Ski carbide life

[TallBoysWRF]

I just picked up an explorer kit this fall and the carbide inserts do not look very rugged on the ski (VERY narrow). Since I'm told this is the same ski as the snowhawk uses, what kind of life do you get out of yours? Do they hold up, or wear down faster than a standard snowmobile's carbide (the ones I've seen have triangular carbides, not skinny rectangular one)I have to run roughly a quarter mile down my street in town to get to the trail so I'm wondering if it's worth trying to build a wheel dolly onto the ski that can be lowered for this short "road trip".

Thanks!

 

[877snowhawk]

these carbides last a long time, but as we speak, the factory is sending me a prototype wheel to test in the snow just for this purpose. i should have it in a few days , and give updates soon.

mike

 

[TallBoysWRF]

No offense, Mike, but I'd rather hear it from normal people using the hardware and not the guy that's trying to sell them. Salesmen typically won't publicly dis their own product.

 

[buffaloHAWK]

i just met mike while he was up here doing some demo rides on the 800 hawk and the 4 bikes with explorer kits on them....he is a striaght shooter and will tell you if its crap or not. as you probly know with adb products you arent gonna get rich off them and i really dont think mike will need to make a few bucks on a ski to get by....by the sounds of the wheel kit,it sounds like the perfect thing for explorer kits as well as hawks....in western ny we have alot of paved road sections and a bridge that is 1/2 mile long,if the wheel kit doesnt affect snow performance and can get you down the roads ill be ordering it for sure...then ill give you my opinion of the product on a 503 hawk that weighs more than a bike....

 

[TallBoysWRF]

Buffalo, how well are your carbides holding up currently? Thanks.

I'm not trying to knock Mike's honesty, but as a rule of thumb I don't take a salesman's word as the absolute truth about a product. Also with the customer service I've gotten straight from AD Boivin, I'm a little skeptical. I fixed my first post so it's not quite as condescending, that wasn't my intention.

 

[buffaloHAWK]

i have an 02 hawk with only the second set of carbides on it and 1st set are still good. i made up my own set of woodys 10" snocross carbides.i mostly ride hardpack icy trails and many many road crossings and road sections at times over a mile long to connect trails,it sucks but that all we have around here.if i had to guess milage id say at least 6000 miles but im sure more....with the weight difference of the bike vs hawk, i bet you can get 100,000 mile out of a set of carbides. i think the wheel kit will be nice to help from the ski washing out on paved surfaces. i dont expect it to ride like a wheel and go full speed and expect to turn on the road,but better then nothing.ill let you know if mike come sback up here with the wheel kit and i test it out...

 

[TallBoysWRF]

It will be interesting to see what AD Boivin comes up with. I have an idea for a little dolly mechanism that can be raised/lowered, but I'll see how much I need it or see what the company comes up with before I try building one.

 

[buffaloHAWK]

another note about mike/salesman

i know at most of our local shops the salesmen or women are just that,salesmen. most have no clue what they are doing other than what the manual says,let alone swing a leg over a hawk or bike or sled .ive seen mike ride his toys,full thottle! even seen the 800 hawk get away from him and high side him!!!he will give a straight answer....

 

[TCSKIBIKE]

It will be interesting to see what AD Boivin comes up with. I have an idea for a little dolly mechanism that can be raised/lowered, but I'll see how much I need it or see what the company comes up with before I try building one.

Sign me up! I was thinking of the same..