I have a 2004 KTM 525 EXC. I live in Washington state and ride the north cascades and Mt. Baker. My question is will a ST kit handle the deep snow on Baker with all the long hill climbs. Or is the LT kit the way to go.
ST or LT Kit?
- Thread starter kevinhoglund
- Start date
I personally say go LT.. We have 2 hold outs in our group who have ST's and we LT'ers can consistently go places the ST's can't go. So unless you enjoy having a hard time, I'd go LT.
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Rush44
Well-known member
So far I have found no disadvantage to the LT and I kick myself every ride for not upgrading sooner. I haven't rode spring yet on it, but my last ride on set up snow was excellent. I'll probably never own an ST again as long as I'm still on a 450 or above. We also get a lot of fresh deep days around here (usually) and the float is a big big plus.
LT all the way! Here is my last ride in spring like conditions on the LT:
LT all the way! Here is my last ride in spring like conditions on the LT:
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DieselTwitch
Well-known member
When I got my kit i went with and was talked into a ST. I was worried that it wouldn't float enough. After riding for a while Im super impressed with how well it does. even in the deep stuff. So far its been more about throttle control than track length. Even Reagan Sieg out of Canada said go with the ST.
Next year Im going to upgrade my kit to a LT, if nothing else just to see the difference. Just new rails and a longer track. Either way you can always swap between them. I would just highly recommend you have enough HP to spin the longer track. I would say a 525 can.
Also with the new flex front arm Im willing to bet theres very little difference in how the track handles in the trees. The cool thing on the snow bike is that the ski packs the snow down for the track. so even if your going slow the bike will tractor along because unlike a snowmobile its not having to plow with the belly.
I was astonished at how little track spin you actually need to keep moving forward. In the end it comes down to what you think you'll be doing and how much snow your area gets. If you don't get huge dumps and you snow pack is relatively good. I'd say a ST or even an SX would be great. if your snow is crazy deep all the time then the LT is the way to go.
Next year Im going to upgrade my kit to a LT, if nothing else just to see the difference. Just new rails and a longer track. Either way you can always swap between them. I would just highly recommend you have enough HP to spin the longer track. I would say a 525 can.
Also with the new flex front arm Im willing to bet theres very little difference in how the track handles in the trees. The cool thing on the snow bike is that the ski packs the snow down for the track. so even if your going slow the bike will tractor along because unlike a snowmobile its not having to plow with the belly.
I was astonished at how little track spin you actually need to keep moving forward. In the end it comes down to what you think you'll be doing and how much snow your area gets. If you don't get huge dumps and you snow pack is relatively good. I'd say a ST or even an SX would be great. if your snow is crazy deep all the time then the LT is the way to go.
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What's your riding style and experience on snowbikes?
I feel that the ST and SX will go anywhere (yes anywhere) that the LT will go - it just takes a more aggressive riding style. If you're a rider that likes to get after it, ride aggressive and have a "go-for-it" attitude I think you will have more fun on the ST or SX.
I feel that the ST and SX will go anywhere (yes anywhere) that the LT will go - it just takes a more aggressive riding style. If you're a rider that likes to get after it, ride aggressive and have a "go-for-it" attitude I think you will have more fun on the ST or SX.
Most days a short can keep up but LT is the way to go
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short or Loooong
the great thing about long tracks is:
drives short track guys crazy wondering if they should have bought one
they works great on the smaller bikes
ask your wife.........short or long
you got more holes when you port your track
the better riders have them
makes deeper trenches just before you get stuck
like big trucks they are more " manly"
long tracks, more track options to fool with for way less money
you always have the option to add nitrous and turbo and be a stud
once you have long track you can remove your front fender
the great thing about long tracks is:
drives short track guys crazy wondering if they should have bought one
they works great on the smaller bikes
ask your wife.........short or long
you got more holes when you port your track
the better riders have them
makes deeper trenches just before you get stuck
like big trucks they are more " manly"
long tracks, more track options to fool with for way less money
you always have the option to add nitrous and turbo and be a stud
once you have long track you can remove your front fender
Reading all this makes me feel ****ty about buying and having the guys install at ST on my 2014 450F with a bunch of mods they are doing to it i keep second guessing and feeling bad that i bought the ST and not LT now 
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mtn-doo
Well-known member
Don't feel bad. You're going to be hard to catch.... The ST is by far the best all around kit to run if you are under 200 lbs. We all have two or three 4ft days of "dry champagne" pow where everything struggles, but the LT works better. The other 97 days the ST is definitely an advantage. My boss, Allen and the entire group, Brett Blaser, Regan Seige, Derrick Driggs, etc etc, all run exclusively ST kits and are un-catchable. When you spend 5K on a kit, remember you are buying for the 97 days, not the other 3 days. The LT is nice and works well to sit down and get places, but the ST is a better "all season" kit.
