Hey guys, so im switching from a axys boondocker turbo this season and going to try out a snowbike as I have a motocross background I think ill be happy with the switch. I bought a 2020 crf450r and am putting a 2019 dts129 on it. My only worry is ive read the suspension isnt the best if you plan on jumping at all or taking hard hits. Would a zbroz 3rd read shock help with that instead of the solid strut? Does it give you enough travel to have similar amount of travel as the other brands out there? Any other issues with the camso that needs to be addressed before the season starts?
How to make camso suspension better?
- Thread starter TrivanovicRobert
- Start date
What part of it doesnt handle abuse well? Im looking for ways to make this kit better, its what I have and im not buying a new kit but I will try to improve this one if possible. Do you have any personal experience on what doesnt handle abuse well? Do you know if a shock instead of a solid rear strut make the kit handle better?
The ZBroz suspension strut is a big time game changer. I have had it for 2 seasons and REALLY like it. It not only adds another pivot point and suspension for the rear, it also makes the front ski handle differently. I highly recommend it.
P.S. I'm running a CRF 450RX with a 18 Camso.
P.S. I'm running a CRF 450RX with a 18 Camso.
I have an opportunity to pick up a 2017 YZ450 F with DTS 129, about 10hours on the combo. I'm hesitant to get the 2017 DTS 129 as there were upgrades to 2018 that, as I understand, improved the harsh ride. Would the ZBroz suspension strut you mentioned help? They are asling $9500, which seems to be a decent price. The second option is a 2014 KTM 450 SXF with only 18 hours, thinking about a new TS ARO 129 in the LE or ARO S version. I like the idea of the S version with 3" lower seat, would be similar to the Camso DTS, however, one part of me knows you give up suspension travel for the lower seat height, and I'd like to do a little jumping hear and there, not have to worry about breaking something.
I can't really speak to the rear suspension differences between 2017 and 2018. There's a pretty good article about the 2018 changes in Snowbike World. https://www.snowbikeworld.com/2018/01/indepth-2018-camso-dts-129 I am not sure that the braking issue SBW mentioned has been solved but it may be a little better from 2017 to 2018. A few points about the Camso strut vs. the ZBroz shock. I couldn't get the strut adjusted short enough to get the track to sit flat and not have so much ski pressure. Putting the ZBroz shock on changed that simply by getting the right adjustment so that the track sat flat on the ground. Additionally, the shock offers ski pressure to be fluid over terrain changes.
You should be sure that the side panels of the Camso are not cracked in the usual spot. Camso has been good to work with on this issue but I don't know how they would respond to a request for new side panels for a 2017 model.
I believe that the 129 track length is an ideal length and a TS ARO 129 sounds enticing.
You should be sure that the side panels of the Camso are not cracked in the usual spot. Camso has been good to work with on this issue but I don't know how they would respond to a request for new side panels for a 2017 model.
I believe that the 129 track length is an ideal length and a TS ARO 129 sounds enticing.
I would steer away from the 2017 and 2018 Camso. The suspension changes arrived in 2019 as did the side panel re-enforcements. The 2017 and 2018 basically have no brakes, like none. 2019 arrived with the plastic brake shield which helped a lot in keeping the rotor dry but had the tendency to break. 2019 also had a new ski design, the changes were minor to look at but added torsional rigidity to the ski, which helped on the trail. The 2020 uses the exact same brakes as the 2020 Yeti, same parts, they work great and it has an aluminum shield on the rotor. Problem solved. Recall the old Yetis had $hit brakes as well. The rear spring in the 2017 and 2018 is stiffer than the 2019/2020 version which uses the rising rate cam in the suspension to get stiffness. If you are over about 200 lbs the 2019/20 spring may be too soft for you but you could add a 2018 spring. The track on the 2017/2018 was too soft. It had the habit of hucking paddles. 2019 saw a new durometer track, its also the same as the Yeti despite what is being said on here. One of my closest friends works for Camso so I know.
Of all the Camso kits the 2020 is the kit to get if you ride lots of powder, not too much rough trail, are 200 lbs or less are on a budget and don't jump on hard pack. You can buy 2 brand new Camso kits for the price of 1 Yeti so you need to really think about how much you want to spend and have tied up in a snowbike. 2 year warranty is what you get. I've ridden the 2020 Yeti a bunch and I like it a LOT but it doesn't perform twice as good as my Camso otherwise I would already have one. My friend who is a product tester for Camso broke a lot of things on the 2020 Yeti last season including the tunnel, brake rotor, the shocks and a few other things as well that said he put 300 hours on the kit. Prior to testing Yeti he was doing the same job on the Camso kit. Lots of stuff broke but really not a lot more than on the Yeti so there ya go.
The Camso kit is what it is, they work great but they have no bling, are heavy, have a bad rap and aren't glamourous and have some pretty crude suspension. On the plus side they ride super smooth and quiet, have a great track and the monorail flat out rocks. They will hang with any kit out there in powder but suck on hard pack but honestly who cares about that.
M5
Of all the Camso kits the 2020 is the kit to get if you ride lots of powder, not too much rough trail, are 200 lbs or less are on a budget and don't jump on hard pack. You can buy 2 brand new Camso kits for the price of 1 Yeti so you need to really think about how much you want to spend and have tied up in a snowbike. 2 year warranty is what you get. I've ridden the 2020 Yeti a bunch and I like it a LOT but it doesn't perform twice as good as my Camso otherwise I would already have one. My friend who is a product tester for Camso broke a lot of things on the 2020 Yeti last season including the tunnel, brake rotor, the shocks and a few other things as well that said he put 300 hours on the kit. Prior to testing Yeti he was doing the same job on the Camso kit. Lots of stuff broke but really not a lot more than on the Yeti so there ya go.
