Hi there, after a year or two thinking about it I have finally made my decision to build a snow bike to use for this winter. The bike I am using is a 2014 Husqvarna Fe 501, I got roughly 18 hours of dirt riding on her now and I think its the perfect time to get a track on it! Bike is all stock, already got a seat concepts seat on it, just ordered .62 fork springs, and I am putting on a 2015 timbersled st kit. I have the pre filter to fit over the stock filter, is this all I need to take care of the intake? I don't know what needs to be done with stock thermo stat, is it good or do I need to do a by pass and a hotter stat? I have not ordered foot pegs yet, any ones to recommend? I have the stock plastic skid plate on the bike with the quick turn fastener, is this sufficient? I have a set of bark buster waiting to be put one, not sure if I should order bar risers or a higher bend set of bars? Are warmers pretty much a must on these things? what weight and what oil are you guys running in winter? How often does the oil need to be changed on the snow? Please let me know if I am missing anything and give me thoughts on what to do. This is my first snowbike and I will not be riding it very much, one or two trips to Bc max.
Snowbike Newbie Questions
- Thread starter proxj
- Start date
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honkuscracker
Member
Not trying to be a dick here. If you haven't had a chance try the search and also the advanced search and you should get answeres to most of the questions. If you do a search by poster search guys like mtn-doo, rush44, and m5. They all give lots of solid advice. You'll need to be a snowest premium member ($15) to get deep into a certain topic. I have a link to mtn-doo's 2013 KTM 450sxf build that should give you lots of good ideas. You're on the right track btw. You'll love it, I doubt I ever buy a sled again.
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349457&highlight=Ultimate+bike
Good luck, Cracker
PS, you'll want a thermo-bob -- http://shop.watt-man.com/Thermo-Bobs_c4.htm
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349457&highlight=Ultimate+bike
Good luck, Cracker
PS, you'll want a thermo-bob -- http://shop.watt-man.com/Thermo-Bobs_c4.htm
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capulin overdrive
Well-known member
Footpegs, and lighter oil the next change and you should be good to go.
For footpegs get the Fastway Adventure if your pocket book can handle them. If not search around for cheaper options.
Guessing the majority here thinks you need a thermobob. I'm not one of them and ran the stock KTM thermostat with no issues.
For the prefilter over your stock airfilter, you'll want your airfilter to be clean and oil free. I just went new there, and never oiled it. Might get some snow in the airbox to clean out on super deep blower days, but most you will have no trouble at all.
Plastic skidplate is fine. Bar risers not needed, if you don't need them for dirt.
Oil, again there's a zillion oil thread. 5w40 or even 0w40. I ran 10w30 Honda oil last season with no issues.
PIPE GUARD or wrap? Don't want to burn your snow pants!
Grip heaters depend how much of a girly man you are. I don't like them, and just wear warmer gloves on colder days.
For footpegs get the Fastway Adventure if your pocket book can handle them. If not search around for cheaper options.
Guessing the majority here thinks you need a thermobob. I'm not one of them and ran the stock KTM thermostat with no issues.
For the prefilter over your stock airfilter, you'll want your airfilter to be clean and oil free. I just went new there, and never oiled it. Might get some snow in the airbox to clean out on super deep blower days, but most you will have no trouble at all.
Plastic skidplate is fine. Bar risers not needed, if you don't need them for dirt.
Oil, again there's a zillion oil thread. 5w40 or even 0w40. I ran 10w30 Honda oil last season with no issues.
PIPE GUARD or wrap? Don't want to burn your snow pants!
Grip heaters depend how much of a girly man you are. I don't like them, and just wear warmer gloves on colder days.
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I have done a fair amount of searching, I haven't really found the answers I am looking for. Since the bike has a factory thermo stat why would I switch to a thermobob? I am just curious as this is a whole new world to me. I would really love to get some experience from guys who own this exact bike and have spent some time one it.
Thanks
Thanks
If you have a stock tstat I don't think there's any good reason to switch it out to a Thermo Bob. You might want an engine jacket or snow shield to keep the powder off your engine so the thermostat can do a better job of keeping the temps up.
Not sure about the Husky thermostat but I'd imagine that it's similar to a stock KTM one. The problem is that there is a fairly large weep hole built into them, and they tend to let coolant past even when you plug the weep hole so they never really function all that good. You'll probably find that the stock thermostat opens around 120 degrees vs. 170 or 180 on the thermobob.
The thermobob seals tight and forces all of the coolant through the bypass when closed. This keeps the warm coolant circulating through your motor and the cold stuff in the radiators.
Before thermobob started supporting snowbikes we would put KTM thermostats on our bikes. The results were ok, but the thermobob is WAAYY better.
H
hiltz
Member
I run a 15 KTM 500, stock Tstat. Most of my riding in BC, no need for a thermobob.
