Paddle tire in snow (dirt bike)

[mynameislance]

Finally got my paddle tire on my bike and tried it out this weekend. It worked amazingly well. The snow was between 6-12inches deep and I wasn't having any problems in it. However, there was no base under it, just the ground, so I'm not sure if I was hooking up good due to the paddle grabing the snow or because I was digging down to the ground. I'll keep you guys updated on how it does in the deeper stuff once we get more snow.

I took a paddle tire and put snowmobile studs between the paddles and built brackets to hold them together to keep them from tearing out(see pictures). If anyone else tries this, I might suggest not doing the middle bracket, I have several that are bent due to the stud having enough torque on it to bend the bracket back; There are a couple middle brackets that had fallen out and those studs are still straight up and down, so I think just the brackets connecting the outside 2 to the middle one would be enough. Also, almost all of the ice screws I put on top of the paddles have ripped out. I woudln't waste the time or the screws on that.

I have it on an 04 cr125. I was worried about it not having enough power, but I was able to ride across my hay fields in 3rd gear without much problem. It has stock gearing and pipe. I am going to gear it down a bit though and try putting my kx125 pipe back on it. As much as I absolutly HATE saying this, I feel it would be more fun with a 4stroke , the low-end torque would make it a blast I think.

Here's some crappy videos I got with a cheap digital camera, I'll get better video's soon...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qzvPe-Xu6Co
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rOzyG_sLTNo&feature=related

 

[Estevahn]

I bet that was fun getting on the rim.

 

[milehighassassin]

Lets see some action shots. My little sister can ride that road on her 10-speed.

 

[Gone Sleddin]

where abouts in the hills were you riding?

 

[xrated]

for the love of all things sacred and pure(125s) don't ever say those words about a 4 stroke beign more fun ever again. If you do, may the gods of blue smoke and screaming clutches swoop down and give you a case of the CLAP!!

Keep us up to date, that looks fun! Maybe a mod to my screaming YZ 125 is in order.

 

[EastcapeAngler]

It does look fun. My last bike was a 78 RM 125. Bought it new from Fife's sport center in Rigby ID. for $629. No lie. As for the dewd who says his sister can ride her 10 speed on that road?? Let's see a pic of her pullin' a one handed 4 gear cross-up

 

[WC820]

wait till you get on some serious hard snow!! I used to take my 125 with the hooker to the ski resort 300 yards from where i grew up after hours all the time!! it was a serious blast I never studded anything it still was fun keep the front wheel in the air and steer with the pegs!

 

[mynameislance]

as far as action shots...i did post some crappy videos...in the process of getting a better one...i'm excited for the day this spring when the snow sets up like a rock so i can go play on the drifts.

as far as the location, I was at my parents house by four corners, wy

 

[cmantle1]

nice, looks like a blast. my buddies and i put sheet metal screws in our 50 tires and can take any icy corner in 3rd gear pinned. probably nothing compared to that in the powder though...

 

[LeeDoo]

Without knowing more about how you mounted the studs and metal brackets, aren't you nervous having all that metal spinning at high speeds right behind you? Cool idea though, I always wanted to put paddle tire on my YZ 426 and see what happens.

 

[mynameislance]

Without knowing more about how you mounted the studs and metal brackets, aren't you nervous having all that metal spinning at high speeds right behind you? Cool idea though, I always wanted to put paddle tire on my YZ 426 and see what happens.

ya i'm a bit worried about it, but i figure you only live once so...

to quote van wilder "worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but never really gets you anywhere"

 

[andythedigger]

A few years ago I had a 91 cr500 with a 8 paddle tire on it... one of the paddles was missing, so I thought what the heck.... the tire was wrecked anyway.... I was pushing snow with the rads in 3rd gear....while doing a semi wheelie.....until the paddles all ripped off one by one... and I slowly lost speed until it was a 200yard push....
Anyone try out the track you can get?

 

[Dirtydude]

Imagine what that would do to your sack if you fell off the back and landed on that spinning tire

They make snowcross tires for bikes, has the studs already in them..

http://www.snowmobiletrails.com/moto/index.html cool read here, give you more ideas

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=300184701441

studded tires I was thinking of are freaking expensive!

I like that snowmobile stud idea on the first link, I bet that would work with your between your paddles?

 

[mynameislance]

here's a little better video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzXwsPAd3dw

 

[Lucias]

We put paddle tires on our 400's and 426's. We rode down the groom trails for 10 miles our so, eveything was well until the ranger came by he told us we had snowmobile stickers to ride on the groom trial. we had current off road stickers but we argue'd and of course he is never wrong so we had to load up or he was going to ticket us. we went and bought snowmobile stickers the next weekend but of course he never showed up.. I rode with the paddle half way through the season.. it was awesome for playing in the desert.. left a roost like a SOB.

 

[mynameislance]

did you trench very bad on the trails or get thrown around bad by the tracks?