YES! There are several advantages to getting a purpose-built (factory) skibike over a DIY converted (conversion) bike. Without going in to a lot of detail, here are the highlights:
- The geometry on a factory skibike is going to be a lot different than that of a conversion. Mountain bikes are designed to be ridden both uphill and downhill, unless you are on a downhill specific bike. On a factory bike:
- The reach is going to be shorter, which allows you to get your weight where it needs to be…over the front ski.
- The “wheel base” is going to be shorter, which will make the bike more playful and nimble.
- The bottom bracket height will be lower, giving you a lower center of gravity for quicker and more responsive turns as well as greater stability at higher speeds.
- The frame will be smaller on a factory bike vs. converted bike. Even if you convert a BMX frame, it is still going to be smaller.
- Most factory bikes are designed to ride a chair lift sitting upright next to you in a vertical orientation; our bikes are designed so that the bike will fit perfectly on the seat.
- The head tube on a factory bike will be longer, which allows the steer tube on the fork to be cut longer without the need for excess spacers.
- In some cases a factory bike will be cheaper than a conversion as you won’t have to piece it together.
- There are still some mountains that don’t allow converted bikes as they can be unsafe.