As we all are familiar, when we plow through a snowdrift or try to land a launch in deep, heavy powder, often the snowbike comes to a fast halt - snow against the radiators - ejecting the rider over the bars. Working from the success of the Snowhawk bellypan, I scrapped together a bellypan for the snowbike. I recognize that it is fugly and seriously prototype; however, it works great. I have made some modifications since these pictures by narrowing it under the footpegs to allow snow to not collect against the footpegs and shifter/brake pedal. The belly pan is smooth UHMW 1/4" thick plastic and allows the snowbike to ride up on top of the snow rather than plowing through it. I really notice the less drag in turning and obviously when crashing through snowdrifts and landings...The snowbike porpoises out of the landing crater rather than cratering in.
I modified a triple clamp and mounted it to the lower portion of the fork uppers to create a hard point to mount the F-ugly to. I cut out semi-circle grooves in the bellypan to allow the forks to rotate. I can also remove the whole assembly in 5 mins if I don't need it that day depending on snow conditions. The bellypan also does not drag in the snow sidehilling or appear to limit me in trees yet as it is way narrower that the handlebars (about footpeg width). The bellypan also clears some snow away from my feet and is less drag than feet plowing through the snow.
Anyways - this was my first go of it and I will be tweaking it over the next season. Yes it is F-ugly and a bit of a hack job but it certainly works in my Heavy whistler snow. For you guys in that Champagne dry powder this is probably not necessary.
I modified a triple clamp and mounted it to the lower portion of the fork uppers to create a hard point to mount the F-ugly to. I cut out semi-circle grooves in the bellypan to allow the forks to rotate. I can also remove the whole assembly in 5 mins if I don't need it that day depending on snow conditions. The bellypan also does not drag in the snow sidehilling or appear to limit me in trees yet as it is way narrower that the handlebars (about footpeg width). The bellypan also clears some snow away from my feet and is less drag than feet plowing through the snow.
Anyways - this was my first go of it and I will be tweaking it over the next season. Yes it is F-ugly and a bit of a hack job but it certainly works in my Heavy whistler snow. For you guys in that Champagne dry powder this is probably not necessary.
