sleds VS snow bikes

[AZ800]

I bought a sled again this year cause a few trips out in 2ft+ of POW on the bike sucked. Hard to get around, sled way more fun in those conditions. I also like the challenge aspect of riding a sled sometimes too. However, i've put 6 hours on my new Axys this season, and 25 hours on my timbersled. The conditions just lean so much more heavily to a snowbike. I can't say which is more fun, depends on the day. I love exploring on the bikes. that's the best part. And racing through the woods. Super fun.

Especially in WA. Cant swing a dead cat without hitting a tree or 10 here!
Having lived/ridden in a lot of western states, bikes shine in the PNW for several reasons.
Low altitude doesn't suck the life out of a 450.
Trees, gullies and steep is like 90% of the riding.
Wet heavy snow means not as many stucks on powder days and even though stucks are worse in heavy snow, bikes are 10x easier to get unstuck.

Compared to AK which is probably the most polar opposite riding with the rest of the mountains somewhere in between, except for altitude.
Wouldn't really want a bike in AK.
Wide open, not conducive to lower track speeds of a bike. And its funner to powder turn your way across powder fields than pinning it on the bike and trying to hold 4th gear until you hit a hill.
Cold as shiiiiiit a lot of the time. Not so much fun on a bike.
Miles from nowhere means more tools, survival gear etc, easier to pack on a sled.

Never ridden a sno bike at high alt, like 10kft, but the way it tames stock 800s and big bore bikes on wheels, I'd be back to mod machines. (Another thing I like about WA and AK. My "weak" 2012 stock Pro pulls like my mod M1000 in Colorado.)

I will be doing both for a long time, I predict. Different conditions make each machine shine....and its not like riding a sled sucks!

 

[tmanker]

New or used, what is the best bike to start with?

 

[john6719]

Had my first ride on a bike this past weekend. I liked it and thought it was a lot of fun, but I like the challenge of getting my sled into similar terrain that I would ride this bike. We constantly are getting into the trees and fresh power with sleds when most everything people normally ride is all tracked up. It's what and how we ride. Is it exhausting? Heck yeah, but at this age I think that's still part of the fun. Great workout!

I know it's way to early to say "a snowbike just isn't challenging" because like was said above, anything can be a challenge if you push yourself. However, it was definitely a more laid back kind of ride. Less speed, less power, less skill needed to do most things, less effort, and definitely gives you a lot of confidence to go places. I actually pushed myself further on my sled the day I rode the snowbike... The bike made the terrain seem a lot less narly so in I'd go in with the sled.

I'm considering one for next year to go tight next to my M8000. I like the idea of variety.

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

SPRING RIDING

now this time of year in Montana with setup snow, you can't ride your sled on steep sidehills in the trees...............sorry.

After you wean yourself off the sled and have bike pals, you ride terrain and area were we never see a sled. Sorry they can't and we can, maybe not enough challenge but just the way it is.

With a lot of big alpine country shut down, we ride bike country, never was or will be a sled destination. We often ride miles of single track trails, again no sleds will. 40 years of sledd'n Montana, its refreshing to go sit on a mtn top and know no one has every been there in the winter.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

I know it's way to early to say "a snowbike just isn't challenging" because like was said above, anything can be a challenge if you push yourself.

I think what happens is the kind of terrain you can ride is SO different and SO nasty compared to what you are even used to imagining on sleds it takes guys a while to realize where they could push things into. I know I have dragged some newbie snowbikers out on some rides, and they did amazing due to the general ease of riding but they were just blown away the terrain we were hitting. The skills come easy to tackle it, but the mindset to push into this terrain just is not hardwired into guys heads, especially long time sledders. The zones were hitting are total no go zones in everyones mind!

 

[TillTheEnd]

I get this a lot and its true and completely wrong all at the same time. Same technical terrain, a bike is 99% of the time easier. This allows lesser riders to go in and have a blast with ease. Now guys who are not great, out of shape, or just a little older and slower can enjoy technical terrain without destroying their rig or themselves.

