Anyone own/ridden a Snow Bike?

[jgb@etree]

I think I need one of these. Cool as hell!

[capulin overdrive]

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.

[Benny Profane]

There going to be digging a lot of those out of avalanche debris pretty soon.

[capulin overdrive]

they're

[sb]

looks like a lot of phun

[2FUNKY]

There going to be digging a lot of those out of avalanche debris pretty soon.

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.

[Shredhead]

I'm going to have to get one next year. What does the conversion kit cost and what is the optimum size bike?

[adrenalated]

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.

Yes and no.

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.

[Benny Profane]

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.

[TAFKALVS]

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?

[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.

[TAFKALVS]

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.

[Norseman]

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.

[muted]

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.

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.

[abraham]

, you back off a pickup truck bed at the trailhead, finish your beer, and take off.

Hey that's how I like to ski sometimes too

[Benny Profane]

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.

Well, thank you. Enjoy the debate!

[TAFKALVS]

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.

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.

[2FUNKY]

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.

I'd like to see him finally off load a chair.

[NW_SKIER]

I'd like to see him finally off load a chair.

Without injury

[skiing-in-jackson]

... They'll allow the yahoo ...non athletic types even easier access to prime backcountry powder. ...

Kind of like the Rossignol S7?

Classic!

[TacocaT]

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.

[bourbonisgood]

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.

[Svengali]

As a skier; Unless you can ghostride one, Useless! AFAIC

[Gman]

you should get one for magic for when red rolls back on ya. looks cool as hell

[capulin overdrive]

As a skier; Unless you can ghostride one, Useless! AFAIC

Yeah, but the lines you can ghost a sled on, usually aren't worth the effort to ski.