Polaris RMK 800 snowbike

[Sheetmetalfab]

Did you contact us to be sure you have the right setting to take advantage of EXO Sled? Many of our customers are more than happy to ride EXO Sled. Most of the time, minor tweaks make a huge difference.

Yes Dave i had some emails back and forth with you.

I even bought the “updated spindle plates”

This helped the meadow ride-ability……

The front end of the sled is simply too wide for sidehilling.

Won’t hold an edge. (Insert sliding downhill on your head cursing here)

It’s effing terrible on single wide trail.

Deadly crossing roads.

Loading and Unloading from an enclosed trailer nearly takes 3 people.

Awkward as chit trying to turn out at the top of a climb when the side panel hits before the ski as you turn. (Insert sliding downhill on your head cursing here)

The only saving grace was I managed to only lose $1100 on the experience by buying it used from another guy. (I should have known) and reselling it on eBay to some other guy in montana.

I don’t wish I had never tried it because now I know…….

I’ve spent way more and gotten less satisfaction on many occasions.

But I’m most definitely going to share my experience. ??‍

Sorry not sorry.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Brett care to share any updates?

 

[Brett Kobernik]

Brett care to share any updates?

I've been thinking about this thread a bit lately. I had such great success last season and experienced incredible powder euphoria. I had a few epiphanies along the way. The biggest one was following the lead of @eric82930 with his ball joint steering method. This really opened a lot of doors. It allowed me to overcome a number of things I was struggling with. I ended up dismantling the yamaha frame and building one from scratch out of aluminum. I welded up custom 4" wide running boards. I switched to belt drive using TKI pulleys. The KMOD Skinny mono rail skid really did the trick for making the beast maneuverable. More so than I'd hoped. I'm feeling pretty confident about the new machine. So much so that I've built a duplicate that has a turbo.

I posted this photo on Facebook the other day just trolling the haters that live there. There were more people that liked it than I thought there would be. I'll be testing it on the snow very soon it looks like.

 

[Brett Kobernik]

Just weighed it. 375lbs dry. I'm pleased.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I've been thinking about this thread a bit lately. I had such great success last season and experienced incredible powder euphoria. I had a few epiphanies along the way. The biggest one was following the lead of @eric82930 with his ball joint steering method. This really opened a lot of doors. It allowed me to overcome a number of things I was struggling with. I ended up dismantling the yamaha frame and building one from scratch out of aluminum. I welded up custom 4" wide running boards. I switched to belt drive using TKI pulleys. The KMOD Skinny mono rail skid really did the trick for making the beast maneuverable. More so than I'd hoped. I'm feeling pretty confident about the new machine. So much so that I've built a duplicate that has a turbo.

I posted this photo on Facebook the other day just trolling the haters that live there. There were more people that liked it than I thought there would be. I'll be testing it on the snow very soon it looks like.
View attachment 395311

Cool i had that photo forwarded to me by a Snowbike guy.

Maybe try a mtn top ski?

 

[Brett Kobernik]

Yeah, I'd like to try a few different skis. I've been really happy with that Timbersled Traverse. If I didn't know any better I'd say that the ski is not as crucial with my design as it used to be on conventional snowbikes. I do want to try a few different skis to confirm this.

 

[volcano buster]

How does it behave in reverse?

 

[eric82930]

I've been thinking about this thread a bit lately. I had such great success last season and experienced incredible powder euphoria. I had a few epiphanies along the way. The biggest one was following the lead of @eric82930 with his ball joint steering method. This really opened a lot of doors. It allowed me to overcome a number of things I was struggling with. I ended up dismantling the yamaha frame and building one from scratch out of aluminum. I welded up custom 4" wide running boards. I switched to belt drive using TKI pulleys. The KMOD Skinny mono rail skid really did the trick for making the beast maneuverable. More so than I'd hoped. I'm feeling pretty confident about the new machine. So much so that I've built a duplicate that has a turbo.

