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Must haves?

K

KTMDirtFace

Free Member
I demo'd a mototrax today and now I need one. LOL

I have a KTM 500 EXC 2014


What are the must haves that I need to add?

Whats a "thermobob"

What grip heaters should I get? the ones that were on the husky 501 demo bike had a huge toggle switch for the heaters right in knee smackin range.


What do I do with the airbox/airfilter?


 
A thermobob is a smaller thermostat housing with stat and bypass designed for motorcycles. See watt-man.com. I would suggest the 190 stat. I believe avid makes a thermo set up as well. I would suggest something to cover the rads and shield the engine cases from snow. Coolant temp control is critical to engine life. If the engine runs cold you will have fuel and moisture dilution of oil.

Several options for grips. Ame are popular. I had two sets, one grip failed after couple years. Mototrax sells set of grips also.

Good luck
 
I don't personally have heated grips. So far, I have ridden from 28 degrees down to 3 degrees. No matter what, my finger tips get cold on the trail. Luckily, we don't have to endure much of that here. When off trail, we are generally riding hard enough that being cold is not an issue. Most times, it is the opposite. I will sweat and get my gloves wet from inside out. Just be prepared and have a few extra gloves in your pack.

One of the biggest things I miss about the sled is having a spot to dry/warm gloves and goggles. A few seconds in front of the muffler us usually enough to defrost my digits, but has also warped a goggle lens or two. Still trying to get that sorted out...

I wear lighter gloves that range from 40 grams to 100 grams of Thinsulate. I prefer to have good feeling on the grips and levers over superior warmth. Then I also pack a pair of 200g gloves and a few liners for that inevitable frigid ride back to the pickup.

I have a Moto Trax Enduro on a 2015 WR 450. I didn't do anything fancy for the intake. Simply installed some pre-filter material on all of the openings of the air box and then put some pre-filter material over a dry foam filter. Haven't had an issue yet.

Also installed a Thermo-bob. Seems essential for these snow bikes to run correctly. Made my own engine cover for the left side out of heavy canvas that seems to really help. Put some pre-filter material over the radiator shrouds to prevent ice build up. Changed oil to 0-W20.

Fill it with gas and rip...

Very happy with my set up and am having a blast.

Good luck, have fun, and be safe!!!

Dan
 
Thanks, my hands always get cold on my sled, at least for the first 30 minutes.

I wear Fly Title Long gloves when I can stand it. They are waterproof moto gloves. My favorite gloves. I carry 2 extra pairs and a pair of thicker Klim's in my avi vest. Yea I was wondering where to carry spare goggles. Friend on a timbersled bolted a small pelican box to his tunnel.. may do something like that.

So I don't think I need to buy much extra by the sounds of it.

1. ThermoBob
2. Oxford grips probably
3. Frog skin to cover the airbox ( Buddy with a timbersled has extra he said I could have ). He also made some plastic inserts for his radiator, he said I could have some of that too.

worried about melting my nice pants on the pipe though, may need a pipe guard.
 
I love the Fly Title gloves. I have them in the 40g and 70g varieties. Also have a pair of FXR Mission Lite gloves that I like. Anything heavier than 70g and (in my opinion) you lose feel. Coming from a MX background, I can't get past not feeling the feedback from the clutch lever... I suppose the guys on KTM's wouldn't notice that since it is hydraulic.

My jacket has a goggle pocket on the back that seems to dry them out fairly well, but on snowy days, three pairs of goggles aren't enough. I've tried stuffing gloves inside my coat too which gets them warm, but never dry. Maybe I sweat too much?

Two of my riding buddies have the Pelican case. I went with a Flambeau that I picked up from Big 5. Water tight, tough, and only $30. Bolted it right in front of the mud flap. Big enough for my tool kit, a few repair pieces, survival essentials, and all of my water for the day. That way my backpack is lighter and only contains my extra gloves and goggles. (Shovel and probe are on the pack as well.)

Have fun!!
 
Avy equipment and the know how to use it along with a riding buddy who also has teh equipment and knows how to use it.

A light on your bike.. And no it does not need to be a Cyclops light. safety first man.. I have been that guy with no light on my bike,(or helmet) out for a day trip, well one thing led to another and before I knew it I was on the top of a mountain well after dark with no way out.. It was a Fn cold miserable night.. Take it for what its worth, be smart..Live to ride another day.
 
off road rider said:
Avy equipment and the know how to use it along with a riding buddy who also has teh equipment and knows how to use it.

