the longer track or 129 3" works the best for our dry snow. If the snow is setup the 120 works great. If its bottomless, it can be frustrating sometimes. The 120 is a little more nimble and playful, but any snowbike is so much more nimble than a sled, it really doesn't matter.
For bikes, a 450 MX bike is best IMO. A KTM 500 works ok if you want more of a summer off road or dual sport bike. Remember these bikes are a fraction of power compared to an 800-850 sled (50-60 hp vs 150-170 hp) so don't be scared of a 450-500 for snowbiking.
Also, I would get at least a 2016 or newer Timbersled to get the 2.5" lug track. The older Mountain Horse kits work great but sometimes getting the right chain adjustment can be challenging.
I've been happy with my 2018 ARO 137 and 2020 ARO 129 3"
The CMX kits are very high quality. Haven't ridden a newer one though.
The Yetis are very nice but a bit more fragile and harder to get parts for. Much lighter than anything else though.
The Camso is a real basic kit but seem to work well from what I've seen. At least in the trees and deep snow.
The Rale kit seems to work well in deep snow from what I've seen but never ridden one
I've heard good things about the Mtntop but its out of my price range.
I wouldn't run a Moto trax personally.
I've been happy with my 2018 ARO 137 and 2020 ARO 129 3"
The CMX kits are very high quality. Haven't ridden a newer one though.
The Yetis are very nice but a bit more fragile and harder to get parts for. Much lighter than anything else though.
The Camso is a real basic kit but seem to work well from what I've seen. At least in the trees and deep snow.
The Rale kit seems to work well in deep snow from what I've seen but never ridden one
I've heard good things about the Mtntop but its out of my price range.
I wouldn't run a Moto trax personally.
After a lot of looking and reading and videos lol. I think I’ll buy a new bike or a hold overs fine too. Iam not a brand guy so was thinking just follow the pack with Ktm or Yamaha or a gas gas just cause I like the snow chimps on you tube lol. I had kind of decided to try and find a 129 aro or any affordable ish used 3 inch track. Iam a bit worried about a 120 or riot gust cause I don’t want to trench to bad and I don’t know how a super light front end will feel being a new rider. Seems like a aro pro 3s would be perfect paired with a new 450 ! Just need a little money lol! I’d be interested in your kit if after this sub zero stretch you wanna show it to me. I work for the schools as maintenance so we’re busy over Christmas but in weekends or soon ? I’d go snowmobiling with you too cause I have no group and I am terrible at it. Iam so bad I really need to go with kids and their dad or something lol!! Thanks for the replies!!
How tall are you? If your like 5'9" or taller I would go standard. Doesn't really matter if your 7' tall and on an S kit, if you put your foot out and there is 2' of powder, you will tip over. Luckily powder is soft. On the trail, the faster you go, the easier it is so having the bike low isn't a huge advantage to me. However I'm 6'3" so maybe I shouldn't be giving advice lol?
I've never ridden an "S" kit but some of my buddies have and hated it. Makes your feet drag on the deep days. One buddy actually ditched the S parts and went back to a normal he hated it so much. Some people on here seem content with it though so who knows?
I've never ridden an "S" kit but some of my buddies have and hated it. Makes your feet drag on the deep days. One buddy actually ditched the S parts and went back to a normal he hated it so much. Some people on here seem content with it though so who knows?
I wouldn't be picky about the bike. I would buy any mainstream brand but I would prefer e start.
Not mine, but here is a nice new 22 KX450 for $7500. Otherwise the Honda is the best value IMO. The YZ is a great bike too. Obviously nothing wrong with KTM either, just spendy.
Not mine, but here is a nice new 22 KX450 for $7500. Otherwise the Honda is the best value IMO. The YZ is a great bike too. Obviously nothing wrong with KTM either, just spendy.
2022 KX-450F, Brand new never ridden - motorcycles/scooters - by...
Brand new 22 KX450F Clean clear MT title 3 couplers/Maps Manual Title in hand Exact same as 23 model Firm
bozeman.craigslist.org
Yeah that’s only cause iam a shrimp at 5’5 145 ! But I get what your saying . I just watched a guy on you tube with a new Timbersled aro pro s and gas gas but I have no real idea! I really like these guys they are called Vernon snow md I think? They have a online shop called the snowbike shop ? Anyway the bc guys have alot of snow and snow bikes I think?! If you want message me and I’ll look at your stuff. Iam not sold on anything just yet just a victim of the internet opinions!
I love my ARO 3 S Pro. I can handle tight trees better and it feels a lot easier to pick up if I do fall over. Just feels easier in difficult terrain. Yes i do get a bit more toe drag. I'd never go back full height though. I ran a 2017 full height then lowered last year. That's my 2 pennies.
The mount Vernon guys are great to watch.
I did my beginner week on a Husqvarna FX 450 with a ARO 3.
129" track with a 3" paddle is beginner friendly.
Timbersled has a S model of most kits that is a little lowe to the ground. Good for the smaller riders.
What is your budget?
Look for EFI and electric start for sure.
Avoid the street legal bikes because of the no smog stuff.
From 8-12 . It’s a challenge to find one or the other. Either new bike old kit or old bike new kit . Old/old or new/new which is kinda a lot of money. Just as much or more than snowmobile? Anyway. I may just try and buy a kinda cheap set up just for fun. I dunno. I’ve looked at a few in the 6-8k range but those never have e-start. Think that’s 28 and up for most makes. I called a few guys too but haven’t heard back. It’s ok iam sure it’s way harder than it looks but if it’s easier it may be more fun than learning snowmobile. Snowmobiles are very hard to ride lol!
Bozeman MT
Look for a bike that's either around 100 hours or less or recently rebuilt.
Electric start, EFI and a recluse clutch will make life a lot easier.
It is across the board 100 times easier to get good on a snow bike versus getting good on a snowmobile.
Except for climbing straight up shoots you'll be able to go anywhere they go plus a lot more. I could go places day one on a snow bike I couldn't get to after 10 years on snowmobile.
You could do pretty good with a camso 129 or a newer 129.
There are some bikes out there in your range but you might have to drive a little bit.
FB has lots of snowbikes groups with lots of bikes for sale.
Electric start, EFI and a recluse clutch will make life a lot easier.
It is across the board 100 times easier to get good on a snow bike versus getting good on a snowmobile.
Except for climbing straight up shoots you'll be able to go anywhere they go plus a lot more. I could go places day one on a snow bike I couldn't get to after 10 years on snowmobile.
You could do pretty good with a camso 129 or a newer 129.
There are some bikes out there in your range but you might have to drive a little bit.
FB has lots of snowbikes groups with lots of bikes for sale.
I personally don't like the Rekluse for snow use. Works great on a four stroke on the dirt on technical single track but I hate the feel on 2T and worry about the slipping and reliability in snow.
