[woodsguy]

Good concepts. I like the way the snowbike looks like it would feel like riding a bike but the snowscoot looks much more capable. Its lighter, wider, and simpler. Their vid showed them in powder, hitting big jumps and carving (anything that can carve gets my vote). The snowbike vid had one short segment in the powder and it looked like crap. Not enough surface area. And the jumps the snowbike was doing were pretty small.

But the big problem with both of these are the fact that you are not attached to them and they don't have brakes. Its possible for these things to go racing down the mountain on their own. I haven't checked recently but don't resorts still require a leash for snowboards? Back when I started snowboarding ('86). The few resorts that allowed snowboarding wouldn't let you on the mountain without a leash. They would check every time you got on the lift. I think tele skis require a leash too. I wouldn't like to take a spill with one of these strapped to me.

 

[Sandwich]

Oh man, I wanted a snowscoot so bad back in the day. the problem with these things is that they're so damn expensive. I'm sorry but I'm now spending 2gs on a "snowsurfbike" that I can ride at one resort and may or may not be fun. If I could rent a snowscoot thing, I would for sure...

 

[jonKranked]

where's my 2 dollars?

 

[daisycutter]

 

[sikocycles]

I like his 29ers

 

[insanitylevel9]

its 2011 and "the industry" is still trying to standardize headset terminology. good luck.

+1 on that

 

[dagmz6s]

where's my 2 dollars?

In complete shock that this took 3 pages.

 

[sethimus]

But they are in no way interesting. Most mountains don't allow them and they are good for green trails and small parks.

I just don't see the point of them at all, and I have an open mind about new ideas and advancements in the biking community.

the "old country" is more cool about ski bikes and snowscoots, most ressorts allowing them now. this is how i ride in the winter:

perfect powder machine, the front damper is pushing a little against the back of the frontboard, causing it to stay up in the powder and lay down on the piste. you can push it like a dh bike, only that you can ride everywhere. defines freedom for me new every winter, so happy to own something like this

 

[sethimus]

Oh man, I wanted a snowscoot so bad back in the day. the problem with these things is that they're so damn expensive. I'm sorry but I'm now spending 2gs on a "snowsurfbike" that I can ride at one resort and may or may not be fun. If I could rent a snowscoot thing, I would for sure...

they start now at around 500eur for a non suspension version, full suspension versions from blackmountain snowscoots cost around 1100eur. i paid for my used one 800 with better boards from insane toys on them.

 

[slyfink]

I'd love to give one a try... especially on the small east coast resorts out here... I would think you'd have to get the resorts to offer them for rent to get them popularized...

 

[thad]

Ski bikes are worse than off road roller blades.

 

[spliffy]

The helmet cam vid I posted was old from early 2008 and 09/10 season with smaller skis. I have been riding wider skis and two 105 kid snowboards and you get plenty of float. In deep powder at the end of last season I rode a 38 inch day and it was amazing, it feels more like a snowmobile in deep snow with the bike you are counter steering the whole time. I am not saying that this is for everyone, defiantly not the die hard skiers and snowboarders. For me I was over snowboarding after 15 years and once I gave this a shot and committed to it I fell in love. The main reason for this post was just to get it out there in the hopes a couple of people would put down there preconceived notions and try it. Most resorts do not require leashes and the bikes will hide side them selves before they run down the hill. I have encountered resorts that require them on the lifts but not for the ride down. This season we have been jumping a lot bigger jumps around 35 to 55 feet, most of the tricks we are pulling right now are on jumps 15 to 40 feet. But as I said before I have done more tricks on this than my bikes just because it's snow and you have a lot more time in your jumps for variations.

 

[Inclag]

Ski bikes are worse than off road roller blades.

Oh god!

Blast from the past. I remember those things around during the Trail 66 days up here in the Northeast!!

 

[jonKranked]

let's complete the nostalgia....

MOUNTAIN BOARDS

 

[Sandwich]

Oh god!

Blast from the past. I remember those things around during the Trail 66 days up here in the Northeast!!

dude...i could write an essay on how bad I want to ride those at highland...

