Snow Ride / Not so easy

GoldenMotor.com
R

Riding Rich

New Member
Aug 14, 2009
349
0
0
pa
Well rode 5 miles to work today after about 6 in or more snow last night.
On the packed down stuff not too bad.
The deep snow is next to impossable.

I don't have studs yet.
Gonna have to do something for sure.

Wiped out 1 time crossing over railroad tracks.
Didn't get hurt luckily.

I rode with one foot on the ground and the back tire spinning the whole time.
Very hard to peddle / Especially to start.
Got to get a pull start.

I'm thinking studded tires for sure and if i can figure a way..........
Mount small pair of Skis one on each side of the Front Fork.

Have to be adjustable so i could raise them when there isn't snow on the road.

Really turned out to be alot harder than i thought.
Not gonna give up.
Gonna get some better gear..bf.
 
X

xlite

New Member
Jun 18, 2009
735
0
0
ny,ny
LOL! Both feet out all the way!

When you see that ice patch ahead pull in the clutch and don't even THINK about brakes. If you got good knobbies then tiny sheet metal screws in the thick part of the thread. I used them for ice racing back in the 70s but not the HTs. At least not yet.
 
J

jcchappy

New Member
Aug 18, 2009
144
0
0
antlers, ok.
ye get some of those water ski's i always see in the thrift good store for like $5. mount the to the forks. they're like 5 ft long make the where when you turn it doesnt hit the back wheel. man i wished it snowed around here I want to build this now.
 
R

Riding Rich

New Member
Aug 14, 2009
349
0
0
pa
Well i'm saying keep the front tire on.
And mount skis off to the sides to stabilize things.
Anyway if my wife will let me spend the $65.00 the local bike shop has the nokian mount + ground studded tires.
At least one on the front.
Otherwise it's the knobbies and screws till i figure somethin out.

Glad i wear a full face dirtbike helmet.
 
AaronF

AaronF

New Member
Aug 24, 2009
389
0
0
Illinois
Sounds like fun Rich. I rode the other night on the icy roads with gust of 40+mph winds/snow on my street tires turned out to be alot of fun :D Keep your weight packed down in the back as much as you can!
 
4

42blue15

New Member
Sep 18, 2008
136
0
0
St Louis metro, USA
jcchappy said:
ye get some of those water ski's i always see in the thrift good store for like $5. mount the to the forks. they're like 5 ft long make the where when you turn it doesnt hit the back wheel. man i wished it snowed around here I want to build this now.
Click to expand...
Water skis and snow skis are made quite a bit different,,,,
You might be able to water-ski on some snow skis, but water skis don't work in the snow.
The water skis will slide around in the snow for certain, but not how you want.
They will slide equally in all directions, because the bottoms of water skis are flat, not grooved lengthwise like snow skis are.

Also the water skis won't really turn at all, because they are made not to bend, and the side edges bulge out.... Snow skis are flexible and they are hourglass-shaped; the ends are wider than the middle (where your foot straps on).
~
 
R

Riding Rich

New Member
Aug 14, 2009
349
0
0
pa
I'm thinking steel skis with 2 rolled beads protruding down about 3/8 inch.
Like a snomobile will allow sliding forward and back but not sideways.
Picture a set of Training wheels on the front of the bike, not wheels though SKIS.
 
X

xlite

New Member
Jun 18, 2009
735
0
0
ny,ny
Riding Rich said:
I'm thinking steel skis with 2 rolled beads protruding down about 3/8 inch.
Like a snomobile will allow sliding forward and back but not sideways.
Picture a set of Training wheels on the front of the bike, not wheels though SKIS.
Click to expand...
You will kill yourself.
 
