Road a camso today

[needpowder]

Rode mine again yesterday in 3' of bottomless snow by myself. It seemed to go go on the flats, but as far as climbing anything it was useless. I'm going out again today to the same place with a 2016 Cat with a 153 x 3" track. If it gets around in this stuff and is able to climb the little hills I tried and I still can't with this bike, it will be for sale when I get home. Not sure if I'm asking too much of this bike, but I bought it to go where I can't on my sled (I also have a slightly modded 153 x 2.6 track Cat) love the sled works awsome for boondocking. We get lots of dry powder where I live and if thats not what these bike work in, then bikes are not for me.

I guess I better clarify a little. On the super super deep light days, I am definitely poaching sled tracks to get places and make my bike work less hard. No way around it, a 165 850 is definitely going to go up through the snow a little better. But using those tracks to get somewhere and then making my own tracks is where it's at.

 

[needpowder]

Ok, now I have a serious bitch. Bit colder today, new snow. Brake is useless. First was unresponsive, then pulsates like a bent rotor. Ice buildup inside the housing. Steep drop ended my day, peed me bibs a little I think without brakes. Off to the car wash to steam it out.

Have to make some kind of full cover me thinks...

On the camso?

 

[dieselpower]

Ok, now I have a serious bitch. Bit colder today, new snow. Brake is useless. First was unresponsive, then pulsates like a bent rotor. Ice buildup inside the housing. Steep drop ended my day, peed me bibs a little I think without brakes. Off to the car wash to steam it out.

Have to make some kind of full cover me thinks...

Don't waste time on the cover learn to turn the bike sideways like a snowboard. I've ridden brakeless for 2 years now and couldn't be happier, even when pointing it down 40+ degree faces. Use technique and engine braking, don't bother with the the protective cover.

 

[Brands36]

On the camso?

Yes the Camso. Others suggested dealing with it, yeah I can but it's 2017, nearly. We can make brakes that don't freeze.

 

[up-high]

Brakes? We don't need no stinkin brakes!!

 

[wwillf01]

Yep all of my kits do that besides the mototrax... I end up pumping the brakes to get the feel back... only one I have not ridden is the yeti and cmx so I don't know if their brakes are better.


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[dooman92]

Brakes

Brakes on my 16 TS were always questionable, not reliable or predictable. Then I covered the disk with a cut to fit w washer gallon jug zip tied in place. Looks hillbilly, but now always have brakes!?

 

[Snow Fever]

Well I understand now that these machines are more designed for more set up snow. Went out with my brother on his stock 16' Proclimb 153 x 3" track and we went back to the same area I rode the day before. It had snowed over nite so now the powder was deeper (40 -45") and still dry with little to no base. These are the days a Western sledder dreams of. I do understand that this bike has 60hp or less and the track is smaller than a sled. I also understand this bike is not a point and shoot hill climber, and that you need to side hill to get up steeper hills. That being said, in deep dry powder this bike is USELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the flat it will get around, forget about zig zagging up a hill because you can't get to the hill. My brother was having a BLAST carving, climbing, jumping creek swales and building me a trail so I could go faster than 15mph. I have watched damn near every video I could find on you tube of these bikes and thats why I bought one. I guess either I can't ride good enough, I bought a lemon or both? If I have to bring 2 units (a bike and a sled) when I go riding incase there is deep dry powder (The stuff I live to ride for) then the bikes not for me. This is just my opinion and I have no doubt there are guys that can get around in deep dry powder. When we came out of the meadow we were playing in I took as big of run as I could to get up the VERY SMALL incline that was a hundred feet long and I made it 1/2 way. My brother on his sled could fly up it wide open or cruze up with NO EFFORT on his sled. After trying several times making my own trail, I finally poached his trail to get out. Again, I want to say, this was not a HILL it was a small incline from the meadow up to the road. I have seen guys on sleds that can't ride in a meadow without getting stuck, they are just bad riders, maybe thats me on a snowbike. I'm DONE, bikes for sale.

 

[eric82930]

Don't sell the bike just yet. Wait till the snow sets up just a little and it will real soon. then you won't ever want to ride your sled again until next December. And don't ride with sleds if you have an option. It's like a dirt bike riding with quads. I know I'm nuts but i prefer to ride alone than ride with a sled.

 

[MountainRider05]

Theres days for bikes and days for sleds! Need both!lol also need to ride with other snowbikes!

 

[MountainRider05]

Go find the nasty canyons with steep sidehills and thick trees and see if ur bro can hang on his sled! Bet he will be wanting a snowbike!

 

[M5-]

You are correct. The super deep dry stuff isn't the bikes forte. We had to do the same thing this week, put in tracks with the sled then poach away. I'm a pretty die hard bike fan but they don't do it all and there are days when a sled is the action plain and simple. If you are lucky enough to be riding in 3 - 4 feet of blower all the time then I'd sled too. Problem is that's such a short window in the season and once its gone we are back to looking for snow in the trees which is where the bikes shine. If you don't want one of each then base your decision on when you can actually get out riding. Seems like the dream days are pretty few and far between for the average guy, if you can get out on all of them then a sled may just be your best bet. I'm not selling mine just yet.

M5

 

[wntrland]

Hey Snow Fever - Sell your kit...

Yep, Snow Fever - selling your kit is definitely the way to go. Just let the new owner know that you torched the spring. Once that is replaced and set on the stiffest setting they will love it!

 

[capulin overdrive]

Is that what's going on?^^^^^




His story is not adding up. Yeah bikes don't climb great, but in deep snow they should be keeping up with a 153 sled or even doing better.

 

[RMK935VA]

I was in deep and light snow last week on my KTM 450 with Yeti 129. I went right where the sleds could go with ease.

 

[wwillf01]

It's on my list.. I really want to ride one then I can compare every kit... That is too of my list I think... But have yet to ride one.

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[Clay911]

ya id sell it for sure, there useless. No one should be riding one.

 

[RMK935VA]

I was in deep and light snow last week on my KTM 450 with Yeti 129. I went right where the sleds could go with ease.

And many places they could not go. I was in several draws in nearly 4' of snow. Was there a long pull that I couldn't make and my 163 Axys would have? Sure, but I got to the same spot while having more fun and working a lot less hard.

I rode side hills with ease that would have been hard and scary on the sled. No comparison really. The bikes are just easier and more fun......for me anyway.

 

[powdermuncher]

I had to talk a few guys out of selling there snow bikes after riding the deep stuff 60 hp ( if you are lucky) are just that.

Rather boring in 3 feet of snow. once it sets up where it gets less interesting on sleds the bikes shine.

If you live for the rush of HP the bike is not for you. They go OK but reality is power and performance wise they are about the same as a 550 fan cooled sled.

If I have to choose between a snow bike and the 550 I take the bike any day--in 3 feet of pow my 850 rules supreme.

Once the snow sets up its bike time 6 inches of snow on top of a solid base is perfect snow biking conditions.