 

[insanitylevel9]

dude...i could write an essay on how bad I want to ride those at highland...

wait you wanted to ride a mountain board at highland or the roller blades

 

[jonKranked]

dude...i could write an essay on how bad I want to ride those at highland...

let it be noted that this post is pretty much the equivalent of david bowie admitting to having gay sex because it was the "in" thing to do

 

[Sandwich]

man when i'm busting sweet misty flips over the 900million bermadoubles you'll be all "man I wish my xprezo had moar goald patented shimz curvez"

 

[dicey]

Wow just wanted to share some stuff and you just got to keep coming at me well man I would love to show you what's up and as far a my post punctuation I am typing fast and could care less. Keep on ripping off yeti tribe people and making stickers with out copy rights and come find me any day to show you what's up. You made me say it I was going to play nice come find us in Durango anytime

??? not sure what ripping off yeti tribe people without copy rights means? Anyhow, while I'm glad your perusing your interests and think your onto something, the simple truth is, your not. I highly doubt your gapping 60 ft tables or railing 35plus degree slopes ie: average parks and slope incline.
The last thing your want is mechanical suspension sucking up all your energy and control.
There dangerous, slow down the lifties and are a mtb frame on snow.
This type of gimmick is the last thing the industry should get behind.

If this is your thing, so be it, but that **** died in the 90's and should stay that way.

snowblading is not a sport

 

[spliffy]

??? not sure what ripping off yeti tribe people without copy rights means? Anyhow, while I'm glad your perusing your interests and think your onto something, the simple truth is, your not. I highly doubt your gapping 60 ft tables or railing 35plus degree slopes ie: average parks and slope incline.
The last thing your want is mechanical suspension sucking up all your energy and control.
There dangerous, slow down the lifties and are a mtb frame on snow.
This type of gimmick is the last thing the industry should get behind.

If this is your thing, so be it, but that **** died in the 90's and should stay that way.

snowblading is not a sport

The yeti tribe thing was in reference to Rufus and that's besides the point. And I assure you we are hitting big jumps and they are not tables. We are riding everything at the resorts we are allowed on. They are not dangerous but you are entitled to your opinion once you get your facts straight. And the suspension actually helps keep the edges contacted to the snow giving you more control. As far as the lifts go I am generally off the lift before skiers are it's actually really simple. The problem is most ski bikers are not very skilled and anyone who has seen people like that I agree with your thoughts. But as the bikes progress and more people from heavy bike and moto backgrounds give it a shot you will start seeing a lot more impressive stuff. The main point being these new bikes are a lot more legit than people think they are. I have ridden the back bowls at Copper, Telluride, Snowmass and those are all well over 30 degrees in pitch.

 

[sethimus]

??? not sure what ripping off yeti tribe people without copy rights means? Anyhow, while I'm glad your perusing your interests and think your onto something, the simple truth is, your not. I highly doubt your gapping 60 ft tables or railing 35plus degree slopes ie: average parks and slope incline.
The last thing your want is mechanical suspension sucking up all your energy and control.
There dangerous, slow down the lifties and are a mtb frame on snow.
This type of gimmick is the last thing the industry should get behind.

If this is your thing, so be it, but that **** died in the 90's and should stay that way.

snowblading is not a sport

why are you talking about things you have obviously no clue about?

is this jump big enough for you?

http://broadbandsports.com/node/8426

 

[spocomptonrider]

The second bike is my Alpine Brawler this bike is more of the full on dh bike, I generally use this bike for powder days and more backcountry stuff. It has 8 inches up front and is adjustable from 6 to 7 inches. I have a set of kids snowboards for the really deep days and the moto seat allows you to shift your weight for aggressive riding.

Not trying to be a dick but why would you need 8 inches of suspension for powder days? I guess if your hucking huge cliffs all day long but I really don't see the point.

 

[Sghost]

Not trying to be a dick but why would you need 8 inches of suspension for powder days? I guess if your hucking huge cliffs all day long but I really don't see the point.

Triple clamps get teh chicks.

 

[spliffy]

Not trying to be a dick but why would you need 8 inches of suspension for powder days? I guess if your hucking huge cliffs all day long but I really don't see the point.

I can see your thought but you run the compression damper in so you don't blow through the travel it's mainly for big hits. The bike starts it's turn by weighting the front ski so I run my for so it ramps up fast. The softer beginning of the travel helps dip the front end a bit to unweight the back ski this starts your turn. On the big bike it's mainly for drops and moguls, and on the small bike it's a lot stiffer so you don't push through it on jumps. And for one thing after a big dump towards the end of the day when it gets all skied out and bumped out you can just plow stuff. When most peoples legs are worked from charging hard.

 

[woodsguy]

why are you talking about things you have obviously no clue about?

is this jump big enough for you?

http://broadbandsports.com/node/8426

Those were scooters without suspension, not the bikes.

