Dirt bikes can be turned into snow bikes for winter

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Marquette Magazine and can be found in original form with more photos here. 

The Upper Peninsula has always been known for its beautiful summers and long harsh winters--it is truly a motorsports enthusiast's paradise. There is only one problem: the summers are too short. Snowmobilers love it, but for motorcyclists who don't want to spend ten thousand bucks plus on a sled, it is hell!

But hold on, two wheel fanatics! With the help of one local dealership and the latest snow bike industry innovations they are introducing to the Upper Peninsula, you will no longer need to be left in the winter snow. Instead, you will learn to welcome it.

Located right off of Highway U.S. 41 in Marquette, Michigan, there is a little motorsports dealership called Zambon's North Country Sales Inc. It has been around since 1963, passing down through three generations of the Zambon family.

Thanks to Zambon's North Country Sales Inc., the U.P. is being pushed in a new direction for winter activities. This year the shop has teamed up with 2Moto snow bikes to become the only dealer in the Upper Peninsula to carry the Radix track system.

Unlike many other kits out there, the Radix sports a much slimmer forward mounted track system. This slimmer track gives riders the option to ride on either single-track trails or to get their bike registered for snowmobile trails. By eliminating any excess weight, 2Moto has given riders a more comfortable and natural feeling snow bike, permitting the ability to ride the bike as they normally would, when other kits feel much heavier.

By teaming the weight reduction up with their forward mounted track, 2Moto has provided riders with a machine that has considerably better balance and handling, resulting in an unbeatable snow bike kit for the company.

Most snow bike kits are designed to power through back mountain powder and that is about it. This is where 2Moto's kit separates itself from the competition. The kit was designed not only to cut through deep powder but also to free ride in places inaccessible to snowmobiles, to be race ready, and most importantly to feel like a dirt bike. The Radix kit is intended to bolt on any two-stroke or four-stroke big bikes (250 or above). If you are a racer like myself, this is a must have; there is truly no other way to cross train when the snow is flying.

Like anything else in this industry the kit is not cheap. If you are thinking about purchasing one of these kits for your bike be prepared for the $5,000 price tag that comes with it. Fortunately, Zambon's offers financing for the kits. Payments are around a hundred dollars a month with rates as low as 3.45% for forty-eight months. It sounds like a lot of money, but if you are a motorsports enthusiast who needs to have a summer and winter toy or a racer there is no other way to go.

A few weeks ago the guys at the shop invited me out to test and play around with one of these new kits. Like any rider I did have my reservations about how the bike would handle, perform jumping, and most importantly, how it would handle in deep powder. After all, at the end of the day it is still a dirt bike and should be able to handle like one. Following a hard day of riding and putting the bike through its paces, I was finally able to lay any doubts I had to rest.

With the Radix kit attached, the bike handles like any other bike out there. Through its unique slim and forward mounted track design, the weight of the bike stays practically unchanged, making it easy for any rider to hop on and start ripping around. It only took me a matter of minutes to get used to the slight weight change of the front end and response of the throttle.

Having a ski on the front instead of a tire does take a little bit of getting used to. The lighter front allows it to float on top of the snow giving the steering a little more play. I also noticed that, unlike a normal bike, there is really is no need to use the brake. The second you let off the throttle the track stops. Many riders may not like this, but I think it is the best thing ever. This is hands down the best way for riders learning how to use throttle response like they should be.

Deep powder is where the bike truly shines; the second I sank into deeper snow, I thought that was it for sure. However, the track system seemed to grip better in deep snow. I was left astounded when I came flying out of the corner like I would on any sand track. 2Moto's Radix track system pushes the bike with ease through the deepest of snowfall, giving riders the confidence to hit anything that stands in their way.

Upper level riders and racers that like to air it out will be happy to hear that the bike is completely capable of jumping whatever you can dream up or find. 2Moto has designed the kit to withstand the beating of a snowcross track as well as whatever Mother Nature has to throw at it. Jesse Zambon did notice that when the bike is jumped you need a more gradual take-off compared to one you might find on a racetrack.

Overall, I can honestly say that this is the most fun I have had on a bike in some time. The Radix kit does not in any way restrict the performance or handling of the bike, unlike other kits. One thing is for sure; I do see a Radix kit in the future for my motocross bike. I strongly suggest everyone to stop by Zambon's at 2223 U.S. 41 West in Marquette, or visit them online at zambons.net to check out the kit and the shop.

In addition, the shop specializes not only in selling motorcycles, four wheelers, side by sides, and boats, but also in providing customers with a full service repair shop and parts counter.

About Cody Huebner: I am a photography major at Northern Michigan University, at least for one more semester. When I am not out taking pictures or writing articles I am traveling, racing motocross, hanging out with my two nephews, or studying anthropology. All I want out of life is to travel the world taking pictures, to see and do things others only dream of, and to just experience all that life has to offer.