Supermoto thread

[R3Z3N]

I really want to take the socal supermoto class in riverside....

Also, torn between a fun Husq. 510smr and a Hypermotard if I get into bikes....

[TheTacoMan]

I will have one, hopefully one day.

[ST1G]

They are really fun. But you gotta pay to play. The husky 510 is a superb supermoto at a lower entry cost.

[jaywood]

I really want to take the socal supermoto class in riverside....

Also, torn between a fun Husq. 510smr and a Hypermotard if I get into bikes....

Looked into those huskys before I picked up the ktm. Great bikes but a little too maiintanence heavy for a commuter.

[R3Z3N]

I don't really care about the maintenance. I only have time for probably 60 mi/weekend, and I won't commute.


ALL DAY!

[JCarp90]

JCarp, nice pickup! Looks great. How do you like it so far?

Wish that meet was closer to me. Looks real fun.


Found a nice dirt road the other day. Took me further than I expected!

Dude that is KILLER. I wish we had stuff like that to stumble upon out here, but really we don't have a lot of twisties by me, and no views but corn fields haha. With that being said, we've had an awesome time this summer. I have over 400gb of GoPro video I need to make a montage and share.

Love the KTM, but for different reasons that I loved the DRZ. The DRZ was just fun, the KTM I like for 6th gear and the wide ratio trans. Highway speeds aren't a big deal when I'm blasting backroads, and it feels much lighter. The PO took care of a lot, new water pump, clutch basket/bearings (which are the problem childs for the RFS motors), rebuilt forks for 200lb rider, 200lb rear spring and the supermoto wheels obviously. I had to have the rear wheel trued because it had a slight wobble, so I also had the hub offset so the tire didn't rub the chain anymore. While I was in there it got new bearings and all as well. All I need to do now is get the front caliper adapter and 320mm rotor and it should improve the brakes.

I really want to take the socal supermoto class in riverside....

Also, torn between a fun Husq. 510smr and a Hypermotard if I get into bikes....

I looked a lot at the 510SMRs before I got the DRZ, but was also turned off by maintenance. If it doesn't bother you, then go for it. I know some guys who have a lot of miles on theirs with no issues. If it were me and I had to have a Husky, I'd go 450SMR. There's a guy we ride with in Arkansas that had 35,000 miles on his and hadn't done anything but change the oil and adjust valves, and he rides like a crazy asshole.

[TwoJ's]

OK, I have a general motorcycle question that is a bit off topic in this thread -- but I think this is as good of a place to ask as any (I have registered at SMjunkie, but this isn't a SM specific question).

I am looking to get a motorcycle that will primarily be used to commute to work on when the weather is nice. My commute is less than ten miles and I don't see a speed limit over 40 (though I would like to be able to get on the freeway for a short 15-20 mile ride if I want to go to the girlfriend's house or something). In the end I believe a sumo is the right type of bike for me, but I don't necessarily need one right off the bat.

Also worth noting: I am an inexperienced rider. I have zero experience riding on the street. When I was in college, I bought an early 90's (91 I believe) CR250 and rode it at my friend's ranch. That wasn't the best bike to learn to ride on, but oh well.

Basically... the bike I'm looking for is 4 stroke, no more than 500cc and street legal. I am trying to save as much as possible to buy a house soon, so I really need to find something cheap. In an ideal world I would find something that is $2k or less and street legal. I can ride it and slowly acquire the parts I need to convert it to a sumo (slow enough that the girlfriend doesn't think I'm diverting contributions from the house down payment fund). Once I get some experience riding and have time to acquire the parts, I can convert it and begin to actually ride and enjoy the capabilities of the bike.

I'm doing a bunch of reading to try to get my bike knowledge level up, but admittedly it is low right now. If I can find a cheap WR250/400/426/450, do you all think this would be a good bike for what I've described? What other kind of bikes come to mind? I'd probably look for something that is already street legal.

Any input to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated. Thanks guys.

EDIT: For instance, does this bike seem like it fits the bill? It is a bit more than what I'd like to spend right off the bat, but it seems street legal bikes are much more difficult to find. Would this be good for non-freeway commuting and converting to a Sumo down the road a bit? I added the text in case the ad expires soon.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/4942976489.html

I hate to get rid of this but I need to buy a car in the next few months so I'm in no rush to see it right now. I'm putting it on the market before riding season so someone can get a full season of riding in.

I've had this motorcycle for about a year now and it runs great. Its a big bike, and to comfortably ride it off road you probably would have to be over 6 feet. I'm 6'10 and it works great for me and I haven't put bar risers on it. It is kick start only, which can be annoying at first but it is very reliable once you get the hang of it. It starts up every time. There is nothing wrong with the bike, it runs great, shifts smoothly and has awesome acceleration. You have to be careful when accelerating hard because it will pop up into a wheelie in 1st through 3rd gear. It weighs about 240 lbs and has about 50 hp with the aftermarket exhaust.

In addition it has all of the requirements and the legal plates, making it street legal, and it is licensed in Washington State. The blinkers, horn, and brake lights are powered by a separate battery pack that is rechargeable and is under the seat (pictured).

Aftermarket parts:
-Big Gun Exhaust
-Trail Tech Endurance II (Newly added last August)
-Gear Shifter
-Clutch and front brake levers
-Radiator Guards (Newly added last July)
-Mirrors
-Blinkers
-License Plate
-Chain Gaurds
-3.3 Gallon YZ tank
-YZ aftermarket seat

Thanks again for your input.

[jaywood]

OK, I have a general motorcycle question that is a bit off topic in this thread -- but I think this is as good of a place to ask as any (I have registered at SMjunkie, but this isn't a SM specific question).

I am looking to get a motorcycle that will primarily be used to commute to work on when the weather is nice. My commute is less than ten miles and I don't see a speed limit over 40 (though I would like to be able to get on the freeway for a short 15-20 mile ride if I want to go to the girlfriend's house or something). In the end I believe a sumo is the right type of bike for me, but I don't necessarily need one right off the bat.

Also worth noting: I am an inexperienced rider. I have zero experience riding on the street. When I was in college, I bought an early 90's (91 I believe) CR250 and rode it at my friend's ranch. That wasn't the best bike to learn to ride on, but oh well.

Basically... the bike I'm looking for is 4 stroke, no more than 500cc and street legal. I am trying to save as much as possible to buy a house soon, so I really need to find something cheap. In an ideal world I would find something that is $2k or less and street legal. I can ride it and slowly acquire the parts I need to convert it to a sumo (slow enough that the girlfriend doesn't think I'm diverting contributions from the house down payment fund). Once I get some experience riding and have time to acquire the parts, I can convert it and begin to actually ride and enjoy the capabilities of the bike.

I'm doing a bunch of reading to try to get my bike knowledge level up, but admittedly it is low right now. If I can find a cheap WR250/400/426/450, do you all think this would be a good bike for what I've described? What other kind of bikes come to mind? I'd probably look for something that is already street legal.

Any input to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated. Thanks guys.

EDIT: For instance, does this bike seem like it fits the bill? It is a bit more than what I'd like to spend right off the bat, but it seems street legal bikes are much more difficult to find. Would this be good for non-freeway commuting and converting to a Sumo down the road a bit? I added the text in case the ad expires soon.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/4942976489.html



Thanks again for your input.

Those WR's are solid bikes. Is that your budget? I would look into DRZ's which aren't much more money than that and extremely reliable.

[BenM]

I don't post on r3v much anymore, but here's my recently converted SM.

2000 Husqvarna WR360. Plated too.

[TheTacoMan]

Bumping this, picked a wr up for sumo.

[JCarp90]

Welcome to the dark side, Taco.


Also, bought myself a new toy.

2014 KTM 500 EXC with 92 miles. Essentially new.

Also snagged some KTM Behr sumo wheels - cush drive rear.







So far I've added Fastway handguards, Akro pipe on the way, Hyde skid plate on the way, and the girlfriend got me some Wolfman E-12 saddlebags for my birthday. Ideally I'd like to do some more adventure riding with this one. It's a monster though.

[TheTacoMan]

Thats an awesome bike carp. Picked up a 17x5 rear wheel used for 170$ for the wr, Ill post some pictures later today.

[JCarp90]

Thats an awesome bike carp. Picked up a 17x5 rear wheel used for 170$ for the wr, Ill post some pictures later today.

Badass. I had a hell of a time avoiding chain rub with my 5" rear on my 450. I actually bought the 500 on the road on the way to the annual Supermoto meet in Branson, MO, so I had no choice but to run the 5" on the 500 as well. I still had a good amount of rub that meet. After I got back, I sold those wheels and bought my KTM Behr setup.

Here it is with basically no miles on it. I literally bought it, rode it around a gas station, put it on the trailer and when I got to Branson, swapped on the sumo wheels in the hotel parking lot. Notice how the bike is spotless and the wheels are filty. lol

[TheTacoMan]

Thats what Ive read, I was going to try to run a smaller tire size as well and run a plastic chain guide on the top(it sticks up alot more than stock).
Bikes is looking epic, orange wheels are slick.

Im hoping I can get away with a 5", it was too good of a deal to pass up.

[JCarp90]

Thats what Ive read, I was going to try to run a smaller tire size as well and run a plastic chain guide on the top(it sticks up alot more than stock).
Bikes is looking epic, orange wheels are slick.

Im hoping I can get away with a 5", it was too good of a deal to pass up.

Oh definitely. I had an old school bike shop offset that hub for me too. In the end I think they were able to move it over about 4mm and the chain rub was mostly gone. When we really started getting into the curves though, the tire would flex into it. Got so low on the left handers I could feel the waffle on my tire edge on the ground.