 

[jonKranked]

should use elastomers in the fork. would work better, they ramp up a lot.

 

[spliffy]

should use elastomers in the fork. would work better, they ramp up a lot.

And feel like **** in the cold, coil is best and air works to. Snow mobiles have been running air and coil for ever

 

[jonKranked]

And feel like **** in the cold, coil is best and air works to. Snow mobiles have been running air and coil for ever

but you just said its only for big hits that it (suspension) is really needed.... this would help minimize energy absorption on small chatter. and would be a far less expensive solution than a $1000+ DH fork.

 

[woodsguy]

One thing I can see the bikes and scooters being good for is practicing airs.

 

[demo 9]

How would you possibly be able to stop and control 1 of these on a steep trail with moguls, suspension may help smooth it out, but it cant eat them, and with no brakes, this seems like a deathtrap

 

[spliffy]

One thing I can see the bikes and scooters being good for is practicing airs.

You can jump any jump the scooters will jump. And yes as i stated earlier I have done more tricks on the snow bike than in my 16 years of bicycling. You have a lot more air time and crashing can be bad but is way better on snow.

 

[spliffy]

How would you possibly be able to stop and control 1 of these on a steep trail with moguls, suspension may help smooth it out, but it cant eat them, and with no brakes, this seems like a deathtrap

It's all about edge control just like skiing and boarding I thought the same when I first got into it, but ones I got the hang of it I was riding everything I was before. Everyone thinks they are death traps until they ride a good one.

 

[no skid marks]

How would you possibly be able to stop and control 1 of these on a steep trail with moguls, suspension may help smooth it out, but it cant eat them, and with no brakes, this seems like a deathtrap

Snow boards and skis don't have brakes either. Watching the vid, they slow just like boards do, push the arse out, create friction, all controlled by the core strength.
They're still pretty young, and there's nobody experienced to do huge tricks on them to compete with generations of skier evolution, and lifetime boarders. But they can still go close to what a MTB can straight off the bat. Give them time.
I think they're cool. I think they'd be fun, and you'd only feel mildly retarded until you got used to it.
Why compare them to skis, boards or bikes(apart from this being a bike forum LOL). It's like comparing skiing to boarding, they're totally different sports, and so is this.
Yes there's no need to make use of our hands to add steering to something we have steering control of anyway(skis/boards), but it still looks a fun way to use our subconscious knowledge of bikes, and push some personal boundaries, and have fun at the same time. Morfing two sports that are second nature to me sounds fun.
I'm 38. and get sore knees jumping on my skis here in Oz where the snows hard like concrete, having some suspension would be cool. I've been toying with some sort of cushioning under my boots, but why the hell just not bike.
I wonder what they'd be like towed behind a boat.

 

[demo 9]

Bring rentals to the East Coast, i am not so against the idea, i still find it hard to believe that you could turn/stop it in the steep moguls, but, id love to ride 1, hard price to pay never having any time on it. put them out there to get them out there

 

[P.T.W]

I wonder what they'd be like towed behind a boat.

I would pay money to watch that

 

[spliffy]

but you just said its only for big hits that it (suspension) is really needed.... this would help minimize energy absorption on small chatter. and would be a far less expensive solution than a $1000+ DH fork.

The bikes I am running have way over kill suspension but I have access to it and like the product. Production models have marzocchi and x fusion suspension and at OE cost are quite low. Ski bikes back in the 60's used elastomer bumpers and they suck. If you set up the suspension correctly it does nothing but improve control.

 

[no skid marks]

I would pay money to watch that

I'm thinking with a bungie cord, for milking carve power, to bust out big off the wake.
and possibly having a torso harness to be towed from.

 

[sethimus]

How would you possibly be able to stop and control 1 of these on a steep trail with moguls, suspension may help smooth it out, but it cant eat them, and with no brakes, this seems like a deathtrap

you brake while doing something like a whip, think of a hockey stop?

 

[sethimus]

I'm thinking with a bungie cord, for milking carve power, to bust out big off the wake.
and possibly having a torso harness to be towed from.

there was once a crazy product from switzerland, looked a little bit like a snowscoot, but could also be used on water or tarmac. you could change the boards or put some wheels on them. but i think they went out of business.

 

[no skid marks]

there was once a crazy product from switzerland, looked a little bit like a snowscoot, but could also be used on water or tarmac. you could change the boards or put some wheels on them. but i think they went out of business.

Sued into receivership I'm guessing, LOL.