How many women riders on here or guys whose significant others ride? My husband is building a snow bike for himself. He really wants me to do it to. I have ridden sleds for years. Boondockin but nothing extreme. Rode dirt bikes but was on the ground.....a lot..lol. Ride street in the summer. I am not a aggressive rider and concerned that I will not keep up. Any tips?
Female riders
- Thread starter JustFiona
- Start date
The snow usually doesn't hurt as much as the dirt does and since you ride street your a prime candidate .
When she said she was tired off chasing me around on a sled and wanted to get a one ski I wasted no time in finding one . It's one thing to ride with your friends but it's another to share it with the better half .
Proper set up is very important on a one ski compared to a sled . I don't care about the weight but for her the lighter the better .
The other week I stopped to talk to a group and one guy asked me if this was my son with me , I just smiled and said ya .
When she said she was tired off chasing me around on a sled and wanted to get a one ski I wasted no time in finding one . It's one thing to ride with your friends but it's another to share it with the better half .
Proper set up is very important on a one ski compared to a sled . I don't care about the weight but for her the lighter the better .
The other week I stopped to talk to a group and one guy asked me if this was my son with me , I just smiled and said ya .
You need to ride one! We rented one last week. My girls are 19 (twins) 5'2. They have ridden dirt bikes for two years and they ride okay. It took a lot of convincing to get them on this big looking KTM 500. Once they did they did not want to get off
The next day they rode it more than there sleds! It is easier to boon dock than a snowmobile. This was my first time also, I loved it. Try to get a ride on one and I think you will enjoy it! 
The next day they rode it more than there sleds! It is easier to boon dock than a snowmobile. This was my first time also, I loved it. Try to get a ride on one and I think you will enjoy it! You will love it and not look back at a sled, wishing you were still there.
Bottom line, it takes much less effort and work to get around on a snowbike, in off camber and deep snow, than a sled. I rode with a couple just a few weeks ago, she was the one on the snowbike, he the turbo Yammi sled. She could go anywhere "the guys" went, but without fighting her machine on the sidehills and gullies.
In my experience doing demos, there is fear of leaning the bike, because of the falling sensation. Leaning is actually how the snowbike turns.
Most important technique to practice is, leaning your street machine over to make a slow u- turn in the parking lot. Getting a feel for how much you counter balance the street machine with your body above the bike and bike leaned under you, in that slow u-turn, will let you carve a snowbike like a pro. Snowbike carving is all about trusting the lean of the bike, plus hitting the gas hard enough to get the turn done so you dont fall over, just like on the street. It takes more whacking the throttle and track speed, on a snow bike to ride powder, then you are used to using, for street or sledding. Dont fear the throttle in snow, it is your friend and "rescue handle" when you feel the snowbike leaning too much for your speed and about to fall over.
You already know how to ride snow, you know how to lean a bike, combining the two will take about 15 minutes until you have a good feel and can rip it up. Trust yourself and your experience to do a good job, because you will!
Bottom line, it takes much less effort and work to get around on a snowbike, in off camber and deep snow, than a sled. I rode with a couple just a few weeks ago, she was the one on the snowbike, he the turbo Yammi sled. She could go anywhere "the guys" went, but without fighting her machine on the sidehills and gullies.
In my experience doing demos, there is fear of leaning the bike, because of the falling sensation. Leaning is actually how the snowbike turns.
Most important technique to practice is, leaning your street machine over to make a slow u- turn in the parking lot. Getting a feel for how much you counter balance the street machine with your body above the bike and bike leaned under you, in that slow u-turn, will let you carve a snowbike like a pro. Snowbike carving is all about trusting the lean of the bike, plus hitting the gas hard enough to get the turn done so you dont fall over, just like on the street. It takes more whacking the throttle and track speed, on a snow bike to ride powder, then you are used to using, for street or sledding. Dont fear the throttle in snow, it is your friend and "rescue handle" when you feel the snowbike leaning too much for your speed and about to fall over.
