Summer I stick to less than 2k, unless we chase a race somewhere but even then I don't think we've been above 5-6k. I don't think the gnarly would work good on the snow. You want to run the 300 out and gnarly usually shortens the gear and takes off top end, summer I think its personal preference but I still run a FMF Fatty. I'd look at slavens head and play with the X dimension then let me know what works for next years trip!
ok... so how bad is a 2 stroke going to be for a main ride?
- Thread starter backcountryislife
- Start date
Summer I stick to less than 2k, unless we chase a race somewhere but even then I don't think we've been above 5-6k. I don't think the gnarly would work good on the snow. You want to run the 300 out and gnarly usually shortens the gear and takes off top end, summer I think its personal preference but I still run a FMF Fatty. I'd look at slavens head and play with the X dimension then let me know what works for next years trip!
It's not a matter of blinders, it's a matter of the new bike working for both seasons... I don't want a 4, but if it's really just near impossible to run a 300 (doesn't seem that's the case) then I'll start thinking about one. I would just very much prefer to run a bike I WANT to ride rather than one I hate, but NEED to run just because I'm on snow.
C
Corban_White
Well-known member
I'll say it again, I love my 300 on dirt and snow. Carb heat and carb jacket are my only "winter only" mods.
R
Rush44
Well-known member
Buy the kit you want and run the 300 this winter. If it sucks you are only out the cost of a fit kit and still in the same situation next summer for finding the "right" bike. The only way this doesn't work out for you financially is if you plan to dump a boat load of cash into your 300 for motor work and fully deck it out.
It's not like you are going to be sitting at the bottom of the hill because of your choice to feel it out. Everyone spends so much time spinning their wheels trying to find the "perfect" bike their first season out. I've got a secret to tell you... there is no "perfect" bike out there.... just a bike you like more than others.
It's not like you are going to be sitting at the bottom of the hill because of your choice to feel it out. Everyone spends so much time spinning their wheels trying to find the "perfect" bike their first season out. I've got a secret to tell you... there is no "perfect" bike out there.... just a bike you like more than others.
I get very good pricing on a new bike, so buying a new 3 is a reasonable starting point, my current 3 is pretty "well used" 
so PART of this change is to get a bike I can use this summer, and then transition to winter, using my older 300 in the shoulder seasons & as a spare.
so PART of this change is to get a bike I can use this summer, and then transition to winter, using my older 300 in the shoulder seasons & as a spare.
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mtn-doo
Well-known member
That's not a bad idea. Spend a season playing with a couple of options, then decide what you like best. Like you said above, the bike "you" want to ride. After building a pile of 300's the last three years, we have learned a lot. The 300 now is super simple, no tuning or fiddling. Just riding. They perform incredible. They are without a doubt the "most fun" snow bike you will ride. Motocross Action Magazine, Dirt Rider Magazine, etc have sent pro staff riders to spend some time on the bikes. They ALL chose the 300 as the favorite. Brett and I put our 330's together as an identical pair. We have both ridden about every make and model out there. Brett also chose his 330 as the most fun bike he has ever ridden.
This reply has nothing to do with pushing a two stroke or the 300. Just food for thought for the guy that is curious. They are not for everyone, but for some they are their favorite. If you are 180 lbs or less and like to ride aggressive in the trees, you should definitely try it.
This reply has nothing to do with pushing a two stroke or the 300. Just food for thought for the guy that is curious. They are not for everyone, but for some they are their favorite. If you are 180 lbs or less and like to ride aggressive in the trees, you should definitely try it.
as someone who has been around some fairly nice bikes and some rather cheap ones. Ill tell you what I have seen.
If your a serious dirt bike rider, and a serious winter rider, don't expect your snowbike to do double duty as wheels and snowbike. I know personally I enjoy snow biking in the spring the most, its the best time of year the snow is a bit harder and sleds become a handful, but the bikes allow for some epic exploration. That being said we also have lots of trails starting to melt out and I love going dirtbiking. Last year I converted my bike back and for like 4 times trying to enjoy all the options the spring in MT has to offer.
Other food for thought, what makes a good single track dirt bike and what makes a good snowbike are 2 greatly varying things. Take the most brutal hard hitting bike in the summer, slap a track on it, and now its very tame. So as you can tell by most of the builds, guys are building hotrod bikes to help turn the track. But these motor/bike combo's would be out of control with wheels.
My opinion is why take one of the most expensive bikes that would be awesome for summer (stock 300 ktm) then dump a pile of money into building it into a hotrod for snow and also ruining many of its good dirt characteristics. I know builds are fun, but I guess that is not where I would go with it since you plan on using it for summer. To truely make the bike fun in the winter you also need to do things like carb heat, shrouding, pipe sheilds, etc. This all just turns into a pile of money and a more annoying conversion in the spring/fall
Now take most guys riding a 450 4 stroke on snow like myself. these are the mods I do for snow vs summer.
