Although not an official sight, there are kits that let you replace a motorbike’s rear wheel with a snowmobile-like thread. Now swap the front wheel with a ski and voila! You have Christini’s II-Track Snow Bike but this time you have got powered tread in the front as well.
The system will be added to one of the company’s existing all-wheel drive motorbikes portfolio — either the 450 four-stroke model or the 300 two-stroke bike.
The rear track will be driven by the bike’s chain, just like the rear wheel would be. A shaft drive running down the fork delivers power to the front tread.
As an added bonus, the front tread not only provides extra climbing and accelerating traction, but also acts as a brake when stopped.
That tread extends down through a split ski, which helps the front end of the bike to "float" on the snow – the amount that it protrudes beneath the ski can be tweaked, depending on whether the rider is going on soft snow, packed snow, mud or sand.
As an added bonus, the front tread not only provides extra climbing and accelerating traction, but also acts as a brake when stopped.
Company president Steve Christini has stated that although the II-Track concept was unveiled several months ago, the prototype was unveiled just recently. Pricing and availability haven't been determined yet, although the base bike itself will cost at least US$8,395.
