New Snow Bike Suggestion?

[eddy]

1) What is the optimum bike to start with? KTM 450? SX, XC, Enduro?
2) What mods do you need? Air Box, hot grips, hand guards, bark busters, etc
3) If there was a 300 2 stroke with FI and E start would your answer change? New Euro 4 regs for 2017 might make this bike a reality.

 

[Summitseeker]

I think it Fuel Injection in a KTM 300 will definitely be reality some day but I think it will be closer to 2020 than 2017. Wishful thinking!

Copied the following excerpt from Enduro 21 website:

Have KTM unofficially unveiled their 2017 two-stroke enduro model...

Was Austrian Lars Enockl spotted racing a 2016 motocross bike with lights, or what many were convinced was a pre-production KTM two-stroke during Red Bull Romaniacs?

Tight lipped about what exactly he was riding, there wasn’t too much info given away. Things were pretty hush hush, adding further fuel to the fire that something exciting is in the pipeline.

What we can tell you is that this bike appears to be completely reworked.

New frame, new engine and new body work that matches up with the current motocross four strokes on offer.

ktm-2017-enduro-exc-2-stroke 33
The differences between Lars' bike (11) and Phillip Scholz (7) are clear...

Engine wise and things are very new looking indeed. Casings are completely redesigned and very interestingly so too is the starter motor. Gone is the bulky black plastic casing unit that was bolted onto the right side of the engine.

Now it appears to be part of the casing and sitting to the rear of the engine – similar to a four-stroke model. Good news is that a kick starter still remains.

A Mikuni carburettor appears to have replaced the Keihin setup up. Rumours were rife that the motor was fuel injected but the carburettor currently dispels that theory.

- See more at: http://www.enduro21.com/index.php/e...m-2017-two-stroke-enduro#sthash.V6PFz7AN.dpuf

 

[Tride]

KTM or Husky MX bike is a great start if you want electric start (which is nice but not essential). Any 450 mx bike, even carburated, will work. Close ratio tranny is ideal, but enduro bikes do work also. Then, IMHO, in order of importance you need: handguards; thermostat; engine shrouds/skidplate; fuel controller; headlight; heated grips; bigger pegs.

Actually, avalanche gear/knowledge is first and foremost on the list, if you ride in the mountains. You can get yourself into a world of hurt quickly on these machines.

FI 300 might be nice, but the fat torque curve of the 450s seems to work really well on these kits. I ride a 300 all summer, but it didn't work as well on the Timbersled.

If you do run a carbed bike, you absolutely positively need a carb heater, unless stuck WFO appeals to you.

 

[madmax]

There are guys that swear that each is best, 300 vs 450. I had a 15' KTM 300 ST and a 2015 450 LT last year. Personally I liked the 450 better. You can make each a very good snow bike. My favorite bike is the KTM 500. Really excited about the new 2016 450's for this year.

 

[Rush44]

Any MX bike will do the trick with the least amount of mods. Hell, the only real mod you SHOULD do is the thermostat which is going to help with the maintenance of the motor the most (along with often oil changes of course). The rest is really personal preference or going the extra mile to get the most performance out of the bike. Everyone gets their rocks off on the first full day demo ride they take and usually those bikes are pretty stock.

Add what you can afford. Performance comes before comfort for me so I'm usually first to spend my money on fuel controllers, exhaust, NOS, possibly a big bore, etc.