As for the comment I get often about "no challange." I just have to laugh, everything can be pushed to a challenging level. You just now have to ride harder and faster! What I like is that if your line doesn't pan out and you either get stuck or slightly hung up it usually takes 10% of the effort to get unstuck compared to a sled, this means 4 or 5 botched lines and im not sweating bullets ready to go home, Im winded but ready to go keep pushing. This is so fun especially for those who aren't in great shape. They can have the confince to push their riding without being totally worn out before lunch and ready to head back for the meadows. I can now rally hard and push into the nastiest terrain imaginable, get stuck plenty but still have the energy to ride a full day with plenty of mistakes mixed in.

But for those who say there is no challenge, just means they don't know how to challenge themselves or aren't willing to get out of their comfort zone.

I'd agree with this, guys who think bikes are less physical probably aren't trying hard enough. Especially if your riding with sleds, what excites them can be down right boring and lazy on a snowbike. Its no different than sledders riding only the meadows and the ones out working the trees. Ones working harder...

 

[Corban_White]

Also the aspect of tree riding is an awesome challenge o the sled and super easy on the Bike.

One post describes how worn out he was on a sled riding trees. Exactly it is a workout.

In the same conditions the bike is an easy ride no workout and much less of a challenge.

Good for out of shape riders or older guys that just can't physically do the hard core sledding anymore.

And a Gen 2 Polaris is more challenging than a pro but I don't hear anyone advocating everyone should be riding old sleds because they miss the challenge and that the new sleds are for the old fat guys. I for sure get it that bikes are not for everyone. I don't they will ever replace sleds, even at 120hp. But please don't anyone kid yourselves that you ride a sled because it's more "challenging".

 

[KAWGRN]

If I want a work out I will go to the gym,,when I ride my bike winter or summer,I smile and laugh at where I am or where I can get to, can sleds do it, Im sure some can,but saying that you ride a sled to get a work out is a joke!,Lets see,,,,ride my bike over a mountain road or drive a station wagon!

 

[john6719]

If I want a work out I will go to the gym,,when I ride my bike winter or summer,I smile and laugh at where I am or where I can get to, can sleds do it, Im sure some can,but saying that you ride a sled to get a work out is a joke!,Lets see,,,,ride my bike over a mountain road or drive a station wagon!

I guess your way is the only way...

I like to challenge myself when I ride, physically is part of that. It's fun and exciting pushing myself to the limit and seeing what I'm able to conquer. If you were right, why would running be a sport??? It would be easier to just drive a car to where you're going... If you like going on a Sunday drive, good for you. That's what you like.

I guess I shouldn't have liked doing 20 mile road marches, running, or working out for hours on end with my buddies. I don't ride "to get a work out", but the need to push beyond your limits to get through something is why I ride 95% of the time. When something is easy, I could care less if I accomplish it. If it's hard and not something most people can do, then he'll yeah that's a good time!

I am interested in snowbikes because I think there is that possibility even though the first ride was "easy" (I still sucked at riding it, but went anywhere I wanted without even trying). It just takes time to find the edge so you know when you're crossing it...

 

[powdermuncher]

One of the reasons snowmaking feels like an old man sport is because the balance point is so wrong that sit down riding is necessary for the bike to perform properly. I had that almost completely fixed by relocating the food pegs 1.5" back (possible only with the TS SX kit) stretched out to 136.
That actually allowed me to run 2-3 foot whoops like a Motocross bike standing up. Stand up riding is where it will need to go to get to the next step in snow-biking once we get some real HP. To just jump on me for stating the obvious will not help for this sport to reach the next level. My intend is not to put snow bikes down just the opposite I am looking for the next step in its evolution, You guys are acting as if the old Polaris gen 2 is the end all of snowmobiling and we should not look at the Axys .

 

[Motogeek33]

I think what happens is the kind of terrain you can ride is SO different and SO nasty compared to what you are even used to imagining on sleds it takes guys a while to realize where they could push things into. I know I have dragged some newbie snowbikers out on some rides, and they did amazing due to the general ease of riding but they were just blown away the terrain we were hitting. The skills come easy to tackle it, but the mindset to push into this terrain just is not hardwired into guys heads, especially long time sledders. The zones were hitting are total no go zones in everyones mind!

