What makes a good snowbike?

[Snowsnoopy]

I'm talking everything, engine characteristics (torque on the low end or power at high revs), engine displacement, carb vs fuel injection, suspension set up, weight, and any must have extras.

Mainly I thought up the evil idea to strap a snowbike kit to a ktm 990 adventure and want to know how bad of an idea it is.

 

[funjunkie]

Ihave a ktm sxf 450 with a snow bike kit on it and I own a 990 adveture I ride in the summer. I would not consider putting a SB kit on the 990 just to heavy. Now putt a 990 engine in the SX now that might be cool. The 990 engine is around 110lbs.

 

[backcountrysnowbikes]

Lightweight 2stroke with lots of HP

 

[Jon Mutiger]

Lighter is better, even the difference between a KTM500 and a KX450 makes the KX a better bike. It's lighter, spins up quicker and has more power. A 990 would work, but it wouldn't be better than a smaller/lighter bike. BUT if you own a 990 and that's all you got, then go for it. You'll like it better than not riding.

 

[summitboy]

Lightweight 2stroke with lots of HP

LOL ! I like your thinking Travis LOL !

 

[mtn-doo]

I'm talking everything, engine characteristics (torque on the low end or power at high revs), engine displacement, carb vs fuel injection, suspension set up, weight, and any must have extras.

Mainly I thought up the evil idea to strap a snowbike kit to a ktm 990 adventure and want to know how bad of an idea it is.

You will find the high rev/ high HP bikes work much better than the low end torque bikes. When you are all together pulling steep/deep stuff, you are WOT, not "grunting" around at 1/2 throttle. When it's time to open her up, the engines that build a lot of top end and keep it there drive by the other bikes. They ALL work very well, you can't hardly go wrong...

 

[JimBridger]

I agree. High revs make you hold track speed a little better imo. That's why I think the YZ450F is the best power wise. The intake makes it somewhat of a nightmare to snow-proof, but I feel the power is worth it. Plus the YZ's seem to be as reliable as any bike out right now.

The KX is always a good option too. I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon and tell you the ktm's are the best bike, because I really don't feel that they are, but that's just personal opinion.

Here is a stock bike power chart for the mx 450's

Max peak HP

1. KXF 55.50hp@8900
2. YZF 55.24hp@9100
3. RMZ 54.08hp@9000
4. KTM 53.22hp@8300
5. CRF 52.58hp@8600

Top Average HP from 7000-11,000 rpm

1. YZF 50.938hp
2. KXF 50.496hp
3. RMZ 50.342hp
4. KTM 50.252hp
5. CRF 49.99hp

 

[dhdey]

I agree. High revs make you hold track speed a little better imo. That's why I think the YZ450F is the best power wise. The intake makes it somewhat of a nightmare to snow-proof, but I feel the power is worth it. Plus the YZ's seem to be as reliable as any bike out right now.

The KX is always a good option too. I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon and tell you the ktm's are the best bike, because I really don't feel that they are, but that's just personal opinion.

Here is a stock bike power chart for the mx 450's

Max peak HP

1. KXF 55.50hp@8900
2. YZF 55.24hp@9100
3. RMZ 54.08hp@9000
4. KTM 53.22hp@8300
5. CRF 52.58hp@8600

Top Average HP from 7000-11,000 rpm

1. YZF 50.938hp
2. KXF 50.496hp
3. RMZ 50.342hp
4. KTM 50.252hp
5. CRF 49.99hp

pretty sure the new ktm 450sx have all the mx'ers beat for hp now. and having estart and power for accessories...hard to beat.

but i'm poor so i just ride an old cr500 and it rips. vibrations suck but you get used to it

 

[JimBridger]

pretty sure the new ktm 450sx have all the mx'ers beat for hp now. and having estart and power for accessories...hard to beat.

but i'm poor so i just ride an old cr500 and it rips. vibrations suck but you get used to it

Yeah, I forgot to mention this was the 2012 bikes.

