I had the opportunity to finally demo a CMX 120 a few days ago. Ive read and talked to everyone I could find about these things and was 90% sure I wanted one. Spoiler, It was 10x better than i expected. I never thought it was possible for a bike to be that agile on snow. A little history i have a 17 TS120le and an 18 ARO 120. This is my 4th season on snowbikes. Im average? Small jumps, 5 foot drops. 5th gear pinned on the trail.
We left the mountain horse in the truck and took the ARO for comparison. We has 6-12 inches on new snow on top of crust. On the road the CMX rallied good, couldn’t tell much difference other then some ski lift and lighter ski pressure.
Once we hit the mountain though, I was blown away. The CMX climbs!!! We did a few chutes and I barely made it poaching tracks on the ARO. Its ability to hook up is unbelievable. Describing the traction difference is hard but the cmx that day was like riding on spring hard pack. Just point and go minimal, sinking or trenching on acceleration. Fun and easy to putt around on if you wanted. Turned on a dime including slow uphill turns in the trees, then just roll the throttle and straight up it goes!
My ARO on the other hand was working hard just to keep up and I had to pull a few different lines because i couldn’t turn uphill and accelerate as well. I realize there is a power difference between the bikes themselves but mine was rapped out most of the day trying to keep pace. but you could Feel the traction! With the cmx I could stop and start pointing uphill! Crawling in steep trees the kit really shined. I'm not sure why but it turns very quickly and tight. I could do quick turns up steep treed slopes and not trench! It does wheelie some which takes some getting used to but it was very manageable. There were only a few times where the ski lifted more that a few inches when i wasn’t expecting it to. And thats adjustable with preload from what I understand. I will say that if you want to get that kit airborne, it dosn't take much. Any little bump or lip just pop the throttle and the ski comes up. blip harder and it launches.
I can’t speak much about the new ski and spindle directly. I didn’t really notice much difference in the ski/spindle overall, but either its that or the track or the combination but its a donut machine! Lays over and holds very tight turns dragging bars with ease. The ARO will do donuts obviously but its harder to lay over and does not feel as stable.
My wife is new to snow-biking but is getting pretty good. been out 8 times? I couldn’t get her off the CMX. She could ride it non aggressively and still get into technical stuff. Its wider (same as the MH) and the track is tapered but not much, so it was more stable, less tippy. combined with the point and shoot traction she was loving it!
Ive ridding with an older yeti 137 and it was good but at the time i didn’t think it was that much better to justify the cost/maintenance. Can't do a direct comparison as ive never ridden a 129 Free-ride. I have never ridden a RIOT either but heard deep snow performance is similar to the ARO. Maybe a little better? Cant speak to the ARO 3 because i’ve never ridden one but I’m sure its not as playful. The CMX is well built. i think 10 lbs lighter that an ARO 120 with more surface area. Rolling resistance is nominal. (Going to love that when unloading). Brakes worked the entire day. Never faded. Since the tracks more aggressive it skidded less going down steep hills. I think cost is right on par with a new ARO3 and a new Yeti. And it comes with everything 100% ready to ride. No “add ons” or “fit kits”.
New for 2021 they are adding a plastic belt cover (tapered design, more durable. wont warp or dent after impacting rocks, trees). Sounds like the one on timbersleds. Maybe a better/ easier chain adjuster? And possibly new side panels. Going to keep the sweeping design but try and trim a few pounds and mix up the design. Not sure what else but I'm sure it will be good! The entire kit is modular. Meaning if you break anything it just unscrews and it is replaced. but good luck breaking anything! Its stout!
One great thing is all CMX’s are updatable. So last years model isn’t going down in value much since it can easily be updated to be identical to the new models! My mountain horse is feeling like an antique! lol
Everyone asks why they didn’t go to a 3 in track and I asked about narrow rail design (yeti, Camso). Excuse my interpretation and I apologize Mark if i mess it up but the 3 in track works good a few days a year. but sucks the rest of the year. By running a very aggressive 2.5 track they get better deep snow performance than a 3 inch most of the time. Far as narrow rails he basically said its a cool idea that dons’t work as well as wide rails. I didn’t really understand, but the guys been building custom snow machines longer that I’ve been alive. Im sure he has tried a few things.
