Took my 2014 WR450 with 2016 long-track Timbersled kit out for my first-ever snowbike ride today...that was HARD!
Had to ride road for a bit, then quite a ways on a groomed trail to get to actual riding - turns out you NEED scratchers, bike slowed down drastically until I figured that out. Went slow and tried to stay in soft along edge from then on. And on hard surface bike handles terrible: goes where it wants, it's a real handful, hardest part of the ride.
Finally got into soft and deep snow - much better, started having fun. Got stuck in 4 foot of snow - learned you have to be quick on gas and keep speed up when deep. Killed engine many times, fell off a lot, and even hit a tree - you can't turn "wheel", you have to lean to turn.
Sidehilling is tons of fun, climbed up and rode very steep mountainside (Colorado) sidehills and had a blast. Goes everywhere without worry - deep, hilly, off-camber, between trees - pretty fun. Got myself into much more extreme areas than I go with my snowmobile, yet felt more comfortable as the bike handles tough terrain well (and I've always been riding dirtbikes, a bit new on sleds).
Great new toy - wore me out, will keep practicing and add scratchers!
Had to ride road for a bit, then quite a ways on a groomed trail to get to actual riding - turns out you NEED scratchers, bike slowed down drastically until I figured that out. Went slow and tried to stay in soft along edge from then on. And on hard surface bike handles terrible: goes where it wants, it's a real handful, hardest part of the ride.
Finally got into soft and deep snow - much better, started having fun. Got stuck in 4 foot of snow - learned you have to be quick on gas and keep speed up when deep. Killed engine many times, fell off a lot, and even hit a tree - you can't turn "wheel", you have to lean to turn.
Sidehilling is tons of fun, climbed up and rode very steep mountainside (Colorado) sidehills and had a blast. Goes everywhere without worry - deep, hilly, off-camber, between trees - pretty fun. Got myself into much more extreme areas than I go with my snowmobile, yet felt more comfortable as the bike handles tough terrain well (and I've always been riding dirtbikes, a bit new on sleds).
Great new toy - wore me out, will keep practicing and add scratchers!