I posted this photo on Facebook the other day just trolling the haters that live there. There were more people that liked it than I thought there would be. I'll be testing it on the snow very soon it looks like.
View attachment 395311

wow your top ball joint must be 4"behind where the head tube was on the yz frame. no more need to have risers angled back. reversing the lower fork tubes was a brilliant way to get the trail back with the short spindle. I'm going to have to copy that trick on my next 360 frame rebuild.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Yeah, I'd like to try a few different skis. I've been really happy with that Timbersled Traverse. If I didn't know any better I'd say that the ski is not as crucial with my design as it used to be on conventional snowbikes. I do want to try a few different skis to confirm this.

Your ski appears to be a first gen traverse.

Of note the newer 2nd generation traverse is more rigid for that side to side flexy feeling you get with the first gen.

Less darty on hard or crusty snow.

 

[Brett Kobernik]

How does it behave in reverse?

You don't go fast in reverse. You can easily turn the ski and have the machine come right out from under you. That said, I freaking love reverse. Everything from unloading from a pick-up to that tight tree section that closes out on you.

 

[Brett Kobernik]

View attachment 395327wow your top ball joint must be 4"behind where the head tube was on the yz frame. no more need to have risers angled back. reversing the lower fork tubes was a brilliant way to get the trail back with the short spindle. I'm going to have to copy that trick on my next 360 frame rebuild.

Yeah, crazy how much shorter the whole frame became. I give you full credit for thinking outside the box and grabbing the forks low with the lower triple clamp. Reversing the forks for trail was a natural choice.

 

[Brett Kobernik]

Your ski appears to be a first gen traverse.

Of note the newer 2nd generation traverse is more rigid for that side to side flexy feeling you get with the first gen.

Less darty on hard or crusty snow.

I wasn't even aware that there was a gen 1 and gen 2 traverse. I find that I no longer have any concern about darting on firm rutted conditions compared to my old (semi) conventional machines. I can rail this machine almost as fast as I want on that sketchy ****. But now I really want to try some different skis.

 

[NEWDUCK]

Turbo? 375lb dry??? im in love.

Would love to sit them side by side and take notes on body position ect.... From a quick glance id say your forks are a good 6 inches closer to the motor. Possibly almost the same distance from center of axle to engine?

 

[Brett Kobernik]

@NEWDUCK this is the naturally aspirated, the turbo will be slightly heavier. It looks like my forks might be slightly closer to the engine but I believe I've stuffed the engine closer to the tunnel also.

 

[Brett Kobernik]

One more difference is I went with a 30˚ rake. The Snowhawks look a lot less?

 

[n8-r]

Awesome updates to your build, Brett! Its always bothered me how long snowbikes are and for several years now, I've been bringing up the idea of moving the ski as close to the track as possible, I've always felt there's no need to have the big gap there. Awesome you went in that direction.
The main concern I've had raised about doing that is that there might not be enough leverage to steer, but I've always been confident that it would steer perfect with the ski up close to the track.
I've been running a monorail on the rear for several years now and IMO it's the only way to go. I've felt for a long time that a Monorail with the ski up as close to the track as possible was the future of snowbiking, but snowbikers in general have blinders on with chasing conversion kits for dirtbikes. Its awesome that MTN TOP is making an even better conversion kit, but its a shame that being in a position to do whatever they want with snowbikes, they're still chasing conversion kits. I made this render a couple weeks ago of what it might look like if Mtn Top made their own front frame to shorten the bike. I think people are so used to looking at long snowbikes, they have a mental block with the idea of shorter bikes. But I know it's the future.

It's pretty cool you're build is so far ahead of the snowbike game!

