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View Full Version : Which supermoto and why?


krhall
23-11-07, 10:44 AM
So if you were to get a supermoto style bike for your daily commute, 25 mile round trip. Which one would you get and why?

Especially considering you are only 5'8".

hovis
23-11-07, 10:49 AM
honda XR250/400
or
suzuki DR350/DRZ400

Alpinestarhero
23-11-07, 10:51 AM
I'd go with hovis on the suzuki DR-Z400

KTM's look good though, and they probably are the most refined avaliable since KTM have been doing 'tards for yonks

Matt

hovis
23-11-07, 10:58 AM
depends on budget?

Demonz
23-11-07, 11:10 AM
Id get a WR450 - then you have a decent greenlaning/motorcross toy as well. Possibly cheaper than the KTM of which the EXC400 would be my choice for the same reasons.

krhall
23-11-07, 11:14 AM
Hypothetical budget = K3 SV650s as per:

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=98187

+ £1000 - £1500 max. Unless anyone has a hypothetical swap?

Ceri JC
23-11-07, 11:18 AM
I'd go with hovis on the suzuki DR-Z400


+1 that's what I'd have.

hovis
23-11-07, 11:27 AM
Hypothetical budget

+ £1000 - £1500 max. Unless anyone has a hypothetical swap?

honda XR250/400
or
suzuki DR350/DRZ400

dunno if you would get a DRZ for that money, i think i would stay away from KTM in that price range

so

honda XR250/400
or
suzuki DR350

the_lone_wolf
23-11-07, 11:32 AM
So if you were to get a supermoto style bike for your daily commute, 25 mile round trip. Which one would you get and why?

Especially considering you are only 5'8".
depends, if your communte is on dual carriageways then forget it, if it's country lanes then the DRZ would be great fun, if it's A roads the DRZ will run out of puff quickly:cool:

krhall
23-11-07, 11:44 AM
depends, if your communte is on dual carriageways then forget it, if it's country lanes then the DRZ would be great fun, if it's A roads the DRZ will run out of puff quickly:cool:

It does have some dual carriageways, but tbh the SV has rarely been above 70mph................40-50mph is the norm.

rictus01
23-11-07, 11:52 AM
A couple of bikes back my brother had a CCM R30, which was ok but a bit extreme for everyday (so he says) and limited if your only bike, he's had for a couple of years a z1000, but has recently added a DR-Z 400 sm for his commute, he loves it, bit gutless over 80mph, but that's not really a problem on the North circular.

Got it nearly new a 2007 model for a good price to.


http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7317/drz400smjh2.th.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=drz400smjh2.jpg)

Cheers Mark

the_lone_wolf
23-11-07, 12:15 PM
It does have some dual carriageways, but tbh the SV has rarely been above 70mph................40-50mph is the norm.
prolonged riding over 50 or so would be very tedious, imagine riding a bmx at that kind of speed and you get the idea of how much wind protection is offered, and the engine hasn't got that much left in it from 70+

that said, the engine is willing and eager at lower speeds, the handling is superb around town (or anywhere really) and the high up riding position makes for great visibility, i'm 5,9 or so but have long arms and legs and i can get both toes solidly on the ground when stopped

but provided you don't sit at 60+ on your way to work you'll arrive with a huge cheeky grin, i promise you that;)

Fizzy Fish
23-11-07, 12:40 PM
Yamaha XT660 is a decent option, and you can get a nice, v. low miler for c. £2700.

The one mod you do need is fitting a power commander, as the fuelling is a bit snatchy without it. The PC sorts it out nicely though. Height is fine for shorties - I'm 5ft6 and can get tippitoes down on both sides without any adjustment.

scooby2102
23-11-07, 01:22 PM
+1 that's what I'd have.


yep, defo the DRZ400SM

its a crackin bike

dont worry about your height, it sags a fair bit and there's 17 clicks worth of adjustment on the front and rear suspension

since I am the proverbial short a-r-s-e at 5 ft 6in, I moved the forks up 5mm and shaved an inch off the seat, its moulded in 2 parts of foam so if you remove the lower part, you dont lose any of the contours and it looks like it aint been touched

only had it since mid september and love it, it handles really well

hovis
23-11-07, 01:26 PM
yep, defo the DRZ400SM


not for £1000 you would'nt, you would strugle to find a tidy one for £1500 (IMO)

scooby2102
23-11-07, 01:31 PM
not for £1000 you would'nt, you would strugle to find a tidy one for £1500 (IMO)


ooooops, never noticed that bit about the budget

managed to blag mines on the interest free deal, px was 1200 less the retail left 79 quid per month x 36

northwind
23-11-07, 01:46 PM
KTM Duke 1s can be very cheap sometimes, since it's an old model- now 2 models old in fact. But that might be a bit tall for you. Likewise MZ Mastiff, they were cheap new but fairly tall.

krhall
23-11-07, 01:49 PM
I was thinking the SV & £1500, not just £1500 on its' own.

hovis
23-11-07, 01:52 PM
ohhhhhhhhh

so thats £1600 max ;)










£3000-£3500?

svpilot
23-11-07, 01:54 PM
I reckon I will be getting a DRZ400sm.

