Donate a snow bike, or the conversion kit on its own

Where donated snow bikes come from

Riders who moved back to a snowmobile or stopped riding in winter. A conversion kit is an expensive purchase and it gets used hard for a few seasons before the rider decides which they prefer.

Owners who sold the donor bike and kept the kit, which is common. A kit sitting on a shelf with no bike under it is still worth real money to somebody with the right model.

Estates and property clear-outs in snow country, where a converted bike has been in a shed since the last good winter.

On a trailer, and it does not need to run

A snow bike rides on a trailer or in a truck bed. The track makes it awkward to push but easy to strap down.

Tell us whether the track rotates freely and whether the engine turns over. A track that will not turn needs to be dragged or lifted rather than rolled, and the driver should know.

If you have the original wheels, forks and front brake from the donor bike, send them with it. A convertible setup with both the snow kit and the original dirt hardware is worth considerably more than either alone, because the buyer gets a year-round machine.

What decides what a snow bike brings

• Kit make and generation. The dominant factor. A current-generation kit from a recognized maker is worth a large share of the total.
• Track and ski condition. Track lugs, missing or torn lugs, and the drive sprocket. Ski keel and carbide wear on the bottom edge.
• Donor bike model and condition. A recent four-stroke or two-stroke motocross or enduro bike underneath widens the market considerably.
• Whether the original dirt hardware comes with it. Front wheel, forks, brake and rear wheel. A complete convertible package is a real premium.
• Tunnel, suspension and mount. Bent tunnels, tired rear suspension and worn mount hardware are the usual faults.

Makes we accept

Kit make matters as much as bike make, and buyers name both.

• Conversion kits: Timbersled ARO and Riot, Camso DTS 129 and RS, Yeti SnowMX, Mototrax, Explorer, 2Moto, AD Boivin Snow Hawk.
• Donor bikes commonly converted: KTM 450 and 500 EXC, Husqvarna FE 350 and 501, Yamaha YZ450FX and WR450F, Honda CRF450X and CRF450RX, Beta RR, Gas Gas EC and EX.
• Factory snow bikes: Ski-Doo and Lynx models with factory Timbersled fitment.

Not seeing yours? The list above is a search aid, not a restriction. We accept any make or model in this category, named here or not, including orphan brands and builders long out of business. What decides a donation is the condition and the paperwork, never the badge, so put yours on the form even if it is not listed.

Manufacturer names appear here so you can find your own machine. No manufacturer sponsors, endorses or is affiliated with this program.

The paperwork, and what you can deduct

Off-road machines are the category most likely to have no title, and that is normal rather than a problem. Some states title them, some issue an off-highway registration, and some issue nothing at all. What we need is the VIN or serial number off the frame and a bill of sale or the original purchase paperwork. We will tell you which applies where you are, and the state title rules page covers the process. A converted dirt bike often still carries whatever paperwork the donor bike had, and in snow states there may be a snowmobile or off-highway registration on it. Send whatever you have and we will sort out what your state needs.

Giving Center sells the machine and your deduction is the gross sale proceeds on Form 1098-C. A recent snow bike with a current-generation kit and a good donor bike clears $5,000 more often than not, which means the IRS requires a qualified appraisal and Form 8283 Section B, at your expense and by your choice. A mid-range setup lands between $500 and $5,000, where Section A applies.

An older kit alone with a worn track usually falls between $500 and $5,000 as well, and sometimes below. Tell us whether it is a complete bike or a kit only, because the two figures are very different.