Yeti vs Timbersled - my impression

[meathooker]

I'm not a huge snow biker (yet) but my dad and a buddy just picked up matching 2016 FC450 and one got a Timber st120 with tss (dad's) and the other a yeti 129. I got a good amount of seat time on both yesterday both on the trail and up in the trees. The first thing I noticed with the TS on the trail it was a handful! I had to learn to relax or it would fight you the whole time. Arm pump fairly quickly. Get out in the untracked edge and you could rip and pass sleds on the outside of corners - cool. The yeti as the opposite - super predictable on the trail but as soon as you got a ski in the untracked snow at high speeds it got head shake BAD. It seems like the yeti rolls a little easier and has a little more top end that the TS - possibly due to belt drive?

On the Mtn the TS was much more enjoyable to ride. It was so effortless to carve up the hill. The yeti felt like it was always fighting you - like the ski was wondering side to side. Going straight up the hill it seemed like the yeti was putting slightly more power to the ground. The TS went everywhere the yeti did but going straight up the hillside the yeti got there a little quicker.

Overall both fun to ride but I had more fun on the TS. So effortless for a snowbike noob. Hoping the tki belt drive comes out soon because if it closes the small straight line gap that would be awesome.

 

[meathooker]

Yeti at top of climb



The yeti kept diving the front ski in. This happened more than once.



Super easy to fit 6 machines in the trailer when two are snow bikes!

 

[Manson456]

What I found on my 2017 129 Yeti is that the recommended setup has way too much ski pressure which causes the diving. Messing with strut rod length, suspension position in tunnel, spring adjustments and fork height has made mine work much better everywhere.

 

[barefooter]

What I found on my 2017 129 Yeti is that the recommended setup has way too much ski pressure which causes the diving. Messing with strut rod length, suspension position in tunnel, spring adjustments and fork height has made mine work much better everywhere.

Got to admit - what he OP described is the exact opposite from my experience between the two kits. The TS with TSS better on trail machine (except for the ski) and the Yeti the superior in the untracked stuff.

Stock springs on the forks?

 

[glowa]

I do not own a snowbike but my dirtbike experience would tell me that the original poster's head shake in the untracked snow could be caused by too much ski pressure!

 

[Manson456]

I do not own a snowbike but my dirtbike experience would tell me that the original poster's head shake in the untracked snow could be caused by too much ski pressure!

Something isn't right for sure. I can be tapped out in 6th and feel planted to the trail.

 

[RMK935VA]

I have not put any time on the Timbersled. I rode my KTM SX450 Yeti 129 on Saturday. I liked it on the trail and in the deep. I needed to put more air in the fork and in the rear shocks for my weight but it was too cold to mess with it. I was out climbing a 155 going right up the hill. The ski worked well until I rode it into a creek and it got ice on the bottom. That was rider error.

 

[needpowder]

I have not put any time on the Timbersled. I rode my KTM SX450 Yeti 129 on Saturday. I liked it on the trail and in the deep. I needed to put more air in the fork and in the rear shocks for my weight but it was too cold to mess with it. I was out climbing a 155 going right up the hill. The ski worked well until I rode it into a creek and it got ice on the bottom. That was rider error.

Ya, stopped on a lake yesterday. Oops. forgot about that!

 

[meathooker]

Got to admit - what he OP described is the exact opposite from my experience between the two kits. The TS with TSS better on trail machine (except for the ski) and the Yeti the superior in the untracked stuff.

Stock springs on the forks?

Both bike all stock

I do not own a snowbike but my dirtbike experience would tell me that the original poster's head shake in the untracked snow could be caused by too much ski pressure!

I'll check it out and see if we can work on the setup.

Something isn't right for sure. I can be tapped out in 6th and feel planted to the trail.

Interesting - I'll report back after we make changes.

 

[capulin overdrive]

Both bikes need stiffer fork springs!




Yeti looks like a fixed strut 2016, so it may be that the TSS is getting along better with the wimpy fork springs?

 

[meathooker]

Both bikes need stiffer fork springs!




Yeti looks like a fixed strut 2016, so it may be that the TSS is getting along better with the wimpy fork springs?

The yeti is a 2016.5 with upgraded track, shocks, and belts drive. It also has the shock mount (TSS)

 

[meathooker]

Both bikes need stiffer fork springs!




Yeti looks like a fixed strut 2016, so it may be that the TSS is getting along better with the wimpy fork springs?

Wouldn't stiffer fork springs make the took much ski pressure situation on the yeti worse?

 

[capulin overdrive]

Wouldn't stiffer fork springs make the took much ski pressure situation on the yeti worse?

Just know stiff springs are night and day better, and would for sure help with stuffing the front in the snow.




I rode a day or two with stock springs, and it was so much better with stiffer springs. Everything just behaved better.

 

[RMK935VA]

I put the Air Pro on mine. 20 lbs. psi is the sweet spot for my Yeti 129 on KTM 450 SXF.

 

[chumbilly1]

I put the Air Pro on mine. 20 lbs. psi is the sweet spot for my Yeti 129 on KTM 450 SXF.

Are you running the rrs? I am excited to put my Airpro on my 450sxf/yeti 129 combo. I have .54 currently and not nearly stiff enough. I have rrs but have not yet used it. Been told by too many folks that rigid strut rod is better in pow.