Ice riding

[Paul_E_D]

Wheels, or tires?

[ducatirdr]

Wheels. I plan to keep the set I have set up with my studded tires for winter riding in the woods, but would want to get a set of wheels set up for ice.

[nhbubba]

OK If I wanted to get wheels for my KTM 350EXC what would you recommend?

Snag a set of used wheels, rotors and sprocket off fleabay or a tusk setup from rocky mountain. Dial up frpoffroad.com and order a set of both direction "canadian" screw ice tires. Kiss your discretionary toy fund good bye for a while but be prepared fer sum fun.

[tls25rs]

No personal experience, yet, but the Tusk Impact wheel set from Rocky Mountain ATV is inexpensive comparatively and from what the people I know that have them have said, as well as the reviews of them online, they are a decent purchase. I will likely buy a set for my YZ at some point in the relatively near future.

[maxim_X]

I think i have tusk wheels for the second set on my KTM.

Lets just say I wanted to ride ice this year.... would I be better served getting the icey setup for a crf450r supermoto or my woodsey ktm300?

[Rada]

Your 300 will likely start better on cold days unless you has a button. If you have two wheel sets for the Kaboom I would go that way

[Mr. Kurtz]

Good point. Dirt bikes are fickle with cold. Make sure anything you plan to ride on ice will start well in below freezing temps. Spending an hour kicking isn't fun. I know.

[Mr. Kurtz]

Thanks Kurtz I was hoping you would weigh in. I guess just ice would be where I would start out. Just got a pm about wheels on ADVrider at a good price.

Yeah if you can find cheap wheels and swing a set of ice tires, do it. Used ice tires pop up from time to time too, as fast guys upgrade.

But seriously, if you don't have a setup in time, come try it. I'm hoping to get out more than twice this year.

[Rada]

By all means show up some weekend when we are riding and introduce yourself. Most guys are pretty good about letting you go for a rip. It's like heroin though. Be prepared. Lol

As Paul said, you can have a fricking ball on a 150f. Hell. I've had a ball on a CRF80.

My daughter out on the CR having fun getting used to it.

[Imbeek]

This will be my first season ever on "real" ice tires, first time even riding on them! I have them mounted on a spare rim set for the KTM 250xc so I'm looking forward to it.

[Paul_E_D]

This will be my first season ever on "real" ice tires, first time even riding on them! I have them mounted on a spare rim set for the KTM 250xc so I'm looking forward to it.

Holy foook, you are in for a treat!

[nhbubba]

Rejet and the machine will probably start easier. Mine usually starts and runs well jetted to the KTM book. I run the same pilot year round but the main and needle both get swapped.

Paul, he said XC, not XC-F.

[Mr. Kurtz]

Rejet and the machine will probably start easier. Mine usually starts and runs well jetted to the KTM book. I run the same pilot year round but the main and needle both get swapped.

Paul, he said XC, not XC-F.

I added a snowmobile type fuel primer, per Mr. Butler's suggestion. CR250 starts like a champ now.

KTM never needed it. Magic button always did the trick.

[Paul_E_D]

Rejet and the machine will probably start easier. Mine usually starts and runs well jetted to the KTM book. I run the same pilot year round but the main and needle both get swapped.

Paul, he said XC, not XC-F.

I know what he said

[01xj]

Yeah if you can find cheap wheels and swing a set of ice tires, do it. Used ice tires pop up from time to time too, as fast guys upgrade.

But seriously, if you don't have a setup in time, come try it. I'm hoping to get out more than twice this year.

Found a set of wheels at a good price. By the time it's cold enough to ride I'll likely have the whole set up. I'll probably need some assistance mounting the wheels and tires since I've never done that before.

[carsick]

I'll probably need some assistance mounting the wheels and tires since I've never done that before.

Yes, you will. Guidance from the master-


The playlist there has a LOT of good info. Much like getting laid, getting them hot, lots of lube, a couple drinks, and experience make it all go easier. Much like porn however, that vid makes it look far easier than it is. Also make triple sure your tires are on forwards. I screwed up my first try, and the handling is awful. My first season I had three flats on one bike (all rear). After following that vid, three bikes with NO flats. That double tube seems to be the trick. The ultra heavy tubes are awful to buy, install, and ride due to the weight. Note that no bead locks are used, running 15-20 PSI keeps the tire in place. Maybe your DR doesn't have them anyway.

[MattR302]

I can't believe that 1) you're going to try to ride that beast on ice, and 2) that no one else in this thread has said you're nuts for considering it.

[Mr. Kurtz]

Found a set of wheels at a good price. By the time it's cold enough to ride I'll likely have the whole set up. I'll probably need some assistance mounting the wheels and tires since I've never done that before.

FUCK. THAT.

I've paid to have all my ice tires mounted. Blood and time are worth it. Manchester Honda/KTM did my brand new KTM wheels and Fourniers, and Libby's replace a tube for my CR250.

[carsick]

Make sure in advance the shop knows how to do them. I've heard of a couple broken beads due to brutality, ruining an otherwise perfect and fucking expensive tire. I haven't bled yet, but there was a lot of profanity until I learned some technique and accepted that it takes a while.

[Imbeek]

FUCK. THAT.

I've paid to have all my ice tires mounted. Blood and time are worth it. Manchester Honda/KTM did my brand new KTM wheels and Fourniers, and Libby's replace a tube for my CR250.

Haha last time I changed ice tires...this was taking em OFF (so the easier part) last season after not getting a chance to use them at all the whole season because of weather, I ended up bleeding and it left marks that look like I tried slitting my wrists! This was trying to be careful, with the canvas wraps in place. Those screws are sharp as hell, and everywhere. Fuck that. When I found a set of wheels, I was able to convince the dudes at the Dunlop track day at southwick mx to mount them and was so happy when they agreed for something like $15 a wheel. Never again!

[nhbubba]

I got my tires in the middle of winter. Couldn't lay 'em out in the sun to warm up or anything. I set them up in front of the wood stove and let them soak for a while. Barely helped. I wound up mounting them on the floor of the living room on a scrap of old carpet. It was too cold in the basement. Took me hours of swearing. I never, ever, ever want to unmount or remount those tires. Ever.

I have a heat gun now and would probably point that at everything were I to have to try again. The rear is insanely thick and heavy. The rubber seems extra hard. Bead had zero give and was a nightmare to keep in the dish.

[R7]

Watched my buddy move bikes around with one of these the other day, worked a lot better than I expected. Does that work?

Attachment 45880

Not really, its 1/4 mile to the first pond, 1/2 mile to the second pond...all trail. Unfortunately I think the second pond will make a better ice track.

downhill all the way ? you could ice up a trail that would double as a bobsled run

Both up and down, but as mentioned above, its a bit far

[Paul_E_D]

Build a timberframe barn at said pond with a wood stove. Easy peasy.

[isaac_]

Good point. Dirt bikes are fickle with cold. Make sure anything you plan to ride on ice will start well in below freezing temps. Spending an hour kicking isn't fun. I know.

don't be like me kids... on the other hand... It builds character. And after a while... a mighty kick.

[tls25rs]

Build a timberframe barn at said pond with a wood stove. Easy peasy.

This could double as a warming hut!