Are Snow Bikes Fun?

Ballzdeep

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Yup. And lots of 450 bikes on Kijiji around $4000.

Bingo, buy a 08 CRF 450 bike, best bike made in my opinion. Can pick up a clean unmolested one for around 3500-4000$ I own a 04, 08 and a 16 crf 450 and my 08 is the best. I'm on a budget this summer but i hope i can find a kit for under 3g. It won't be a fancy, but it will get a guy into a pretty sick set up.
 

maierch

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Bingo, buy a 08 CRF 450 bike, best bike made in my opinion. Can pick up a clean unmolested one for around 3500-4000$ I own a 04, 08 and a 16 crf 450 and my 08 is the best. I'm on a budget this summer but i hope i can find a kit for under 3g. It won't be a fancy, but it will get a guy into a pretty sick set up.

Wouldn't you want a 2009 to get fuel injection? I remember back in 2008 or so I was in Whitefish, MT and ran into a guy with an 05 CRF450 with a 2 Moto kit on it. The temp was about -20 that day and he must have kicked that thing about 100 times outside the warming hut to get it going after letting it sit for 25 mins.
 

Ballzdeep

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Wouldn't you want a 2009 to get fuel injection? I remember back in 2008 or so I was in Whitefish, MT and ran into a guy with an 05 CRF450 with a 2 Moto kit on it. The temp was about -20 that day and he must have kicked that thing about 100 times outside the warming hut to get it going after letting it sit for 25 mins.

Fuel injection would probably be easier on the bike but i'm not willing to use my 16 for winter. Didn't think it would make that much of a difference....now ya got me thinking haha
 

moyiesledhead

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Wouldn't you want a 2009 to get fuel injection? I remember back in 2008 or so I was in Whitefish, MT and ran into a guy with an 05 CRF450 with a 2 Moto kit on it. The temp was about -20 that day and he must have kicked that thing about 100 times outside the warming hut to get it going after letting it sit for 25 mins.

My 07 CRF450X is carbed and it's never been an issue. I don't ride at -20 though. Guys I know with EFI suffer from fuel in their oil from the computer overfueling at lower engine temps without adding a thermostat. Carb won't do that. I have an engine jacket around mine and no thermostat. Stays up to temp just fine.
 

assaultn

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A tonne of talk about bikes needing to be 20-25k. This is not the case. It's the same case as sleds... can they get expensive? Yes, absolutely but they don't have to be to have a great time. A guy in our group built a perfect economy package.
New 2016 yz450fx
New camso dts129
intake
engine blanket
led light
rad protectors
bark bashers
seat concepts seat
He is into this brand new setup for around 14.5k. My build would be over 30k to replicate and his bike hangs in their all day. Yes, there are a few lines I can make that he can't but we always end up at the same destination with the same smiles. I would compare the two bikes to riding an T3 800 and a G4 850. 850 is better but still in the same league.

We all want more power and all the fancy gadgets but it definately is not 100% necessary in order to get out there and have a great time.
 
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barefooter

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My 07 CRF450X is carbed and it's never been an issue. I don't ride at -20 though. Guys I know with EFI suffer from fuel in their oil from the computer overfueling at lower engine temps without adding a thermostat. Carb won't do that. I have an engine jacket around mine and no thermostat. Stays up to temp just fine.

Throw a Lectron on that 08 and you won't have to be worrying. Best bang for the buck on carbed 4 stroke. They have them dialed for snowbiking.

Greg
 

etecheaven

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A tonne of talk about bikes needing to be 20-25k. This is not the case. It's the same case as sleds... can they get expensive? Yes, absolutely but they don't have to be to have a great time. A guy in our group built a perfect economy package.
New 2016 yz450fx
New camso dts129
intake
engine blanket
led light
rad protectors
bark bashers
seat concepts seat
He is into this brand new setup for around 14.5k. My build would be over 30k to replicate and his bike hangs in their all day. Yes, there are a few lines I can make that he can't but we always end up at the same destination with the same smiles. I would compare the two bikes to riding an T3 800 and a G4 850. 850 is better but still in the same league.

We all want more power and all the fancy gadgets but it definately is not 100% necessary in order to get out there and have a great time.

Your forgetting a few other basic items

front suspension tine
fuel caddy
storage
heated bars
kill switch

But i agree you can have a great time without some of the excess. Cant wait for this winter, i just picked up my CRF450RX yesterday! $9000 OTD
 
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Ballzdeep

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Your forgetting a few other basic items

front suspension tine
fuel caddy
storage
heated bars
kill switch

But i agree you can have a great time without some of the excess. Cant wait for this winter, i just picked up my CRF450RX yesterday! $9000 OTD

with estart and kick? or did you have to buy kickstart as option?...i'm so jealous, Congrats man!
 

assaultn

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Your forgetting a few other basic items

front suspension tine
fuel caddy
storage
heated bars
kill switch

But i agree you can have a great time without some of the excess. Cant wait for this winter, i just picked up my CRF450RX yesterday! $9000 OTD

Nope, I left the front suspension and heated bars off the list on purpose. I run the Raze heated bars and have them turned off most of the time. For me it seems heated bars = wet gloves. Super nice to have especially on the trail down but not gonna prevent you from rippn it up. Suspension has much more impact on your riding but stock springs and valving will not prevent you from getting out there. I've went from stock to simply putting 60s to a full RMR setup. The RMR setup is money well spent in my opinion. I was able to simply ride faster and be in control much more but I would not shy away from getting into the sport if suspension was going to break the budget. We have guys in our group running stock internals and original fork oil that have a great time.

Agree 100% on the other items though. Definitely gotta throw that into the budget. Have seen some pretty creative ways to se that up on the cheap.
 
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