tecate ski

[just ben]

carbide digs a bit in the grass. just dont let of the gas with the ski turned. still waiting for snow for a test run and video

[Tecate250]

Very cool idea. Been thinking of doing the same to my 85 Tecate. But I see 2 flaws. One why have the front brake system? If you have the shock to dampen how far the ski can rotate the brake is usless. Also the thickness of the ski. I would weld some sides to the ski to make it much wider to prevent hitting your forks and to alloy for better floatation.

[ezmoney1979]

Very cool idea. Been thinking of doing the same to my 85 Tecate. But I see 2 flaws. One why have the front brake system? If you have the shock to dampen how far the ski can rotate the brake is usless. Also the thickness of the ski. I would weld some sides to the ski to make it much wider to prevent hitting your forks and to alloy for better floatation.

Dont you think the caliper would need a ROTOR if the brake was to do anything? Im pretty sure this hasnt been overlooked and he is just leaving the brake assembly on so he can convert it back to the wheel/tire.

[Tecate250]

So haveing a brake system that will do nothing is helpful? If your going through the process of makeing a ski I think you need it for deep snow. And what 5 or 6 bolts to remove it? Just saying ezmonkey.

[HuffieVA]

So haveing a brake system that will do nothing is helpful?

It doesn't seem to be in the way, so leaving it in place rather than removing it and the master cylinder every time you throw on the ski (or having to bleed the brakes because you unhooked the line) makes sense to me. You may be onto something with the wider ski but I'm thinking more for a little extra stability in turns rather than flotation (after all, those skinny ski's can hold up a pretty heavy sled) Overall it looks as if you could switch between tire/ski with a few simple tools in a few minutes.

[fabiodriven]

[just ben]

Very cool idea. Been thinking of doing the same to my 85 Tecate. But I see 2 flaws. One why have the front brake system? If you have the shock to dampen how far the ski can rotate the brake is usless. Also the thickness of the ski. I would weld some sides to the ski to make it much wider to prevent hitting your forks and to alloy for better floatation.

first off therebrake system is still intact because there is no reason to remove it. it has no bearing on the ski at all and I can put the tire back on in less than ten minutes if I like. second how is the ski gonna hit my forks? edit.. I didnt read the rest of the posts after reading 250tecate"s. even a guy that doesnt get snow gets it. This was built out of boredom and bud light but if stabililty is an issue after testing I will adapt it to a ski doo precision ski which would have a wider footprint than a tire. a wider ski for flotation wouldnt be much help. If there is enough snow to need more flotion in the front there is no way tires on the rear will move it.

[three_wheelin45]

nice... wished it snowed around this hell awfull place....

[just ben]

nice... wished it snowed around this hell awfull place....

trade ya!!

[Motorious]

I like it Ben. Looks like it definitely could function well enough to be fun. Pretty awesome for a 1st design, and it almost looks factory after you painted it and cleaned up the trike.

Wish I could I do something like that, but I have neither the skills nor the tools......nice job.

[Tecate250]

Ok for you guys who dont get snow. Most and id say 99% of sleds have 2 skis. Not one. So thats 2 times the surface are to hold up a machine. Also when the front end does a wheelie what do you think happends to the ski? It will nose dive to the ground without a support. Hmm some of you guys better go back to school to learn a bit of physics. Id love to watch ezmonkey do a wheelie right now and watch the ski bite in and over he goes. Now that would be fuuny.

[ezmoney1979]

Ok for you guys who dont get snow. Most and id say 99% of sleds have 2 skis. Not one. So thats 2 times the surface are to hold up a machine. Also when the front end does a wheelie what do you think happends to the ski? It will nose dive to the ground without a support. Hmm some of you guys better go back to school to learn a bit of physics. Id love to watch ezmonkey do a wheelie right now and watch the ski bite in and over he goes. Now that would be fuuny.

Apparently someone is not following along............. Hey Corona250 go back to post #21, Fabio summed it up already. Nice job on the ski by the way Ben, especially being beer inspired

[Vealmonkey]

He could always install 2 little bungee cords to keep the ski at a pretty level attitude to help prevent the dreaded "nose down ski plant". I have a ski I bought for my honda but never installed it, or removed it from the shipping wrapper either. Of course around here, we either get no snow or it shuts the city down! LOL

[Motorious]

If I'm not mistaken, the modified shock is supposed to help with that problem, but I suppose Ben won't really know how it works until he actually tests it...I guess that's part of the fun of custom fabrication...obviously it's not going to function as well as a snowmobile because it wasn't purpose built for the snow...but still looks like a fun trike mod.

I live in an area that gets LOTS of snow and enjoy snowmobiling BTW.

...and as far as one ski snowmobiles go...ever heard of a Snowhawk?...http:http://www.snow-hawk.com/home.aspx...looks pretty awesome to me.

[HuffieVA]

Ok for you guys who dont get snow...

For the record, I grew up in Upstate NY and lived their until I was thirty (so that about evens us up in the sled department) in addition I've been riding Tecate's since you were two (according to the D.O.B. your profile) So I think that about evens us up with experience. Now lets move on to the facts: Yes the great majority of sleds have two skis, they also have the weight of the engine mounted above them, I would assume by the list of trikes in your signature that you understand that they tend to be a little lighter in the front end (especially when compared to a sled & less weight means less need for flotation), it also looks like the "ski drop" issue was addressed or at least attempted to be addressed by the shock hooked to the fork brace. After all its a prototype and I'm sure some test & tune will take place as the thing develops.