Best Street Legal Bike to use for a Snowbike?

[Draxxus]

wr and mx bikes are very very different to ride. the mx is lighter and way snappier it will go up first and fast. the wr is much heavier especially in the front end , it will go everywhere the mx bike goes but not as quick or as effortlessly. when u fall over the magic button bikes make up for the weight tho. having ridden several makes and models of both styles of tranny i would say the mx tranny is way better in almost all scenarios

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks, good points guys!

At this point I almost feel painted into a KTM 500 EXC or a WC-X or whatever, the other very similar bike is.

However, I would much rather spend between $3-5,000 instead of $10,000 for the bike because I have to spend $5,500 (with a fit kit) on a Mountain Horse Kit (if I can find one).

Did I mention, I will have plenty of time to ride in the very near future but, my income will be taking a huge hit because I am "retiring".

So, I guess bang for the buck really comes into play as well......

 

[M5-]

http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=355118&highlight=ktm+530

This bike is/was a good deal. It's all done and that's a $2000.00 motor that will absolutely rock. My Thumper Racing 520 is a strong motor, his 610 package is a beast. Don't get hung up on needing FI because you don't. If you want to learn about KTM and all the different options for you join KTMTALK. DJH over there and Travis from Thumper are the gurus on that forum. DJH a motor builder and is in Washington I think, phone one of those guys and talk to them, Travis is awesome. If you want to get into the KTM world, which is what I would do and not spend 10 grand you are looking at carbed bikes, end of discussion. If you can find a clean 2007 525 EXC with an RFS motor that'll do the job for you as well. The RFS makes slightly less power than the Xc4 but by 07 they were pretty well bombproof. The RFS can run a bit hot but its an easy fix.



M5

 

[Dam Dave]

Thanks, good points guys!

At this point I almost feel painted into a KTM 500 EXC or a WC-X or whatever, the other very similar bike is.

However, I would much rather spend between $3-5,000 instead of $10,000 for the bike because I have to spend $5,500 (with a fit kit) on a Mountain Horse Kit (if I can find one).

Did I mention, I will have plenty of time to ride in the very near future but, my income will be taking a huge hit because I am "retiring".

So, I guess bang for the buck really comes into play as well......

So get a 530 XC-W, just make sure it is a 2010 or newer, a few of the 08 and 09 had some oil pumping issues

I have a 2010 530 XC-W Six days and it has been a great bike, except for oil changes and one valve adjustment per year it has been a ZERO maintenance bike.

 

[DieselTwitch]

Im running a 12' 500 XC-W and its awesome! I may play around with the gearing to allow me to run a little bit more track speed in a lower gear. I'm finding that Im climbing hills in 2nd and 3rd gear and playing in the pow in 3rd and 4th. on the trail in 5th and 6th. Never ever use 1st short of taking off. Im not sure. Need more time on the bike.

Still the 500 with its FI and E start is an awesomely strong bike in the snow.

 

[garafajon]

bang for buck

Thanks, good points guys!

At this point I almost feel painted into a KTM 500 EXC or a WC-X or whatever, the other very similar bike is.

However, I would much rather spend between $3-5,000 instead of $10,000 for the bike because I have to spend $5,500 (with a fit kit) on a Mountain Horse Kit (if I can find one).

Did I mention, I will have plenty of time to ride in the very near future but, my income will be taking a huge hit because I am "retiring".

So, I guess bang for the buck really comes into play as well......

I ran a CRF450X and an Older carbed KTM 450 both with MH ST kits the past two seasons. Sure, I saved lots of money... at first. I also didn't do a lot of snowbiking.

Instead I would hang out in the parking lot kicking my bike a friggin million times. One day I kicked it so much in sub-zero temps that the kickstart idler gear cracked. Entire day shot. Then I fixed it and blew another day when my fix went out on me. All the sledders just laughed. Not the right kind of "bang" for my buck.

I had the same question as you and concluded that the 500 EXC is the best all-around bike. I'm super stoked for this season because the other day was -5 F at my house and I just hit the button and "bang"! I only don't have the kit on yet cause I'm still riding it to work lol

For the record, the KTM did better than the Honda. Both were 07's. Once I got the jetting right on the Honda it was alright as well. However, carbs still flood when they're tipped and that tends to happen a bit in the snow. Go for the EXC.