So this year I would like to get out on a few winter rides.
Aside from studded tires, what does everyone do to their bikes to get them winter ridable?
Carb Heater?
I have heated gear, so not worried from that aspect
Appreciate the help,
Thanks,
Dave
Winter Riding Prep
Re: Winter Riding Prep
Yep, carb heater is a must on a 2s. I also ran a mesh pre filter on my air filter, and some handlebar muffs on the coldest days.
It doesn't take too much, and you don't have to clean air filters or wash your bike!
It doesn't take too much, and you don't have to clean air filters or wash your bike!
Re: Winter Riding Prep
Thanks for the advice. Any recommendations on Carb Heaters? Its a Honda CR250 if that makes any difference.AJRJ wrote:Yep, carb heater is a must on a 2s. I also ran a mesh pre filter on my air filter, and some handlebar muffs on the coldest days.
It doesn't take too much, and you don't have to clean air filters or wash your bike!
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Re: Winter Riding Prep
There should be some good info if you do a search for winter prep.
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Re: Winter Riding Prep
the KTM carb heater is a very simple set up. You do have to drill and tap the Kehin carb and supply it with power. It should be able to make work on a CR, so long as its got some juice.
Re: Winter Riding Prep
Not sure if the Keihin kit works on your Mikuni TMX, but I kind of doubt it. There are options to use a grip heater element or similar, but your real hurdle will be no lighting coil or free power to run a heating element. I believe some guys have shrouded in the card with various materials like thin flexible plastic (read: crazy carpets), and that definitely can be made to work. Nothing beats a carb heater though.Dave P wrote:Thanks for the advice. Any recommendations on Carb Heaters? Its a Honda CR250 if that makes any difference.
I wouldn't let it stop you from winter riding, but I'd stay relatively close to the truck till you have your setup dialed. Getting sucked into a deep back country excursion with other well set up bikes will take some of the fun out.
Re: Winter Riding Prep
Wrapping the carb is not entirely effective though it can help. I don't know of a carb heater for Mikuni's but that isn't to say there isn't one.
Since the CR doesn't have any extra watts available, you could use an ATV or snowmobile thumb heater and power it off a 12v power tool battery mounted in the air box.
Since the CR doesn't have any extra watts available, you could use an ATV or snowmobile thumb heater and power it off a 12v power tool battery mounted in the air box.
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Re: Winter Riding Prep
I don't have direct experience with carb heaters, but I do know of people redirecting coolant lines to a heat trace loop around their carbs to get heat when you don't have the required electric power. If you do this, you should still wrap the carb to keep the heat in.
Scott
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Apprentice Court Jester
2017 450XC-F
2015 450XC-F
2013 450XC-F
Re: Winter Riding Prep
I probably wasn't clear when I talked about wrapping the carb. I would not insulate the carb itself, that will make it worse. The venturi effect will actually make it freeze sooner. It's more like protecting the area from snow spray, and trying to keep heat from the motor in.