For several years now, we have been seeing vehicles on the motorized landscape that are a mutation between a motocross and a snowmobile. It’s nothing more or less than an off-road motorcycle converted to perform in winter conditions by substituting the front wheel with a ski, and the rear wheel with a track. The bolt-on design does not require any modifications other than removing a few parts and adding new components. This modification will create an addition of about 50 lbs to a dirt bike. For the moment, there is no real French term to describe this machine and the most frequently used term is a Snowbike. It must be said that the translation of this word is unequivocal on its real meaning.
The name TimberSled is well known in this field and its roots go back to 2008, when an American, named Allen Mangum, created the TimberSled concept. However, it was not until 2009 that the first prototype was actually born and its first tests were so successful that this designer was able to reach mountain areas that he had never reached before by snowmobile.
So it wasn’t long before production began the following year in Ponderay, Idaho. However, Polaris Industries sniffed out the bargain and the potential of this system and made the announcement to acquire TimberSled in April 2015.
Converting a dirt bike to a TimberSled system is easy. It is universal and can be installed on any recognized motorcycle brand. The addition requires only a set of model-specific installations to complete the conversion.
2017: launch of the TimberSled ARO platform
Being already equipped with a wealth of experience in the recreational vehicle industry, Polaris Industries has all the elements to push this new conversion system to another level. That’s when the new platform named TimberSled ARO was launched in 2017. Polaris’ coveted desire was to revolutionize and optimize the performance of an off-road motorcycle by using engine power more efficiently, offering better responsive handling while improving performance in deep snow and sidehill riding.
2021 TimberSled ARO S:
The 2021 model year is the introduction of the improved ARO platform. It has been given the name S and its aim is to increase the confidence of riding a snowbike without sacrificing performance. How do you do it? TimberSled has designed the new platform to lower the seat by 3 inches compared to the standard ARO model.
The objectives are as follows:
-Reduced intimidation: A more accessible driving position makes the driving experience easier.
Increased control: A 13% reduction in the center of gravity to create a balanced, easy-to-ride snowbike.
Improved efficiency: The ARO S’s high-efficiency suspension design gives more power in the snow, ideal for 250cc bikes.
A traction to the measure of our desires:
The 129-inch track of the Polaris TimberSled ARO S package offers exactly what we want. Without being overly proportional, it provides the ideal compromise to smaller displacements to achieve higher speeds and more power on snow. Its design also offers agility for better climbing with its easy lean. Premium FOX Zero QS3 shocks are standard and work in conjunction with the rear suspension geometry to provide an optimized approach angle for increased lift in deep snow.
A snowbike is certainly a mix between a snowmobile and a motorcycle, but it also has to adapt to the changing snow conditions that can occur at any time during the day. A change in temperature, a softening of the temperatures will certainly affect the consistency and the TimberSled ARO S allows, by its improved stability, to counteract these unforeseen events.
A ski adapted to all conditions:
Rather than having a flat bottom, the front ski of the Polaris TimberSled ARO S platform has three well-defined keels, each with two carving edges on them. There’s a large center keel that is essentially what we balance on when we’re riding straight through hard-packed snow. Then there are the two shorter keels on either side, which gives us another set of edges that we can use to carve along a side slope. The front ski has all the assets to allow for adaptation according to the type of environment. It allows us to float on snowy cliff edges without the nose sinking in. It gives us incredible control at a wide range of speeds and essentially allows us to carve snow surfaces as if we were on a powered snowboard.
You don’t have to be an athlete to ride a motorcycle equipped with the Polaris TimberSled ARO S package, but we honestly feel more fatigue compared to snowmobiling. It takes more physical strength to maneuver this vehicle through the climbs and it allows us to draw our own lines through the dense trees, but the satisfaction of accomplishing these feats makes up for the effort.
Beyond the added challenge of landing on a jump, the execution technique between the snowmobile and the snowbike is very similar. However, the lower weight of a motorcycle equipped with a TimberSled and its narrowness are advantages in themselves. It allows us to do things that a snowmobile could not and to access restricted areas. The single tread and single ski configuration allows the ARO S to make its way through the steepest areas.
What is the main attraction of the TimberSled ARO S platform? It is mainly its capacity, by its lesser weight than a snowmobile, to allow riders not to have to exhaust themselves and fight against cumbersome machines when turning. It allows us to ride wherever we want by simply leaning into the desired lane. The ability to explore the backcountry is now available to everyone, regardless of snow conditions.
Is it necessary to have motorcycle experience to ride this type of machine?
Having some familiarity with motorcycling is certainly an added value when it comes to riding this type of vehicle, but is not a prerequisite. A snowbike certainly has many similarities to a dirt bike, but it does take some getting used to. Those who are used to it will have a head start with the manual clutch, but the balance is quite different and is a challenge in itself. The tires on a motorcycle have a small rolling surface and when we get on a motorcycle converted from a TimberSled system, we quickly find that more effort is required to tip the vehicle from side to side depending on the changing surfaces. This is where the Polaris TimberSled ARO S becomes a perfect system for everyone because of its ease of riding with its lowered center of gravity. The recommended environments are abundant loose snow surfaces to allow for easy tilting. It is really in these conditions that the TimberSled ARO S system is optimized. Just like riding a motorcycle, higher speeds improve balance and allow for superior maneuvering.
Having already driven the original ARO, we can see that the new S version is a huge step forward for the accessibility of this type of vehicle. People of a smaller size will find it as much fun as those of a larger size. This new version democratizes the Snowbike by making it available to everyone. The assurance provided by the lowered 3 inches makes a big difference when we are riding this type of vehicle for the first time as well as for the more experienced. For some, the ability to put both feet on the ground when stopping gives them a feeling of control over the vehicle and better control.
One of the only negative points of riding a dirt bike equipped with the Polaris Timbersled ARO S package is the difficulty to shift gears when wearing our big boots to counter the winter cold. For me, the ones I usually wear are size 14 and are simply not adapted for these types of bikes. I am therefore forced to use smaller boots, and therefore less insulated, to practice this activity.
The cost of acquisition is an investment in itself, because you must ask yourself beforehand how often you will use it to make your purchase profitable. Nevertheless, if you can afford it, go for it right away, because you will have a very exciting set to use.
TimberSled is backed by the world leader in powersports: Polaris. With advanced engineering and design capabilities, TimberSleds are an easy-to-convert, low-maintenance conversion system. The direct bolt-on design requires no modification with its pre-engineered brakes for ease of installation. And with TimberSled’s world-class accessories and Polaris’ extensive dealer network, owning a TimberSled Snowbike is clearly the simplest and most logical ownership experience.
