During my stay in the Monts-Valin, at the Auberge du Km 31, I had the chance to try, for the first time, the Timbersled ARO 120 snow bike conversion system by Polaris. In this article, I will describe my driving experience and give a brief mechanical presentation given that the components are a ski and a track.
Mechanical Presentation
Let’s start with the ski that replaces the front wheel. The Timbersled Traverse Ski, which is 11.5 inches wide, allows us to have a 1:1 ski to track ratio. This ratio enables the track to follow the line made by the ski, which increases the accuracy in “sidehill” and in turns. The sides and shape of the three-pin ski allow more grip and precision.
The ski is also very aggressive. It is equipped with three runners that allow a better grip on hardened snow and good control in deep snow. By having a main runner that is very high, it will enable you or us to keep the line in the straight parts and turns. If we tilt the motorcycle a lot in turns, the two runners on each side of the ski prevent it from slipping on the side.
As for the track, it is the smallest of the ARO models, and as the name indicates, the track is 120 inches long. In addition, the track is 11.5 inches wide with 2.5 inches long spikes. Frankly, I have not tried the machine in blazing-fast ascents, but the flotation in deep snow was outstanding.
The system is also equipped with a suspension that is relatively like that of a snowmobile. It is equipped with two shock absorbers, one at the front and one at the rear of the mechanism, which allows the track to adapt well to the ground to have contact on the snow for as long as possible to increase traction. The approach angle of the track is optimized to improve flotation in deep snow. The suspension is set up so that the FOX Zero Pro Series shock absorbers provide 30% more movement at the front and 2 inches for the one to the rear.
Driving Experience
As I mentioned in the title of my article, it is really an experience. There is nothing quite like driving a Timbersled. I have driven motocrosses for several years, and I told myself beforehand that this was going to be a bit the same type of diving, but no. The Timbersled is genuinely in a whole different class.
Many factors are taken into account in terms of performance and the comfort of a Timbersled, because it is a conversion “kit.” The motocross that is chosen to put on the kit guides the behaviour and power transmitted to the track a lot. For my part, the kit was installed on a CRF450, which is the largest mechanics for a “full-cross” motorcycle. There are some enduros that offer a bigger cylinder capacity and some additional accessories such as a light at the front.
The 450 offered honest enough performances. It nevertheless remains that the track provides quite an important restriction to the engine. For those who wish to obtain one, do not think that this kind of vehicle will equal that of large-cylinder mountain snowmobiles. It is a vocation and a completely different kind of driving.
Another factor that could be considered is the autonomy of the motocross because its tank is relatively small. The tank is not enough to ride for an entire day. You must therefore think to have an additional tank with you, but even with that, we do not have the same autonomy as a snowmobile.
I am predominantly a mountain snowmobile driver, and I, therefore, thought that the machine was going to mimic this driving somehow, but no. I was surprised by the driving difficulty in hard snow. The ski is very aggressive, which makes the turns very difficult. However, when we land in powdery snow, it is an entirely different machine. Driving becomes intuitive and soft. It behaves well in the snow, and the motocross’s suspension offers excellent impact absorption at the front when you hit bumps or if you do some jumps. By being a motocross, it is a manual machine. You must manage a clutch lever and a speed selector. In summer, it is one thing, but with winter boots and gloves, it is a completely different story. At least you do not use all the gears of the motocross. You stay around the third gear because the track strongly limits its performance. It is easier with big boots.
I must say that I really fell in love with the Timbersled. I arrived in the mountains with large expectations, and it met them very well. At first, I was extremely surprised by the difficulty of the driving, but after a few hours to tame the machine, I was more and more at ease and the potential is striking. This ride really helps to sneak everywhere between the trees and in remote locations in deep snow.
I want to thank the Auberge du Km 31 for the welcome and the quality of the services that we have had during our stay in the Monts-Valin with the Sledmagazine.com team.
I would also like to thank Mathias Sports for making this test possible.
