Hey gang, I am new to the sport and looking to build the perfect snowbike for the trails of New England. I will be riding more groomed and packed snow rather than deep powder. I hit plenty of whooped out sections and icy patches. I haven't even decided on a bike yet. (I have a 250 exc for the dirt) Does anyone have any suggestions?
Optimum TRAIL Snowbike?
- Thread starter Jamess2
- Start date
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Rush44
Well-known member
The SX kit would probably be your best bet. It handles the whoops and bumps better than the ST/LT kits. It's also narrower for more of the dirt bike feel than the wider ST/LT. I think it would be perfect for your needs. It does cost more than the ST kit but it's worth the extra coin. Very fun to ride.
Stud your tires maybe?
Open question: would a snow hawk ski be an improvement on packed trails? I know first hand they aren't as good as a timbersled ski off piste.
Sx kit with newest Timbersled ski or adapt a snow hawk ski. Snow hawk skis are getting tougher to find now. The sx has a snow hawk track and you could add screws to help with ice.
Jamess - We always welcome new snow bike members, but sorry to be the wet blanket here, you lost me at "perfect snow bike for trails." Even the awesome handling new kits aren't all that on packed, icy trails. They're off-trail machines. For what you're going to spend to even get a kit + bike, much less modify it, you may want to rethink this unless you've actually spent some time in the saddle. It'd be like buying a Porsche then only driving it around the parking lot - doable but a tragedy nevertheless.
But carry on...
But carry on...
I beg to differ, if set up right with the right kit any bike can rip on the trails, on my kx 500 I can do 70+mph all day long on the trails. There is defiantly some thing to be said about railing bermed up corners in the twistys. and the ditch riding capabilities of bikes is a level above any 2 ski. I guess it is a midwest rider thing
I really tried to push my kits last year but sales really didnt take off as I had hoped, I have one kit left from last years builds, this year I am stepping back a little, still building and redesigning to progress the design, just not going to pull my hair out for a couple grand. family quickly took precedence over being in the shop
I have one kit left...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enDAzuoj3J0
I realize that the equipment being released now isn't tailored toward trail riding. Unfortunately for me, I am dying to become a snowbiker and i'm not moving out west. Instead of "perfect" snow bike, I should have asked for "best possible". Maybe Frozen Moto or Yeti will have a more trail friendly version for me.
Both of those kits won't have the snow hawk track. The profiled track will help a lot for riding trails and was designed for it. It has extra rubber in lugs to add traction screws. Get the sx kit. I've trail rode snow hawks since 03 and now have a Timbersled st kit. The sx would be awesome but doesn't work with my bike. The frozenmoto would work but the track isn't as good and I don't trust their ski.
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barefooter
Well-known member
I rode the prototype 2015 ST kit at the end of last season. All trails as did not get into suitable trees or the backcountry for it.
As an old moto-crosser - It was one of the best days I have had on the snow (trails that it). It was what prompted me to build a bike this season.
I for one thought the trail handling was pretty good. You can rail corners like berms, way better over the whoops than a sled, and you can cut through the trail sides made by a groomer like butter. It was a great time.
Icy is gonna be **** on a sled or a bike. the only thing that would work in those conditions is studded tires. And who wants to ride through that?
Pick up a kit. Have fun. Don;t let the haters get to you.
As an old moto-crosser - It was one of the best days I have had on the snow (trails that it). It was what prompted me to build a bike this season.
I for one thought the trail handling was pretty good. You can rail corners like berms, way better over the whoops than a sled, and you can cut through the trail sides made by a groomer like butter. It was a great time.
Icy is gonna be **** on a sled or a bike. the only thing that would work in those conditions is studded tires. And who wants to ride through that?
Pick up a kit. Have fun. Don;t let the haters get to you.
M
mtn-doo
Well-known member
Don't be discouraged. The Timbersled SX kit is specifically designed for exactly what you are hoping for. Stiff paddles for hard pack, narrow, lots of suspension. It was designed for "snow cross" and racing from the beginning. There is nothing out there that comes close. You will also see free style riders taking the 121 SX to extremes in the back country. They excel as a freestyle kit in the mountains, but you are spot on considering it for fast, wooped out roads. Bars crossed up on big sweeping corners. Bitch banging and jumping, etc. You could also gear it up and hall the mail on roads! Sounds fun!
Welcome to the sport! You are in for a lot of fun.