The Camso kit is what it is, they work great but they have no bling, are heavy, have a bad rap and aren't glamourous and have some pretty crude suspension. On the plus side they ride super smooth and quiet, have a great track and the monorail flat out rocks. They will hang with any kit out there in powder but suck on hard pack but honestly who cares about that.
M5
Thank You so much, great information indeed. That solves my purchase decision for sure. What I like about the Camso and the TS ARO S I'm considering is the fact both of these are 3" lower than most of the others. I'm 5" 9" tall, don't have the leg length for the taller tracks especially on snow, especially as a newbie. That said, I'd still like to do some moderate jumping here and there, so I'm torn between the ARO LE regular height with greater travel and the shorter ARO S version, or the Camso DTS 129.
I know the Camso is heavier, probably 30 LB more than the TS ARO, but I'm still hopeful I can do some light jumps and drops where the landing is more or less a decline and soft.I know it's not built for the big air and drops, just want to be sure it's tough enough for the learning curve and some moderate to light, jumping fun . I don't expect to be on hard-packed much, but to be honest, sometimes trail riding on groomed trails is necessary to get to the best locations. When you say it sucks on hard-packed, does this mean it's really unstable or just squirrely , so to speak?
One last question. When a local dealer quoted the Timbersled ARO S and LE he offered a fixed solid strut at $405 and a suspension strut at $1400 . Up until this point I thought the kit price included everything, didn't know there were options for the strut. Should I get the fixed, or suspension strut? Maybe only Timbersled offer options and Camso is fixed, up to this point, I didn't know there were additional options.
Thanks again, you have been most helpful .
I've read the 129 is the sweet spot as well for tracks, 120 is too short for backcountry powder and 137 too long for maneuvering/fun. Really appreciate the feedback, thank you.
There's some really good info from M5. Thanks. Also, ZBroz offers suspension struts for other kits like the ARO. You might look at that for an option. https://www.zbrozracing.com/collections/snowbike-products
Don’t rule out the 120 if you find the right deal. I rode a 137 for four years before I switched last year to a riot 120. Never going back! Kind of depends on your writing style. My long track was great for going slow and picking through stuff but it is way more fun to ride fast!
Big difference between the 137 and 120, probably why many advocate the 129 is the sweet spot for all around. 120 is more nimble and fast, lighter to jump and play with, the 137 best for climbing and deep snow.
Can I ask what conditions you ride in mostly ? I've owned sleds with 137", 146" and 154" track, I settled on the 146" for the same reason I figured the 129" snowsled track would work best being in the middle of the pack. My 137" could go anywhere as long as I could keep the speed up in powder, but in the tougher conditions where speed was not possible, I often found myself stuck.
Thanks for the feedback, I'm still on the fence, somewhat, though if I purchase new, it will likely be a 129". My biggest decision at this point is whether or not to go with a lower seat height and give up travel. As a newbie with shorter legs I'm wondering if the Timbersled 129 LE might be too high to start with, or will I regret not going with the additional travel. I think the Riot 120 also has an S (short) version too withthe 3" paddles it could make up for the shorter track length. Again, 3" paddles break often when not in the ideal conditions, that is another factor I have to consider in my decision.
Can I ask what conditions you ride in mostly ? I've owned sleds with 137", 146" and 154" track, I settled on the 146" for the same reason I figured the 129" snowsled track would work best being in the middle of the pack. My 137" could go anywhere as long as I could keep the speed up in powder, but in the tougher conditions where speed was not possible, I often found myself stuck.
Thanks for the feedback, I'm still on the fence, somewhat, though if I purchase new, it will likely be a 129". My biggest decision at this point is whether or not to go with a lower seat height and give up travel. As a newbie with shorter legs I'm wondering if the Timbersled 129 LE might be too high to start with, or will I regret not going with the additional travel. I think the Riot 120 also has an S (short) version too withthe 3" paddles it could make up for the shorter track length. Again, 3" paddles break often when not in the ideal conditions, that is another factor I have to consider in my decision.
IMO - The only reason for selecting a snow bike kit for seat height is a center of gravity issue. Turning and other maneuvers will be easier. But getting one with a lower seat because of being short doesn't really matter cuz if the snow is soft it doesn't matter how long your legs are. Eventually you will learn how to stop and keep the bike upright without taking your feet off the foot pegs.
Totally agree. I'm only 5'7" with a 30" inseam and don't care at all if I can touch the ground on a snowbike. If you put your foot down in any soft snow, you will fall over. Guaranteed. Don't get the short version just because you're worried about it. Now if you're talking single track, that's a different story. Yes, I absolutely love my 1" shorter Seat Concepts comfort seat on my Beta 300!
Utah. 500 inches a year at least. Steep and deep. Bro you got to get off this lower seat height thing. It doesn’t matter. Might possibly have some benefits but definitely not a dealbreaker. Catsledman may disagree with me Lower seat height does jack all when there’s 2 feet of pow . Put your foot down and tip over. Maybe I missed it but where do you live and ride?
I just reread your post. 154 is a short track sled where I live. That being said, i loved my 154!
After speaking with a few others I have to agree, I will definitely not go with a lowered seat height setup. I've decided to go with one of the following , one slightly used, one new last year model and a 2021 brand new. They are as follows:
Please advise which one, price is appropriate for all these, more interested in the best option for a newbie that will ride moderately in trees, hills, great terrain locations for jumping and drops, sometimes have to ride groomed trails.
2019 Yeti 129 FR with only 30hours, this guy changes every other year or sooner. Bonus, it's set up for my bike.
2019 Timbersled 137 LE brand new, great price reduction.
2021 Timbersled 129 LE brand new this year.
I have a 2014 KTW 450 SXF wit only 18 hours total, should be a good combination with either.
