ST or LT Kit?

[Cpt.Ron]

from our experience

ST versus LT, from our somewhat limited experience as we only got into the Snow-bikes this season, we are finding that we like the LT better in our applications. As we were new to the sport, we asked this very question to many others, both riders and Dealers that have been out there for 3 or 4 seasons already. The consensus that we got was that the ST would be more fun. For our Shop bikes we chose to ride one ST and one LT and make our own future decisions based on our experiences from this season.

We live and ride in Revelstoke BC, as such we get Deeper snow depths to ride on than most areas. The LT has clear advantages in the 2 plus feet of powder, you can get around easier and just plain outperform the ST in climbs.

That being said, I would caution anyone looking to commit to a LT, be sure that you have the power for it. Not sure that a stock carbed 450 is truly enough power in our Deep environment, sure it will work but to take advantage of the LT and to enjoy the benefits I would recommend FI 500 + cc bikes, and ultimately the Turbo applications. A good 450 with a ST kit is still a whole pile of fun!!

Your riding area and snowfall amounts are big factors to consider, there are always trade-offs when comparing such options.

Cheers

CR

 

[chumbilly1]

CR wouldn't you agree that you are used to higher power output than most, and are pushing the bikes through some seriously deep snow though. I feel that the 450 pushes the LT great as long as you are not riding in above freezing temps and deep. Deep dry snow doesn't even bog em down.

 

[Uncle si]

I have to disagree. I currently have a 146x2.5" track on my KX450F and not only does it have enough "power for it", I find that having an adequate track means your motor does not work as hard. I had the original 121x1.75" track last year.

ST versus LT, from our somewhat limited experience as we only got into the Snow-bikes this season, we are finding that we like the LT better in our applications. As we were new to the sport, we asked this very question to many others, both riders and Dealers that have been out there for 3 or 4 seasons already. The consensus that we got was that the ST would be more fun. For our Shop bikes we chose to ride one ST and one LT and make our own future decisions based on our experiences from this season.

We live and ride in Revelstoke BC, as such we get Deeper snow depths to ride on than most areas. The LT has clear advantages in the 2 plus feet of powder, you can get around easier and just plain outperform the ST in climbs.

That being said, I would caution anyone looking to commit to a LT, be sure that you have the power for it. Not sure that a stock carbed 450 is truly enough power in our Deep environment, sure it will work but to take advantage of the LT and to enjoy the benefits I would recommend FI 500 + cc bikes, and ultimately the Turbo applications. A good 450 with a ST kit is still a whole pile of fun!!

Your riding area and snowfall amounts are big factors to consider, there are always trade-offs when comparing such options.

Cheers

CR

 

[more snow]

Would love to hear more specific details about how this 146 track is working. Please share.

 

[chumbilly1]

I have been told by many, who are very experienced with the LT development, that the LT is easier on motors Than the ST due to not overreving constantly but actually getting some hookup. I am hoping this will be true on my 300build.

 

[Frostbite]

Chumbilly1, what you said above (copied below) is exactly what I found in my fairly limited experience. With the ST, I had to really rev the motor to make a lot of hills. Riding the LT is a much more relaxing endeavor with out the need to rev the motor super high to climb hills.

"I have been told by many, who are very experienced with the LT development, that the LT is easier on motors Than the ST due to not overreving constantly but actually getting some hookup".

 

[Snowbike rider wannabe]

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.

Thank you! As I have been anguished about deciding which kit to buy. I live in Arizona so I have been very unsure of which kit is more suitable for this area. Any post regarding this matter are very helpful.

 

[Frostbite]

Snow bike rider wannabe, maybe you should buy one a kit like mine that has bolt on rail extensions.

I have a 121 x 1.75" track for spring conditions and then the rail extensions are bolted on with the 136 x 2 1/8" track and poof, you are set for the deep stuff.

I have seen several used kits set up this way in the swap meet and on Craigslist. I haven't seen much of this with the 2014 kits but, you could find a 2012 or a 2013 kit with both tracks for thousands less than a new kit. That way you wouldn't have as much invested and it would give someone the opportunity to buy a 2015 kit.

Just a thought.

