Everything makes so much sense. Evolution of the sport.
Mtn. Top Snowbikes
- Thread starter teal_210
- Start date
Can someone post some better pics of the chain case Jack shaft and adjusters? The videos just don't work too zoom on the details. Is the spindle shorter than normal?
Spindle.
It’s shorter than a standard TS.
Longer than a lowered TS.
It’s basically an American made Tedesled with lynx suspension.
There’s no jackshaft.
It’s a hub with 2 sprockets running on bearings.
Very similar setup to the tedesled clone I built 2 years ago.
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hi res pictures and info.
A lot to like. The rising rate rear would probably be really good even without the soft strut but I like how the strut has reversed thread so you can tune it on the fly. The sprocket hub is slick. The internal bypass on the shocks sounds like just more magic marketing lingo unless it's a progressive leaking bypass like a PDS or the old zokes. So the 129 2.86 pitch would still have a missing paddle somewhere even with the weird paddle shape. It causes my autism to flare up but everybody likes 129 these days.
I really like my internal bypass fox shocks on my boost.
The cushy @ ride height and bottoming resistance is real.
FYI
In the first snowbikenation interview video Allen promises a new track with even windows soon.
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Thanks for clarifying. The internal bypass must be progressively less bypass then. That's the important part. But will be great feature to have when the snow gets hard.
Yeah the fox setup is progressive bypass.
I’m having a hard time convincing myself not to throw money at one of these things……..
I just don’t know what power-plant would make me love riding it…….
My long winded review of the XFR:
I have been fortunate enough to spend a day riding the XFR 129 with Rush and Allen. The XFR was mounted to a stock 2022 KTM 450sxf, my ride at the time is the same bike but with a Riot 3 Pro with all the goodies on it. They also had a Riot 3 Pro with a trio with them for comparison. Location was one of my usual riding areas, an area that I know well.
Here are my thoughts:
This was in early April, we had some fresh snow overnight and it snowed most of the day. Conditions were the best that I’d seen for a few months in the Idaho Panhandle.
Right out of the parking lot the very first thing that you notice is ski pressure. They aren’t kidding when the say it’s light on the ski. The ski comes up with very little throttle or rider input, yet I never once had the feeling that it wasn’t controllable or that the ski would wash out or push through corners.
We rode about 100 yards of absolute garbage trail, whooped out concrete with a few inches of fresh on top. We then dove off into some tight trees and crossed a small creek, I was able to cross open water with my feet on the pegs, the ski tracked through it and never got caught up on the rocks.
The first half of the day I rode on the Allen’s shock settings, he weighs more than me and rides differently also. With these settings, it behaved more ARO like, planted and stable and climbs like a goat but with easier steering. This was a pre-production kit so suspension wasn’t 100% dialed in but still felt great, easily on par with the Riot 3 Pro that I’m used to riding. I was skeptical of the stock forks, so I was seeking out every bump and jump that I could find to see how it would react. To my surprise I had zero complaints about the stock forks, and quickly forgot about it.
After a few hours of what I call adventure riding, we got into a little play area where I decided to do my usual wheelie turns, re-entries, etc. After watching for a few minutes, Allen took a few lbs of air out of the rear shock. I then went to do a wheelie turn on a hillside… The whole thing jumped out of the snow, went upside-down and put me on my head, it somehow spun around and I rode it out. It pops out of the snow and rotates around way faster than anything I’ve ridden before.
Jumping is much different than an ARO/Riot. The suspension allows you to preload bumps and bunny hop off of things, I think due to the rising rate suspension. In the air it flies much flatter and lets you correct in the air both side to side and up/down. I think the talented guys will be tossing this kit around like a dirt bike.
We took it into a tight and steep ravine so I could compare it back-to-back with the Riot 3 that I’m used to riding. First time up on the XFR, I tried climbing it in 2nd and eventually had to turn out. Next, I went up on the Riot 3 in a neutral setting (2-2 on the clickers), again is 2nd gear, this time I made it up and out, barely. Third attempt was back on the XFR but this time I tried 3rd gear, it climbed right out with ease. I learned that it will pretty easily pull a gear higher almost everywhere. The kit allows for more track speed and more consistent RPM’s when compared to the 3” Riot, it spools up quick, gets on the snow and hauls ass!
Coming back down the mountain I was feeling super confident pounding through bumps on the trail, pre-loading the big ones and skipping over several after it, standing up and giggling like a little girl the whole time. It was a pretty easy decision for me to take the opportunity to be a rider and dealer for MTN. TOP.
I have been fortunate enough to spend a day riding the XFR 129 with Rush and Allen. The XFR was mounted to a stock 2022 KTM 450sxf, my ride at the time is the same bike but with a Riot 3 Pro with all the goodies on it. They also had a Riot 3 Pro with a trio with them for comparison. Location was one of my usual riding areas, an area that I know well.
Here are my thoughts:
This was in early April, we had some fresh snow overnight and it snowed most of the day. Conditions were the best that I’d seen for a few months in the Idaho Panhandle.
Right out of the parking lot the very first thing that you notice is ski pressure. They aren’t kidding when the say it’s light on the ski. The ski comes up with very little throttle or rider input, yet I never once had the feeling that it wasn’t controllable or that the ski would wash out or push through corners.