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lacesout
Active member
get a 450 or bigger motocross bike with a 5 speed tight ratio tranny. Buy the ST kit cause it goes 10mph faster then the LT. Upgrade your charging system to handle hand warmers and lights. Do the new thermostat mod that avid provides. Gut the air box and do the boondocker pod. Plastic skid plate. Hand guards. modify or get oversized foot pegs (stay away from alum, you want stainless).
or go back 12 years
maybe find yourself a 503 snowhawk. these machines rip down a trail and the mtns if you set it up right. Im doing a project on a 503 to install timbersled skid because suspension has changed alot. Hope to make climb like a snowbike and still be a riot in the powder and trails. Even if you buy a new top dog TS skid for 2500.00 you will only have 5500$ or so invested.
either way welcome to the one ski world!!
maybe find yourself a 503 snowhawk. these machines rip down a trail and the mtns if you set it up right. Im doing a project on a 503 to install timbersled skid because suspension has changed alot. Hope to make climb like a snowbike and still be a riot in the powder and trails. Even if you buy a new top dog TS skid for 2500.00 you will only have 5500$ or so invested.
either way welcome to the one ski world!!
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Rush44
Well-known member
Add snowbikekits.com's gold wear skag. It bites the ice great and has good reviews from the flatlanders that have to deal with rutted icy trails. The bite with this skag and the SX would be a lot of fun. Don't listen to the nay-sayers!
http://snowbikekits.com/product/gold-standard-wear-skeg-fits-timbersled-10-backcountry-ski/
http://snowbikekits.com/product/gold-standard-wear-skeg-fits-timbersled-10-backcountry-ski/
http://youtu.be/JjSgv8U3CHw I think this guy is from Wisconsin.
I have a WR 450 with a SX kit the Hawk track is the answer for the trail.
I run the triple carbide skag on the TS ski in the centre and if they do not make them for the sides this season I will make some myself to go on there. Yes they are that good on Hard pack and Ice. They will not hock on rocks and stumps like the U runners. + they last way longer than anything else.
The wide ratio transmission and lights make the WR perfect for trail riding . Gear spacing is better suited for trails on the WR the YZ is better for deep powder/ mountain stuff.
I ride local trails a fair bit and the sleds have a hard time keeping up in the tight woods trails we have here. Don't let the nay sayers get to you set up right
They work awesome. Even the ST kit lowered a bit with a Snow Hawk track works surprisingly well for trails. And here is the secret Lower the rear by about 2 inches and suck in the limiter strap a bit to get the track geometry right again--this will dramatically improve stability for fast trail, it work well on MC or ST kits. By the way this set up also works very well in powder just needs to be geared down a bit 1 tooth on the counter shaft.
I run the triple carbide skag on the TS ski in the centre and if they do not make them for the sides this season I will make some myself to go on there. Yes they are that good on Hard pack and Ice. They will not hock on rocks and stumps like the U runners. + they last way longer than anything else.
The wide ratio transmission and lights make the WR perfect for trail riding . Gear spacing is better suited for trails on the WR the YZ is better for deep powder/ mountain stuff.
I ride local trails a fair bit and the sleds have a hard time keeping up in the tight woods trails we have here. Don't let the nay sayers get to you set up right
They work awesome. Even the ST kit lowered a bit with a Snow Hawk track works surprisingly well for trails. And here is the secret Lower the rear by about 2 inches and suck in the limiter strap a bit to get the track geometry right again--this will dramatically improve stability for fast trail, it work well on MC or ST kits. By the way this set up also works very well in powder just needs to be geared down a bit 1 tooth on the counter shaft.
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Go with what you think is the best for you even if you have to do a little work , these aren't turn keyed to begin with anyway , no different than any other play toy .
Don't let track choice be the factor , make a template and shave the lugs off on the sides . An electric turkey knife and WD40 or used oil cuts like butter .
Who says you have to have screws ? Why not pick the holy be-jesus out of it on a lower lugged track .
Than your gonna need a ski and there is no better asphalt cutter than that trench digging , harrow cultivating pivoting Hawk ski with the trackers on the ouside , which they where designed for on the inside .
Just imagine what a fully picked out short track on a thumper could be capable of on hard packed frozen ground . Might get banned from ice racing
Than again maybe it's just a pipe dream .
Don't let track choice be the factor , make a template and shave the lugs off on the sides . An electric turkey knife and WD40 or used oil cuts like butter .
Who says you have to have screws ? Why not pick the holy be-jesus out of it on a lower lugged track .
Than your gonna need a ski and there is no better asphalt cutter than that trench digging , harrow cultivating pivoting Hawk ski with the trackers on the ouside , which they where designed for on the inside .
Just imagine what a fully picked out short track on a thumper could be capable of on hard packed frozen ground . Might get banned from ice racing
Than again maybe it's just a pipe dream .
