I think I need one of these. Cool as hell!
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I think I need one of these. Cool as hell!
I've got one, and trading in my sled for a second one for this season.
Sled just sat in the garage collecting dust after I got the bike.
There going to be digging a lot of those out of avalanche debris pretty soon.
they're
looks like a lot of phun
No more than any other snow sport. They were designed and built in my area 12 years ago I have yet to read about one being caught in one around here. Not saying it hasn't happened, just haven't read or heard about one. They are almost as popular as sleds in these parts and access way more terrain due to our heavily timbered slopes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
I'm going to have to get one next year. What does the conversion kit cost and what is the optimum size bike?
Yes and no.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2FUNKY
I haven't ridden a snowbike, but the consensus is that it is WAY easier to ride sidehill on a bike than on a sled, which makes total sense. That means that a relatively inexperienced rider - or perhaps an expert dirt biker venturing into the mountains in the winter for the first time - can get on steep slopes much easier than an inexperienced sledder can.
Does that mean fatalities will go up as Benny suggests? Maybe, maybe not - depends heavily on how good a job the dealers do in pushing avy awareness, and the culture within the sport. As you noted, a bike is much more useful in the trees than a sled, opening up a lot more safe terrain on higher danger days.
Great piece here by a snowbike dealer: http://backcountryaccess.com/snowbik...anche-terrain/
Colorado had it's first snowbike fatality last year on Cottonwood Pass.
http://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/ac...=598&accfm=inv
I would argue that the use of a snowbike vs a sled was fairly irrelevant in this accident - the victim was climbing on a sidehill, but in that open terrain a sled climbing straight up would have been just as likely to trigger the slide.
I'm a little surprised these things are being celebrated here in a ski board. They'll allow the yahoo motorized mobile non athletic types even easier access to prime backcountry powder. Poof, wrrrr, wrrrr, all gone, and, if the pilots are really ignorant of dangers, maybe bury some poor souls skinning up.
Kind of like the Rossignol S7?Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
The point is, at least the skier has to work a bit to get to the goods. These things, you back off a pickup truck bed at the trailhead, finish your beer, and take off.
Sure, to ride mellow stuff... takes some skill and effort to ride anything that you'd want to ski. No different than a snowmobile.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
Long thread on TAY about these
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing...?topic=27938.0
I've seen lots of tracks where they shouldn't be... in wilderness. This will continue to be an agitating occurrence.
You, as someone who doesn't ski backcountry and probably have never driven a snowmobile to access any skiing, just know your points are very, very valuable and will be taken to heart by all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
Hey that's how I like to ski sometimes tooQuote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
Quote:
Originally Posted by muted
Well, thank you. Enjoy the debate!
I'd like to see benny sidehill a snowbike or hill climb something steep with a sled and tell us it's easy and low/no-skill.Quote:
Originally Posted by muted
I'd like to see him finally off load a chair.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier
Without injuryQuote:
Originally Posted by 2FUNKY
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
Classic!Quote:
Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier
I demoed a timbersled on a 450 ktm 4 or 5 years ago and rode a buddy's 525 ktm also with a timbersled kit for a day last year. I can't imagine anything less than 450cc getting the job done. I was a better dirt bike rider by the time i rode the 525 and had an absolute blast. They side hill much easier and fit into tighter trees but lack the utility of a sled. I think they are fun but it did not convince me to get rid of my snowmobile.
I have ridden my dirt bike with my skis on my back a few times and the novelty wears off quick.
Nothing a Mo Pros rack won't solve, no? Plenty of guys seem to love that setup. If it works as well as the one on my sled it's a no brainer.Quote:
Originally Posted by TacocaT
As a skier; Unless you can ghostride one, Useless! AFAIC
you should get one for magic for when red rolls back on ya. looks cool as hell
Quote:
Originally Posted by Svengali
Yeah, but the lines you can ghost a sled on, usually aren't worth the effort to ski.
That's what I'm finding out, currently have a 350sxf. Obviously powder looks like a blast, but how are they on sled trails and woopdedoed out roads?Quote:
Originally Posted by TacocaT
Depends on where you are. In CO, this is largely true, but there's a lot of other places where ghosting sleds is more common and useful.Quote:
Originally Posted by capulin overdrive
If I had a 450f I would probably get a snowbike kit. Seeing as I ride a 250f I think I wouldn't get the most pleasure out of it. Rode one a few years ago. Kinda a pogo stick feeling and didn't want to lean. I'll stick with my thumb throttle good times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I17DmLQmdBM It was worth it the hundred or so times my old skidoo cycled these same lines. http://www.alaskasnow.org/wp-content...s-Ski-Runs.jpgmany of these same lines are regularly accessed by your favorite local Heli opsQuote:
Quote Originally Posted by Svengali View Post
As a skier; Unless you can ghostride one, Useless! AFAIC
Quote Originally Posted by capulin overdrive
Yeah, but the lines you can ghost a sled on, usually aren't worth the effort to ski.
different strokes for different folks I guess.....
Timbersleds are getting more popular around here.
I wouldn't do it with less than a 450. Saw a guy on 350, and he basically had to follow our tracks to get out (deep day) until our tracks got too steep... then he had to radio his buddies for help.
I don't think you can ghost ride them very well... I don't see a really good application for use along side skiing. .. Sleds are much more versatile for skiers/boarders IMO.
They are relatively easy to maneuver / side hill compared to a sled, but they cant handle the same inclines. If you are already a moto guy or happen to have a 450 kicking around, I can see the appeal. But otherwise, you may as well get a sled.
I already have a sled, but will probably be due for a new one after this season. I would just ride a snowbike.
TimberSled conversions cost about US$6,000 for the performance package.
I'd also like to get one for the kids old 110CRF to groom fat bike trails.
^ fucking back country elitist.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
Quote:
Originally Posted by Svengali
I stand corrected!
I don't know if it is that simple on a snobike. The difference I see is the amount of space behind you and the strength sub frame on the back of a moto. The tunnel on a mountain sled is pretty long, leaving more options for mounting points and a lot less ski hanging off the back. Dirt bike frames are not all that stout behind the seat some of the racier bikes have hardly anything there at all. I am sure it can be done but it would probably involve welding.Quote:
Originally Posted by bourbonisgood
My experience carrying skis on a dirt bike consist of some very mellow riding for some spring runs. So I am no expert. But I have a ride or two in ski boots under my belt.
so you got a gear box on the snow bike compared to no gear box on a sled, so how is that ... same as riding a dirt bike OR??
I did hear snow bikes are underpowered for the highmarking
Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
Same as dirt with the clutch, some guys run Rekluse to make them like an automatic tranny, bike won't stall and die if not clutched.
I feel the gearbox is better than a sled cvt, as there's less spin to get the track going vs 4000rpm just for a sled to start moving. Getting out of a pickle in deep snow is easier, as the bike won't trench out of the gate to get you going.
Yeah they won't draw Homo Rainbows like the better sleds. But other than the pyschos banging big chutes or lines, what's the point? The bikes will still get to the top of anything that 99% of sled riders can get to.
Just curious, the dirt bike thing was in another life, at this point I don't see the point in any of them
except mebe work transportation, it sure has been pretty nice getting shuttled around geared up with my saw & fuel to cut trees instead of walkin
speak for yourself, but the rest us of us over here..... who know how to ride a sled... do not understand this problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by capulin overdrive
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmcrawfo
Just the facts, bikes are easier to ride, easier to get unstuck, etc.