Opinions on best bike for Timbersled?

[carbondaddy]

Thanks for the input guys. Keep it coming.

So, I know the KX450F makes the most power of any bike out there, I think. I think I saw the 12s are like 56 hp? I don't think the Berg 570 or KTM 500 are that much? But probably a little more torque.

How is the fuel injected KX reliability?

I also know someone that had it on a 350 XC-F and said it worked great because of the fast high revving motor.

I also thought about getting an 05 and up YZ 250 and trying it, but I really don't want carb icing problems.

I don't think they make the kit to put it on my Gas Gas, but that might be worth a phone call?

I have a 2011 KX450F. It has approx. 225 hrs on it as a snow bike and another 75+ hrs in the dirt (MX and single track). I've changed the oil after every ride on snow and approx 5 hrs on dirt using a good synthetic oil and regularly clean the air filter. I've never had a hint of trouble and the valves are still well within spec. (never have had to shim them). It will get a new piston before this season although I have no real reason to, other than piece of mind. I run a PC V with autotune and a KTM thermostat and it runs like a top no matter elevation or temperature or humidity or snow in or around the air filter and gets way better fuel mileage compared to stock. highly recommended!

 

[Rush44]

I have a 2011 KX450F. It has approx. 225 hrs on it as a snow bike and another 75+ hrs in the dirt (MX and single track). I've changed the oil after every ride on snow and approx 5 hrs on dirt using a good synthetic oil and regularly clean the air filter. I've never had a hint of trouble and the valves are still well within spec. (never have had to shim them). It will get a new piston before this season although I have no real reason to, other than piece of mind. I run a PC V with autotune and a KTM thermostat and it runs like a top no matter elevation or temperature or humidity or snow in or around the air filter and gets way better fuel mileage compared to stock. highly recommended!

I keep hearing the same thing from other KX owners so I am not at all worried about my recent purchase. I'm curious what you think of the PC-V overall? I'm currently looking to Bazzaz and the Z-AFM for my future fueling needs. I'm always interested in hearing about other products.

Side note: I just picked up a big Samsung 55" Smart LCD TV and was watching your video through the Youtube app. The powder looks a lot deeper on that big boy! If you ever come down to NW Montana you should look me up for some riding.

 

[summitboy]

Do you need to run the thermostat in a 300 ? I would think once the bike is up to temp that stat is wide open especially with that kit on the back end ??? I see a lot of guys talk about fuel mileage between the 450 and 300's saying 300 is way harder on fuel ? Why is that ? Wide open all day ? On the dirt the 300 gets a lot better fuel mileage than my 450 ever did ? Curious

 

[carbondaddy]

The PC V works great, really improved how it ran at altitude. I can't comment on the Bazzaz as I don't have any experience with it. I believe Timbersled has used them a lot. I'd love to come and ride down there someday, the same invitation to you if you are ever up in Revy.

 

[M5-]

I'm putting the thermostat back in for winter to try and keep the bike up to 160 degrees, should help with the carb as well according to what I've been told on this forum.


M5

 

[SLDHVN]

I dont have the thermostat in my bike, but will definately be getting one. I know a few guys who added them and they helped keep the oil from getting dilluted with fuel.

My brother has a PCV on his 10 cr450 and a full yosh exhaust, definately brought the bike to life in the snow. I will get that before i get a Bazzaz just because then we will have the same tuning suite and we can split the accessories.

The Bazzaz is also a very nice setup as well, i dont know much about them but the people that i know that run them said it also made a big difference,

 

[swedenturbo]

Any opinions about an additional oil cooler?
I have looked at Twin Air oil cooler.
http://www.twinair.com/usa/twin-air-oil-cooler

I think it would be good for the engine to keep the oil cooler.
These engines have small amount of engine oil and no oil cooler.
In slow and tight terrain my bike run hot, boiled too often.
My previous bike YZ450 didn't have a radiator fan.
My new KTM500 have both fan and thermostat and thats a good thing.

 

[SLDHVN]

Any opinions about an additional oil cooler?
I have looked at Twin Air oil cooler.
http://www.twinair.com/usa/twin-air-oil-cooler

I think it would be good for the engine to keep the oil cooler.
These engines have small amount of engine oil and no oil cooler.
In slow and tight terrain my bike run hot, boiled too often.
My previous bike YZ450 didn't have a radiator fan.
My new KTM500 have both fan and thermostat and thats a good thing.

your case is packed with snow, i dont see the need

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

No fender

My kx500 ran warm untill I took the front fender off. Never ran hot again

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Good one Less!

