Getting the SuperMotard bug, anyone know?

[lendaddy]

Todd's bike thread really got me going. I've had rockets before and am not smitten. I raced MX for years, but the danger is a bit much now. The compromise? SuperMotard! Anyone know these? Info, sites, etc.......... Thanks!

Street legal but fully capable suspensions for when you're feeling saucy

[lendaddy]

Something like this is my huckleberry! I can ride my MX'er on the street!!!!!!

[juanbenae]

OLN (outdoor life network) has a race series called supermoto that run on statium type courses with dirt and paved surfaces. prety cool to watch.

it seems like they are doing a contemporary version of the old AMA TT racing, difference being they are MX bikes not the old type flat trackers. seems its closest cousin is the old made for tv "superbikers" event that used to be on wode world of sports. its huge in europe, and from reading my pops' bike mags i think that the KTM's are the best "out of the box" units. race ready.

[Tim Hancock]

Len, I also raced mx and I have found no other form of competition that comes even close (I tried AX, go carts, aerobatics, snowmobiling, skiing etc). Sitting on the line amongst 20-40 bikes waiting for the gate to drop and knowing if your not one of the first into the first turn, well it aint pretty. There is nothing like it. In amatuer racing the riders talent and balls are everything. It does not matter too much who spent the most money on their hardware. If you don't win, it is mainly because you were not the best. Almost all other motorsports are ruled by whoever spent the most money on their gear. I just could not continue breaking bones and missing work. I still dream of doing it again. I think these Supermotards would be fun to ride once in awhile but I think they would pale to the real deal.

(I raced 250C then 250B in the mid '80s to early '90s and qualified and raced in both classes over the years at Lorreta's Amatuer Nationals)

Len I assume you raced at Red Bud on occasion?

[lendaddy]

RedBud!!!! LaRocco's Leap First real big jump I ever did, 5th gear full out off the launch is something everyone should try, simply unholy Broke my ribs on the finishline table top once too The wind literally blew me sideways several feet while in the air! Anyway, I agree that nothing comes close. I still hold onto the idea of doing some vet racing some day when the nutjobs are not on the track with me. The SuperMoto bikes would be a neat diversion I think. When I did the Crotch Rocket thing I couldn't get beyond the weight of the damn things. And to be honest the looks have gotten a little Miami Vice for me. A Motard would be unique, and that in itself is cool to me. Also the ability to catch some air every now and then is tough to ignore. I was never a speed freak, but I LOVE to jump. Speed kills, hard landings just break ****

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Tim Hancock


(I raced 250C then 250B in the mid '80s to early '90s and qualified and raced in both classes over the years at Lorreta's Amatuer Nationals)

I never made it that far(loretta's), I started racing late in life. I was doing it up to maybe 4 years ago. Sounds like you were racing around the time of Todd DeHoop, remember him? I went to school with them and rode with them often. Todd won the 125 east Supercross Title in '89 I think (may have been early 90's). Todd runs an MX school for kids here in town and designs tracks for a local series, etc..

[Tim Hancock]

I do not recall hitting that thing flat out. I recall only going about 1/2 -2/3 of the way down. I remember seeing some of the pros going long though. I only raced there a couple of times for amatuer national regional qualifiers. I do remember there being lots of stones in the soil and taking one on a finger pretty hard! It seems like they had a smaller track nearby for weekly racing also. I loved riding at the Silverdome also, I placed second in class out of about 90 entrants one year. A couple years later I smoked my ankle in a heat race and it still gives me trouble 15 yrs later. Man, I wish I hadn't started thinking about this stuff again! Thanks alot!

[Tim Hancock]

Yeah, Dehoop used to show up at some of the same races and when he did he would usually win the A classes. When he raced at the Dome in the pro classes the local crowd used to go nuts. I saw him not too many years ago in an Arenacross in Toledo where he did pretty well for being an "old man".

When I was racing (at the old age of 21-26 or so) I used to travel to the races with a friend that had a kid that raced. Nick Wey, Mat Maximoff (fast little *****) Brock Sellards and others were all on 60's then 80's and my friend's kid raced against them. It is wierd now to see some of these "kids" riding pro.

I also remember talking to Ricky Carmichael's mother at Lorreta Lynn's when he was racing the 60 and 80 class. He was tiny but hauled serious butt even then on a 60.