-Fuel controller (stays on in summer as well so not a big deal)
airbox mod, mine is a 2011 yz so i just take the outer scoops off in the winter.
motor shroud - simple zip tie on plastic shroud to sheild it from snow (5 minute install)
Personally, My love for snowbiking is the simplicity of it, I can put $5 of gas in and shred all day and really not worry. I just am not into building these mod bikes and creating issues that don't need to exist. The perfect snowbike in my mind is a bike you don't feel bad holding WOT for minutes at a time. and if I was into a motor/bike $10k plus, i wouldn't feel as good as my few year old 450 im into less then $4k. I'd say my riding buddy hit the nail on the head this year for snowbiking, got a used KTM 450 that was a little beat up, threw a high comp piston in it and bought a used kit. Hes into the whole setup less then a brand new snowbike kit and it rips. He now also has a couple grand sitting around to not feel bad taking days off work and shredding all winter long.
** disclaimer **
I still build and ride turbo 2 stroke sleds. I enjoy the snowbike as a simple fun and like to keep them like a simple stocker.
If your a serious dirt bike rider, and a serious winter rider, don't expect your snowbike to do double duty as wheels and snowbike. I know personally I enjoy snow biking in the spring the most, its the best time of year the snow is a bit harder and sleds become a handful, but the bikes allow for some epic exploration. That being said we also have lots of trails starting to melt out and I love going dirtbiking. Last year I converted my bike back and for like 4 times trying to enjoy all the options the spring in MT has to offer.
Other food for thought, what makes a good single track dirt bike and what makes a good snowbike are 2 greatly varying things. Take the most brutal hard hitting bike in the summer, slap a track on it, and now its very tame. So as you can tell by most of the builds, guys are building hotrod bikes to help turn the track. But these motor/bike combo's would be out of control with wheels.
My opinion is why take one of the most expensive bikes that would be awesome for summer (stock 300 ktm) then dump a pile of money into building it into a hotrod for snow and also ruining many of its good dirt characteristics. I know builds are fun, but I guess that is not where I would go with it since you plan on using it for summer. To truely make the bike fun in the winter you also need to do things like carb heat, shrouding, pipe sheilds, etc. This all just turns into a pile of money and a more annoying conversion in the spring/fall
Now take most guys riding a 450 4 stroke on snow like myself. these are the mods I do for snow vs summer.
-Fuel controller (stays on in summer as well so not a big deal)
airbox mod, mine is a 2011 yz so i just take the outer scoops off in the winter.
motor shroud - simple zip tie on plastic shroud to sheild it from snow (5 minute install)
Personally, My love for snowbiking is the simplicity of it, I can put $5 of gas in and shred all day and really not worry. I just am not into building these mod bikes and creating issues that don't need to exist. The perfect snowbike in my mind is a bike you don't feel bad holding WOT for minutes at a time. and if I was into a motor/bike $10k plus, i wouldn't feel as good as my few year old 450 im into less then $4k. I'd say my riding buddy hit the nail on the head this year for snowbiking, got a used KTM 450 that was a little beat up, threw a high comp piston in it and bought a used kit. Hes into the whole setup less then a brand new snowbike kit and it rips. He now also has a couple grand sitting around to not feel bad taking days off work and shredding all winter long.
** disclaimer **
I still build and ride turbo 2 stroke sleds. I enjoy the snowbike as a simple fun and like to keep them like a simple stocker.
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mtn-doo
Well-known member
Thanks Nick, That is very true. Folks don't need to think they need "mods" to go have the most fun they have ever had on the snow. A used 450f with a used kit will make you a happy shredder. Stone stock, pre filter, "provided", and go ride. You don't need a $1000 Hinson clutch, Grip Warmers, $800 FMF exhaust, etc.... The bikes are simple, reliable, and inexpensive. Not to mention get you into places you've never ventured.
*** side note*** The best two months of snow biking begins next week. Drive your 4X4 to the snow line and unload. Warm spring riding is incredible. Don't miss it !!!
*** side note*** The best two months of snow biking begins next week. Drive your 4X4 to the snow line and unload. Warm spring riding is incredible. Don't miss it !!!
My point exactly, Even though you've built plenty of sick bikes you have to step back and just appreciate the terrain you can hit on a stock bike with a kit. Its not especially come spring time with some serious exploration.
Also the thing I have seen playing with sleds and bikes.
Sleds, there is still so much room to make major changes in how a sled works.
The stock bike works so good the ROI on mods is just not their quite like on sleds. That being said im headed to the shop to slap a hi-comp piston in my YZ. do as I say, not as I do! LOL
Kinda funny, the time of year I'm actually not that interested in the bike is now... spring. During spring we go places I can't get out of on a bike, backwards as that may seem, it's just what we do. A bike couldn't go where we go in the spring.
