W
So i haven't noticed any real good threads with some real world comparisons from snow bike groups that have both yeti and competitors kits in the group so for the sake of keeping things fiery in the snowbike forum here are what i noticed the last time out. Don't call me a hater either, i rode timbersled and loved them, i also have a daughter who loved rollerskates untill she tried some roller blades LOL. i will start with the load up into the trailer.
1.The Trailer
i can load my yeti bike and steer it from lifting on the rear end of the tunnel and with the wheel kit it will let me go anywhere without hanging up on a lip or ledge. TS has a wheel kit, which (true story) my buddy copied the TS wheel kit with parts from princess auto! now could you copy the yeti with parts from princess auto, absolutly, but you might need to know a good millwright to do it. Cost of product to do either probably the same, end result is that the yeti wheel kit is simply more functional.
2. hard pack ice and gravel
Both kits suck on ice and rock, no one wins in that scenario except the hand guard and rad shroud manufacturers.
3.groomed hardpack
On hard pack, the front ski on the yeti gives the rider the feeling they are in control, at least as much control as they can be. the simmons gen 2 or 3 ski (not sure what gen they are on) is not a fun ski to deal with on hard pack. no comparison the yeti ski handles best.
4. loose compact snow
loose snow on the trail, the yeti allows you to really lay the bike over with confidence that it will not wash out. the simmons ski will allow you to lay the bike over, but your always wondering if it is going to hold or not, as it will wash out.
5. powder
on the powder, yeti and competitor (TS) both seem to work simular the, one thing you do notice is how quickly the yeti ski will get up on the snow. it does not plow as much as the TS.
6. Trailing the whoops (stupid 2 ski things!)
trail suspension, both kits seemed to be-bop along at a good rate, i will say this the 16 TS has improved is ride over the bumps considerably. i would not say one was better than the other in this aspect. though the yeti vs the older ts kits, no comparison.
7. putting power to the snow
kits performance in putting the bikes power to the snow. Yeti hands down puts more of your bikes power to the snow. yammy 450 with yeti vs 2016 ktm 500 with 2016 TS on flat trail, yammy wins everytime. equal weight riders. thats not fair you say,"the yammy makes more power and is lighter" this is true. We put a 2015 ktm 500 with yeti next to it, same result. well maybe its the rider??? well lets switch em up then, same result. no matter the combination of riders and bikes the 2016 ktm 500 with 2016 ts was also last. we made a game of it on the trail, the guy the TS kit would lead and ride as hard as he could and try to hold off the other 3 guys with yetis, no matter what he did he would get over takin.
8. Deep snow
Again not a whole bunch of comparison here, time after time on the hills we would ask each other what gear we held up that hill, yetis always held 3 and even 4rth, while the TS on the ktm 500 was 2nd most of the time, and even down to 1st on some. when there was no room to grab gears, as in no run up to a hill, just turn hard 90 and take off straight up the hill into the trees the the yetis were able to grab 2nd, while the ts would be limited to 1st till it got headed sideways on the hill where it could grab some momentum. All in all the deep snow performance is given the yeti.
9. getting stuck
no kit was un susceptable to getting stuck, everyone got stuck lots. you do notice a difference when you grab the rear end of TS vs the yeti when they are trenched down to the earth. The yeti pops out of the snow like an excited mouse, where the TS was more like a frightened turtle. the handle ergonomics make it very easy for 2 people to lift as well. Also another thing that likly gets over looked, i because of the formed carbon tunnel the bike was very easy to spin around on its side on top of the snow to get it facing back the opposite direction, we had to try this same maneuver a couple times with the TS and it was noticeable more clumsey to perform the same task.
10. cool factor
This one is maybe gonna cause the most controversy, but everyone has a bit of peacock in them and wants to be noticed when you pull up to hill, or cabin or group of guys and i will say this, no one was rushing over to check out the TS in our group. The yeti seems to turn alot of heads.
The fun factor is off the charts regardless of which kit your riding and with todays bikes they both provide hours and hours of un interupted fun. i have a 610 husaberg with a TS on it but would not trade it for my stock 450 with a yeti, it just sits in the trailer waiting for its turn. I hope this was helpful, there seems to be lots of rider feedback on the TS system and know there are guys out there looking for feedback on the yeti, and i am fortunate to have one so i thought i would share what i knew about the two kits for those who were wondering.
