UFO CRF450X Suspension and Air Intake Question

[Wundah]

So I'm brand new to the serious amount of fun snowbikes have to offer but like a lot of you I just couldn't help myself when I tried it...I had to have one. So that said I got the UFO snowbike kit for my 06 CRF450X. Runs awesome, my buddy got a 121 Timbersled for his 2 stroke KTM300 which has been an interesting comparison on the snow. Right now I'm trying to sort out the best way to set up the suspension. I'm 6'2" 200lbs and with the way the UFO setup works I'm not sure I have enough spring for the preload and all the other compression and dampening options. I have been searching all over the internet for options on how to adjust but wondering if anyone has just some good old advice from what you have tried.
Second thing is what folks have done for the air box. I have been on a half dozen rides and my oiled filter is usually wet or in one case super wet slash had snow packed in it... Needless to say the bike wasn't running in top form. What works best?
Attached is a picture of my son on my bike but it might as well be me because I feel like a kid riding this thing. Lots of fun.

 

[sodahucker]

I have an 05 450X. I haven't had any problems with snow in my airbox, but I haven't done any of the popular mods (cut the side open) to the airbox. I have ridden in powder pushing off my knees, but not any deeper. Also, I don't use an oiled filter when riding in the winter. I just use the Timbersled pre-filter on a clean stock filter/screen.

 

[mx4life]

You need to check your owners manual and see what your rear shock spring is rated and get one a few sizes heavier. That helps eliminate a bunch of the sag and stiffens them up a bit so you dont bottom out so much. As far as your air box you need to run a non oiled filter and get a pre filter(they make them for snow), for over the top. you may want to get a extra to pack with you so when and if it does freeze you can change it out half way thru the day. I completely gutted my air box and run no number plate, pretty open it up as much as possible. It all depends on how easy it is to access the filter to clean the snow out. some people dont do anything cause they have quick release side panels.

 

[Wundah]

You need to check your owners manual and see what your rear shock spring is rated and get one a few sizes heavier. That helps eliminate a bunch of the sag and stiffens them up a bit so you dont bottom out so much. As far as your air box you need to run a non oiled filter and get a pre filter(they make them for snow), for over the top. you may want to get a extra to pack with you so when and if it does freeze you can change it out half way thru the day. I completely gutted my air box and run no number plate, pretty open it up as much as possible. It all depends on how easy it is to access the filter to clean the snow out. some people dont do anything cause they have quick release side panels.

Thanks Mx4life. I'm trying to sort it out and all suggestions are being researched. What's a zero plate? I live out in the middle of nowhere so most my shopping is online or the once every month or two I get into town. Any suggested sites to check out are appreciated. Thanks again

 

[Freeride1]

I maxed out the pre load on my KX450 coil with my UFO and still think I could use more spring. I just got shorter dog bones to up my ride height so I want to try that and see how it is. I completely removed my air box and put a 2"-3" silicone 45 degree elbow on the throttle body and called Boondocker for a turbo air filter. Works flawless.

Call Factory Connection for a spring. I am going to go see them when I have my dog bones in to see what they think.


http://www.siliconeintakes.com/prod...d=918&osCsid=2281712c6dabe807575afefa3787afd1

 

[chumbilly1]

Thanks Mx4life. I'm trying to sort it out and all suggestions are being researched. What's a zero plate? I live out in the middle of nowhere so most my shopping is online or the once every month or two I get into town. Any suggested sites to check out are appreciated. Thanks again

Steve, You need to get the snow pre filter from timbersled and I can help you get the rest of the pre filter material applied to the airbox. It is really easy actually. Gabe's seems to be a great intake system and is exactly what timbersled recommends. Find out what rate of spring you have on that 450x and I can probably find you the proper rate used from some mx buddies. I bet 450 R springs would be a lot closer. IMHO you also need stiffer fork springs. PS this is Travis.

 

[Wundah]

I maxed out the pre load on my KX450 coil with my UFO and still think I could use more spring. I just got shorter dog bones to up my ride height so I want to try that and see how it is. I completely removed my air box and put a 2"-3" silicone 45 degree elbow on the throttle body and called Boondocker for a turbo air filter. Works flawless.