This is exactly what I've always thought and it's part of what makes the bike so fun after riding sleds for so long -- you have to turn off your sledder brain. The sledder brain says "you can't go near that tree well" or "you can't sidehill that line". Some of the biggest smiles under my helmet were those first few times that I ignored the sledder brain and pushed right through whatever the obstacle was... and it was ridiculously easy!

 

[freexj]

Bottom line, if you think of a snowbike as a sled it will fail your expectations. The snowbike is only for people who are not satisfied with where they can or are riding on a sled. Go rent one, bring it out with your buddies and see for yourself.
I had little interest in the snow bike thing. One day my friend called me last minute to go riding, he rented a ts.
It was one of the only good daylight snow dumps we have had.
After about 7 hours of trading off the bike with the sleds, I was sold on the bike. One thing to remember though, I'm an experienced desert racer/rec mountain rider on dirtbikes.

I'm confident that the one thing that separates the sleds from the snowbikers, is the same thing that separates two wheels from four wheels in the dirt.

Please stay on your sled, I want the rest of the mountain for my self.

 

[john6719]

Bottom line, if you think of a snowbike as a sled it will fail your expectations. The snowbike is only for people who are not satisfied with where they can or are riding on a sled. Go rent one, bring it out with your buddies and see for yourself.
I had little interest in the snow bike thing. One day my friend called me last minute to go riding, he rented a ts.
It was one of the only good daylight snow dumps we have had.
After about 7 hours of trading off the bike with the sleds, I was sold on the bike. One thing to remember though, I'm an experienced desert racer/rec mountain rider on dirtbikes.

I'm confident that the one thing that separates the sleds from the snowbikers, is the same thing that separates two wheels from four wheels in the dirt.

Please stay on your sled, I want the rest of the mountain for my self.

I completely disagree with the bold above. I really don't believe it's an "either or" thing. I love riding my snowmobile, but I rented a snowbike last weekend and really enjoyed that as well. I won't get rid of my sled just yet, but I'm definitely going to ride a snowbike again. Maybe one day that's all I'll ride, maybe not... as of now I like both.

It's just two different types of riding from what I've seen... No different than once a year hopping on the trail and putting on 50 miles on the flat. Doesn't mean I do it because I don't like boondocking, I do it because I find fun in snowmobiling (and now snowbiking) in different conditions.

It's why I own a rifle AND a shotgun, a handgun AND bow, a half ton AND a 3/4 ton... they each have their place and one doesn't always work very well for the other situation.

 

[powdermuncher]

There is no reason for a snowlike to not be able to do anything a modern sled can in the open areas and at the same time do as well or better than current bikes in the trees. Now obviously anyone that feels that they have it figured out by riding only areas where the drawbacks of current designed are less visible are not helping Snow bikes to reach their potential. That is it for me over and out.

 

[Red Mtn]

I have been out riding with a half a dozen snobikes now. They just can not keep up with a sled. I had a group tell me they were going places I couldn't take a sled until they realized they were poaching my sled tracks into those places. They do not have nearly enough power and I have yet to see one go where I couldn't get the sled. We were waiting on them all thee time. The one guy in our group who bought one traded it for a turbo Ski Doo a couple of weeks ago. He was tired of not being able to keep up with the sleds. Way too many compromises on the bikes at this point too. They don't like the cold and many of the parts just are not up to snow riding. We had to re attatch a ski because the bracket broke. I was told better that than the forks going... Jeez guys, that isn't very impressive.


For guys that love dirt biking (not me) I can see some allure. It is neat, unique and opens up places to guys who haven't mastered sleds with a machine they are more comfortable with. They have a long long way to go IMO to catch up to the newest sleds.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

I have been out riding with a half a dozen snobikes now. They just can not keep up with a sled. I had a group tell me they were going places I couldn't take a sled until they realized they were poaching my sled tracks into those places. They do not have nearly enough power and I have yet to see one go where I couldn't get the sled. We were waiting on them all thee time. The one guy in our group who bought one traded it for a turbo Ski Doo a couple of weeks ago. He was tired of not being able to keep up with the sleds. Way too many compromises on the bikes at this point too. They don't like the cold and many of the parts just are not up to snow riding. We had to re attatch a ski because the bracket broke. I was told better that than the forks going... Jeez guys, that isn't very impressive.


