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Thinking an electric snow bike might be the ticket for backcountry ski access, primarily on low angle closed roads. E because I like the quiet and don't want to mess with gas engine. Snow bike because I want to be able to put it in my van and not tow a trailer. Here's a couple I've looked at:
https://www.ruffiansnowbikes.com/sho...AaAjFvEALw_wcB
https://moonbikes.com/
Hoping they'd have enough power to tow a skier or 2 in easy conditions.
What say y'all?
man, them ain’t cheep… could buy a whole lotta lift tickets for that much dosh.
fact.
What I know about the high power requirements of snow bikes, and the low power delivery of lithium batteries in cold temperatures.
Good luck.
True dat, but also about the same price as a high end E-bike.Quote:
Originally Posted by m2711c
Yeah they do say you need to store the battery inside. Could be a problem if you leave it at a trailhead for the day.Quote:
Originally Posted by heckacali
I'm surprised no one has come up with a vacuum-insulated battery pod for cold weather apps with the battery immersed in some kind of warming juice. Like a thermos except instead of chunks of meat in your stew it's a big Li battery.Quote:
Originally Posted by panchosdad
Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
Seems like you what you'd really want is a pedal assist snow bike?
Somebody makes one (that just looks like parts slapped on a POS emtb frame):
https://envodrive.com/products/envo-flex-snowbike
Assuming your approach is mostly uphill, you've got fresh+warm battery on the way up. On the way down you've got what's left plus the ability to pedal and a net negative gradient.
bury the battery in snow for insulation while you ski if air temps are low...leave it out on a black tarp if it is sunny.
edit: could you make a kit like that that clicks into pin bindings and uses your own skis as the front runners?
I'd love to have one. I bet they have a ton of torque like every electric motor application. Probably fine for 90% of approaches on snow covered fire roads. And agree, the silence of electric transport beats the shit out of the annoying sound of modern sleds echoing all over the woods.
I've got friends with two moon bikes. The approaches to a lot of the backcountry areas in Central Oregon are exactly what you describe. We chewed through a full battery towing one about 6 miles with relatively little elevation gain but about 18" of untracked snow. So definitely not ideal conditions for towing, and it worked better with a lighter ski partner when the roads were groomed later in the season. If you go this route, make sure to get the double battery because I think it's pretty necessary.Quote:
Originally Posted by panchosdad
I don't think you'll be able to tow.
We sled ski behind 100hp 800-850's and can't always make it up even moderately steep groomed roads. These only have 30 hp.
The video I've seen always show them going down very moderate slopes with a couple of inches of fresh.
I looked into one as a possible fat bike trail groomer. I thought it might be more acceptable to the twig sniffing Nordic skiers.
Thanks, nice to get some real world feedback.Quote:
Originally Posted by kinkilla
I've towed skiers on sleds and ridden far tire ebikes in the snow but I haven't towed a skier on an ebike in the snow. No way I would try to tow a skier on an ebike in the snow, even on a groomed trail. I can't imagine how fiddly it would be, how slow you'd go, or how frustrating the failures would get, even on easy approaches. I look forward to seeing an edit in which someone shows me how misguided I am but I just don't see it being viable.
My snowbike guy from the video says 30 hp will tow a skier up a road. Personally if I spent $12000 on the Ruffian I would do a little more with it than tow up a road
Not talking about a fat e-bike, an actual track driven snowbike with a much bigger battery.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cruiser
Some excellent imagining here, thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by singlesline
All kinds of options here: https://gearjunkie.com/winter/10-ele...ways-play-snow
This would turn heads: https://envodrive.com/en-us/products...ctric-snowkart
For us old farts that snow cart might fit the bill
Great video about moon bikes. They got two hours per battery. Bike holds two. The silent access is very appealing.
https://youtu.be/hdY29QfVAJE?si=CecistSw_IHF3VxH
Please don’t do this. Not only will you fuck up your skis or bindings, probably both, but your backup way out down the trail will be gone.Quote:
Originally Posted by singlesline
Please do this, and tell us how it goes. That's the only way humanity progresses.Quote:
Originally Posted by BCMtnHound
They have a 50W battery heater built in. According to the dealer leaving the bike at a trailhead for 6 hours would consume 12% of 1 battery and 6% of a dual set up. Sounds workable to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by heckacali
hahahah. morning coffee almost ended up on screen. thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by panchosdad
Sounds like you are taking yourself into it, excellent.Quote:
Originally Posted by panchosdad
Mandatory TR please.
Spendy but if it works for your particular situation it seems pretty awesome
Ai yi yi, as his partner, I can't wait for these adventures!Quote:
Originally Posted by heckacali
235 lbs so its not light weight, I gotta question how good its gona work for going up hill
Probably works just fine for uphill roads in perfect (packed, not icy) conditions. Won't work at all in unpacked deep pow, especially on any kind of angle. Nowhere to rack your skis and boots, etc. More of a toy than a tool, but probably lots of laughs around the cabin.
Getting closer.Quote:
Originally Posted by heckacali
did you ever do this. This guy thinks they tow.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1498...00027903607733
Been awhile since I looked at it, but I know snow bike kits are available for the Sur-Ron e-bike/motorcycle. At least that way you have summer usage. Probably not as good as the snow specific Ruffians look.
With a traditional snow bike you still have summer use.
You have a motorcycle (unless you buy a built snow bike where somebody discarded the Moto parts already foolishly)
Saw that today too. haha, I think he lives on my street, saw it in the back of a truck yesterday.Quote:
Originally Posted by BFD
I don't think the Li batteries are there yet for cold weather usage unfortunately. The baller move would be a Stark Varg @$13k with a Timbersled kit. 80 hp would just rip.
I have some friends that have switched back and forth w/ timber sled kits on gas bikes. I haven't taken the leap. From everything they tell me, I would probably just switch it once and leave it as a snow bike and just get another bike for summer.
A SurRon would not last very long and might not have enough power or battery life, especially in snow. The 450cc I've ridden was pinned the whole time and that was ~50hp. Sur Rons are like 16 hp if you get the fancy one, 6or7 for the original one.
At the end of the day, there really isn't anything better than a good old fashioned 2stroke snowmobile. (for towing and approach that is)
Agreed on the switching it back and forth.
I don't have one myself but I work on motorcycles and have done that switch for a couple of customers when they got their first kit. After a season or two they just left the snow bike built and got a second bike.
But obviously that is an additional cost not all can afford...