Just don't speak in the past tense "ran good", otherwise they might think uwe are on to something goooder!

By the way after going completely through my KX500, it seems to be hitting every beat and in tune in the dirt thanks to Joe Walsh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7guzEuV7j9c

http://www.jdjetting.com/

 

[summitboy]

Any opinions about an additional oil cooler?
I have looked at Twin Air oil cooler.
http://www.twinair.com/usa/twin-air-oil-cooler

I think it would be good for the engine to keep the oil cooler.
These engines have small amount of engine oil and no oil cooler.
In slow and tight terrain my bike run hot, boiled too often.
My previous bike YZ450 didn't have a radiator fan.
My new KTM500 have both fan and thermostat and thats a good thing.

The thermostat does nothing to stop your bike from boiling over ? If you want to keep that 500 cool in tight single track then you need fan, ditch thermostat, silicone hoses, larger water pump impeller. Been there done that. If you need a fan to keep it cool you don't need a tstat. It just helps your bike warm up faster or if your running highway speed it helps with the cooling effect. I find it hard to believe running a MH a tstat is needed. Maybe if it less than -10-15C. That track must put a lot more load on the motor than a tire.

 

[carbondaddy]

Dirt bikes don't get hot enough when used as a snow bike so the piston and rings don't seal up well resulting in blow-by and gas in your oil. Also, some moisture gets in the crankcase and there isn't enough heat to burn it off. So you can get some pretty ugly looking oil. You need a thermostat to get, and keep temps up. An oil cooler is not what you want for this application. As mentioned earlier a lot of snow collects and sticks to the cases. Before I went to a t-stat, I blocked 90 percent of my radiators off with duct tape and it did not overheat. You also need to make sure it is not running too rich at altitude either, as it makes the motor run cooler and worsens the blow-by issue. I have experience with a half dozen bikes and the only ones that didn't have this problem was the ones with a t-stat.

 

[Rush44]

carbondaddy is right on the money there. I was hearing of guys in Bozeman last year that would temp-gun their bikes after long, cold day pulls and had sub 100F temps. One day my WR450 couldn't heat up enough to boil off the moisture from the oil and it ended up getting beat into a frothy grey foam.

I have never had an overheating problem even on the hottest days in spring. You have to remember that these things are built for desert and track racing... if it can't keep cool enough with 32F or less snow constantly bathing the motor then they shouldn't last on the slow gnarly single track in the dead of summer.

 

[swedenturbo]

Suprised that no one seems to have the same overheating problem as I had last winter.
Rebuilt my waterpump. Removed the plastic "grid" in front of the radiators.
I also replaced the OEM radiators whith 30% bigger radiators.
It boliled only when I drove very slow or ildeling when I got stuck in tight terrain.
No speed - no airspeed for cooling.
But you're right, in most conditions these bikes have sufficient cooling.
I believe that a radiator fan will solve most of my problem.

 

[dirtrebel]

My yz426 has the same problem. I will be running a heat exchanger this year in lieu of buying the radiators you picture. Although those are nice units for me a free exchanger from a dead sled is the way to go, but I think those will solve your problem. Mine runs ok on the snow and at many times won't even warm up, but a few minutes sitting in one spot on the trail or stuck or screwed up and that thing wants to boil. I hope to keep it cooler overall with the exchanger and a thermostat to help it warm up on those cold days and on the way by I hope to catch the carb with some coolant to heat it too! I'm sure the exchanger will require scratchers come spring and may be a problem on dirt conditions. Think how much fun it will be finding out! Also try removing your fender that helped me alot!

 

[carbondaddy]

Just a thought, but i'm wondering if under some conditions your rads will kind of ice over and prevent any air flow over them

 

[swedenturbo]

Just a thought, but i'm wondering if under some conditions your rads will kind of ice over and prevent any air flow over them

I see your point but by removing the plastic ribs in front, snow and ice hit the hot radiator and melted almost imediately.

 

[5.5switchback]

We just put cardboard between our radiator and the plastic fins
(less than 20F)to get the engine temp up, and then just pull the cardboard up half way the warmer it gets. We use 3 to 5 factory effex temp stickers to watch temps.

 

[tomk]

The sticker idea is genius! Cardboard too, that's my new route!

 

[GlennRMK]

Sounds like the KX450 is the preferred bike?