Call Factory Connection for a spring. I am going to go see them when I have my dog bones in to see what they think.


http://www.siliconeintakes.com/prod...d=918&osCsid=2281712c6dabe807575afefa3787afd1

So I put in a 6.0 main spring and cranked it down to max preload and man that thing sits so low compared to the timbersled. I actually measured from the ground to the bottom of the case on my kit and my buddies which is a 2011 ktm 300 with a 121 timbersled and his literally sits 4" higher! From the ground to the center bolt on the front fork it's a full inch lower as well...Crazy. I need to figure out a way to get the bike to sit higher, she drops deep and tries to trench to China way faster than the TS kit. I rode both today on some steep side hilling and realized I have some work to do to make the UFO work like I want it to. I will update as I figure it out. Airbox currently is now a twin air with the pre filter and it worked ok so I'm going to keep playing with that as well but the suspension needs to be addressed first. Good times

 

[chumbilly1]

Ditch the foam element in the air intake and wrap the airbox with vinyl coated screen door material(IE mesh hood material). Works great and easy to work with. Keeps 95% of the slush and POW out.

 

[Freeride1]

They sent me shorter dog bones to help. I was able to hit my silincer which shouldn't happen. Unfortunately there is no snow on the East coast to ride now. I have a trip to Idaho planned but things are kind of falling apart but I will figure something out.I gotta find some pow!

Do you hit your silincer when you bottem out? If that is the case you should get shorter dog bones too. If not I would try an even stiffer coil. Max out the compression damping on both ends to. You don't want the fork to ever dive.

I am very happy with the service I have gotten from UFO. I have been in direct contact with the machine shop and get fast service. Justin is pretty busy out in the field so he is harder to catch up with.

 

[Wundah]

Cheap Airbox Mod

Ditch the foam element in the air intake and wrap the airbox with vinyl coated screen door material(IE mesh hood material). Works great and easy to work with. Keeps 95% of the slush and POW out.

Check out my simple and cheap Airbox fix. I was trying hard to figure it out after heading out earlier this week in the cold smoke 3'+ powder and believe it or not I kept filling up my air box with snow. So I was thinking about all the mesh or screen or boon docker air filter kits, etc. I ended up pulling the air box and just taking the screws out for the box but still using the stock connection to the carb without having to do much but keep the Outerwears filter on the stock metal fire screen. I'm going out tomorrow to see how well it works, hopefully the picture makes it easier to visualize. Thanks to all the advice from the SnoWest folks I'm having tons of fun on my snowbike. Cheers

 

[Wundah]

They sent me shorter dog bones to help. I was able to hit my silincer which shouldn't happen. Unfortunately there is no snow on the East coast to ride now. I have a trip to Idaho planned but things are kind of falling apart but I will figure something out.I gotta find some pow!

Do you hit your silincer when you bottem out? If that is the case you should get shorter dog bones too. If not I would try an even stiffer coil. Max out the compression damping on both ends to. You don't want the fork to ever dive.

I am very happy with the service I have gotten from UFO. I have been in direct contact with the machine shop and get fast service. Justin is pretty busy out in the field so he is harder to catch up with.

Thanks, I finally got a hold of the shop, Justin is super busy. I'll update once I get the new dog bones and see what it does for the ride. Modifications are fun and since this sport is relatively new it feels like we are all collectively creating ways to make the gear better. Check out the handle I fabricated up for the UFO since I was just jealous of guys with the handle on their TS kits. Fun times

 

[CPSsno]

Uni foam coarse stuffed between the frame rails and airbox, more between inner rear fender and battery, cut airbox door slot open put a piece of foam in the slot. good to go $14.95 Don picked some up yesterday been running my X that way goin on second season. Easy...

 

[Freeride1]

Looks good!

 

[chumbilly1]

Uni foam coarse stuffed between the frame rails and airbox, more between inner rear fender and battery, cut airbox door slot open put a piece of foam in the slot. good to go $14.95 Don picked some up yesterday been running my X that way goin on second season. Easy...

Yo Cps, have you done the 05 525 airbox? Stewart needs to have his done. We have the mesh but no foam. How long does it take for you to do it in the shop?

 

[Freeride1]

I just had my fork and shock revalved for Supercross. Justin did something similar to his XCF. I talked to my friends at Factory Connection and they thought supercross valving would control weight transfer and travel the best. I hope to try it out next weekend.

 

[powdermuncher]

Just get rid of the air box and run a pod-filter with a pre-filter over it problem solved for good . Timbersled sells them.

Instead of the air-box I just put in a plastic deflector on the sub frame to keep the snow of the back of the engine -- works like a charm.