But MXactionmag says this:

"Maximum horsepower on our 2014 YZ450F was 58.17 ponies. That makes it the most powerful 450cc production engine we have ever tested, besting the previous horsepower leader, the 2013 KTM 450SXF, by more than a horsepower. "

 

[torkd]

I just watched the 2014 450 shoot out on YouTube. Yamaha came first with 58 hp and Honda was ranked with the lowest more "controlable" hp. The thing that keeps me away from the KTMs is they have no kickstart. In the back country the last thing I need is to be in a creek bottom with a dead battery and no way to start the thing. Having the kickstart only on my YZ hasn't really bothered me, I've never owned a bike with the luxury of the happy button.

 

[JimBridger]

One thing to keep in mind is average HP. Peak doesn't mean crap in the real world. I used to drag race diesel pickups, and we would tune for a linear power curve rather than a peak or spike. Yeah, peaks are fun to brag about, My truck dynoed over 650hp but only ran a 1/4 time for something pushing around 540hp. That is because over the 1/4 mile my average was 540hp. Average is what is important.

Say Bike A that boast highest HP at 58, and makes 50hp@6000 58@8000 and 53@10000. Then take Bike B that finished mid pack on the dyno, makes 53@6000 55@8000 and 55@10000 Which on will you take? The one that boasts 58 "peak hp" or the one that is middle of the pack everywhere? Average them out. Over the total course of the rpm range Bike A makes an average of 53hp while Bike B makes an average of 54hp. Now which one do you want? Peak hp doesn't matter.

I'm sticking to my guns on the YZ because of $1500 reasons.

 

[T_Snowbike]

The thing that keeps me away from the KTMs is they have no kickstart.

500EXC has a kickstarter

 

[torkd]

500EXC has a kickstarter

I was talking 450 sxf sorry.

 

[Draxxus]

Xcf has the 60 hp engine the magic button and the kick start , not sure about its average hp but I bet it's up there. Too boot it has a larger tank than any xm bike and a stator for making light power . Seems like the best choice if you wana drop the coin.


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[Woody67]

Xcf has the 60 hp engine the magic button and the kick start , not sure about its average hp but I bet it's up there. Too boot it has a larger tank than any xm bike and a stator for making light power . Seems like the best choice if you wana drop the coin.

A new 450 XC-F (2013-2014) is 450 SX-F with a 18" rear wheel, bigger tank, and a kickstand. It has no kick starter and same stator as 450 SX-F

 

[dhdey]

A new 450 XC-F (2013-2014) is 450 SX-F with a 18" rear wheel, bigger tank, and a kickstand. It has no kick starter and same stator as 450 SX-F

and they changed the case so you cant add a kick start anymore

 

[Draxxus]

Roger that no kick start and no option to add one ..... Balls


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[powdermuncher]

I have the best snow bike ever it is set up the way I like -- ready to go when I want to and paid for doesn’t get any better.

 

[DieselTwitch]

Mainly I thought up the evil idea to strap a snowbike kit to a ktm 990 adventure and want to know how bad of an idea it is.

Very very bad idea!!!

 

[garafajon]

Lighter is better, even the difference between a KTM500 and a KX450 makes the KX a better bike. It's lighter, spins up quicker and has more power. A 990 would work, but it wouldn't be better than a smaller/lighter bike. BUT if you own a 990 and that's all you got, then go for it. You'll like it better than not riding.

Just for the record, the weight of those two bikes is actually very close, if not the same. (at least referring to current models)

KX curb weight: 248 lbs
KTM 500 EXC w/out fuel: 245.8 lbs

So, comparing apples to apples the "curb weight" usually means with a full tank of gas, so for the KX weight w/out fuel should be:
248 lbs - (1.65 gal x 6.073 lb/gal ) = 238 lbs, or difference of 7.8 lbs

By the same token, however, the EXC has mirrors, blinkers & stuff that can come off for the snow. Also, rumor is you can save 5 pounds with a lighter battery, so that should bring it to just about the same. Well, pretty darn close anyway. One of the biggest differences is that it just holds more gas If it is heavier it is still totally worth it for the e-start and light.

Didn't try to distract from the topic, but if someone is thinking about a specific bike it would be worth knowing the full story.



http://kx.kawasaki.com/450/
http://www.ktm.com/us/enduro/500excusa/highlights.html#.UrK11HlFB94