MCCALL - When the temperatures drop and the lakes freeze over, it's time to put the dirt bikes away right? Not any more. Put a ski on the front, and a light weight track on the back and you have a "snowbike."

Last weekend 2Moto held free demo rides at the McCall Winter Carnival - I was one of the first in line.

It looks like something that's would be found on a science fiction movie and it sure gets a lot of attention.

The track is different from a snowmobile track. It's curved so when you are riding down the trail it has a real consistent lean as you lay the bike over to turn. Installing the track basically comes down two bolts. Your main swing arm bolt and your rear shock bolt and the whole unit is out.

When I rode it on the hard pack it was a little bit strange especially with a wider powder ski on the front, but it still turned just like a dirt bike. In the powder though, the snowbike felt right at home - almost like it was begging to head for the deep stuf.

You can ride anywhere, side hills, up steep hills, and downhills, but Brett Blaser from 2Moto wanted to remind people to stay away from wilderness areas, to keep our mountains pristine. He also said it's really all about the great places you can see, and having fun while you are doing it.

Ron Seigal from Caldwell said it was a lot of fun and had a great time demoing the bike. Once he got used to it, it felt just like a dirt bike.
Others have compared it to a snowboard with a motor.

So are snowbikes, the wave of the future? Only time will tell but the first snowbike race in the world will take place at "Ground Zero" this Saturday at the McCall golf course, part of the McCall Winter Carnival. It starts at noon and if free to watch.