I watched "Schooled" and loved it but, the handlebars low for boondocking seems weird

[Frostbite]

I watched "Schooled" and loved it but, the handlebars low for boondocking seems weird

I am so impressed with the way Chris Burandt and Brett Rasmussen rode in the video "Schooled"! I have the utmost respect for them both.

I can't wait to try their techniques but, having my handlebars on my 09 M8 all the way down while boondocking is going to take some getting used to for me I'm afraid. For side hilling exclusively I can see it, maybe but, it sure seems like I will be losing a lot of leverage with them bottomed out.

Have you guys tried this? How is it working for you?

 

[Dam Dave]

they suggested putting them down!!

 

[skimike]

I started riding with mine all the way up, but after a few hundres miles I have found I am riding with them down more and more, I can move my weight around alot more, I can get weight foward and out eaiser. the only time I move them up now is for standing.btw I might add Im 48 and have bad knees and have to mostly sit while riding and I have to ride a little different than most. I cant put all my weight on 1 leg and carve , my knees wont support me. but I nevertheless ride hard. I would like to see this video

 

[theultrarider]

There is some truth to this. However, this is my take on the bar thing. Having started riding sleds in the mid 60's, I have spent way more time on low bars than the current trend for sure. Since I have been riding sleds that long, before suspensions really existed, needless to say my back is not what it used to be and it's getting alittle old. My bars are at a height were I can stand straight up, with my arms straight down, and be able to grab my bars. I have the ability to lock in like the low bar thing, but I can stand all day long and still not have my back and neck sore in the morning like I used to have for many years. The kids that run with their bars up around their nipples, well, that is just crazy. No, you can't control a sled like that. Find what works for you and go with it. Do it because it works for YOU, not just what a "star" says works.

 

[Frostbite]

I'm 48 too but, I tend to jump around alot.

On my RX-1M I had to add an 11" riser to allow me the kind of leverage I needed to be able to throw that big heavy sled around. With the bars in the stock position I had very little effect and the sled basically rode me.

I know the M8 is a lot lighter sled but, the same principles should still apply. It seems to me that the higher the bars, the more leverge you should be able to exert on your steed. Maybe it's not about the leverage? Maybe it keeps the bar out of their chests?

It must be about more than leverage?

 

[WyoBoy1000]

No way I could ride with them all the way down, I think I could steer with my knee's, but I am 6'6". I do agree with the theory though. I raised my bars up 5.5" once and couldn't ride, for a fixed position the best way I have found to set them is to stand all the way forward straight up and reach down, the bars should be at least 1" away from the palm of your hand. But at my height I can move around a lot more than most. If the bars are in your hands standing you will never get leverage from your whole body. A lot of the time when do everything by steering not leverage.

 

[trailtoy1993]

The low bar thing is all about the sled's leverage over you on a downhill sidehill. The low bars allow you to get lower and not have the sled pull you down hill as easy. I find the more technical trees I ride the lower I want my bars!

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks for the great explanation.

The nice thing about the adjustable bars is you can play with the bar height to see what best suits your type of riding in seconds.

I will be trying the bars down low when I'm in the tight trees and sidehilling.

Now, this "wrong foot forward" stance is something I'll have to get used to as well.

They didn't ride like this when I started riding in the late 60s.

 

[Environmentalist]

I really noticed this when I had an Apex, which stock handle bars are really tall. It always felt like I was being pulled over the sled when I was making an up hill turn or sidehilling. Being only 5'9" it was almost impossible to get enough leverage to pull that big beast over to turn up hill. It's a reason why I ride an M now!

Frostbite, it seems like the M's were made to ride "wrong foot forward". They are SO easy to lay over, putting out that leg just helps keep it balanced. It allows you to sidehill these things forever and with ease.

The low bar thing is all about the sled's leverage over you on a downhill sidehill. The low bars allow you to get lower and not have the sled pull you down hill as easy. I find the more technical trees I ride the lower I want my bars!