A light on your bike.. And no it does not need to be a Cyclops light. safety first man.. I have been that guy with no light on my bike,(or helmet) out for a day trip, well one thing led to another and before I knew it I was on the top of a mountain well after dark with no way out.. It was a Fn cold miserable night.. Take it for what its worth, be smart..Live to ride another day.
Click to expand...

Thanks yea I have all that from snowmobiling.
 
ktm 500

I run a 13 ktm 500, stock thermostat, engine covers, sometimes radiator covered, plastic skid pan, better seat, higher bars, bottom cut out of air box with frogzskin cover over dry stock filter, so far this year always deep fluff, clean oil, good temps, no air bog in deeeep stuff, all good. Hand warms, never been there on bike, rarely use them when run the 800, GIANT LOOP hand guards with mx goves all year.
 
Timberview01 said:
I don't personally have heated grips. So far, I have ridden from 28 degrees down to 3 degrees. No matter what, my finger tips get cold on the trail. Luckily, we don't have to endure much of that here. When off trail, we are generally riding hard enough that being cold is not an issue. Most times, it is the opposite. I will sweat and get my gloves wet from inside out. Just be prepared and have a few extra gloves in your pack.

One of the biggest things I miss about the sled is having a spot to dry/warm gloves and goggles. A few seconds in front of the muffler us usually enough to defrost my digits, but has also warped a goggle lens or two. Still trying to get that sorted out...

I wear lighter gloves that range from 40 grams to 100 grams of Thinsulate. I prefer to have good feeling on the grips and levers over superior warmth. Then I also pack a pair of 200g gloves and a few liners for that inevitable frigid ride back to the pickup.

I have a Moto Trax Enduro on a 2015 WR 450. I didn't do anything fancy for the intake. Simply installed some pre-filter material on all of the openings of the air box and then put some pre-filter material over a dry foam filter. Haven't had an issue yet.

Also installed a Thermo-bob. Seems essential for these snow bikes to run correctly. Made my own engine cover for the left side out of heavy canvas that seems to really help. Put some pre-filter material over the radiator shrouds to prevent ice build up. Changed oil to 0-W20.

Fill it with gas and rip...

Very happy with my set up and am having a blast.

Good luck, have fun, and be safe!!!

Dan
Click to expand...
I have the Raze water heater bars, And the small front number plate bag by Skinz has the heated hoses running thought it and 3 pairs of gloves stay at 150 degrees! system works great once engine temps are obtained. No worries about the stator and forgetting to turn off electric grip and draining the battery.
 
I ordered the thermobob, and for the extra I ordered the +196 or whatever it was.

Going with the oxford grip heaters, I Need grip heaters, my fingers are the only thing that ever gets cold when I snowmobile...nothing more annoying than cold digits.

Rest of it I think a friend has me covered.

OH.. i need to get a thermostat gauge, just havn't figured out which one will plug right into the thermobob yet.
 
I wired up my handwarmers to only work when the bikes running, to avoid a dead battery. For my thermobob, I was able to order the Trail Tech TTO Temp gauge. Said right on the website what threads fit in the t-stat. I was pleasantly surprised at how small the gauge was when it arrived- made the install super nice, yet it's still easy to read. I'd recommend it!
 
L.Hughes said:
I wired up my handwarmers to only work when the bikes running, to avoid a dead battery. For my thermobob, I was able to order the Trail Tech TTO Temp gauge. Said right on the website what threads fit in the t-stat. I was pleasantly surprised at how small the gauge was when it arrived- made the install super nice, yet it's still easy to read. I'd recommend it!
Click to expand...

Thanks thats what my friend has, just ot sure what thread otpion I need?

Good idea on the handwarmers, I killed the demo bike twice becasue of them I think. Luckily it had a kickstart and estart.
 
I also have a KTM 500 EXC that I've been thinking about putting a snowbike kit on (probably camso). I understand why i need to keep the engine at operating temp and plan on getting an engine blanket and temp gauge to monitor but can somebody explain why i need a thermobob on this bike. The bike has a thermostat installed in it from factory...i think its set at 160F, is that too cold?
 
-unsound said:
I also have a KTM 500 EXC that I've been thinking about putting a snowbike kit on (probably camso). I understand why i need to keep the engine at operating temp and plan on getting an engine blanket and temp gauge to monitor but can somebody explain why i need a thermobob on this bike. The bike has a thermostat installed in it from factory...i think its set at 160F, is that too cold?
Click to expand...

If you already have a stat you should be fine. My bob' opens at 160 and it takes some shielding to keep temps up. A blanket or some good shielding and radiator block off plates that are removable should work. A temp gauge is a must so you know where you are at and which direction you need to go.
 
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