We rode about 100 yards of absolute garbage trail, whooped out concrete with a few inches of fresh on top. We then dove off into some tight trees and crossed a small creek, I was able to cross open water with my feet on the pegs, the ski tracked through it and never got caught up on the rocks.
The first half of the day I rode on the Allen’s shock settings, he weighs more than me and rides differently also. With these settings, it behaved more ARO like, planted and stable and climbs like a goat but with easier steering. This was a pre-production kit so suspension wasn’t 100% dialed in but still felt great, easily on par with the Riot 3 Pro that I’m used to riding. I was skeptical of the stock forks, so I was seeking out every bump and jump that I could find to see how it would react. To my surprise I had zero complaints about the stock forks, and quickly forgot about it.
After a few hours of what I call adventure riding, we got into a little play area where I decided to do my usual wheelie turns, re-entries, etc. After watching for a few minutes, Allen took a few lbs of air out of the rear shock. I then went to do a wheelie turn on a hillside… The whole thing jumped out of the snow, went upside-down and put me on my head, it somehow spun around and I rode it out. It pops out of the snow and rotates around way faster than anything I’ve ridden before.
Jumping is much different than an ARO/Riot. The suspension allows you to preload bumps and bunny hop off of things, I think due to the rising rate suspension. In the air it flies much flatter and lets you correct in the air both side to side and up/down. I think the talented guys will be tossing this kit around like a dirt bike.
We took it into a tight and steep ravine so I could compare it back-to-back with the Riot 3 that I’m used to riding. First time up on the XFR, I tried climbing it in 2nd and eventually had to turn out. Next, I went up on the Riot 3 in a neutral setting (2-2 on the clickers), again is 2nd gear, this time I made it up and out, barely. Third attempt was back on the XFR but this time I tried 3rd gear, it climbed right out with ease. I learned that it will pretty easily pull a gear higher almost everywhere. The kit allows for more track speed and more consistent RPM’s when compared to the 3” Riot, it spools up quick, gets on the snow and hauls ass!
Coming back down the mountain I was feeling super confident pounding through bumps on the trail, pre-loading the big ones and skipping over several after it, standing up and giggling like a little girl the whole time. It was a pretty easy decision for me to take the opportunity to be a rider and dealer for MTN. TOP.
One ordered… pretty excited will hook it up to a TM 450 mx 23 ….been blown away by the 2 stroke bikes this summer so can’t wait for the winter and the 4 strokes.
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I remember you making the argument years back that track speed wasn’t important on a snowbike I guess that’s different now that u ride for mtn top ?
I'm still learning! I'll definitely be trying out a 3" track when they're available.
I put a 2.5x129" track on my 2020 Riot. That set up left a lot to be desired and left a poor taste in my mouth regarding 2.5" tracks. It spun a lot but didn't necessarily drive you forward, then it would hook up when you least expected it to. The 2.5" from MTN.TOP doesn't behave that way, it's predictable and has more forward drive. I was skeptical at first, but impressed after a day on it.
Take it as you will. I fully realize that me hopping from TS to MTN.TOP will have some people skeptical of my input.
I’m just bustin your balls but on a serious note I would love to try one this winter still have yet to be impressed by the riot 3
No worries - I deserve it! You're welcome to throw a leg over my bike if you're in North Idaho.
This review strikes me as a similar experience our riding group has had comparing a rowdy n/a 2021 Axys Khaos 155 to a rowdy n/a 2022 Matryx Khaos 155.
The difference is centralized mass.
New sled flies better and allows better in air correction. - same.
New sled pops out of the snow when doing re entries and rotates around crazy quick. - same.
New sled gets on top of the snow better and holds more trackspeed due to drivetrain efficiencies. - similar.
New sled has less drag in the snow from streamlined contact points. - assumed similar.
Thanks for the review.
I’m talking apples and oranges but I think it’s more revealing of Snowbike handling technology catching up to sled handling technology even though sleds have a 40 year head start. ?
Its may be apples to oranges but physics is physics. Doesn't matter dirt snow summer or winter these principles keep making everything better.
While Mtn Top doesn't have some crazy flashy marketing what it does have are proven systems and efficiencies added all across the board to make a top tier system. Also the transparency of the tech makes it easy to understand what is happening and why it works. Im stoked to see the team they have together as well. I've worked with everyone on their team in a business capacity before as well as spent lots of time outside that setting and am VERY stoked to see the team they've got put together. Lots of skill across the board and know they are going to continue to impress.
This is the first system to get me stoked on bikes again in a few years. Cannot wait to throw a leg over one once the snow flys.
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Absolutely LOVE Allen and what he's done and continues to do for this sport.
Now I wish I hadn't bought an ARO LE last year
would love to get a leg over to feel the difference before throwing down $10k on an accessory!
Now I wish I hadn't bought an ARO LE last year
would love to get a leg over to feel the difference before throwing down $10k on an accessory!
I’m feeling the same way.
Renewed interest in dirt bike powered snowbikes.
Even a renewed interest in building another bike with that new ski.
Stoked to have you back on a single ski. Let's plan a ride this season!
