NEXT YEARS PLANS!

[yooper 8]

So, this was my first year on a snowlike, and I am completely addicted. After 15 years of mountain snowmobiling all over the u.s. and canada, the bike has reignited my feel of when I first got into mountain riding.
I am going all in on the snow bikes, and in addition to my 2017 KTM 450SXF with T.S. I am going to sell a couple of the RMKs, and put together my ultimate snowbike. So, with really no budget constraints, what would be your ultimate setup? I am thinking Husky 501 or KTM 525 xcw for more displacement, kickstarter and headlight? Or is a 450 race bike better? Yeti 129 or 129 SS? Timbersled ARO? Rekluse? Handlebar heaters? Would really like to hear everyones ideas and thoughts....no rush, lets keep this thread going and come up with a perfect setup.
I am 6'-2" 225, and an avid backcountry sledder in winter and single track rider in summer. Really like riding the tight trees and steep and deep. No big jumps or drops.
Thanks!

 

[RACINSTATION]

450 MX bikes are better in my opinion. Lighter and more snap. The 525 and 501 are lazy.

Get a 450, PR2 ECU, Timbersled ARO with TSS and Trio front end, some RAZE heated handlebars, Temp gauge, engine blanket, Seat Concepts seat, Acerbis handguards, and go ride!

 

[heliwrench]

If money was no object I would build a 17-18 ktm 300 with a 129SS. Done up with RK tech head and a lectron. It would be crazy light and fun to ride I think. I am currently on a ktm 500 with a TS LT. It is a tractor and gets around pretty good, but it is a pig in the weight department, and I agree with the above comment that is kind of a lazy feeling ride.

It is ridiculous how much easier it is to pick up my buddies ktm 300 with a TS ST, compared to my rig. Quite a bit lighter in general, and the weight is carried much lower as well with the 2 stroke. I Still like the 500 though, pretty minimal fuss, just put gas in it and go. The electrical system is awesome (200w), no worries about running heated grips and lights and not being able to charge the battery.

 

[yooper 8]

Thanks for the feedback so far! I have a buddy with a ktm 300 and it definitely Rips! But it is definitely more fussy than the four strokes.
Keep the ideas coming! Thanks!

 

[Lwood]

I started with a 2016 KTM 450 XCF on a 2016 TS MHLT TSS. Got the rig with around ten hours so it was like brand new. Couple problems...I am 6'4" 240#, so not enough torque. Worked well, but was lacking the power to climb really well. Next problem, no thermostat, so bike ran cool all the time. As well, no headlight or kick starter. I decided to put the wheels back on the 450 and use it as my trail/single track/endurocross bike. Works great for this. I have a low hours 2010 KTM 530 EXCR that has always been way too much torque for anything but the desert. It has a carb, headlight, kickstarter, and loads of torque. It is actually 510 cc regardless of the 530 designation.

I hear several of these guys claiming the newer fuel injected 500's are lazy. That may be, but this bike has a Two brothers M7 with a JD jet kit and a really big accelerator pump and it is a monster!!!! Cruising at half throttle all the time and when I pin it the ski lifts a little or it digs in right before it jumps up on top. I have the triple point skeg and I run the TSS really hard as well as 250# springs on the skid shocks.

 

[wwillf01]

I can tell you this ... I have a yz250 and a ktm 450sxf turbo... I am 220 with Camso


Yz250 rk head ported polished trans. Super light flickable and spot on with the lectron per my egt ...way easier to get unstuck... Does vibrates ... Top speed sucks... But it is fun and playful... Way better with a base and simple ... Very few electronics to go wrong... Raze handlebars are great. Really does not matter if it gets cold which is nice...

Ktm 450sxf 2014 turbo
Yes the turbo skews it... It has a big bore which moved the meat of the power to the mid-range not as revy... But for climbing and powder hard to beat the 4 stroke.. faster top speed on the road and fuel injection is more tunable after market nitrous ect. More complex when something goes wrong.. more oil changes and more expensive oil.... A little more complicated keeping warm or cool.. jacket on and off



Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[n16ht5]

I've tried a ton of different setups.. and have a lot of seat time on no-stops pulled Yeti 129SS 450SXF Raze'd out, FE501s, CR500AF's, KTM 300s, YZ450fs.. turbo KTM 450's and YZ450f's etc.. Haven't rode a turbo I cared for in the trees or wasn't blowing something up. CR500 has too much vibration for its own good (total achilles heel). 501 feels heavy (but rips with RAZE). KTM 300 is amazing except the trail and cold starts. KTM/Husky 450 works great until the battery dies.

I'm torn between the KTM 300, Husky 450, and YZ450F.

I like riding the 300 the most off trail by a long shot. Light, fun, zippy, pulls almost as hard as my 450. Cold starts are a pain, mixing gas slightly annoying, worse fuel mileage. trail riding not as fun.

Husky 450. awesome power and everything you could want. Wish it had kick start.

YZ450F. cheaper than Husky, reliable, good power. Wish the 18's had kick start

I'm riding a SnowtechMX with CMX track... 100% would go same route again over anything else. Reliability+perfomance is king

 

[powdermuncher]

CMX on a Beta 500 would be my next try. Although have no complaints about my YZ450. Would not go 2 stroke unless it is a 300SX fuel injected. The 300s I tried are pretty limited power wise definitely need help in the torque and overall power department no match to a 450f but light and fun.

 

[yooper 8]

I started with a 2016 KTM 450 XCF on a 2016 TS MHLT TSS. Got the rig with around ten hours so it was like brand new. Couple problems...I am 6'4" 240#, so not enough torque. Worked well, but was lacking the power to climb really well. Next problem, no thermostat, so bike ran cool all the time. As well, no headlight or kick starter. I decided to put the wheels back on the 450 and use it as my trail/single track/endurocross bike. Works great for this. I have a low hours 2010 KTM 530 EXCR that has always been way too much torque for anything but the desert. It has a carb, headlight, kickstarter, and loads of torque. It is actually 510 cc regardless of the 530 designation.

I hear several of these guys claiming the newer fuel injected 500's are lazy. That may be, but this bike has a Two brothers M7 with a JD jet kit and a really big accelerator pump and it is a monster!!!! Cruising at half throttle all the time and when I pin it the ski lifts a little or it digs in right before it jumps up on top. I have the triple point skeg and I run the TSS really hard as well as 250# springs on the skid shocks.

This is a sweet set-up, and kind of what I have been thinking about...What are some reliable ways to get more power out of the 450 SXF? Do you think the 250# springs are the way to go, or would Fox shocks with extra pressure be as good or better?
Would like to hear more about pros and cons regarding Yeti vs. T.S. vs CMX too. Thanks!

 

[needpowder]

I personally cannot stop thinking about the new engine from Pantera. Not sure what frame it will fit in the best and I definitely will not be one who puts it in there but I’m sure somebody could. We know some guys who are fabbing up carbon fiber engine covers. That, along with tunnel cooler and Lectron with heater and all the other stuff to make a two-stroke run right seems like the ultimate to me.

 

[M5-]

Since you said money is no object. Start with a newer KTM roller, add a Panthera e-start balanced 550 for an even 100hp, then any 129 kit with a narrow rail stance so my guess is for next year your only option will be Yeti as rumour has it all their kits will be 5.5 with the Camso track next season not just the SS which for powder riding I don't get the attraction. Impressive as the performance of the Camso kit is for the price it doesn't belong on a build like this, its just too basic. I think you could do this build sub $20k which is still a pile of money.

M5

 

[chumbilly1]

I would be looking at a KTM/Husky 300 with the BRC 500 motor. Yeti or CMX kit. 129" should do it. You would have a lightweight / powerful 2T with e-start and counterbalancer. Sounds perfect to me!

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I would be looking at a KTM/Husky 300 with the BRC 500 motor. Yeti or CMX kit. 129" should do it. You would have a lightweight / powerful 2T with e-start and counterbalancer. Sounds perfect to me!

The brc motor is based off the older ktm 300 so there is no counterbalancer.

The panthera 550 is the first big bore single cylinder 2t i’ve Seen with a counterbalancer.

 

[chumbilly1]

Try again! The BRC is Counterbalanced. And will have an EFI option

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Try again! The BRC is Counterbalanced. And will have an EFI option

Where did you find that information?
I’ve Been combing there website and FB for months.

 

[KTM_FREERIDER]

I am getting back into the snowbike scene again after being away since 2014. With that being said I am not giving up my 2018 Ski Doo Freeride so the snow bike will be a back up for those days I don’t feel like riding the sled.

After reading threads and asking questions I am going to go with a 2018 Husqvarna FC 450 with a Snowtech MX SS 120 and I will also add a Rekluse clutch to the bike.

Can’t wait for next winter!

 

[chumbilly1]

Where did you find that information?
I’ve Been combing there website and FB for months.

The CB shaft is behind the bendix gear I believe. Its for sure. The EFI aspect will be a stand alone throttle body injection system, that is supposedly running now on cr5 motors in AUS. Its being developed by others, but I was told sounds real promising. Personally, Im cool with a carb. Fighting EFI gremlins now with my RAZE system. Not that much fun at all.

 

[rhino89523]

X2 on the M5 suggestion. I can’t stop thinking about that 100hp panthera motor either. Ktm frame I think would be the easiest. Yeti track looks the best.

If it wasn’t that I’m a 500 guy...I like the power and just don’t notice the vibes everyone talks about...been riding them since 1988, guess I’m used to it. No lost bolts or any of those other myths. Easy maintenance, easy rebuilds.

 

[M5-]

I'm not sure I understand the obsession with FI on a 2 stroke, 4 stroke I get it, 2 stroke not so much. 2 strokes have their issues but having a carb is not anywhere near the top of my list. Properly set up with heater etc. carb is a non issue IMO.

M5

 

[Norma Stitz]

For me the attraction of efi is no flooding and easy starts, even after a get-off that leaves the bike upside down for x amount of time, plus fuel economy and ability to monitor and adjust AFR.