Showed the guys from BMfab around this weekend, perfect spring weather
The days between storms are when I hope to take out the bike.
Obviously EVERYTHING is subject to change... but where we live there are tons of places we can't go the rest of the year, so spring is a special time for us
As to setup, I won't do much to it that I wouldn't do to a bike around here.
Compression is already a need, so head is all good... pipe though has me wondering, SST seems to be preferred, but that isn't what I'd prefer in summer... sure I'd get used to it, big FWW is the norm for us here, but I never hear guys talk about them on bikes, no big bores, my days of doing turbos & big mods are behind me, mostly due to time constraints. I want to ride. (I just don't WANT to ride a 4 )
Showed the guys from BMfab around this weekend, perfect spring weather
The days between storms are when I hope to take out the bike.
Obviously EVERYTHING is subject to change... but where we live there are tons of places we can't go the rest of the year, so spring is a special time for us
As to setup, I won't do much to it that I wouldn't do to a bike around here.
Compression is already a need, so head is all good... pipe though has me wondering, SST seems to be preferred, but that isn't what I'd prefer in summer... sure I'd get used to it, big FWW is the norm for us here, but I never hear guys talk about them on bikes, no big bores, my days of doing turbos & big mods are behind me, mostly due to time constraints. I want to ride. (I just don't WANT to ride a 4
)
Yea Kaleb, I'm actually under the impression that riding a bike in the spring is a heck of a lot easier to get around on than a sled... And I literally ride most of the same stuff you do, haha.
Over by my house a few of the lines in & out are straight up & down... no real way around it. I'd still have fun on the bike, but the days we go way out, I don't believe a bike could make it.
Drew... YES... yes that IS a challenge
I can't think of anything at corona that would be a problem, but that's not our normal spot, we just go there to try to steal your lines...
Drew... YES... yes that IS a challenge
I can't think of anything at corona that would be a problem, but that's not our normal spot, we just go there to try to steal your lines...
300 2 stroke Timbersled
In my opinion the 300 2 stroke actually works better then the 4 strokes with a timber sled kit. I'm a Timbersled, KTM, Husqvarna and Kawasaki dealer and after riding a KTM 300 timbersled I built a 300 husky for my self and never got a chance to ride it I would sell it cheap if you were interested in it? Give me a call 701 222 1999 Jeremy @ Full Throttle Motorsports.
In my opinion the 300 2 stroke actually works better then the 4 strokes with a timber sled kit. I'm a Timbersled, KTM, Husqvarna and Kawasaki dealer and after riding a KTM 300 timbersled I built a 300 husky for my self and never got a chance to ride it I would sell it cheap if you were interested in it? Give me a call 701 222 1999 Jeremy @ Full Throttle Motorsports.
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n16ht5
Well-known member
I have about $2300 into my YZ450F 2007 including buying the bike... Hi comp piston, SS valves, WR gears, otherwise stock. No complaints and no plans to get something else yet. I see KX500s for under $2k all the time if I ever blow it up.
This shot last weekend was looking down at my friends on their sleds who couldn't make it up because of the steep sidehilling required through the trees to get up.
When one of them tried following me through the trees.. Over and over again. The other one turned back and opted for the trail.
This shot last weekend was looking down at my friends on their sleds who couldn't make it up because of the steep sidehilling required through the trees to get up.
When one of them tried following me through the trees.. Over and over again. The other one turned back and opted for the trail.
I get rather good pricing from my local dealer. I'm looking at less than most of the used prices I've seen for my setup... main problem is that I want to buy it all at once & I doubt I will be able to get a kit this spring so that I can use the bike this summer
I've got a demo scheduled for april 2 by the house, so I'll get to test them in my back yard & see what I really think.
Sounds like Toby will have a 330 & a few of those "other" bikes... the ones with cams & valves & such so I'll have some time to decide for myself what makes sense.
Either way, stoked to turn a new page and try something new... I've been pushing on sleds for quite a while, and I'm old & fat now, so looking to just find a new challenge! Hoping to have some of my assumptions proven wrong, that's gonna be fine with me
I've got a demo scheduled for april 2 by the house, so I'll get to test them in my back yard & see what I really think.
Sounds like Toby will have a 330 & a few of those "other" bikes... the ones with cams & valves & such
so I'll have some time to decide for myself what makes sense.Either way, stoked to turn a new page and try something new... I've been pushing on sleds for quite a while, and I'm old & fat now, so looking to just find a new challenge! Hoping to have some of my assumptions proven wrong, that's gonna be fine with me
And the "perfect bike out there is never the one you have!" The grass is greener........................
Always man... always.
I will say I've built a couple unicorns over the years in sleds, I'm not terribly afraid to make a sled or bike perfect FOR ME
