Making the change!

[mountain man]

I'm taking the plung and going to get into snowbiking. I have raced MX bikes in the past and have had some motorcycle experience. After riding sleds for the last 20 years its time for a change, i need something different. I find myself never happy with any sled i buy and am tired of spending money for a hobby i can only use for a special time of year. It seems like after every snowmobile trip something breaks or you find yourself searching for bigger better and faster setups that result in lots of money spent and not much gained for you have put into it. I'm looking for a challange and something to get me excited and scared while being pushed all the time. I have been watching the snowbikes for some time now and i believe it truley is the answer.
I have questions for all you guys that have been pioneering the sport.
1. Is the Timbersled short track the one to have or do you go with the long track?
2. What seems to be the best all around bike to have? It seems that everyone likes the 450 size???
3. Are all my sled buddies not going to want to ride with me because of it being slower or maybe better in different terrains?
4. Spend the money and get a brand new kit? or buy a good used one to start with?
5. What will i have to do to the bike to make it work? I know they say just bolt it on and go, is that really all that is needed?
I'm sure there will be a lot more questions on the way, but would appriciate all info and opinions. Mainly its time to start shopping for a bike, i would really like input on which bike would be the best overall to start with ( make, size).

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Ditch the AC.

That's a fair assessment, I have no argument with those facts.

When standing in my booth and on the phone guys will reminisce about the Twoskis they used to have prior to the current one, I interrupt as their irritation shows. "Your bored!", "Sure am."

Buddies, who travel by train make me think of cruise ships and umbrellas shading ice cubes, "Juan honey can you get us another round?"
Because of the terrain is right, translates you ride what catches your eye, while they get tired waiting till you reemerge. They join out of envy or get back to you later in life on equal terms.

You need to go to Hawk Fest, take pictures, bring the kids, warn the fruity drinkers, take your friends.

Have you let the sled makers in on this decision, or are you going to early spring snow bike check them?
Maybe they'll get this post it!





Key OLD words: Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, Polaris, Yamaha, John Deere

 

[jasn179]

I originally set mine up on a rmz450 i also have a drz400 that is my comuter bike trail bike in the summer. Had 450 out three times due to open airbox 4 motocross kick start and lack of headlight the drz looked nicer all the time. I ended up switching and to be honest it goes just as good as the 450 despite missing about 8 horsepower. I have learned with these things throw all logical thought out. The did not make a kit 4 my 400 so with a little help from dave at timbersled we put one together. My suggestion is use a trail version of a bike saves modifications in the end headlight electric start thermostat and a ,more snow resistant airbox makes alot eaiser. Laugh about electric start untill you are in 5 foot of powder in the trees and stall. Just my 2 pennies

 

[sodahucker]

I added handwarmers to the bike and controls to switch between running the headlight and the handwarmers. My bike (CRF450X) is a bit hard to start in the extreme cold (below zero) so make sure your bike is running well. In 20 degree weather it starts up fairly easily. I'm not sure how the other bikes fare and what your riding conditions are.

 

[sodahucker]

Also... I haven't done any mods to my CRF airbox and it worked fine. The kit comes with a prefilter to put over your main filter. A lot of people say they get snow in the box and have to mod it somehow. I've seen a lot of two-stroke bikes have carb freezing problems, but haven't had any problems on the four stroke. The track does tend to build ice up on the bottom of the bike where your air hoses normally rest... might have to do something about that depending on the setup. Also, the next thing I'm changing out will probably be footpegs, the stock footpegs on the honda ice up too easily.

 

[sodahucker]

Sorry for the incremental replies... I ride with 2 snowmobilers and they don't seem to mind, but one of them is my sister so they're not doing anything crazy. If your friends are professional riders with stacked sleds they might get sick of waiting for you. I can keep up with them while playing on the mountainside but when they hit the trail they have to wait a bit. Groomed trails on the timbersled feel like you're driving a dirtbike a rusty office chair caster for your front tire.

I think the 450 has plenty of power. I can climb anything that sleds have already laid a track on or sidehill anything else. If it's fresh powder you can't go straight up the mountain side but it's really easy to zig zag it.

 

[PalousePoo]

In my opinion bikes with sleds can be no different than sleds with sleds when there's a big difference in rider abilities. Someone is often in over their head while others are waiting and keep digging the same people out over and over. For me, bike choice was about how I also will use it in the summer, and owning a popular model that has good aftermarket support. I also wanted lightweight, and fuel inj. so it wont end up flooded when dropped. I think all bikes need some things to adapt to the snow. Its not bolt on and go, but once you pick a bike someone will have good info on what it needs.

 

[Ausm7499]

I'm taking the plung and going to get into snowbiking. I have raced MX bikes in the past and have had some motorcycle experience. After riding sleds for the last 20 years its time for a change, i need something different. I find myself never happy with any sled i buy and am tired of spending money for a hobby i can only use for a special time of year. It seems like after every snowmobile trip something breaks or you find yourself searching for bigger better and faster setups that result in lots of money spent and not much gained for you have put into it. I'm looking for a challange and something to get me excited and scared while being pushed all the time. I have been watching the snowbikes for some time now and i believe it truley is the answer.
I have questions for all you guys that have been pioneering the sport.
1. Is the Timbersled short track the one to have or do you go with the long track?
2. What seems to be the best all around bike to have? It seems that everyone likes the 450 size???
3. Are all my sled buddies not going to want to ride with me because of it being slower or maybe better in different terrains?
4. Spend the money and get a brand new kit? or buy a good used one to start with?
5. What will i have to do to the bike to make it work? I know they say just bolt it on and go, is that really all that is needed?
I'm sure there will be a lot more questions on the way, but would appriciate all info and opinions. Mainly its time to start shopping for a bike, i would really like input on which bike would be the best overall to start with ( make, size).

I understand where you are coming from regarding sledding, I didn't ride them nearly as long as you have but I can tell you that after having a snobike I don't see myself ever going back to two ski's. I am just down the road from you in Lewiston so if you do make the switch don't hesitate to get ahold of me to ride, trust me you won't want to ride with sleds they will really limit your terrain.

1. I would opt for the ST, it's not like we get ride in stupid deep snow more then a few times a season and I think the fun factor with slightly decrease with the long track. You will also have a much better chance of finding a used ST.

2. The 450 race bike is probably your best and lightest option unless your budget is tight and then you can do what I did and run a big bore 2stroke. I would say that if you want to minimize setup headaches get fuel injection that way you won't have to deal with carb icing. Just like sledding the lighter your bike is the better but if you can't live without electric start, hand warmers, lights, etc.. then you could look at a berg or KTM with those capabilities. I ride with a guy out of Orofino that has a KTM 500 and it does really well and has all the bells and whistles.

3. As stated in #1 you are the one that won't want to ride with sleds as they will limit the terrain that you really want to be riding. If you get a newer bike with a wide gear ratio then you will be geared plenty high to keep up on the trail if you wish to hang with sleds. Trail manners could be better but the new ski that Simmons is making is suppose to be really good on the trail.

4. Buy used there are always current year kits for sale in the spring of the year for a grand cheaper than new that have very little use. These kits have very little wear items so used is just about as good as new if it's been taken care of.

5. Not usually as easy as bolting it on and riding but it also entirely depends on what bike you are bolting it to. I for one have had nothing but issues trying to run an airbox but my buddy in Orofino with KTM 500 has done nothing to his airbox and even in waist deep powder doesn't have any issues. Most of the people I ride with have deleted their airbox and either built their own snorkel or bought a pod filter, this will eliminate any intake issues.

Carb issues, if you do end up running a carb your going to have icing, 2strokes are much more prone to this because they use more air but 4strokes suffer from the same issue so you have to figure out how to keep enough hot air around that carb to keep it from freezing up. If the bike doesn't have a thermostat you will need to install one. Without a thermostat your coolant will never get above luke warm while boondocking and that causes issues with just about every bike.

Hope that helps if you have anymore questions shoot me a PM and I would be happy to give you my opinion.

 

[off road rider]

Bike choice

Like others have mentioned E start is nice but not absolutely necessary. however that is the reason there is no kit on that service Honda we have.
To each there own.
Any modern MX bike with FI will power lights or hand warmers.
Running my older 525 I never had issues with carb icing.flooding or airbox problems, although I did run a pod with a skin.
These days I think a guy can just pick the color he likes and get a decent setup.
I might think about how you will use the bike during the summer and go from there.
Welcome to single ski bliss..

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Power of numbers. Subtraction only happens if your negative!

Now talk your friends in circles till they beg to join you, lock in a commission of half the sale of their Couch by wager.

"Sell the sled", "No I think I'll keep that for powder days".............a season or two goes by.............."I haven't used it I can't believe it!", yeah your half went down in value but at least the favor you did them was more than worth the investment. Have them buy you a round to make up for their loss! "Thanks man, i was soo bored, just didn't realize it!"



Death to Twoskis: - > + X

 

[jasn179]

call me old school but when it comes to snow and wet and reliable hard to beat a carb easy to tune few parts to fail thats the appealing part get away from too many electronics that fail. Icing is minimal if you can keep snow out of airbox. After a few rides i know i would hate not having the estart. E start with a kick backup. These horses will take you to places that will be hard to get out if bike fails. Pick a bike that is reliable and keep it up

 

[snowhawkaddict]

A Honda worth praising!

92'-now XR600R, 650L, Scott Summers and my favorite bike.
When I bought my fourth it was down in San Diego so I flew down and got picked up by it's owner so he could take me to the bank. His mom made me a ham sandwich while I adjusted the suspension to my size. I chose the bike again over my old KTM RXC620 for it's street bike sized battery and plush mountain snowmobile like SHOCKS! Worked good in Moab to someones surprise. After Baja I crossed the mountain dessert to Peoria AZ., the heated vest from my BMW attire came in handy making all that electric warmth. Made 56mi on a whole stock gearing and fuel tank, my personal best!

Notice the FOX shocks? Tammy is two.
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