Snowbike seem to be catching on......
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skegpro
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Ahead of its time.
catalac
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Built and rode a ktm450 timbersled snowbike for a season, the places you ride and the weather likely determines whether you prefer a sled or a snowbike, poor visibility and pounded out riding areas by sleds snowbike is fun, tree riding really fun, deep snow steep slopes not so fun. Blue sky day 2 ft fresh I'll take a sled any day.
Bernoff
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Totally agree Catalac but judging by the sled threads there isn't a perfect sled either. Lol. I'm just pretty keen on finding how far I can push myself on those different riding styles on a BIKE... By what I did after a couple of days on one all I can say is this is going to be " FUN "
catalac
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Yup agreed... Need both and a chopper to lift both up and set them in alpine for me on any given day
moyiesledhead
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Agree with both of you. Love my bike.....but not gonna sell my sled either. Look at the day, then pick the toy.
Bernoff
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Well just got back from riding at Allen with a couple of 450 KTMs. What a FRIGGIN FRIGGIN BLAST. Those bikes can pull hard. Its just hard realizing that you "don't" need all the speed and momentum that you used to need to get somewhere. If you get stuck and that is "IF" ya just lay it on its side, pull ski around, jump on and let it rip. Like takes a hole 30 seconds. As for shifting really don't need to, stick it in 2nd and you can tour around pretty much anywhere all day long. Didn't have to travel to the very back to find good snow. Played in burn area for 2 days way down in the willows. Seats need a bit of redeveloping though. If you rent or buy get a winter seat on it and a pair of padded type of under pant ( got mine from Riverside ). So comfy I wore them in truck on trip home. I must have old bony BUTT syndrome. Ha Ha. Let a guy try it at the cabin and when he came back I saw what I look like " Smiling from ear to ear". The trail up can be wild cause with a bike you start riding Motocross and lean right into those corners. Fun Fun. Went to a hill where a bunch of sledders were and said wow that looks like a lot of work. LOl. A guy has to have skills to side hill like that but not me anymore. We probably pissed off a few guy cause we just rode the whole side hill like nothing. It is what it is. I thought the bikes were useless until I rode one. As you can tell my sled is up for sale. Got a nice Orangy bike now. I will still admit that they do need refining but that's a comin just like the sleds every year. Took some video so hoping that they are good enough to put on here someday.
Rode last weekend in 3+ft of soft fresh snow. Bike was a blast but I was glad we had a bunch of sleds in the group. Any of the bigger hills definitely needed tracks on it so that I could make it up. Couple spots I had to take a long run at the track in 3rd gear wot throttle and do a a quick down shift on the way up the entire time poaching a track. It made but without the tracks in the snow no way I would have got up a few spots just not enough hp. Downhill is still a blast. Snow was deep enough I finally got to experience what I kept hearing about, ski washing out on tighter turns in deep snow. There are times that turning hard the ski will loose bite esp when down hill turning and it is a lot like a bike front tire loosing grip. Never wiped out because of it but it definitely got my attention. Running the yeti air intake bike never missed a beat, with engine blanket and thermostat temps were 160-180ish. Bike was submerged in snow the majority of the day. Snow again that night so took the sled out the next day and even it was struggling with a 153. Still enjoying the bike but super deep days pretty sure I will I ride the sled those days. Looking forward to trying the bike is some soft spring snow eventually. I imagine in 8-14 inches of snow the bikes will be more fun as the hero snow can get old on a sled.
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Bernoff
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If you stick a 800cc and a 160'' plus track in a bike frame then I would say your comparing apples to apples. For what the bikes come with and what they can do I would say that one picture of yours says it all. Killin it... I can only imagine bikes with that kind of power and track. Lol
Seems I keep riding in deep days. Interested to try this bike out in some more marginal snow. I assume it will work better then. If not then might try a long track next year and see if that helps. The part I dont like is the bike on a deep day can become a liability in some areas in that in might not make it out even with a packed trail. Spring time will tell. That or I need a turbo on it
Bernoff
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Turbo helps all the time LOL. You just have to pace yourself a bit. I have not had to snowbike through the DEEP stuff yet but I will take it all in stride cause there limits to everything. Sledding on a DEEP day can be frustrating unless you have the long tracks and Turbo power. Ha ha can't tell me that you also haven't gone sleddin in an area that even with a packed trail it took you a while to get out. Each machine has it's drawbacks, always will, the bikes are in the early stages of development so if you use it just to the edge of it's LIMITS your going to have fun.
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skegpro
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Sell it, buy a sidewinder.Seems I keep riding in deep days. Interested to try this bike out in some more marginal snow. I assume it will work better then. If not then might try a long track next year and see if that helps. The part I dont like is the bike on a deep day can become a liability in some areas in that in might not make it out even with a packed trail. Spring time will tell. That or I need a turbo on it
Stop being a liability
barefooter
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LOL. If you have a bunch of buds on sleds, best thing you can do is rent them all bikes for a day. Problem instantly solved.
Sleds are all sold. Everyone rides bikes. All good.
Done it 3 times - works like a charm.
Sleds are all sold. Everyone rides bikes. All good.
Done it 3 times - works like a charm.
Bernoff
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One ride and I was sold on them. Don't have that beat up feeling after a days ride on a bike. The next morning pain pills are reduced too...
barefooter
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Ya - I'd like to say that was the case. Problem is I am riding harder. Having to pop the same amount of Tylenol but having soooooo much fun
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skegpro
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Stick to flat land, millions of miles of logging roads.
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