There was another guy, Brian Swink that was from Michigan also that was pretty good and raced as a pro for awhile.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
I do not recall hitting that thing flat out. I recall only going about 1/2 -2/3 of the way down. I remember seeing some of the pros going long though. I only raced there a couple of times for amatuer national regional qualifiers. I do remember there being lots of stones in the soil and taking one on a finger pretty hard! It seems like they had a smaller track nearby for weekly racing also. I loved riding at the Silverdome also, I placed second in class out of about 90 entrants one year. A couple years later I smoked my ankle in a heat race and it still gives me trouble 15 yrs later. Man, I wish I hadn't started thinking about this stuff again! Thanks alot!

I think you're refering to the downhill, that's not "the leap" and if you hit that flat out you'de be eff'd The uphill on the other side is what I'm talking about. It's in the opposite corner of the track from the downhill (also fun). Man I got goosbumps thinking about it, for those that don't know, you're jumping uphill to a plateau at full shank in top gear. You're in the air long enough to do your taxes! Crowd in the stands to the right giving ya Kodak courage, man I can't believe I'm still in one piece

Never did the dome, bet that was a riot!

[Tim Hancock]

Wow, Len I am impressed, I never got the nerve the couple times I was there (didn't need to to win in the 250 B and C classes back then), I know the uphill you are talking about. After the launch into the ravine, left turn then double-double, right turn, double?, then WFO at the jump at the base of the uphill. If you land on top, smooth as silk, if you don't, rag doll g out time!

[lendaddy]

Her's a pic of it, sorta. It's hard to do it justice in film. You land very easy if you do it right. First time I did it was "in-tow" behind a pro. That makes it much easier

[nostatic]

you mean like one of these?:

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by nostatic
you mean like one of these?:

Yep, that is a Suzuki DRZ400 SM (SuperMoto) they are the only Japanese Mfg doing it right now. The DRZ is a very mild mannered bike and easy to ride. I would call it entry level Motard I have researched the bejesus outta this since yesterday and am currently looking at the two below, more serious machines. They just have more of an MX soul Yes they are street legal and from what I understand VERY agile! They weigh anywhere from 240lbs to 320 lbs depending on model! I'm hooked Suppose to be the next big thing on two wheels in the USA, huge in Europe already.

[Tim Hancock]

Len, obviously for a street machine 4 strokes are the way to go, but am I the only guy around that is sad to see the 2-strokes in MX fading away?

I just can't get used to going watch a race and hearing the god awful sound these high revving (13,000 rpm +) fourstrokes are making. I do find it humorous when I guy stalls it in a turn on the first lap and then gets lapped before he can get the fire lit again.

I know that these bikes are very light now and have advantages in the traction dept., but it just seems wrong. I feel sorry for the modern racers that have to maintain these things and god help them when they smash a titanium pipe.

Plus it ticks me off that the tree huggers have influenced the manufacturers. Oh well, times are a changin, I will quit *****in now.

[71T Targa]

The KTM does NOT look street legal to me... Although hella fun... My first 'street' bike was a 250 trials. Nothing like a 2 stroke on the street. So much fun.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by phred68
The KTM does NOT look street legal to me... Although hella fun... My first 'street' bike was a 250 trials. Nothing like a 2 stroke on the street. So much fun.

The version shown does not have the tail/headlights, otherwise it is the same. Street legal is not a big deal to do after the fact either I know people who have S/L 500cc two strokes here in Michingan

[nostatic]

so have you ridden any of these? How do they do on the street? I've heard talk that you can actually track them...it might be a good "take it off road with the boy on his YZ85 and ride it on the street too" bike. Or not.

[Tim Hancock]

On/Off road bikes have been around forever (think Honda XL's) . These are different as they are slightly modified MX race bikes not purpose built "trail bikes"

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by nostatic
so have you ridden any of these? How do they do on the street? I've heard talk that you can actually track them...it might be a good "take it off road with the boy on his YZ85 and ride it on the street too" bike. Or not.

From what I read they will keep up with the superbikes on the track until the straights. They are supposedly faster in the tight stuff. Yes you can put more "dual-sport" style tires on and go offroad. They are offroad bikes with lights. I have ridden the offroad versions of these, but not a Motard yet. I will soon

[nostatic]

how about this one: