sled or snowbike?

[ullose272]

ok guys right now i have a '10 m8 and a '12 kx450f sitting in my garage. both have some aftermarket stuff done, both are in great shape, but i should really get rid of one of them. ive been looking hard at a timbersled kit but im unsure if i want to bite the bullet on a $5000 kit for a $7000 dirt bike. and i dont know anyone that has a snowbike, all my friends have sleds. if i get the kit am i going to be left behind? are they that much more fun?

 

[RobertTrivanovic]

Everyone will give you a different opinion on what to do, different people like different things. For me I've ridden a snowbike, and it was fun.... But I would never, and I do mean never, get rid of my sled to ride/own a snowbike. You just don't get the same feeling from a bike as you do a sled. Don't get me wrong you might be the exact opposite of me, you might love the snowbike over a sled, but I would never trade my sled for a bike. (And I'm coming from a motocross background). Its all your choice and personally I would not sell either until you have a chance you ride a snowbike. Whatever people say should mean nothing to you, my opinion is one person out of the world why do I matter? Ride one and decide for yourself or else you could likely regret your desission.

 

[off road rider]

Everyone will give you a different opinion on what to do, different people like different things. For me I've ridden a snowbike, and it was fun.... But I would never, and I do mean never, get rid of my sled to ride/own a snowbike. You just don't get the same feeling from a bike as you do a sled. Don't get me wrong you might be the exact opposite of me, you might love the snowbike over a sled, but I would never trade my sled for a bike. (And I'm coming from a motocross background). Its all your choice and personally I would not sell either until you have a chance you ride a snowbike. Whatever people say should mean nothing to you, my opinion is one person out of the world why do I matter? Ride one and decide for yourself or else you could likely regret your desission.

That's a great response.
Im the opposite and did go from sleds to bikes/single ski's 6 years ago and have never looked back.
If you go with the bike kit,
You will find guys to ride with, but wont be riding with your sledding buddies.

 

[Rush44]

If you go with the bike kit,
You will find guys to ride with, but wont be riding with your sledding buddies.

For me this has been totally untrue. I ride with both snowbikers and my old sled crew all the time. A sure way to convert people to snowbikes is to ride with the sleds. I have never had a problem riding with sleds unless they are pumped up turbo monsters that love to climb chutes and nothing else. And I have yet to ride somewhere a sled will go that the bike won't (unless it's a rock lined chute).

 

[Uncle si]

I have the same machines ('11 m8 162 and '12 kx450f timbersled). Unlike many I kept the sled when I bought the bike in June 2012 because I loved it and I wanted a spare.

I try to ride with single skis, and have a great time when I do. Probably 70% of the time I ride with sleds. Usually, the bike doesn't slow them down. Me stopping to play where they won't is another story.

The sled is for sale- I simply don't want to ride it for more than a quick donut or sidehill. I rode the sled two full days and wanted the bike the whole time.

 

[KAWGRN]

I have the same machines ('11 m8 162 and '12 kx450f timbersled). Unlike many I kept the sled when I bought the bike in June 2012 because I loved it and I wanted a spare.

I try to ride with single skis, and have a great time when I do. Probably 70% of the time I ride with sleds. Usually, the bike doesn't slow them down. Me stopping to play where they won't is another story.

The sled is for sale- I simply don't want to ride it for more than a quick donut or sidehill. I rode the sled two full days and wanted the bike the whole time.

Couldn't have said it Better!!!!

 

[off road rider]

For me this has been totally untrue. I ride with both snowbikers and my old sled crew all the time. A sure way to convert people to snowbikes is to ride with the sleds. I have never had a problem riding with sleds unless they are pumped up turbo monsters that love to climb chutes and nothing else. And I have yet to ride somewhere a sled will go that the bike won't (unless it's a rock lined chute).

I don't find that I cant go where a sled goes, I find that I prefer to go where they cant, mostly due to tight trees and sidehills.
Its about the fun factor, not what can be done. If I ride with sleds, I just take the Hawk.

 

[RobertTrivanovic]

Keep in mind you did post this question in the Snowbike section, so 90% of people will vote snowbike, post in a sled section and you will get the different answers, depends who you ask.

My point still stands, Ride one. Simple as that, some people love snowbikes some people love sleds, Id happily ride with people on both if anyone in my group had one. Its a lot of money to dump into something you arent SURE you like. RIDE ONE, ITS THE ONLY WAY TO TELL. You have a 50/50 chance though so you could very likely end up doing what you like better anyways but who knows.

