“The council forgot to send the gritter again”
What’s madder than a Husqvarna 450cc motocrosser? Converting one for snow…
RIDING MY HONDA CRF250L is becoming increasingly miserable as winter arrives here in Canada. I needed to try a more appropriate sport to take on the winter in style. With my only skiing holiday ending in a desire never to repeat the experience, what could I do?
Enter the Yeti Snowmx. Snow bikes are fairly new, with Timbersled bringing the first dirt-bike conversion kits to the market in 2011. Their bulky design was quickly superseded by this lighter, and apparently more versatile, master of the snow. I needed to try one for myself.
After meeting Kevin Forsythe, one of the Yeti Snowmx designers, at a petrol station we were soon driving up the tracks towards Hunters Ridge in the Monashee mountains. I grew nervous as we neared the snowline. From here it was going to be a steep climb, and an even steeper learning curve.
The converted 450cc Husqvarna, with its additional 11kg of mean-looking track and single front ski, was slightly intimidating. I was keen, though, to show these Canadians that this Welsh girl had
what it takes. Packing an avalanche beacon, radio and lunch into my rucksack, I confidently swung a leg over, lost my footing on the ice and promptly landed on the floor, bike on top. This became a familiar position as the day went on.
Blasting through this sensational scenery was like nothing I had ever experienced before. The closest thing I’ve done to it is dune riding. It’s a similar feel and just as exhausting, but somehow easier – the bike driving through anything with surprising stability.
Steering is all about weighting your body in one direction while leaning the bike in the other. Manoeuvring is smooth, consistent, and fun. The carbonfibre chassis soaks up the bumps with ease, while you keep your weight back and allow the front end to find its own way.
We travelled up trails, off trails, across meadows, and were kept on our toes by the occasional snow hole or creek that had been invisible until a split second before hitting it. Face-planting was surprisingly forgiving most of the time but getting upright again was not so easy. We played like children as we carved our way through this beautiful dreamworld.
Stopping for lunch at a rustic cabin, we warmed our hands and bums on the fire. As I stood outside sharing my sandwich with a couple of hungry whisky jacks (as they call grey jays around here), I heard the unmistakable angry sound of approaching snowmobiles. Kevin was quick to introduce the riders to the Yetis. He knew only too well that all it took was a quick blast on his brainchild and they’d be hooked.
With the Yeti being lighter, more agile and safer than any snowmobile, these bikes are far from abominable.