You already know how to ride snow, you know how to lean a bike, combining the two will take about 15 minutes until you have a good feel and can rip it up. Trust yourself and your experience to do a good job, because you will!
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My wife rides Dirt well and a Snowbike... For sure go short track...electric start and as light as possible... I would recommend a 4 stroke. Right now my wife rides a cr500 Lt and this is the wish list she has after 2 seasons. Never ever says anything about the snowmobile ever..
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Really good points. The Estart is key for convenience, plus consider a rekluse, so you have the anti kill feature if you lock the brakes or miss the clutch in a technical situation.
We have a lady rider in our group on a FC450 and she is on the shorter side, making her extra happy to have the Estart.
My take on it is it is a tradeoff. Out in the powder and backcountry, it will let a newer rider go places they would never on a sled. And make it much easier to keep up with other riders, especially if those other riders are on sleds and riding terrain (side hills, trees) where the less experienced rider has some trouble.
However, the trail rides in and out are MUCH sketchier on a bike than a sled. A sled is like riding an ATV on a trail. Just balances itself and you can go as easy as you want without any worries of trail conditions (ice, etc). There are times I've been on my snowbike and my wife is on her sled that I think to myself "There is no way she could ride in and out on this stuff". Wish there was a way to skip the trail part, then she would be fine, but at this point, there is no way due to the trail handling. A less confident bike rider is really going to dislike the trail riding on certain snow conditions. They might get used to it with time, but heck, there are plenty of days where it just wears me out and I think how much it sucks, so a beginner, less aggressive, less experienced rider would just plain hate it.
That's my take on it. Definite pros and cons. There have been many a day I daydreamed about a big heavy work snowmobile with a trailer that can tow a couple snowbikes 10 miles back on the trails. Then park the sled and trailer, unload the bikes, play all day, load them back up and trail ride out the sled towing the bikes. Ha. Would be a great rig to have for recovering broken down snowbikes, too.
However, the trail rides in and out are MUCH sketchier on a bike than a sled. A sled is like riding an ATV on a trail. Just balances itself and you can go as easy as you want without any worries of trail conditions (ice, etc). There are times I've been on my snowbike and my wife is on her sled that I think to myself "There is no way she could ride in and out on this stuff". Wish there was a way to skip the trail part, then she would be fine, but at this point, there is no way due to the trail handling. A less confident bike rider is really going to dislike the trail riding on certain snow conditions. They might get used to it with time, but heck, there are plenty of days where it just wears me out and I think how much it sucks, so a beginner, less aggressive, less experienced rider would just plain hate it.
That's my take on it. Definite pros and cons. There have been many a day I daydreamed about a big heavy work snowmobile with a trailer that can tow a couple snowbikes 10 miles back on the trails. Then park the sled and trailer, unload the bikes, play all day, load them back up and trail ride out the sled towing the bikes. Ha. Would be a great rig to have for recovering broken down snowbikes, too.
My wife switched and won't look back.. She is however an avid dirt rider as well. Since she switched from the tricycle to the snowbike our riding experience together is wayyyyy better. I can take here places she was never able to get to on the sled. I essential don't have to ride slow or wait for her anymore. The pic of her on the ktm she is giggling at me cause I finally caught up to her. (she was on the turbo)
In her mind the e-start and the weight is key. We ride a big bore kx450f on nitrous and a ktm 500 turbo. She likes the lighter handling of the kawi but loves the power and e-start of the ktm.
She roughly 5'8" 120 lbs and can honestly rock either bike.
In her mind the e-start and the weight is key. We ride a big bore kx450f on nitrous and a ktm 500 turbo. She likes the lighter handling of the kawi but loves the power and e-start of the ktm.
She roughly 5'8" 120 lbs and can honestly rock either bike.
C
capulin overdrive
Well-known member
Yup, great post about the trail riding.
So much fun, I forget about that part.
But yea, trails can be pretty miserable!
Other than that, e-start, and rekluse if not used to a clutch.