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How much of a dis-advantage is the sx verse st verse lt in your opinion on the average day? sorry fo lack of punctuation. I own a LT but have only ridden a ST and really think I would like a SX. ST felt very rigid. Much like any mtn tamer I ever rode. Feels like it rides very high in the stroke, opposite of plush or compliant.
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Rush44
Well-known member
Have you not rode your LT yet?
I've spent a lot of time on the ST and only a few short rides on an SX kit. I will say this, the SX kit is fun as hell and is on par with the ST as far as traction and float is concerned. You then add the extra suspension features and the tapered track and it really feels a lot more like a dirt bike than a snowmobile. If I had an ST again one day I would probably just get the SX. However, the snowmobiler in me still gets frustrated when I can't pull a tight steep line in one rip... so the LT suits my personal riding style better. I'm not into jumping... more into that steep as can be tight as can be barely get away with it stuff. And I'm not saying the SX is only for jumping... it just soaks up terrain features like they hardly exist.
The LT with the flex arm makes the bike feel very fluid side to side, but the SX is is the only kit that gives the easier ski lift feel. I think it would be interesting to have a LT/SX hybrid... it's been talked about but I haven't heard of it happening yet.
I've spent a lot of time on the ST and only a few short rides on an SX kit. I will say this, the SX kit is fun as hell and is on par with the ST as far as traction and float is concerned. You then add the extra suspension features and the tapered track and it really feels a lot more like a dirt bike than a snowmobile. If I had an ST again one day I would probably just get the SX. However, the snowmobiler in me still gets frustrated when I can't pull a tight steep line in one rip... so the LT suits my personal riding style better. I'm not into jumping... more into that steep as can be tight as can be barely get away with it stuff. And I'm not saying the SX is only for jumping... it just soaks up terrain features like they hardly exist.
The LT with the flex arm makes the bike feel very fluid side to side, but the SX is is the only kit that gives the easier ski lift feel. I think it would be interesting to have a LT/SX hybrid... it's been talked about but I haven't heard of it happening yet.
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Does the sx take the same fit kit as lt/st models? Doesn't the sx have burlier side panels as well (IE not all spiderwebbed out)?
I don't think this debate is ever going to be solved. To much terrain differences riding preferences. ect. 
Is riding a bike with the flex arm installed noticeable when compared to a bike without?
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mtn-doo
Well-known member
The flex arm makes a huge difference in the "feel". Very compliant to rider in-puts and terrain. Very fluid on the road. The "stiff" feeling ST kit above needs a set-up adjustment. Front pre-load set very light then leave it alone. Don't fiddle with the front shock. Next, adjust pre-load in the rear for rider weight and riding style. The front comes into play through coupling from the rear. Do not stiffen up the front shock.
ST, LT, SX.... Have been in McCall for the annual company event. We pounded out a ride yesterday covering nearly 70 miles. Some terrain so steep you're dragging your bars and crossed up at WOT getting traction on tree bases as you pass them,,, etc etc 14 Bikes in the group. All vetrans. The SX kits were usually the first to the top of everything along with ST's. 12 were ST and SX kits. Two were LT's.
We observed yesterday, the riders in the 160, 170 LB range on a ST or SX would ALWAYS be up front. The 200 LB pluss riders on ST's were working shallower lines.
The point here, and we suggest to dealers, is riders weight is a major factor that has not been added to the choice of kit decisions. A rider over 200 lbs needs to consider the LT. Slower, but beneficial for the heavier rider. If you are 160/170 lbs, I would definitely run an ST or SX.
I am 190 ish but am riding a 210 pound bike. Ktm 300 xc, no estart, no BS. I rode my old 300 with a st kit and it was a lot of fun. I am just wondering if an sx might be a better fit to the 2stroke and be more fun in low elevation snow, spring snow, cascade concrete, etc. I do like to jump and jib off of natural terrain you come across in the backcountry as well. I am certain that more track options are right around the corner and if the 127" range tracks become a reality I bet you could shoehorn one on an sx. Considering selling my LT to help fund home addition project and snowchecking an sx in the year to come. Our snowpack is really weak and I have snowmobiles and backcountry skiing to get my kicks as well.
tooo short
no short tracks went where we went today ! oh yeah, that's true, no short tracks along today.
no short tracks went where we went today ! oh yeah, that's true, no short tracks along today.
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mtn-doo
Well-known member
An SX kit sounds ideal for a guy like you.
