Dirt bikes on ice: Who's done it?

02 Silver Z

02 Silver Z

Club Member
I kinda have the urge to stud my tires and take my CRF450X out on the ice this winter. I've never tried it before but it looks like it would be a blast! Tighten up the Scott's stabilizer and rip across a like WOT!

Anybody on here take their bike out on the ice? Any tips for prepping the bike for that type of riding? I figured I'd just get a 2 piece snowmoble suit and snowmobile type helmet to avoid the fogging I'm sure will happen. I run a Dunlop 773 front and 756 rear tire and was thinking of just getting some of those "Cold Cutter" studs for them. I wanna get some new Dunlop MX31's for dirt riding anyway. Considering a lowering link also as you would need the suspension travel / geometry on a relatively smooth surface like ice. Maybe dial out some compression also.
 
you'll be one bruised s.o.b. when you hit the deck. ice=concrete. and it's not if, but when, the front washes out, etc. a quad on ice is way more fun.....imo.....

have fun though. let us know how it works out....:thumbsup:
 
Yea, and oil everything up real good before heading out. I took my quad out on Houghton Lake for Tip Up Town... had a blast, but I think my quad rusted more in that weekend than the rest of the 10 years of it's existence. If you're going to be riding on a lake, watch out for pressure cracks... not uncommon for the ice to jump up a foot on one side of them.
 
out by me they plow the ice for weekend races and if you get there early the ice is good... I used to do it all the time...you will be amazed at the traction you'll get...

tip: get ALOT of cold cutters..do not use screws. Screws will not last.. My buddy used to race the indoor ice series and gave me some tips..when you put the cutter in put it in on an angle then just before it's all the way in put it in straight... helps keep the stud in. Line the inside of the tire. You can use old carpet or what I did was cut the center section of the tread off a street tire...that protects the tube in case a stud works it's way in farther... and unless it's blasting ass cold out you will be pretty warm..remember your not out for a walk...your gonna be wrestling around a dirt bike.

Funny story: I was laid off for a bit back in the day and put my resume in with Harley as a test rider. They called to do a phone interview and asked if I had a problem riding in cold weather (They were in Alabama) and when I told the lady I just got in from riding she was confused.. it was the end of Jan. I told her yeah.. was just out on the ice on the 125. She checked that box off...

It is a blast..do it!
 
street bikes on ice > dirt bikes on ice

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I did read that running tire liners was a good idea and that makes sense. I had heard people using the hard foam tubes also but they are pretty pricey. I wonder if there is a place locally that would set the tires up?
 
My neighbor is big on it... let me take his Yz250 out a couple times... Once on cold cutters and once with picks in the rear tire.... talk about fun shit!!!!
He also races a RM250 chassis with a 500 kawi motor in it.... on the bottle.... :)
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Ive raced WRX's on Lake Lansing and the traction is awesome with studs, I cant imagine it on a bike though
 
Killjoy said:
Yea, and oil everything up real good before heading out. I took my quad out on Houghton Lake for Tip Up Town... had a blast, but I think my quad rusted more in that weekend than the rest of the 10 years of it's existence.
Click to expand...

good point. I can see where hosing her down with WD40 before and after woud be necessary. I buy the shit by the case anyway!
 
GTrackd02 said:
My neighbor is big on it... let me take his Yz250 out a couple times... Once on cold cutters and once with picks in the rear tire.... talk about fun shit!!!!
He also races a RM250 chassis with a 500 kawi motor in it.... on the bottle.... :)
Click to expand...
That thing is crazy looking!
 
Kold Kutter, I think that's how its spelled? I ran them on mine years ago. you do have to install them right and the correct amount. I had better traction on ice than on cement. The spikes look cool and hook hard, but I saw a guy run his leg over on a Banshee once. Not good.
 
Kinda related but off topic:
I have two sets of ice tires for the banshee. There is a science behind putting screws in and lining them up (on a quad at least). I only use Kold Kutter screws... not the cheater canadian screws.

If you want info. contact magic racing. www.magicracing.com they know how to set up tires and what works and doesn't.

(in the winter, I lower, widen and shorten the banshee)(1" shorter swingarm, lowered, swaybar, cheng shin ice tires... different gearing). I was out on white lake last year the day before their AMA race and rode on the track. I was pulling away from everyone, but then again, I have 90rwhp. I changed the gearing so I could run the entire track between 2 gears, downshift in the turns, and then upshift on the straights... most people were going between 3 or 4 gears.

I rode my old RM250 on the ice once, no screws or anything, just crossing a little pond to get to the other side. It was a little hairy.
 
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