Anyone here do ice bike racing?

[Ductard]

I know I'm looking quite a bit ahead, but I'm looking to buy a trailer and need to line up storage options.

Whether I plan to use the bikes/trailer during the winter would have an impact on lining up storage options for the winter.

I know very little about ice bike racing except that it's sort of like flat-track racing and you put studs in your tires for traction.

I figure my motard would be best for this - although I'm curious if people regularly use sport bikes (I've seen some youtube videos with people on sportbikes on the ice, but then again, I've also seen a youtube video of someone taking a panigale off road and I'm not planning on doing that).

Not worried about all the details right now, as I'm likely to forget them by winter, but mostly wondering how far from Boston I'd need to go to do it and what months it generally starts up. I know the season would vary based on the weather but just a ballpark.

Oh, and some idea of equipment requirements would be good too. I have the mx wheels and tires for my motard so I figure I can just stud those but are there special cold weather suits or do people just wear either mx suits or their race boots / leathers / gloves?

[kumpy]

calling out Roland Arsenault!!

[Ductard]

calling out Roland Arsenault!!

Thanks Kumpy. I'm going to post this in the dirty section as well to see if that maybe gets a better response.

[rolker]

Yeah, I did try it a couple of winters ago, but it was on borrowed bikes, not mine. Now, I did just get myself a dual sport so I'm looking into getting that one ice ready for this coming winter...

For gear, I just wore what I wear when I go skiing, and my normal race helmet. Boots were just normal winter boots.

I kept the speeds in check, and when I fell, it wasn't much different than falling while skiing.

[Stoneman]

We maintain a more road course oriented track up at my house usually (this past winter being the exception). Dirty bikes, ATV's, even Randy on his automotive-studded V-Strom play on it...

[catahoulabuldog]

Im looking at getting some tires for the WR... anyone? anyone?

[Rada]

Braaap...

[cdovego]

in.

[OreoGaborio]

Bought screws & tire wraps last year... still haven't used em. That needs to change.

[loudbeard]

I'll probably be way underpowered on my KDX but I'm definitely IN for this winter.

[tsorfas]

KTMs can play?

[Kurlon]

Nope, KTMs and ice just don't mix. I totally wasn't on Peter Kates' 300 KTM last winter having a ball.

[tsorfas]

Well guess who has dirt tires that can be studded

[Kurlon]

I'm hoping to win the lottery so I can score some Canadian jobbers on new wheels...

[Ductard]

I was planning on using my 520SX motard for this...I have the MX tires and rims, but this weekend I was talking to some people and they said that would be crazy big for the ice.... Is that true, and if so, is there a way to maybe reduce the power (other than the way NTST modifies it down to 250 CC's lol)?

I'm thinking some way so that a full twist of the throttle only opens it up ~1/3 or so? Not sure that just introducing a bunch of slack in the cable would work b/c seems you'd lose all feel.

Would still be very high off the ground vs something like an XR 100 or XR 200 (bikes in the size range that were suggested) so falling harder might still be an issue....

Not sure I want to buy another bike for this - more of a run what you brung activity to help gain skills to use on the track.

Thoughts?

[Rada]

Yeah.. This shit is fun!!!! This was put together last winter.. Awesome times...

[number9]

That looks fun as fuck

[hondarider102]

its on my bucket list but the cost of the tires is super expensive, maybe by winter time i'll be able to swing it.

[Kurlon]

I'm thinking some way so that a full twist of the throttle only opens it up ~1/3 or so? Not sure that just introducing a bunch of slack in the cable would work b/c seems you'd lose all feel.

I'd suggest a piece of stiff fuel line over the throttle cable in the carb so it restricts how far up you can pull the slide. I'd then note that on ice, the harder you screw on the throttle, the more bite you get with the screws. It's when you're coasting or worse braking that things get sketchy.

[Ductard]

Yeah.. This shit is fun!!!! This was put together last winter.. Awesome times...

Wow...I'm surprised by the big lean angles. Looks super-fun.

its on my bucket list but the cost of the tires is super expensive, maybe by winter time i'll be able to swing it.

How much are we talking about? I figured no more than $50 or so to throw some studs on my MX knobbies....

I'd suggest a piece of stiff fuel line over the throttle cable in the carb so it restricts how far up you can pull the slide. I'd then note that on ice, the harder you screw on the throttle, the more bite you get with the screws. It's when you're coasting or worse braking that things get sketchy.

Hmm...so no front brake action at all? Sounds like I should go back to my MX brake setup before venturing out on the ice... What about suspension? Ice seems like it would be more like a road surface than an MX surface as far as bumpiness goes.

As far as throttle, maybe I'll just ride it like it is - seems like ideally you'd want to restrict both total opening, and amount of opening per degree of throttle twist. Almost like if they made a throttle assembly with a smaller diameter....but I'm just dreaming that up at this point.

I'm hoping to win the lottery so I can score some Canadian jobbers on new wheels...

I don't know the difference between types of studs, but somebody said to stay away from the Canadian Screws - they said they piss other people off because they tear up the ice. Not sure if that's the same as what you're talking about and I suppose it depends on where you're riding - if you plow your own track who cares how much you tear up the ice?

[Ductard]

We maintain a more road course oriented track up at my house usually (this past winter being the exception). Dirty bikes, ATV's, even Randy on his automotive-studded V-Strom play on it...

Hmm...not sure if I we're supposed to read this as an open invitation....

If you're looking for some help getting things set up, then ping me when it gets to be that time of year. I have zero knowledge of what it takes but I'm fairly handy with outdoorsy stuff.

[Ductard]

Oh yeah, one other related question - I live in the city, and I'm considering getting an enclosed trailer - I heard NHMS has a $200 off-season storage option, but would I be able to retrieve my trailer to go ice-biking if I stored it there?

[hondarider102]

Wirelessly posted

If your going to stud your own you really need to use long ice screws, they run about $35 a box of 250 and you'll need 3 boxes or so to have good traction, a lot of people say you really need to use an old tire as a liner etc between the tire and tube so they don't pop it and you should use new tires, there is a more ice specific rear made by kenda I think, so your looking at like $4-500 to make your own once it's all said and done. Or you but them already made and avoid the hassle and have less risk of them pulling out because tire mfg companies use glue on the screws and those go for somewhere in the 6-800 range.

Can it be done cheaper? Absolutely you can screw an old set of tires for about $100 but it will quickly be a waste as a lot of the screws will pull out quickly. I've done a lot of research on this the last 2 winters but am yet to pull the plug

[Ductard]

Wirelessly posted

If your going to stud your own you really need to use long ice screws, they run about $35 a box of 250 and you'll need 3 boxes or so to have good traction, a lot of people say you really need to use an old tire as a liner etc between the tire and tube so they don't pop it and you should use new tires, there is a more ice specific rear made by kenda I think, so your looking at like $4-500 to make your own once it's all said and done. Or you but them already made and avoid the hassle and have less risk of them pulling out because tire mfg companies use glue on the screws and those go for somewhere in the 6-800 range.

Can it be done cheaper? Absolutely you can screw an old set of tires for about $100 but it will quickly be a waste as a lot of the screws will pull out quickly. I've done a lot of research on this the last 2 winters but am yet to pull the plug

Hmmm..Why's this shit all gotta be so expensive......FML...anybody want to buy a nice snowboard from me so I can afford ice tires?

[Rada]

It does bite to pay full price for a set of Ice tires. But if you only use them on frozen water they will last a long time.

It is so much fun backing it in on the ice!! Not to mention getting to see you MC buddies in the winter months..

I lucked out and found mine on craigslist and saved a couple hundo..