Felixcat

Felixcat

New Member
Dec 12, 2009
8
0
0
Boston
Riding Rich said:
I'm thinking steel skis with 2 rolled beads protruding down about 3/8 inch.
Like a snomobile will allow sliding forward and back but not sideways.
Picture a set of Training wheels on the front of the bike, not wheels though SKIS.
Click to expand...
at loom mountain you can rent a bike with a ski in back and one in front so you can steer down the mountain with them. They work!
Maybe can get a idea from them.. Heres the link.. Rider Profiles
Felix's bag of tricks. usflg
 
AaronF

AaronF

New Member
Aug 24, 2009
389
0
0
Illinois
Riding Rich said:
I'm sayin keep the front wheel on and use skis as secondary support.
Why wouldn't that work?
Click to expand...
You may be able to mount one ski on each side of the fork,of course having something strong enough to stabilize the weight of the bike and the rider.When you need them down simply get off and pull/push your skis down..
 
R

Riding Rich

New Member
Aug 14, 2009
349
0
0
pa
Yes that is what i was thinking but some think skis = death.
I'd hate to find out the hard way. = death
Have any of you tried anything like this?
Or Had a bad experience with skis.

Just thinking maybe it would help to stabilize the front wheel.
I would set the skis a little up from the bottom of the wheel.
Obviously if the front wheel came off the ground i'd be in trouble.

When i rode yesterday i wiped out on railroad tracks.
Soon as the front wheel contacted the rail i went down.

Just looking to keep the front wheel from slideing.
 
AaronF

AaronF

New Member
Aug 24, 2009
389
0
0
Illinois
Riding Rich said:
Yes that is what i was thinking but some think skis = death.
I'd hate to find out the hard way. = death
Have any of you tried anything like this?
Or Had a bad experience with skis.

Just thinking maybe it would help to stabilize the front wheel.
I would set the skis a little up from the bottom of the wheel.
Obviously if the front wheel came off the ground i'd be in trouble.

When i rode yesterday i wiped out on railroad tracks.
Soon as the front wheel contacted the rail i went down.

Just looking to keep the front wheel from slideing.
Click to expand...

I haven't installed skis before though I'd love to do something similar.Depending on how the skis would be mounted to the bike you'd still probably need some kind a backup for them as well if they were to fail.For now,when your riding over railroad tracks or anything slick try to 'double' your weight into the bike allowing your weight to hold down the front and back end a little more to stop from sliding..Hopefully you understand what I mean!
 
R

Riding Rich

New Member
Aug 14, 2009
349
0
0
pa
No riding over snowy tracks for me anymore.
I'll walk across.

Tried it on the way home and i did a 360.

The first time i landed on my butt.
My hip is still a little sore.

Once i get something together i'll share my results.
I have an extra fork with the shocks built in.
Thinking of cutting it up and using it for part of the mount.
 
hiker472

hiker472

Member
Nov 6, 2008
653
3
18
Ontonagon County,Upper Michigan
Definitely get a pull start, they're the only way to go. As for the ski idea, wouldn't they slide a bit too much without springs so they can give a little when leaning on a turn?

When I think of riding in snow, I think of studded tires and either a three wheeled bike or one with a side car for support.

Either way, if you could rig it with skis somehow and make it usable by anybody, you may have the makings for a new business venture here. A lot of us live in the frozen north!
 
X

xlite

New Member
Jun 18, 2009
735
0
0
ny,ny
Riding Rich said:
Yes that is what i was thinking but some think skis = death.
I'd hate to find out the hard way. = death
Have any of you tried anything like this?
Or Had a bad experience with skis.

Just thinking maybe it would help to stabilize the front wheel.
I would set the skis a little up from the bottom of the wheel.
Obviously if the front wheel came off the ground i'd be in trouble.
Click to expand...
I was referring to the "training wheel" skiis. Someone I used to race with whos opinion I respect (not internet :eek:) bought a set and almost killed himself. He later learned another person actually did. Apparently the problem occurs when you bank.

I'm told regular bikes with one ski in front and also with skis in back are not so dangerous but I'd hesitate to try either of those with a motor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom