Supermoto's
 

I decided to make a new thread to answer Joey and Stanfields questions regarding supermoto's in my pit bike thread.

Building a supermoto: It really depends on what type of riding you intend to do. If you're track only any MX bike will do just fine. If you want to ride on the street and commute around they're not too practical and maintenance intensive. They don' t hold much oil and sustained highway speeds are hard on them. If you like CRF450's, and want to terrorize the streets, I'd recommend the CRF450X over the R. The Yamaha WR450's are pretty sweet and reliable in supermoto trim. If street riding is what you're looking to I'd recommend looking at something that's already converted, or street legal from the factory. Converting to SM trim can be very expensive. Here's my opinion on some SM's


Yamaha WR250X (reliable, FI, not a lot of power)
http://cart-imgs-1.fc2.com/user_img/...n/592_3_47.jpg
Suzuki DRZ400SM this is mine...I'm parting it out (bulletproof...but slow out of the box) Mine has a big bore 440, FCR pumper carb, Cams, exhaust, etc...I want more power.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...IMAG0063-1.jpg
KTM 625 SMC (great power, reliable...just need to do a few preventative maintenance fixes)
http://www.zhaust.com/forum/index.ph...8271&private=0
KTM 690 SMC (the updated 625. Reliable, FI, a 6th gear...this bike is in my immediate future)
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/a...1&d=1197901218
Husqvarna 610 (fairly reliable, I've ridden one and wasn't that impressed with the power, the 510SMR has more power, but less reliability)
http://www.tradebit.com/usr/techgeek...varnaSM610.jpg
Aprilia SXV 550. (bad ass bikes, until the engine blows up on you at 2k miles)
http://www.cyclechaos.com/images/thu...ack-2998-0.jpg
Husaberg 570 (replacement for the 650, don't know much about this bike, but I'm sure it's a bit maintenance intensive)
http://moto-magz.com/pictures/2010-H...upermoto-3.jpg
Husaberg 650 (the baddest street legal supermot ever made IMO. 65 wheel HP and only 240lbs...requires more attention to maintenance)
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gal...002%20%201.jpg

Nailed it..... DRZ's are fun if you do some power mods and re-gear, but then you're limited to a 85 mph top end.

I love the KTM's, too. I'd want one.

FWIW: I sold my super moto because I thought I'd end up getting arrested on it. LOL!

My first sumo was an 04 XR650l converted. Great bike. Could ride this thing all day on the street. It was a little heavy and way too tall to do much on the track. pic 1

As others have mentioned these things lead to uncontrolable urges to be stupid. The level of risk I took on this thing far outweighed your run of the mill crotch rocket stupidity. Luckily, a fellow sumo rider suggested I check out the track. After one session of track riding on the XR I knew I needed to go in a different direction. Shortly after I bought the CRF. pic 2 and 3

As many already know my son gave sumo a shot and fell in love with it as well. We've been hooked for a little over a year now and ride whenever we get a chance. pic 4

The only down side to track riding is if you're going to try to ride like this... pic 5 (jake holden)

You may end up looking like this... pic 6 (nov 20th snapped tibia and fibia due to impatient rider not waiting until his slicks warmed up)

I've ridden just about every discipline of bike now and nothing compares to the all round fun of a sumo imo. I'd highly recommend owning one!

now that's backing it in!!! nice!