 

[ripsass]

Rasmussen's logic behind it is great, however I don't think him and Burandt ever ride anything less than a 45* slope. Those guys sidehill out of bed in the morning.
Great info and practical reasons behind it, but not sure it's necessary for trees and grades of lesser angles.

That wrong foot forward thing works amazing though! After getting used to it I can sidehill things I never dreamed of before. Forever too. Just gotta get the damn spider monkey leap down now!


Damn Burandt movies should come with a chainsaw and smoke flairs...

 

[DalensM8]

It's all a matter of personal preference and what works for you. Try everything and what works for some, doesn't necessarily work for everyone. It's fun trying though. Frostbite, the "wrong foot forward" philosophy is something well worth perfecting, it allows you to sidehill with more control because now you have pressure on the front ski and you can use the track, and ski, to control the sidehill. What I have found is I am able to sidehill downhill with ease using this technique, and also at slow speeds. Try it all and have fun.

 

[vdog0531]

I also thought the movie was great. I've watched it numerous times. I rode with Bret in early january and learned TONS more! A few things i would consider is that both bret and chris are short and super light. Neither of them are above 160 and 5 10". The wrong foot forward is very helpfull but based on your weight and ability to understand the logics of moving the snowmobile around, there are scenarios when i didn't have to go wrong foot forward and bret did. I'm 6 2 and 255 which is obvious dis advantage when climbing but like he said, when boondocking, i can just dip one way and have the same weight leverage he does going wrong foot forward. The handlebar height all depends on when you feel comfortable with. Again, both of those guys are short. Even me being 6 2, i still only ride with them a few clicks up from the bottom which i think is the factory height. I'm not sure why you guys think having them taller is "better leverage." Think of it like this.... If you are using a pry bar to pry up on something, do you want that pry bar a few inches from the ground to start or a few feet off the ground? the lower you start, the more "prying" leverage you have. The higher the pry bar, the less you have. I know this isn't exact apples for apples comparison but it works for me. I usually never change my bars but honestly, the only time i put them up now, is when i'm standing on the road going back to the trailer. I feel i can change directions of the sled much more quickly with them set a little lower.

Vernon

 

[stcatman]

adjustable bars

I set mine in the middle threw a handel bar bag around them called it good and like it,now i see im not the only old timer out there (49) I like the taller boss seat better

 

[Dogmeat]

I think I'll stick with the taller bars .... my back doesn't like being hunched over all day long.

If you're 5'8", then go ahead and ride with them down, if you're 6'4" you're gonna be hurtin' boondocking all day like that ... at least I sure would be.

For me I guess having taller bars isn't so much of a sled control issue so much as it is an ergonomics issue. It hurts my back and knees to be hunched over a sled all day ....

 

[elvis1280]

you guys just have to go out and try it with the bars down. its the only way to ride on hills or in the trees. example, if i am sidehilling something very steep for a long period of time, i am moving front to back on the boards and if i throttle too much and the end starts to wash out, the ONLY way to flaten out it get over top your bars just like they do in the movie.

i got the movie in november and watched it about 8 times. these guys are incredible and i did everything they say to do. you cant climb either w/ your bars high. just go out and practice it. i am 6'2" and chris and bret are much smaller but sidehilling and climbing are no different. powder turns in a field are a much different story. my opinion

 

[snowmanx]

Well that's one thing I've always done, is had low bars....I dropped my XP from the stock 8" down to 4". BUT, I'm only 5'6" tall, or short!lol

5'10" isn't really short, its just above average (average is 5'9 1/2") , which is burant is, Rassmusen is short at about 5'5 to 5'6.

 

[89sandman]

what feels comfortable to you is whats most important. know i wouldn't want to ride the trees all day bent over my bars, thats why i bought a bar riser

 

[Dogmeat]

i'm still sticking with taller bars.

I ride standing up about %97 more of the time than I sidehill .... heh

 

[M.M. 700]

What is the "wrong foot forward"?

 

[hatchers]

What is the "wrong foot forward"?

you need to buy and watch the video if you are asking this question is all seriousness