It is clear you have your mind set (for the most part) at a snowbike so that might be whats better for you. Just ride one and find out first...

 

[byeatts]

Keep in mind you did post this question in the Snowbike section, so 90% of people will vote snowbike, post in a sled section and you will get the different answers, depends who you ask.

My point still stands, Ride one. Simple as that, some people love snowbikes some people love sleds, Id happily ride with people on both if anyone in my group had one. Its a lot of money to dump into something you arent SURE you like. RIDE ONE, ITS THE ONLY WAY TO TELL. You have a 50/50 chance though so you could very likely end up doing what you like better anyways but who knows.

It is clear you have your mind set (for the most part) at a snowbike so that might be whats better for you. Just ride one and find out first...

Snowboad or skiis.Windsurf or kiteboard ,,Isnt that the same question! Lol

 

[calltrex]

Sleds more fun hands down.

Bikes don't got the jam and you freeze your *** off

And your friends on sleds will be way ahead of you

I know own it would be cool at first because no one has them but u wont be happy after

 

[calltrex]

Stock 160hp sled vs 50hp bike

Hmmm which would be more fun

Last winter I bought a used $2000 96 Polaris Indy 600 sled and it was way more power and more fun then the snow bike

I Ordered a new sled this yr.

 

[calltrex]

Delete

 

[off road rider]

Stock 160hp sled vs 50hp bike

Hmmm which would be more fun

Last winter I bought a used $2000 96 Polaris Indy 600 sled and it was way more power and more fun then the snow bike

I Ordered a new sled this yr.

Hmmm.. you've never ridden a bike but you know it would suck?
If you cant give real life feedback STFU. why be a troll?

 

[calltrex]

Hmmm.. you've never ridden a bike but you know it would suck?
If you cant give real life feedback STFU. why be a troll?

Had one on 450.


Wow guess there is people like u on every forum

 

[dhdey]

Stock 160hp sled vs 50hp bike

Hmmm which would be more fun

Last winter I bought a used $2000 96 Polaris Indy 600 sled and it was way more power and more fun then the snow bike

I Ordered a new sled this yr.

you bought a yammicat to ride the flat lands so your opinion has zero weight...sorry

 

[Rush44]

I guess it all depends on how you ride. When I'm on my bike I spend half my day waiting on sleds... no joke. If you know the terrain you can easily out pace a snowmobile. The followers are the ones who get left behind trying to pound up a chute when the gnarled tree line would get you there in one pull. People who think sleds are faster can only look at the speedometer and say "I CAN DO 100MPH YOU CANT I'M FASTER AND BETTER". Obviously they have no idea.

One thing to keep in mind is terrain. The nastier the terrain the more fun the bike is over a sled. Period. I've had 7 sleds over the years and I'm on my 3rd new bike this year... if I had both the bike would get loaded in the truck 80% of the time. I am not some biased snowbiker who now hates sleds, it's just my preference.

If you can steadily win turbo boys over to the bikes, moving from 230+ HP to a 55+ HP bike then you know something sweet is going on. I've been on quite a few demo rides and it's silly how often it happens. Starting at the truck they all say "This is gonna suck, I'm not going to give up my sled, yada yada". Those same people are whipping out the checkbook and wanting to go back to the dealer to pick out a bike at the end of the day.

 

[calltrex]

where i go riding up north theres plenty of powder, hills, trees

my last day out in spring was about 4ft deep

i dont have 3000ft high mountains near by. does it matter


it was only my opinion anyways between bike and sled.


So you Can only have a opinion if you only ride high in the mountains?

 

[Rush44]

So you Can only have a opinion if you only ride high in the mountains?

Considering that is what they were built for I would say it helps when informing the public. Most of us who love these change 4k feet of elevation a day with lots of trees.

 

[calltrex]

im not against them at all. just not my cup of tea

i have 3 guys across the street with bikes

if i ever did it again i would get a ktm 500 at least

and try it in the mountains for a different experience

cheers

 

[oscar]

I own both a sled and a bike. I would personally would never sell either of them. For me they both have their place. The snowbike I would say is more fun when the snow is lacking, but just the same for the snowmobile when the snow is deep. I cant say I have riden the timbersled in 3ft of powder, not saying it wont go just never had the opportunity. So as a conclusion I would agree with others, ride one and see for yourself. I don't believe a person can go wrong either way.Good luck in choosing!