Super-moto

[yankeeboy]

Any one here ride supermoto? Considering selling my ducati and picking up a street legal motard to tool around on. Was thinking of a drz400sm. I know it's not the fastest/lightest, but they seem mostly bullet proof. Looking for opinions and stuff from people who ride/have ridden. Thanks

 

[Daralekt]

I considered the same, but after doing some riding on others bikes I ended up buying a Ducati hypermotard.

 

[Gidge768]

I had an Aprilla SXV 550 when they first came out. Was awesome when it ran but had alot of issues and I traded it in with 180 miles for another SXR. Couldnt get out of that bike fast enough. The DRZ is a bomb proof bike. As you know lackes some power and rides nothing like a motox bike if thats what your looking for. I also had a Street legal CRF450X that was awesome. You should decide if your looking to do highway speeds on the bike or just chill around on the local back roads. I thought of a Hypermotard at one point but there alittle to nice to go blasting down gravel roads trying to kick the ass end out....lol Also, a little heavy for that kind of riding. I could go on and on. If you have any specific questions just pm me and if I can ill try to help. Goodluck!!

 

[Gidge768]

I use to work in a dealership so have riden and owned a few bikes if that helps.

 

[gromm415]

I also had an aprilia sxv. Tons of fun but the reliability and maintenance made it hard to enjoy. I do regret selling it and plan on getting another supermoto when I can afford it. My r6 hasn't been touched since the sxv haha. A girl I know has a Drz and it is fun for sure but slow as compared to the sxv.

 

[h2odesperado]

Not a week goes without me missing my old bike.... YZ400f sumo'd. Unbelievably fun.

 

[motobehrens]

What are you planning on using it for? It is under powered and overweight, but extremely reliable. I've done 150+ miles in a day at 75mph. When I ride it to work, it's 75mph for 20 miles. No worries, the motor can take it. Top speed is 90ish. It handles awesome, and is ridiculous fun around town or in the twisties. The seat is typical mx seat and your azz is numb after 20 miles. Aftermarket parts can reliably put you at 50hp. You can also put bags on it and use it as a touring bike, though not very comfortable. I get about 45 miles to the gallon. It's cheap, so you won't care if you drop it or break something.

There are much better sumos, but not better all around sumos.

 

[Schmidty721]

I ownded a Husky 510 SMR for a couple years. The bike was awesome. Super fast, light, handled great. I had a set of dirt wheels for it as well and rode it on the moto tracks a few times. I believe it had about 2800 miles on it when I sold it. I never had any issues with it, but was doing oil changes every 300-500 miles depending on how it was road.

My good friend has the DRz400sm. Bought it new, has over 10k on it without an issue. He did the usauly mods and it is pretty fun bike to ride. He can still wheelie it in top gear and keep up through most of the twisties on it.

My brother has had a Husky 610 smr and now has a Husaberg 650.
The Husky 610 is also ultra relialble. Super comfortable to ride and has a way better power than the Drz400. Not nearly as high strung as the 510smr, and overall a bigger bike. Cruised 75 mph no problem.

The Husaberg 650 is just amazing. Best thumper engine I have ever ridden. Loads or torque and just keeps on reving. Super fun on the street and still suprisingly rideable in the woods and tight trails.

 

[yankeeboy]

I have a ten minute commute to work or school- all on backroads. That is my primary use for the bike. I can get most local places by backroads, but having the ability to hop on the freeway for a few exits would be nice if need be. Granted my monster is no speed demon, i dont mind sacrificing speed for fun factor. I really just want to be able to tool around and not feel so limited to main road. Price is also a big factor, would like to keep it around 3g, which can be a bit tricky with the husabergs/ktm/aprilia. Ease of maintenance is a big plus. I'm open to different bike options. I'm a newbie with bikes so i'd like to ride more than worry about service intervals, but have connections to have any amount of work done if required. I've been trolling supermotojunkie and a few other forums so i'm not oblivious to some motard basics. What did you guys think of your motard compared to a street bike?

 

[Gidge768]

I had a GSXR 1000 at the same time. Both a lot of fun but in different ways. If you have a lot of riding buddies who are on the sport bikes and you on the moto it can be tough to hang with them specially if there are any long straights. Once you get in the turns you will be okay. Like someone said up top, The seat is pretty firm and tends to put your azz to sleep. You will find yourself standing a lot to get the blood flowing. If your looking to make a quick run into town then I would take the moto all day long. Easy to handle at slower speeds and just plain less to worry about. Nice and upright for slow traffic.

 

[badvinny]

I have never rode a DRZ that I liked, all way to mushy. I have a Duke ll (favorite), and a Superduke for the street, supermoto raced a 250sx, 300xc, 450sx, but my latest 2012 500exc has quickly become my new favorite. Almost 450mx power so I am just finished installing a 610cc kit, fmf pipe, custom cam, and 45mm bored throttle body(FI right). All signs and sounds are showing it is going to be a beast, I should know this weekend if I get it broken in (at the icerace track).
Even stock it kicks a DRZ everywhere, but sadly also at its cost$

 

[boostedegos]

I went back and forth between the DRZ400SM and Yamaha WR250X before deciding on the WR250X. I chose it because it's a little lighter than the DRZ, close to the same power output, has an aluminum frame, 75 mpg, and fuel injection. It's a blast around town and short highway runs. For your short commute any motard will be enjoyable.

 

[yamanube]

I had a WR250X for a couple years and it was an awesome bike, not the fastest but felt lighter than the DRZ and IMO looked much better. With a pipe and gearing change it really woke up, add fuel injection and a 6 speed and it is a great street tard that you can tear on all day without worrying about hurting it. I also had a KTM 640sm that was a monster, was a ton of fun but in the end did not feel as refined or reliable as the WRX, the extra power was nice but the long service intervals and reliability of the Yamaha actually had me enjoying it more.

 

[yankeeboy]

I really like the wrx but I have a buddy who use to race track, and he's trying pretty hard to steer me away from the most (especially slow) supermotos. He considers the drz and the wrx turds, but I guess thats to be expected. I'm a pretty small guy ( 5'8 135lbs), so I think a lighter bike would benefit me. I think I really need to just ride a sumo and see what I think.

 

[ProSouth]

i had a yz250 i set up. lowered and stiffened the suspension with excel wheels. probably the funnest bike i've ever had. I've had 4 or 5 street bikes. They don't compare.

 

[yankeeboy]

I thought about converting a bike. But between parts to make it legal and potential high service intervals I figure it's more realistic (for me) to buy already setup from factory.

 

[Balduccimoto]

For months when I was looking at getting a supermoto I narrowed it down to a wr450 and converting it. I wanted something with a MX type of power band for the street. Mostly for blasting around wheelies and just being a "hooligan". What I really wanted was a street legal CR500. Well, it never happened, I ended up on a 848 evo.

 

[jduplease2002]

heres my 07wr450f
after having one. my advise is if your just going to get it for supermoto,don't. I love the bike and haven't had any problems but i never use it for supermoto. As a dirtbike with a few mods it can't be beat but as a supermoto no matter what you do it's short a gear. If I was getting a bike only for supermoto it would have to have 6 gears.

 

[jduplease2002]

way better this way

 

[mxmark4]

I had a 400 sm I bought new and loved it must do mods are the 3x3 mods rejet and full pipe. Bike got stolen so I collected parts for 6 months and built one with a frame I got off ebay, most fun I have ever had on the street is on a sumo. Its like bein out on the water you can just go whereever you want and it will make you look like a hardass when you ride it. Wheelies and stoppies are so easy the bike does all the work I could go from the rear wheel at 60 to the front wheel at 60 like it was nothin