1.The Trailer
i can load my yeti bike and steer it from lifting on the rear end of the tunnel and with the wheel kit it will let me go anywhere without hanging up on a lip or ledge. TS has a wheel kit, which (true story) my buddy copied the TS wheel kit with parts from princess auto! now could you copy the yeti with parts from princess auto, absolutly, but you might need to know a good millwright to do it. Cost of product to do either probably the same, end result is that the yeti wheel kit is simply more functional.
2. hard pack ice and gravel
Both kits suck on ice and rock, no one wins in that scenario except the hand guard and rad shroud manufacturers.
3.groomed hardpack
On hard pack, the front ski on the yeti gives the rider the feeling they are in control, at least as much control as they can be. the simmons gen 2 or 3 ski (not sure what gen they are on) is not a fun ski to deal with on hard pack. no comparison the yeti ski handles best.
4. loose compact snow
loose snow on the trail, the yeti allows you to really lay the bike over with confidence that it will not wash out. the simmons ski will allow you to lay the bike over, but your always wondering if it is going to hold or not, as it will wash out.
5. powder
on the powder, yeti and competitor (TS) both seem to work simular the, one thing you do notice is how quickly the yeti ski will get up on the snow. it does not plow as much as the TS.
6. Trailing the whoops (stupid 2 ski things!)
trail suspension, both kits seemed to be-bop along at a good rate, i will say this the 16 TS has improved is ride over the bumps considerably. i would not say one was better than the other in this aspect. though the yeti vs the older ts kits, no comparison.
7. putting power to the snow
kits performance in putting the bikes power to the snow. Yeti hands down puts more of your bikes power to the snow. yammy 450 with yeti vs 2016 ktm 500 with 2016 TS on flat trail, yammy wins everytime. equal weight riders. thats not fair you say,"the yammy makes more power and is lighter" this is true. We put a 2015 ktm 500 with yeti next to it, same result. well maybe its the rider??? well lets switch em up then, same result. no matter the combination of riders and bikes the 2016 ktm 500 with 2016 ts was also last. we made a game of it on the trail, the guy the TS kit would lead and ride as hard as he could and try to hold off the other 3 guys with yetis, no matter what he did he would get over takin.
8. Deep snow
Again not a whole bunch of comparison here, time after time on the hills we would ask each other what gear we held up that hill, yetis always held 3 and even 4rth, while the TS on the ktm 500 was 2nd most of the time, and even down to 1st on some. when there was no room to grab gears, as in no run up to a hill, just turn hard 90 and take off straight up the hill into the trees the the yetis were able to grab 2nd, while the ts would be limited to 1st till it got headed sideways on the hill where it could grab some momentum. All in all the deep snow performance is given the yeti.
9. getting stuck
no kit was un susceptable to getting stuck, everyone got stuck lots. you do notice a difference when you grab the rear end of TS vs the yeti when they are trenched down to the earth. The yeti pops out of the snow like an excited mouse, where the TS was more like a frightened turtle. the handle ergonomics make it very easy for 2 people to lift as well. Also another thing that likly gets over looked, i because of the formed carbon tunnel the bike was very easy to spin around on its side on top of the snow to get it facing back the opposite direction, we had to try this same maneuver a couple times with the TS and it was noticeable more clumsey to perform the same task.
10. cool factor
This one is maybe gonna cause the most controversy, but everyone has a bit of peacock in them and wants to be noticed when you pull up to hill, or cabin or group of guys and i will say this, no one was rushing over to check out the TS in our group. The yeti seems to turn alot of heads.
The fun factor is off the charts regardless of which kit your riding and with todays bikes they both provide hours and hours of un interupted fun. i have a 610 husaberg with a TS on it but would not trade it for my stock 450 with a yeti, it just sits in the trailer waiting for its turn. I hope this was helpful, there seems to be lots of rider feedback on the TS system and know there are guys out there looking for feedback on the yeti, and i am fortunate to have one so i thought i would share what i knew about the two kits for those who were wondering.
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