Newb

[RevXRider]

Never road a bike, never sat on a bike. But have ridden dirt bikes all while growing up. Experienced rider on sleds, but want to try the bike. I don't have any places where I can demo ride one in the part of the country that I live in, but still gonna make the plunge I think.


Do I buy one all together and ready to go? turn key bike? not looking for any junk. Looking for information on what I should buy? As in what bike, how big a bike? what is a good kit? Length??


I don't really want a starter bike/kit, because I don't want to have to upgrade it in a year. Ride a 165 Doo right now and am not going to stop riding sleds. this is just to have fun on something different.


What should I get??? thanks guys for any input!

 

[RMK935VA]

I started new this year. I bought a very clean 15 KTM 450 SX-F and put a Yeti 129 on it. I am very pleased with the system overall.

 

[daloof]

There is no easy or sure answer to your questions.

Do what I am doing, research & research a lot.

First, figure out what type of riding you will be doing mostly, then start looking into what type of build would suit that & your body type the best.

Any chance to go test rides would be ideal.

good luck.

 

[yooper01]

Never road a bike, never sat on a bike. But have ridden dirt bikes all while growing up. Experienced rider on sleds, but want to try the bike. I don't have any places where I can demo ride one in the part of the country that I live in, but still gonna make the plunge I think.


Do I buy one all together and ready to go? turn key bike? not looking for any junk. Looking for information on what I should buy? As in what bike, how big a bike? what is a good kit? Length??


I don't really want a starter bike/kit, because I don't want to have to upgrade it in a year. Ride a 165 Doo right now and am not going to stop riding sleds. this is just to have fun on something different.


What should I get??? thanks guys for any input!

Where are you located?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[AZ800]

Well if I was spending your money, I'd get a new Tsled Aro 137 or Yeti if I was feeling rich and put it on a new 450 fx or a new KTM if I was keeping with the champagne taste!

On a budget, find a lightly used Tsled of your favorite flavor and a clean 450 mx bike.
IVe only ridden my yz450 with a 2013 ST Tsled, and it's solid and predictable. I wouldn't want any less power though, so get the best 450 you can afford.
Turn key or some assembly required doesn't matter unless you don't want to put it together. All the accessories add up $ though so finding a set up that is already set up with everything is worthwhile IMO.

 

[KTMDirtFace]

Never road a bike, never sat on a bike. But have ridden dirt bikes all while growing up. Experienced rider on sleds, but want to try the bike. I don't have any places where I can demo ride one in the part of the country that I live in, but still gonna make the plunge I think.


Do I buy one all together and ready to go? turn key bike? not looking for any junk. Looking for information on what I should buy? As in what bike, how big a bike? what is a good kit? Length??


I don't really want a starter bike/kit, because I don't want to have to upgrade it in a year. Ride a 165 Doo right now and am not going to stop riding sleds. this is just to have fun on something different.


What should I get??? thanks guys for any input!

Where do you live? it was hard for me to demo one here in Bend, Oregon. But finally rode a friends 120" timbersled for a couple minutes then a mototrax demo.

I ride a 163" Doo.. 2014.

Tried a snowbike, loved it bought one. Still keeping the DOO though for sure.

I own a KTM 500 EXC, I demo'd a 501 Husky ( basically the same thing ).. and I rode two 450 SX KTM's. Honestly I liked the 450 SX's better they felt like they had more POP/BARK. but since I already owned the 500...thats what i'm riding.

Do you have any dealerships where you live? There is two here and one of them has one demo snowbike.. I don't know about the other one. But I would have never known that.

Its all timbersled here for the most part.

Never seen a yeti or a cmx or anything else ever.

 

[Grr]

Ill post again this question




WHERE DO YOU LIVE GUY

 

[RevXRider]

I live in maine Guy

 

[RevXRider]

Husky or KTM seems like the right choice if cash isn't an issue.

 

[needpowder]

Husky or KTM seems like the right choice if cash isn't an issue.

My 2016 Yamaha 450 FX has been flawless. The electric start is a little better than the KTM's in cold weather, plus kickstart backup (never used it) It weighs about 10-15 pounds heavier than comparable ktm in snowbike trim. 62 hours on mine this season. Just had valves checked in they were perfect. Leak down 5%.
Edit: taller fifth gear is nice also.

 

[WingNutRacing]

I concur....

Don't dismiss the Yammi, she's tight.....

Not one issue on my 16 YZ450FX, and not one issue on my 17 T-sled either....


I'm very happy with both of them..

 

[Lachoneus]

Another vote for the Yami's

My personal experience -- had two new/newish KTM 450's grenade at low hours/use a few years back and have not had one problem other than "operator error" with 2 YZ450F bikes (2014 and 2015 years) and 2 YZ450FX (both 2016) bikes since then. They might be a bit heavier than the KTM but I like 'em and think they are bulletproof. Better at keeping snow out with their intakes way up high also.

 

[AZ800]

On a budget, I'd look for a YZ450. Seem to have the best track record from the internets reading. My 2011 has been stone reliable, but then again it probably only has 60hours on it.
Not having experience with other bikes makes this one sided, but my likes on the 2010-13 yamis are it starts easy (80%of the time. Couple times a day I have to kick it a bunch to start), air intake with just a prefilter over the foam cage and some frog skins on the front openings has never plugged up in fender deep snow and I really like the reverse intake/exhaust layout.
Keeps the exhaust tucked inside the frame where the head pipe is not getting blasted with snow, not subject to damage and never melts your pant leg.

 

[M5-]

My buddy just crossed 100 hours on his 2016 FX with religious oil changes etc. and it just let go. All the plating came off of the main crank bearing and went through the motor. That was bad but what was more disturbing was the big end bearing on the rod. The inner race on that bearing had 4 cracks in it. The timing chain was also screwed and may have actually started the whole problem. Regardless it seems that if you ride these things HARD you best get into the motor at about 80 hours no matter what brand. My KTM 520 blew for the second time just before 80 hours with a rod failure. One nice thing about Yamaha vs. KTM is the Yami parts are half the price. A new KTM rod is ridiculous.


M5