Here's a link to what my rail extensions look like. Flexibility is nice to have.......

http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368991

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

long vs short

like to thank Mtn Horse for a demo ride on the 15 long and short tracks, rode at west on crunchy and getting soft almost old corn on Fri morning, with the new three half pipe rails on the ski and the new kit.............just not too bad in bad sno bike conditions. 15 buyers can't go wrong with either kit, good and better shock calibration, tried the long in woops, better than the bike I'm on...........so back to work. on wooped trails long handled fast bumps a little better than the short. But........15 minute ride doesn't mean much to most, did tell me though the guys in sandpoint are continuing to make some nice improvements. Nice guy doing the demos........thanks.

demo'd our own bikes on Fri pm by mt Jefferson, sno sucked, trail sucked worse, parking lot mud is always fun to ride......best part of ride. the snobikers from Kalispell were on sleds, that bad.

long track only tour of Antelope basin on Sat, saw one sled, burned up all our gas, spectacular scenery, poor short track conditions, sun too bright and hot, too much untracked sno so hard to find our way home, took almost to 7pm to burn that last pint of gas............all good.

long or short.......still not sure. will test again.

 

[powdermuncher]

Here is my take long tracks hook up and once hooked up you will require less power to drive than if you have track spin .

Here is how I know -- was with 2 sleds breaking trail in early winter 3+ feet of fluff in a tight trail lots of twisties and up and downs.

The sleds took a brake after a few miles and several stuck in tight corners.

My MH SX with 136 by 2 inch track 2 and 3 gear 1/3 to 1/2 throttle stays hooked up went all the way up the mountain braking trail -- waiting for almost 10 minutes for the sleds on top. If I gas it I get the track to spin hard it takes full power to go faster -- not all that much faster but sure fun.

If you keep the track spinning you can drag the bars through the pow all day long on a deep day-if I get tired I keep the rpm down the track hocked up and tractor steadily -- that is OK as well but no where the same level of fun.

Being a bike guy long before I got into sleds I love being able to lay here over and gas it hard coming out of a corner just like riding a bike.

I feel driving hooked up on the long track is more like driving a bus with 4 wheel drive. You loose a lot of the Bike experience but gain some straight line capability . For guys that are a bit out of shape the LT is definitely less physical if you keep it hooked upad just drive. That may also be a consideration.

 

[Uncle si]

Would love to hear more specific details about how this 146 track is working. Please share.

I wish I had more to report. I scored the cylinder on my Kx500, then ate camshaft lobes on the Kx450, so I've been waiting on parts.

I have no complaints about the 146×2.5" track. It works in a way that really highlighted how undersized the 121×1.75" was for 505 pounds of horse and rider.

in heavy Washington powder, I was climbing with an 04 cat 900 with a 162 powder claw. I don't expect the horse will climb with sleds in all conditions, but so far it has exceeded my wildest dreams.

I should have more to report next week after a little visit to British Columbia.

 

[Uncle si]

Yesterday I hit Brandywine on 1-3 feet of powder. The 146x2.5" is working great! The feel is a little different, but if I am riding on snow I want propulsion.

Carving downhill, the ski more often washes out first, so in that way a long track is less forgiving.

 

[mrquick68]

Yesterday I hit Brandywine on 1-3 feet of powder. The 146x2.5" is working great! The feel is a little different, but if I am riding on snow I want propulsion.

Carving downhill, the ski more often washes out first, so in that way a long track is less forgiving.

Crazy. We road brandy wine yesterday too. On sleds though. Road bikes at Sproatt the day before. Wish i would've ran into you yesterday up there! Didn't hear any bikes. But we were way back in the woods.

 

[mrquick68]

As noted above, road bikes up in BC on Friday. Killer time. Sunny and soft. Found some real deep zones too. There were three of us and we rented three 2013 KTM 450SX's. Two STs and one LT kit. Had a ball. Bikes were in great condition and worked flawlessly all day. Top notch experience and a great way to sample which kit is best. Props to Richard and Geoff.

After everything was said and done I would choose the ST kit. The LT kit gets around and does it well. But it's just not as fun as the ST. The ST just has more dirt bike feel and what it gives up in mobility it more than makes up maneuverability. You can take it deeper into corners and hammer it harder out of them. And the final thing that makes me like it better is that it holds the ski line better. The LT ski kept washing out on me when I turned up the wick. This alone makes me want the ST.

Now what I liked about the LT was that you could ride it at lower throttle positions, it used less fuel, and it worked just as well on the trail as the ST. And it definitely outclimbs the ST.

Both are great but the ST is just more fun overall.