Mark and Kamron are great to deal with. Just called and asked if we could swing buy and demo. We rode all day! It would be nice if a guy has a question to be able just to call someone who knows instead of reading through pages on the forums!
So long story short if anyone wants a MH or an ARO were selling ours end of season lol.
We left the mountain horse in the truck and took the ARO for comparison. We has 6-12 inches on new snow on top of crust. On the road the CMX rallied good, couldn’t tell much difference other then some ski lift and lighter ski pressure.
Once we hit the mountain though, I was blown away. The CMX climbs!!! We did a few chutes and I barely made it poaching tracks on the ARO. Its ability to hook up is unbelievable. Describing the traction difference is hard but the cmx that day was like riding on spring hard pack. Just point and go minimal, sinking or trenching on acceleration. Fun and easy to putt around on if you wanted. Turned on a dime including slow uphill turns in the trees, then just roll the throttle and straight up it goes!
My ARO on the other hand was working hard just to keep up and I had to pull a few different lines because i couldn’t turn uphill and accelerate as well. I realize there is a power difference between the bikes themselves but mine was rapped out most of the day trying to keep pace. but you could Feel the traction! With the cmx I could stop and start pointing uphill! Crawling in steep trees the kit really shined. I'm not sure why but it turns very quickly and tight. I could do quick turns up steep treed slopes and not trench! It does wheelie some which takes some getting used to but it was very manageable. There were only a few times where the ski lifted more that a few inches when i wasn’t expecting it to. And thats adjustable with preload from what I understand. I will say that if you want to get that kit airborne, it dosn't take much. Any little bump or lip just pop the throttle and the ski comes up. blip harder and it launches.
I can’t speak much about the new ski and spindle directly. I didn’t really notice much difference in the ski/spindle overall, but either its that or the track or the combination but its a donut machine! Lays over and holds very tight turns dragging bars with ease. The ARO will do donuts obviously but its harder to lay over and does not feel as stable.
My wife is new to snow-biking but is getting pretty good. been out 8 times? I couldn’t get her off the CMX. She could ride it non aggressively and still get into technical stuff. Its wider (same as the MH) and the track is tapered but not much, so it was more stable, less tippy. combined with the point and shoot traction she was loving it!
Ive ridding with an older yeti 137 and it was good but at the time i didn’t think it was that much better to justify the cost/maintenance. Can't do a direct comparison as ive never ridden a 129 Free-ride. I have never ridden a RIOT either but heard deep snow performance is similar to the ARO. Maybe a little better? Cant speak to the ARO 3 because i’ve never ridden one but I’m sure its not as playful. The CMX is well built. i think 10 lbs lighter that an ARO 120 with more surface area. Rolling resistance is nominal. (Going to love that when unloading). Brakes worked the entire day. Never faded. Since the tracks more aggressive it skidded less going down steep hills. I think cost is right on par with a new ARO3 and a new Yeti. And it comes with everything 100% ready to ride. No “add ons” or “fit kits”.
New for 2021 they are adding a plastic belt cover (tapered design, more durable. wont warp or dent after impacting rocks, trees). Sounds like the one on timbersleds. Maybe a better/ easier chain adjuster? And possibly new side panels. Going to keep the sweeping design but try and trim a few pounds and mix up the design. Not sure what else but I'm sure it will be good! The entire kit is modular. Meaning if you break anything it just unscrews and it is replaced. but good luck breaking anything! Its stout!
One great thing is all CMX’s are updatable. So last years model isn’t going down in value much since it can easily be updated to be identical to the new models! My mountain horse is feeling like an antique! lol
Everyone asks why they didn’t go to a 3 in track and I asked about narrow rail design (yeti, Camso). Excuse my interpretation and I apologize Mark if i mess it up but the 3 in track works good a few days a year. but sucks the rest of the year. By running a very aggressive 2.5 track they get better deep snow performance than a 3 inch most of the time. Far as narrow rails he basically said its a cool idea that dons’t work as well as wide rails. I didn’t really understand, but the guys been building custom snow machines longer that I’ve been alive. Im sure he has tried a few things.
Mark and Kamron are great to deal with. Just called and asked if we could swing buy and demo. We rode all day! It would be nice if a guy has a question to be able just to call someone who knows instead of reading through pages on the forums!
So long story short if anyone wants a MH or an ARO were selling ours end of season lol.