Best Supermoto??

R6 Wilson · Trackday Trickster Joined: 31 Jul 2011 Karma :

Seeing as I find I'm hitting certain death speeds every time I jump on my R6, I've been looking at some supermotos so I can decrease the risk of death slightly in exchange for an increased risk of losing all my skin in a failed wheelie attempt

But seriously, I've always liked them even though I know absolutely nothing about them and have never rode on, would probably be more convenient for my short trips to the gym etc

Like I said I have no idea about them, speaking to a guy who goes my gym who rides a KTM 525 he said when I asked about reliability that it would be fine for short trips but wouldn't be able to hack motorway journeys?

More fun than an R6? Getting ridiculously cheap quotes on KTM 525 and 450s, at just under 400 quid I could sell the R6 when the insurance runs out and buy the daddy of all supermotos!
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♥ YZF-R6 '05 ♥
Time is money so I stay late

Seb · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Karma :

Service intervals terrify me on those things....

Personally I'd pick the lightest one in my budget that didn't require hourly rebuilds. I had use of a KMX200 for a while and whilst it didn't have that much power, the gearing and complete lack of any weight kept things fun and within speed limits Smile

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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

drzsta · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Karma :

Swings and roundabouts really,

Personally I would have husky 510 SMR if I just wanted balls out fun but with service intervals after 2 seconds
Or the KTM 690 SMC which is still a very capable machine but obviously you do notice the extra weight when throwing it around - but it's got higher service intervals circa 3000 miles? And is capable of cruising at motorway speeds all day

Throwing Mono's and backing it in is what SM were made for!
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Current Bikes - BMW S1000RR ‘17 & KTM 690 SMC-R ‘12

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Only ridden 2 or 3.

They are fun, I find them more fun than the GSXR, but that could be due to inexperience.

Binge had a YZ450F. That was an animal. Might not get you many speeding tickets but you'll get points for dangerous driving the way it pulls wheelies Laughing

Ridden a DRZ, I had my heart set on one... was quite disappointed. Lacked any real oomph.

Used a local dealers KTM 625 SMC. That is fun Thumbs Up

I'd say get down a dealer and try a KTM, look after it though Laughing

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Competition bikes don't do motorways well.

To suggest a 'best' supermoto, you need to give more of an idea of the likely use.

For a lot of people, a naked SV with some wider bars and a bit of down-gearing would be just as much fun for a lot less money and hassle.

1cyl · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

Owned an SM'd Yam WR426 which broke within weeks.

Spent big and now own a KTM 690 SMC and so far enjoyed over a 2000 trouble free miles with 1 service, super fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFd4t0M_XmU&feature=player_detailpage
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Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable

Fizzer Thou · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

I am now enjoying my old XR400 enduro race bike again by fitting some 17" wheels to it for when the R1 is on a SORN during the Winter.

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Honda%20750/My%20bikes/Picture261.jpg

It is ideal during the off season when there are the occasional days when it would be nice to go out on the bigger bike

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Honda%20750/My%20bikes/Nov2011Tim023.jpg

This pic was taken just a fortnight ago.The roads were filthy and slippery but were a real hoot on the XR-SM.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Yea, terrible Wink

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https://www.mylaps.com/images/logos/19644.gif

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Thought the oil pickup for front cylinder was starved of oil during wheelies?

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Yea, I wouldn't be doing them for many miles, to be fair.

But if that's the main focus of your riding, get a stunt bike Smile

.

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Crapness aside, can you not just downgear a DRZ400? They dont have amazingly short service intervals. Aware they lack power but they are fairly throwable!

OP, ZX9, downgear. Win Laughing

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

DRZ is lacking in power. Won't get more power by downgearing. First gear is fine for wheelies on the DRZ, but doesn't go that fast. Second is pushing it with road gearing on.

So, down gear it and first will be second.

A modern 600 will wheelie off the throttle at any point in first gear (so up to 65mph say) and off the clutch in second (80, say) and often third if you're making a decent effort.

drzsta · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Karma :

people who slate DRZ don't know enough about them IMO,

Goods points are - bullet proof, cheap to run and insure (it does wheelie in 2nd with a clutch up at about 20mph!) it's drz

Has been know to wheelie in 3rd with essential mods i've mentioned many times here - 3x3 airbox mod, jd jet kit, MRD full system, plus could throw on an keihn FCR carb on it to get more juice.

Bad points - quite heavy old girl, underpowered compared to other machinery.

TBH i shouldn't have sold mine. I miss it Sad

I may get another

But I'm in a really dark place ATM where I have yearnings for a 600 ss, Thing is I don't even know if I'll like riding one after I've been riding SM Confused

In the opposite position of the OP
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Current Bikes - BMW S1000RR ‘17 & KTM 690 SMC-R ‘12

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

drzsta · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Karma :

G, I know it's like comparing a Spoon and fork, but in your experience would you rather an SM or a sports if you had to have 1 road bike?
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Current Bikes - BMW S1000RR ‘17 & KTM 690 SMC-R ‘12

Blackrandomap... · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Jul 2010 Karma :

Hello mate,

ive not read the others posts here, But i would say the best Sumo is a WR450 03 on,
There quick, easy to ride, and the most reliable sumo ever! Dont care what anyone says, I have a wr450 sumo and a ktm 520 sumo
And 2 r6's and a Cbr600rr race bike.

By far the best bike for the road is the WR,

Like yourself it gets to the point where you will die if you keep riding the r6 like a cunt. With the sumo you can ride like a cunt all day and you wil be fine!

As for wheelie's The Wr is best for that too!
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1x 2001 Yamaha R6 1x 2000 Yamaha R6 !For Sale! £2500 1x 2003 Cbr600rr Racebike 1x 2004 Wr450 Sumo 1x 2001 Ktm520 Sumo

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

For an absolute 'do it all' bike, I'm quite happy with the KTM 690.

However, for commuting, I prefer the GSXR1000 definitely.
For trackdays, a sports 600 class bike.
For racing, a minitwin or similar power so far.
Off road, a small capacity 2 stroke for fun.
On road, a small capacity 2 stroke for fun.

I did quite enjoy the CCM for road riding as it goes - about the right amount of power to need to thrash it and not be going silly fast, appropriately flickable setup etc.

For fun I'd take the supermoto over a sports on the lack of power mostly; because even a sports 600 I find 'too easy' to get to the sort of speeds that start to have consequences.