timbersled 136 inch track??

[Jon Mutiger]

MountainMan81.. You won't need the long track version, trust me. The 121 goes anywhere you want it to.

But with that said, I hope you understand how crappy snowbikes are on groomed trails. If you have access to true untracked stuff, you'll love it. Otherwise, you'll hate life in no time.

Plenty of power on your bike too.

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

why do you say the bikes are so bad on trails?? what does it do that makes you dislike the trail ride?? I have ridden may one skis and even though i'd rather be in powder a trail ride can be alot of fun it you get into race mentality. Since i have removed my hawk track on my area 51 machine it is much less trail friendly, so i wonder if you were to get a hawk profile track maybe you machines would handle better.

MountainMan81.. You won't need the long track version, trust me. The 121 goes anywhere you want it to.

But with that said, I hope you understand how crappy snowbikes are on groomed trails. If you have access to true untracked stuff, you'll love it. Otherwise, you'll hate life in no time.

Plenty of power on your bike too.

 

[Jon Mutiger]

When I talk about bad trail traits they are really horrible on iced over ruts, then not too bad on anything with some give to it, like freshly groomed powder.

I hate riding whoops on a snowbike, it just is unpredictable.

 

[retired motoman]

Room for improvment

When I talk about bad trail traits they are really horrible on iced over ruts, then not too bad on anything with some give to it, like freshly groomed powder.

I hate riding whoops on a snowbike, it just is unpredictable.

There are things that help the trail preformance. Last season most of us were using the 2Moto "Shark Fin kit" which helped both the Gen I and Gen II ski on the trail. We liked the Gen II best because of the powder floatation. With the Gen II we used the 2Moto "outside runners".
The pic has both the shark fin and outside runners.

I have a extra set of both Shark fin and outside runners is anyone is intrested in trying.

 

[retired motoman]

If you cant fight them might as well join them.

So long track with more power is in my future.

Todays project was to install a Snow Hawk 136" track with rail extenders. Still stock 510cc KTM power.
We will see how it does on Thursdays ride. We have 7 snowbikes with 3 long tracks. Will let you guys know the results.

 

[retired motoman]

121" 136" 137" comparison

Sorry for the late response but I wanted to make sure of the results, so have been on multiple rides with different snow conditions, track lengths and bikes.
All of the riding has been with the Priest Lake group, which have KTM 510cc’s (one Burg 570) Mountain Horse snowbikes. Three have the stock 137” Mountain Horse long track and myself have installed a SnoHawk 136” track with rail extenders.
FYI the MH 137” track has a 2.84 pitch with a 2.31 lug the entire width of the track. The SnoHawk track is a 2.52 pitch (same as the MH 121”) and a center lug of 2” that tapers off to 1” on the edges.
Riding with the 137s and seeing how well they got around in the steep and deep is what convinced me to install a longer track (136) on my bike. The conversion was easy on the wallet and in the garage due to the fact that the track pitch was the same as the stock 121, by finding a used Hawk track and using rail extenders not longer rails.
Today in the deepest snow we have had this season and with all three bikes being equal in power (no big bores) and swapping between bikes we had a clear view of the strengths and weakness of all the track combinations.
As expected both longer tracks got around better than the 121 and on a side by side steep straight up hill climb where my 136 would dig in and quit the 137 kept on going. This is not to say the 137 will not get stuck because it was stuck a couple of times in the deep fluff….as we all were.
Now by swapping bikes we could feel how much different the track combinations handled.
Again as expected the 121 was the most fun in all conditions except for climbing or in the deep. It felt lighter and more flick-able compared to the 136 and especially the 137.
It surprised all of us how much different the Hawk 136 felt as compared to the MH 137. Once again the stock 121” handled the best but the Hawk 136 was a CLOSE second. The Hawk track felt more like a dirt bike and was easer to side hill, much easier to change direction and did not push nearly as bad as the 137. I would think this is from the taper lug pattern on the Hawk track. It handled so well, I see no disadvantage (at this time) from the 121.
The final test was on a groomed trail with 4” powder on top. Top speed on the 121 was 59.9, on the Hawk 136 (even though it is a heavy track) was 58.4 (multiple attempts) and the MH 137 it was only 52.2. I think this is due to the fan effect of the taller lugs.
As we all know snow conditions change daily as well as set up on our equipment. So these results could change.

 

[tomk]

wow what an awesome review thanks! keep them coming

 

[screech]

There are things that help the trail preformance. Last season most of us were using the 2Moto "Shark Fin kit" which helped both the Gen I and Gen II ski on the trail. We liked the Gen II best because of the powder floatation. With the Gen II we used the 2Moto "outside runners".
The pic has both the shark fin and outside runners.

I have a extra set of both Shark fin and outside runners is anyone is intrested in trying.

I just got a gen II and wondered if this ski mod made a huge difference?? looks to me like it would help. just wondered on some feedback. thanks.

 

[OffroadMT]

Todays project was to install a Snow Hawk 136" track with rail extenders. Still stock 510cc KTM power.
We will see how it does on Thursdays ride. We have 7 snowbikes with 3 long tracks. Will let you guys know the results.

Is the snowhawk track still being made and if so where do you get one ? What rail extension did you use that did'nt need the hifax extended ? Thanks for you review .

 

[retired motoman]

Hawk track

Is the snowhawk track still being made and if so where do you get one ? What rail extension did you use that did'nt need the hifax extended ? Thanks for you review .

I do not know if the Hawk track is avaibable new. If so I would be intrested in another one. The rail extenders are from WPS #44-1503.
No hifax extention. Aprox 100 miles so far and all is good.