For guys that love dirt biking (not me) I can see some allure. It is neat, unique and opens up places to guys who haven't mastered sleds with a machine they are more comfortable with. They have a long long way to go IMO to catch up to the newest sleds.

Curious where you are riding at? In large more alpine type terrain the bikes are definately not that exciting, its like taking a sled into a super steep creek bottom littered with trees. 99% of riders would be stuck in the bottom and crying and bikes just scoot through it wondering why everyone else is taking so long. Probably how you feel on a sled right now with bikes chasing.

Chasing sleds on a bike is not that fun, it only highlights their weakness. Now let the bike lead the ride and see how fast you guys think sleds suck and aren't very impressive.

They are different creatures and trying to play together with them makes someone have a less fun time. Just depends whos leading the way.

 

[Answ3r]

[...]
Chasing sleds on a bike is not that fun, it only highlights their weakness. Now let the bike lead the ride and see how fast you guys think sleds suck and aren't very impressive.

They are different creatures and trying to play together with them makes someone have a less fun time. Just depends whos leading the way.

Couldn't agree more, I've been a place on Saturday with a fellow snowbiker in the tight tree where it was SO much fun chasing each other and finding lines. Went again on Sunday with a friend on a snowmobile, the trail leading there is wide so he was waiting for me all the time, and once we got to the tree spot he said "**** that" after about 200 ft in the wood...

Also got to a spot full of timberjack tracks with about 2ft of fresh snow over, enough for a bike to have crazy fun, major pain and danger to the sled will all the stumps and sticks showing.

I still enjoy riding sleds AND snowbike, just not in the same mood and spots.

 

[Hawkster]

This is what happens to a two ski following a one ski . Hooked an alder when he went to carve a turn . He didn't think it was so funny going over the bar

 

[boondocker97]

How big are most of you guys that are riding bikes? I jumped on my buddy's 450 timbersled for a little bit this weekend and got the same impression I did a few years ago when I tried one: vastly underpowered to even make it fun for me. I'm 6'-2" 275lbs and I have to keep it wound out just to keep moving. Even when I ventured into the trees it was kinda the same thing. All of my friends that were 220lbs or less down to 150lbs thought it was fun. This was on pretty setup snow.

Do they all feel a little like the ski is too far under the bike and inconsistent handling? Maybe this would be better with stiffer fork springs for my weight. I feel the same as powdermuncher about the geometry. Something needs to change to make it feel natural to me. More rake on the fork or foot pegs further back so you could ride it more aggressively.

Also didn't seem to be much easier to get unstuck than a sled in a lot of situations if you are really in a pickle.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

How big are most of you guys that are riding bikes? I jumped on my buddy's 450 timbersled for a little bit this weekend and got the same impression I did a few years ago when I tried one: vastly underpowered to even make it fun for me. I'm 6'-2" 275lbs and I have to keep it wound out just to keep moving. Even when I ventured into the trees it was kinda the same thing. All of my friends that were 220lbs or less down to 150lbs thought it was fun. This was on pretty setup snow.

Do they all feel a little like the ski is too far under the bike and inconsistent handling? Maybe this would be better with stiffer fork springs for my weight. I feel the same as powdermuncher about the geometry. Something needs to change to make it feel natural to me. More rake on the fork or foot pegs further back so you could ride it more aggressively.

Also didn't seem to be much easier to get unstuck than a sled in a lot of situations if you are really in a pickle.

5' 11" and 155# They go really good when your this size.

Although I have rode with some fairly big dudes on LT's who rip them, definately not quite the same as a smaller rider, but no different then how it pans out on sleds. Ive always been impressed by how much better stuff goes with me on it. Hell, I can tell when I throw my bag down and go rip. It all adds up.

I think the akward nature of the bikes is GREATLY exagerated with the bike isn't setup for a heavier rider and puts way too much pressure on the ski. I have done a bit to set my bike up for myself in the snow and im one of the smallest riders you could put on one. Put someone your size on a stock fork setup and its gonna ride like a big POS.