I do recommend:
Big foot pegs-
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/FLO-MOTORSPO...ash=item46547f7abc:g:2noAAOSw9IpX0OCX&vxp=mtr
Wrap around hand guards (with ATV muffs)-
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/...Version-3-Handguards-1-1-8"-Bars?term=fastway
Hand warmers or electric gloves because of the constant hand squeezing and tight grip will slow blood flow making cold hand for some...
long fork skins in case freezing rain:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/142170818399?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
2" bar risers, makes standing comfortable
A good skid plate
Pelican 1400 case to bolt on back for storage
Wide low seat
I do recommend:
Big foot pegs-
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/FLO-MOTORSPO...ash=item46547f7abc:g:2noAAOSw9IpX0OCX&vxp=mtr
Wrap around hand guards (with ATV muffs)-
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/...Version-3-Handguards-1-1-8"-Bars?term=fastway
Hand warmers or electric gloves because of the constant hand squeezing and tight grip will slow blood flow making cold hand for some...
long fork skins in case freezing rain:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/142170818399?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
2" bar risers, makes standing comfortable
A good skid plate
Pelican 1400 case to bolt on back for storage
Wide low seat
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Does your bike have a temperature gauge? If not, I would at least run the TTO temperature gauge so you can see what's going on down there.
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capulin overdrive
Well-known member
I have your bike in orange and 2 years newer, so everything I've suggested has been on a 2016 KTM 500XCW.
Alright thanks for the help, I am going to order a thermobob and a temp sensor for it. I live 18 hours away from where I am ridding it so I am looking for as much advise as I can before I go on the trip. I think I am going to order grip heaters as I feel like it will help keep things a little less icy as I don't really have a shop to work on it. I have my enclosed trailer but that is most certainly not a shop.
my new list of add ons are as followed:
thermobob and t stat
install the bar busters I have
fresh air filter
bar risers (to low as of now for me)
wrap the pipe in heat wrap (seems the easiest)
bigger foot pegs
hand warmers
do I have the necessary mods needed to have a good snowbike experience for my first time?
I have a kick starter on the bike so I don't know if I will worry about a bigger battery. maybe I will just put the maintainer on It over night and give it a few kicks before I try cranking it?
What are you guys running for oil in these bikes, successfully? I would like to know what you 500 guys are running as its exactly what I have, not just a general snowbike thing... How often are you changing you oil? I have no issues with doing it as needed I just want to know. I live in the flat lands and no one I know has a snowbike, (besides my other two buddies also building them for this season) Is there anything I should make sure of on my used kit before I install it? I have done research but I always enjoy information from guys that have one and used it for a few years...
I appreciate the help, thanks a lot guys.
my new list of add ons are as followed:
thermobob and t stat
install the bar busters I have
fresh air filter
bar risers (to low as of now for me)
wrap the pipe in heat wrap (seems the easiest)
bigger foot pegs
hand warmers
do I have the necessary mods needed to have a good snowbike experience for my first time?
I have a kick starter on the bike so I don't know if I will worry about a bigger battery. maybe I will just put the maintainer on It over night and give it a few kicks before I try cranking it?
What are you guys running for oil in these bikes, successfully? I would like to know what you 500 guys are running as its exactly what I have, not just a general snowbike thing... How often are you changing you oil? I have no issues with doing it as needed I just want to know. I live in the flat lands and no one I know has a snowbike, (besides my other two buddies also building them for this season) Is there anything I should make sure of on my used kit before I install it? I have done research but I always enjoy information from guys that have one and used it for a few years...
I appreciate the help, thanks a lot guys.
I ran a 2015 KTM 500 XCF-W last year with a tsled LT kit. Basically the same bike you have in orange instead of blue. Stock thermostat was fine for conditions from -20 to +20F. I ran standard Motorex oil, change every 10 hours or 2 rides. I don't think my style of snow riding is as hard on the engine as my dirt style, but we're all different.
I do run a 3.2g desert tank, I'm usually running my engine full throttle, just gears and modulating the clutch for speed control.
The issue you're going to run into is the 3-4 shift. It's a big bitch of a jump; it's like going from 3-5 on a track bike.
In northern Utah elevations and temps, gloves don't come warm enough to contend with 40-60mph speeds. I've ordered some Oxford ATV heated grips.
I do run a 3.2g desert tank, I'm usually running my engine full throttle, just gears and modulating the clutch for speed control.
The issue you're going to run into is the 3-4 shift. It's a big bitch of a jump; it's like going from 3-5 on a track bike.
In northern Utah elevations and temps, gloves don't come warm enough to contend with 40-60mph speeds. I've ordered some Oxford ATV heated grips.
M
MountainRider05
Well-known member
16' TS st120 will be going on 13 ktm500exc
Where is the best place to buy fork springs? Cannonracecraft?? Rider weight 175lb if that matters, Or do u just go for the stiffest springs u can get?
Airbox/filter? Read alot and still wondering whats best and easiest!
Thermobob seems like the way to go with trail tech temp but then others say no need on the exc?! And are the ones that say u dont need it do u hav engine shroud or cover to keep temps Up?
Where is the best place to buy fork springs? Cannonracecraft?? Rider weight 175lb if that matters, Or do u just go for the stiffest springs u can get?
Airbox/filter? Read alot and still wondering whats best and easiest!
Thermobob seems like the way to go with trail tech temp but then others say no need on the exc?! And are the ones that say u dont need it do u hav engine shroud or cover to keep temps Up?