So much fun, I forget about that part.
But yea, trails can be pretty miserable!
Other than that, e-start, and rekluse if not used to a clutch.
She already ownes me, duh!
Easy fix!
Don't ride the trails, Ride the edges above at below. Ts ski with the c channel skags works great on the trail anyhow.
Don't ride the trails, Ride the edges above at below. Ts ski with the c channel skags works great on the trail anyhow.
Would if there was room, but too often there is not. That, or "the good stuff", that one could use to avoid trail, is private and looping around way off the trail gets riding access closed when the land owners get sick of it. There are just many situations where it is not possible to ride anything but directly on the main part of trail and just want to be realistic about how unfun that can be in certain conditions for even an experienced rider much less for a less experienced.
It's very "snow conditions and trail type" specific so not too bad much of the season, but definitely plenty of days that there is no way my wife could ride in on miles of trails. Or, if she could, would get so tired or have a scare or a wipe out, and then that would really turn her off of going at all. That doesn't apply to everyone. I'm just giving an example of our situation and her abilities. A sled works so much better for her on the trail.
My main point was to point out that while a snowbike is much easier to ride and keep up on sidehills, etc. when riding off trail, that is offset by a bike being harder to ride on trail compared to a sled. How much depends on rider ability and experience, how aggressively they ride (or catch on) and trail conditions that day, but it should be mentioned as part of any realistic "how easy is a snowbike to ride" conversation.
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I have been riding one ski since 2002 and helped many a folk get through the basic challenges of getting their powder fix "the easy way".
10 miles of whoops can be a challenge, it can be fun or it can beat the crap out of you. Suspension design and your skill using it, will decide which of those experiences you have. Having a snowbike where the track follows the ski, is key.
Keep in mind the not all kits are designed with the same built-in handling characteristics. I have ridden a kit that handles the trails like I had tires on dirt. The reality of trail riding has been overlooked by most snowbike kit designers. I didnt buy into snowbikes until last fall, when I saw a trail rideable design, finally hit the market.
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I am assuming the "trail rideable design" you referred to would be the mototrax?
Yup. But there is another thread for talking about the brand's story. Just talking tech on this thread.
key to the hiway
first order of making a smaller rider comfortable on the snowbike is ride snow bike terrain. Forget trails, forget sleds, go some other place.
You really have to rethink Sat morning, no longer do you head to the frenzy snowmobile trail head. Ok, you will loooose some old sled pals. Time to find new friends anyway.
Start with open ground, fresh snow right from the truck. Don't baptize the starter with tight trees and 10' deep tree wells. You might be a stud on those 65 degrees side hills, save that for later, get the new rider hooked on riding and the feel of leaning and steering and hitting 4th gear. Got a nice snowy city park ?
And for land sakes don't put the pilgrim on the worst piece of iron ! I see guys out riding their sleds with the little woman on the annual sled trip. He's riding the latest 17k plush riding mongo sled, she's on a 1987 bent ski Phazer with dog eaten seat and 1' track. So not much wonder about sledding being a family affair.
Want support..........give support.
first order of making a smaller rider comfortable on the snowbike is ride snow bike terrain. Forget trails, forget sleds, go some other place.
You really have to rethink Sat morning, no longer do you head to the frenzy snowmobile trail head. Ok, you will loooose some old sled pals. Time to find new friends anyway.
Start with open ground, fresh snow right from the truck. Don't baptize the starter with tight trees and 10' deep tree wells. You might be a stud on those 65 degrees side hills, save that for later, get the new rider hooked on riding and the feel of leaning and steering and hitting 4th gear. Got a nice snowy city park ?
And for land sakes don't put the pilgrim on the worst piece of iron ! I see guys out riding their sleds with the little woman on the annual sled trip. He's riding the latest 17k plush riding mongo sled, she's on a 1987 bent ski Phazer with dog eaten seat and 1' track. So not much wonder about sledding being a family affair.
Want support..........give support.