I know they are down on power compared to a lot of SUMO's (and my old SV) but the black one really flicks my switch ;)

Since my SV/Freelander interface a while back, I don't mind avoiding motorways for a while :shock:. 400cc = cheap(er) ins and tax too.

krhall
23-11-07, 02:06 PM
ohhhhhhhhh

so thats £1600 max ;)










£3000-£3500?

I was hoping fo a little more than that - its not a yellow curvey!!!

krhall
23-11-07, 02:25 PM
Just noticed suzuki are doing 0% finance on them at the moment. Could be interesting.

Also what of Honda's FMX, I've seen that getting a pasting on here before, looks quite cool.

chazzyb
23-11-07, 06:56 PM
Especially considering you are only 5'8".

I'd hazard a guess that all the earlier correspondents missed that bit. I'm the same height (well, 5'7 and 3/4", but any super-moto is WAY too tall. As are the big trailey bikes. Which is a shame, as I want a sit-up-and-beg riding position. With a screen.

tigersaw
23-11-07, 07:20 PM
My commute used to be 13 miles each way, A and B roads.I had the DRZ400 and prior the DR350 it replaced. For sheer fun and traffic carving the DR350 was the better bike. DR350 was more robust, but its simple tractor engine was no match for the DRZ. My DR350 was probably the best example I'd ever seen when I sold it earlier in the year, but even that was showing its age, so you'd need to look hard for a good one.

Ratty46
24-11-07, 05:59 PM
i'm looking at getting one...

either a DRZ, or a KTM, possibly tho a KLX650 if i can find one!

my mate has a KTM 660smc, its tuned, has quickshift etc its an absolute loony machine, wheelies at teh slightest whiff of throttleing on.:mrgreen: it keeps up with my SV up to 80 odd, its quick!

i'm getting one to play on and use in winter and for work etc..

i'm 5.10, and i'm on the tips of my toes sitting on it, all motos are tall, and if you dont like wheelies dont get a big moto ie over 400.:cheers:

ELR4ever
26-11-07, 10:52 AM
Was in a shop last week and the shop owner said the KTM SM's (singles) require an oil change every 800 miles and valves something like just twice that. He said you'd want to be a mechanic to own one for all the maintenance you'd have to do. He said the XT660 you basically just add oil and ride it until it dies.

northwind
26-11-07, 01:12 PM
Maybe the competition ones do, but not the Dukes etc, they've got pretty much standard service intervals.

Ratty46
26-11-07, 04:20 PM
KTM's do need looking after, not that extreme tho!

my mate has just bought a KTM that was raced last season, that requires alot of serviceing etc becasue of its tuned state.

KTM's that are standard dont require this, they are like any other bike, look after it keep it serviced and everything wil be fine.

i was looking at XT660's there ok, not got that much poke tho, and they are HEAVY!! nah i dont think i wil get one of them.

suzuki got it right with the DRZ, handles much better than an XT. even if its a little slower, keep it pinned and make it up through teh corners!

pencil shavings
26-11-07, 09:22 PM
not for £1000 you would'nt, you would strugle to find a tidy one for £1500 (IMO)

I picked up a cracking DRZ400E for £1400
admitadly it didnt have SM wheels but its a cheep mod if you sell origionals or put gsx wheels on.

Ceri JC
27-11-07, 08:24 AM
I picked up a cracking DRZ400E for £1400
admitadly it didnt have SM wheels but its a cheep mod if you sell origionals or put gsx wheels on.

Nice!

the_lone_wolf
27-11-07, 08:36 AM
I picked up a cracking DRZ400E for £1400
admitadly it didnt have SM wheels but its a cheep mod if you sell origionals or put gsx wheels on.
IMHO gsxr wheels would look terrible on a supermoto, you've got to have spoked wheels, preferably gold;)

don't forget to uprate the front brake, stopping you from 60 on the road will put a LOT more strain on it than riding on dirt:thumbsup:

pencil shavings
27-11-07, 09:07 AM
they dont look that bad IMHO

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/verismo_2001/bikes/RtSide.jpg

For the cost you cant really argue. I had planned to do it on my bike, well, I did do it on my bike, but then some scrote stole it when the hub was away for machineing!! :smt088

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/verismo_2001/bikes/DSCF0005.jpg

the yellow one is mine. And before I get abuse, the downpipe does clean up nicly! It is just stuck on dirtyness from a ride on the lanes! And boy does the E spec have some balls!!

And if anyone wants to see an E-spec thats been SMed.........

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/verismo_2001/bikes/Martin-Brown-drz-3-sm.jpg

very nice!

the_lone_wolf
27-11-07, 02:37 PM
if the wheels were a freebie then i can see the attraction, but supermotos just look wrong without spoked wheels:D

Ratty46
27-11-07, 05:24 PM
pencil- nice moto!! looks good! i want one!!!!

Cloggsy
30-11-07, 08:06 PM
I'd go with hovis on the suzuki DR-Z400

KTM's look good though, and they probably are the most refined avaliable since KTM have been doing 'turds for yonks

Matt

Couldn't agree more :smt093 The dealers ain't much better :!:

DRZ 400 SM :cool: