Mountain Horse prototype center ski skag

[retired motoman]

Timber sled has produced a few new center ski skags.
Riding 80 miles with one for the last couple of days in a variety of conditions.
Problem is sloved in most ice and compound snow, roads and trails.
A group of 12 traded bikes with different ski set ups and two of the new skags. Everyone felt the new MH skag was far superior to anything else we have tried. One guy said it felt like power stearing.
On icey roads it took 90% of the darting and hunting out of the front end and would track straight with one hand on the bars. The road had sled ski tracks and some truck tracks.
On compound snow trails with all kinds of tracks in all different directions the ski gave a confidence inspiring feel. It would let you lean the bike like you were in powder.And would hold well until about 45 deg then it wanted to wash out. Still better than anything we have tried so far.
I know there are a few of these skags out there and would like to hear what others think of it.
Good job Allen and Timber Sled for advancing the sport of snowbikes.

 

[sanddanw]

Need more info and pictures please?

 

[PalousePoo]

Gary, is this skag for the 6" ski?

 

[Rush44]

It's a center keel skag on the new 10 inch ski.

 

[ozzydog]

By and Chance?

Is there a chance Allen could bring as few of the prototypes and non-protypes for us to try at Hawkfest? I personally would love to get my hands on one!

 

[ozzydog]

By any Chance?

Is there a chance Allen could bring as few of the prototypes and non-protypes for us to try at Hawkfest? I personally would love to get my hands on one!

 

[kylerf150]

Hmm interesting!!!!
Is this anything like the pro moto trail rider kit??
I heard that their kit had some drag in the pow.
How does this perform in other conditions??

 

[retired motoman]

No change

Hmm interesting!!!!
Is this anything like the pro moto trail rider kit??
I heard that their kit had some drag in the pow.
How does this perform in other conditions??

We also rode powder, side hills, trees. Might be better in powder (hard to tell), still held a side hill like before. The track will wash before the ski on a side hill. No drag in any snow condition.
The worst thing was because it gave such confidence on the trail, you wanted to rail and all was good until the wash out. The major reason for washing out was speed and lean angle. It might be possable to improve this and am sure Allen has tried a few things. Need to get Allens take on this project.
To answer your question, yes there are a few things like the Pro Moto kit. The difference is this skag is tough and sticking snow should not be an issue.

 

[Rush44]

retired is correct about the handling characteristics of the new ski. It's really a crazy difference how much better the new 10 inch tri-keel ski is on the trail and in the powder. I found myself in top 5th gear looking for a 6th gear A LOT during the two weekends I had the new ski. I was riding with a lot of sledders for those weeks and I would fly past them in the corners and they could only catch up to me in the straights.

The PMB 6 inch ski accessory does some good stuff for the trail handling, but it does not shine in the powder at all. In fact, a couple people I knew with the PMB add-on would take them off once they got off trail. While the PMB add-on is nice to have, the true fix is to just get the new ski and rail the bike with confidence. Even if you don't get the new skag Allen is working on, the new ski is just so so so much better.

 

[albertaguy]

so hoping my new ski shows up this week (the 10" one with the 13 kits), is this new skag what comes with that ski or is something that might be available to add on/replace next year? A guy went down this satyrday on the hardpacked icey trail in and broke his femur. Never saw it and don't know him but was told it was the new ski and he was on a husqy 590 maybe. Was up by Fernie BC. Anyway makes me nervous to pour on the throttle when the trails in are beat up and packed.

 

[retired motoman]

so hoping my new ski shows up this week (the 10" one with the 13 kits), is this new skag what comes with that ski or is something that might be available to add on/replace next year?

Your new 10" ski will help the trail maners. It will not have the prototype center skag. I would think once Allen is happy with the product it will be in production and avaibable soon after that.

The new skag is a direct replacment for the center carbide now on the tri keel 10" ski.

 

[mikesnick]

New mountain horse center skag

The mountain horse experience just keeps getting better. I have had 2 experiences on the new carbide setup. One short trip down an icy road - substantial improvement - remember to not over heat the hifax.
Yesterday we spent all day in all types of conditions and terrain.
As Gary said - starting this post- that the track washes out before the ski does.
I can't imagine that Allen can improve the ski much more but that's what I thought when I started riding the new ski.
I'm currently riding a KX450 with the SX kit and I find myself blasting down a rutted trail in 5th and thinking why in the hell would an old man want to go any faster - you know it really hurts when you hit those trees.
One other note - I road over a very small section of frozen dirt and with the new center runner I didn't feel any grab - now I'm sure softer dirt would be different.

 

[1dn5up]

remember to not over heat the hifax

scatchers? lol with the lighter bike weight is heat going to be a problem? not that I like riding the trail much and when I do I usally ride the sides and hit as much powder as possible but last time I was out it was about 20 mins of hard icy trail but I still have a old 6" ski so top speed is pretty slow

 

[mikesnick]

hifax heat melt

You are correct that you need to stay on the edges as much as possible and that puts enough snow on the track to stop melting. In the past that was the "best" riding when the road was icy. In our group we only ride a road as a way to get to the high county so the quicker we can get off the road the better. Now with the new center skag you can really book down the road and when this happens you can really smell the hifax - I have to change the hifax on my KTM500 as I let a friend ride it and in about 2 miles the hifax was pretty much gone.

 

[retired motoman]

game changer

I still have a old 6" ski so top speed is pretty slow

The new tri keel ski with the new center skag is a game changer. Yesterday on thawed tracked road I had a top speed on 62 mph... and trashed my hyfax in 10 miles.

 

[sanddanw]

Does anyone have a spare one I can try at Hawkfest in Cooke City this weekend before I buy it?

 

[1dn5up]

I rode the new ski for 30 seconds and ordered it just waiting for it to show up

 

[mikesnick]

hifax heat melt

Dear retired motorman - you ride too fast, play too hard and have way too much fun.
Just finished my after ride maintenance and my hifax are in good shape.
For others out there we road the same road back to the trucks but I would say my top speed was around 45 mph.

 

[mikesnick]

hifax heat melt

Dear retired motorman - you ride too fast, play too hard and have way too much fun.
Just finished my after ride maintenance and my hifax are in good shape.
For others out there we road the same road back to the trucks but I would say my top speed was around 45 mph.

PS> I was going to put a stabilizer on the KX450 but after the last 2 rides with the updated/test carbide I don't think I'll waste the money.

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

hey coool

been running a cable scratcher on my snowbike since day one. with no wheels and always seems like some icy trail, hifax wear is always a potential issue.

so all the hooopla about a new center keel........? what all cameras are broke ?
miles of video riding what always looks like the same snowy ridge, but no one can snap a picture of a ski keel, or am I naive and don't know its a huge secret just sort of leaked.