Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/771894
Timbersled Snow Bike Transforma on / Installa on For those of us dirt riders who love to ride but the snow pack gets too deep to even think about riding a motorcycle, a snow bike conversion just might be the answer. Many of us spend every winter staring at their pride and joy, just chomping at the bit to ride. Fortunately snow bike (track kit) technology and popularity has skyrocketed. Thanks to Zack Kosowicz of Freedom Cycle in Concord, New Hampshire, we were invited to observe and document what's involved in conver ng a woods bike to a snow bike. Our bike of choice started with a close-out '16 KTM 450XC-F. The 450 was chosen for its high-revving torque, a power plant that would lend itself well to the demands of deep powder track kit. This was a new bike from the showroom fl oor. The fi rst step in the conversion was to put the bike on a stand and remove the rear wheel, swing arm and rear shock. We then removed the banjo bolt securing the rear brake line to the master cylinder. To simplify the process and make the conversion back to dirt easier, the rear wheel, swing arm and suspension linkage was removed as a unit. This was easily accomplished by removing the swing arm pivot bolt and lower shock bolt. The upper shock bolt was then removed and the en re rear suspension assembly was put aside. Step two was to remove the front brake caliper and brake line. The front brake master is retained for the track brake. Step three consisted of removing the rear brake pedal and master cylinder along with the kick stand, since snow bikes stand on their own. The bo om of the air box was cut open to not only allow for increased breathing, but also to keep the air box from packing up with snow. A fi lter snow dust cover was also installed and included in the fi t kit (adapter kit). For this installa on the Timbersled RAW 120 kit was chosen. The RAW is Timbersled's entry-level snow bike kit. Since we were star ng with a close-out model, Freedom Cycle chose to build this par cular package as a lower-cost alterna ve for a rider considering joining in the fun of this fast-growing segment of motorcycling. More on the RAW package will be featured in our next issue. With the en re rear suspension removed and the air box modifi ed, we were now ready to install the track (skid frame) assembly. This is a very straigh orward installa on, u lizing the exis ng swing arm pivot and pivot bolt. The Timbersled skid frame slid in 24 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com