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Awesome updates to your build, Brett! Its always bothered me how long snowbikes are and for several years now, I've been bringing up the idea of moving the ski as close to the track as possible, I've always felt there's no need to have the big gap there. Awesome you went in that direction.
The main concern I've had raised about doing that is that there might not be enough leverage to steer, but I've always been confident that it would steer perfect with the ski up close to the track.
I've been running a monorail on the rear for several years now and IMO it's the only way to go. I've felt for a long time that a Monorail with the ski up as close to the track as possible was the future of snowbiking, but snowbikers in general have blinders on with chasing conversion kits for dirtbikes. Its awesome that MTN TOP is making an even better conversion kit, but its a shame that being in a position to do whatever they want with snowbikes, they're still chasing conversion kits. I made this render a couple weeks ago of what it might look like if Mtn Top made their own front frame to shorten the bike. I think people are so used to looking at long snowbikes, they have a mental block with the idea of shorter bikes. But I know it's the future.

It's pretty cool you're build is so far ahead of the snowbike game!

Oh like this?

Ruffian Snowbikes | Home

Machines born out of innovation and fueled by the mountain. Experience true Snowbikes built for adventure.

www.ruffiansnowbikes.com

Or this.

Gnar Bike | Crafted by Hand. Fueled by Passion.

gnarbike.net

Your thoughts are only 5-6 years late. ?

 

[n8-r]

Oh like this?

Ruffian Snowbikes | Home

Machines born out of innovation and fueled by the mountain. Experience true Snowbikes built for adventure.

www.ruffiansnowbikes.com

Or this.

Gnar Bike | Crafted by Hand. Fueled by Passion.

gnarbike.net

Your thoughts are only 5-6 years late. ?

I'm not late at all, I've been saying this for many years, since around 2019 or maybe earlier. Looks like Ruffian has been at it a while, but I'm actually first hearing of them today. Pretty stoked they're building snowbikes like this. IMO they could go longer with the track on their 212cc /25 hp model and it would do better in deeper snow, like a 136 track. I see they've got a 600cc model in the works. I believe it will put ALL the Dirtbike conversion kits to shame, Including MtnTop, but we'll see. I'm rooting for Ruffian as far as Snowbike manufacturers go, but Brett's build is in and entirely different category and a leauge of its own.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I'm not late at all, I've been saying this for many years, since around 2019 or maybe earlier. Looks like Ruffian has been at it a while, but I'm actually first hearing of them today. Pretty stoked they're building snowbikes like this. IMO they could go longer with the track on their 212cc /25 hp model and it would do better in deeper snow, like a 136 track. I see they've got a 600cc model in the works. I believe it will put ALL the Dirtbike conversion kits to shame, Including MtnTop, but we'll see. I'm rooting for Ruffian as far as Snowbike manufacturers go, but Brett's build is in and entirely different category and a leauge of its own.

Gnarbike has been doing cbr1000’s , yz450’s and panthera 550’s also.

Brett is definitely persistent. .

Credit given where it’s due.

I did 6 bikes in 5 years (2 stroke 800, 300, 2 450’s, R6, ninja 636) and have been watching/ wishing for enough spare time to build more again.

 

[AllHatNoCattle]

I have been following Ruffian for a couple of years. I follow their social media and periodically google them and check their website. When I first heard of them they were touting the next big thing which was the EVO.

You were supposed to be able to just buy a Yamaha 450 motor and drop it straight into their frame and rip. It sounded like a brilliant solution. You could pull the engine from your motocross bike and swap it for the season if you didnt have a dedicated bike. If you wanted a dedicated bike you just buy a motor and you are done.

I waited and watched for the model and there was never a single viable video of it being run on snow. There was one video I saw of a guy who rode it around in a field wearing a toque and a tshirt. Since then, it seems they have quietly dropped the concept.

I still have never seen any real world video or reviews of someone riding a Ruffian. Even the little ones, which they seem to still sell. I assume those are for scooting around your farm property and not mountain riding.

This is the future of snowbiking in my opinion. And for the price of a mountaintop, I also wish it was more like these concepts. Include a frame and let us drop our engines in. For now, it seems we will still be waiting.

I personally think there is just too much money to be made with the current kits. My buddy just bought a MTNtop kit and he paid a similar amount to another friend who got a whole polaris sled for the same amount. The profit margin has got to be ridiculous on these things.