Paddle tires in the snow?

[4trax67]

I was wondering if anyone has ever run paddle tires in the snow. I live in Wisconsin and I'm not happy with the stock tires I have on my 400ex. I just bought a 450r and am considering getting paddle tires for it for the winter. Is this a bad idea or would it work out nice? And if so, how tall of paddles and how many paddles would you guys recommend?

[gtt416ex]

i've seen them used and they seem to work fine in snow.

[4trax67]

Originally posted by gtt416ex
i've seen them used and they seem to work fine in snow.

Do they seem to work better then stock tires? How big of paddles and how many paddles do you think I should go with? Thanks for your advice & help.

[F-16Guy]

They work great in the snow. I have a pair of GBC Sand Sharks, and they work fine. I don't know how well it would work in deep, soft powder, but I pulled my wife and daughter around on a sled in our back yard with no problem. It would definitely be better than knobs.

[J.Brown121]

maxxis makes tires just for snow. i would go buy these if i were you.
http://www.maxxis.com/MotorcycleATV/ATV-Sport/M910-4-Snow.aspx

[BlasterEaten250]

Originally posted by ridin'MX365
maxxis makes tires just for snow. i would go buy these if i were you.
http://www.maxxis.com/MotorcycleATV/ATV-Sport/M910-4-Snow.aspx They work amazingly.

[honda400ex2003]

i have always wanted to try some paddles for the snow but have never wanted to spend the money on buying a set to use for about 2 weeks until the snow gets to a couple of feet. lol. then it is too hard to stay a float. maybe i have my next design idea with a nice set of conversions for my skis off the sled. i will work on it next week to see if i can make them. steve

[honda400ex2003]

i may have to do some measuring this weekend to see how it comes out. i dont think i could talk them into making 2 of them for me, maybe i can get my roomy to help me out. lol. steve

[TRXRacer1]

I made a set of skis for my old 86 250R. IT WAS A TRIP! I used a mid 80's set of Indy 500 skis. The front out maneuvered the rear so much it was almost comical. I'd say it got me through 2-3 more inches of soft snow but the rear still went down quick. I had a similar design as Steve and quickly learned a lesson the first time I got the skis off the ground. If I did it again I'd make a limited pivot system that completely replaced the hubs and use shorter, fatter skis.

[Moto Pro472]

lol
You love playing in solidworks, dont you Steve?

These are what diamond J customs brackets look like, although they are made for a variety of quads

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/324/48af12.jpg

[honda400ex2003]

yup i do like solid works, i am getting refreshed now so it is easy to do stuff like this. I have seen the diamond j ones, they look like they would work great. mine i actually planned to use the stock style off of the sleds to mount it so it would move at the ski and at the hub. That is funny that you say that trx about wheelies you see the pics of them doing stunts in the dirtwheels ads in the old ones. i dont know if they are in it anymore since i dont get it anymore. visualizing that is just hilarious. lol. Steve

[honda400ex2003]

did you buy those by chance moto? steve

[grassman]

I live in the south so I no longer ride in the snow.... But I like this pic I found on the web

[honda400ex2003]

sweet i'd do that to mine for winter to buzz around the lake. steve

[brokenmike]

AHHHH thats my white 440ex.... I made that set up. I took the hubs off completley and the bracket goes on to the spindle and bolts to where the caliper bolts to. The ski pivots at the bottom. the changeover takes about 15 minutes total. I dont like the other way of bolting to the hub is because the ski can spin all the way around.

[brokenmike]

http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx127/brokenmike76/sc000acee5.jpg
http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx127/brokenmike76/sc000af004.jpg

[Moto Pro472]

Originally posted by honda400ex2003
yup i do like solid works, i am getting refreshed now so it is easy to do stuff like this. I have seen the diamond j ones, they look like they would work great. mine i actually planned to use the stock style off of the sleds to mount it so it would move at the ski and at the hub. That is funny that you say that trx about wheelies you see the pics of them doing stunts in the dirtwheels ads in the old ones. i dont know if they are in it anymore since i dont get it anymore. visualizing that is just hilarious. lol. Steve

No I didn't buy them... Only get enough snow for about 3 rides a year. Not worth it in my opinion

[honda400ex2003]

cool design on the brackets broken. that looks like it works out really nice. I was just curious moto to see if you had them on or not. thanks for the pics steve

[brokenmike]

they work pretty good in the snow

[honda400ex2003]

if you dont mind me asking how much did you lower the front of the machine with it setup like that. it is hard to tell from the pic since it is offset. thanks steve

[brokenmike]

I think i set it up at stock ride height