 

[more snow]

So how much further did the 137 track make it after the 136 Hawk track got stuck? Was it substantially further/better? I assume this is partly due to the stiffer lugs treching a little quicker on the 136 Hawk track?

Is anyone planning trim the corner edges of the 137 MH track to help it behave more like the curved Hawk track?

Thanks a bunch for sharing your results. Sounds like some great options.

 

[retired motoman]

137 better?

So how much further did the 137 track make it after the 136 Hawk track got stuck? Was it substantially further/better?

Four of us were riding Sunday. The MH 137, my Hawk 136 and two 121s. All on 510cc KTMs.
On my third attempt (side hill not to get stuck, do the downhill loop and make another run) I made the top of Alasta (104" of snow)....the 137 made it on the first run! I then rode the 137 back down the mountain to help the 121 guys. And again it is noticable that the 137 is a better climber. But some of the fun is gone because some of the challange is gone. In spring snow this thing will suck for many reasons, where the 121 will still be fun.
So to answer your question, the 137 climbs better, yes but better....mabey, mabey not.
At this time I really like the 136. Still some challange and should be great in the spring.
But, I would ride a 137 because most of my riding buds will be on one sometime soon and we will be going tougher places, plus I have a 121 in the garage, to ride in the spring.

 

[Blaser]

I did a 136 conversion to my 121 as well. I narrowed a Challenger 136" 2.52 pitch track with 2 inch lugs. I also trimmed off the outside drive lugs, that are just outboard of the guide clips. Saved over a pound of rotating mass. (took an extra 30 min...) Cutting the track was not fun, but good experience. Now I have a good track cutting jig, and the next one should be a lot easier.

I believe my 136 is the same paddle configuration as the 137, just .3 inches shorter lugs. I haven't ridden with the 137 yet, but will Friday.

It went everywhere I pointed it, and was impressively better in the 55+ inches of fresh, over the 121. All we did for the first 1/2 of the day was circle around the sleds to pack it down for them- then pull them out. Rode with a mod 800, a new Pro, and some new Cats. We were the only tracks in Wong's bowl... pretty cool for 55hp bikes. Avy conditions were off the charts- had a 75 yard wide slide cross the road in front of me at 100mph while we were getting a group of sledders turned around to get them out of there. Not cool.

I have ridden the Hawk track (on a few different Hawks) and it's a heavy, stiff track. I'd be interested to know what it weighs- I know Allen has weighed it. I think it's a good option, because it's a bolt in solution. I can see swapping back to the 121 for spring- It shouldn't take more than an hour.

Here are my numbers, from my digital bathroom scale, that weighs in 1/2lb increments:
Timbersled 121- 32.5 pounds
Trimmed Challenger 136 (12.25 wide) 39.5 pounds. It's a 2 ply.

I ordered the same extension kit as mentioned above.
Hopefully this helps-

I should also note- I think a 450 and a 137 would be awesome. The longer track planes out, floats better, and is less work for the bike- especially at less than full throttle.

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

making a track

to make a snowbike track out of a 136" I was faced with that old pain in the azz of cutting rubber. made jigs etc for putting bigger tracks on our 13.5 firecats at the time.

but last Sat my pal dan and I whipped out a good old Saws all, let track hang out over edge of bench, put a 14" wide 20" long piece of plywood in the track to keep it up out of the way,cut from the inside, in less than 20 minutes I had a new cutdown snowbike track. Was too easy, looking now for a used finger track in that size to try later in spring. Metal cutting blade worked best to saw the fiberglass rods.

 

[j_w10]

tracks

this thread has me thinking, u say th hawk track handles like the 121 right. what if a guy trimed the 121 track to be tapered like the hawk track. has anyone tryed this? i would think he trail manners would be much improved, qeustion is wouldthe deep snow performance suffer to much?

 

[snowhawkaddict]

A Snow Hawk track is made with hard pack conditions in mind very rigid paddles, so strong you can screw studs into the tips, the second gen, 07' even thicker. I think of it as a Dessert tire on a bike in it's intended environment it shines. Some Hawk riders hold on to it and accept the compromise, road, or Eastern riding. A 121" 1st gen weighs 38lbs, even more for the second, a cut down Challenger 2ply 136" or even a 144" is lighter and a much better soft terrain tire, port it lighter still, cut the outside corners and it will get you down the road to the good stuff.

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

121 hawk track

I have a very nearly new hawk track for sale its a 121. 350.00$$$$

 

[Blackstone Lodge Fernie]

Ktm ? with Mtn Horse

Hi, i am looking to get a 690 R Enduro and put a 137" track Mtn Horse or should i go for 121" . Live in Fernie BC so we get some deep conditions here and usually ride into mid spring. If you had to choose a track length what one would you choose.
Cheers

 

[Ausm7499]

Hi, i am looking to get a 690 R Enduro and put a 137" track Mtn Horse or should i go for 121" . Live in Fernie BC so we get some deep conditions here and usually ride into mid spring. If you had to choose a track length what one would you choose.
Cheers

If your dead set on a 690 (to heavy in my opinion) than I would say it would benefit from a 137" to keep it a float. I would talk to timbersled before taking the plunge on a 690, they have built one and I don't think they were very impressed with it.

 

[Blackstone Lodge Fernie]

690 R

HI

Cheers for the feedback, you and many others have steered me away from the big bike. Timbersled say the Husaberg 570 is a big bike that is great. Or KTm 500, 525.

Happy snow biking