revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Still confuses me why more don't ride SMs or Street Motos, or even just singles like the 690

I've always fancied one , with two sets of wheels for road in the summer and knobblies for green laneing in the winter. Not sure what it would be apart from old and cheap. Possibly 4 stroke but would consider a 2 stroke although i don't know when I would get chance to ride it.

GuzziPaul wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2020 4:00 pm I've always fancied one , with two sets of wheels for road in the summer and knobblies for green laneing in the winter. Not sure what it would be apart from old and cheap. Possibly 4 stroke but would consider a 2 stroke although i don't know when I would get chance to ride it.

I want one for adventures with others of the same inclination, trackdays at Rowrah, Trackdays at Whilton Mill. All messing about in the Alps on SMs...

I love the idea of em but the reality is somewhat harder to live with.
Maybe jumping in right at the deep end wasn't my sharpest idea but the one I have doing buggerall in the shed is great for a couple of stretches of road, its bloody evil for them.
But, all the roads I need to ride it on to get to those roads it's bloody awful.
To the point where it would be better to chuck it in the back of my van.

At the moment its sat unused for so long the mainseals will be perished and I just can't be trashed.
Really I need to sort out a better shed as well, my shipping container thing isn't big enough, dry enough nor does it have a door into the alley so getting a bike in or out is a 20 min pain in the arse. Guess thats priority and then I'll be more optimistic about bikes in general.
Bah, Humbug etc.

What bike is it you have Demo?

Bomble wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:46 pm What bike is it you have Demo?

KX 500, bit like Andys but a 1990 model so its simpler to get bits for as the engines are basically the same from 88-2004 if I remember it right.

Desert tank cos standard is small for something thats on the road. Talon Excell wheels, road registered and geared up from 14/42 to 16/42 which give it a higher top speed but bear in mind the standard rear is 19" and the new wheels are 17" so the gearing increase isn't as big as some people imagine.

Still doing buggerall in the shed mind but I can't imagine selling it yet.

Having owned a supermoto and a load of trail bikes, supermotos suffer from one problem, they're fun for 20 minutes and then painfully impracticle

Julian_Boolean wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:36 am Having owned a supermoto and a load of trail bikes, supermotos suffer from one problem, they're fun for 20 minutes and then painfully impracticle

Only true Supermotos are yes, but there's plenty that keep the spirit of Supermoto but are far more practical.

Agree with Julian so I ended up moving to the bigger stuff. I know the purists say they aren’t proper motos but they definitely still have the “feel.”
A to B on most roads I was faster on my 701 than my 450 and I think the hyper is quicker again. Not that the quickness really matters but I find the bigger ones just as much fun as the smaller stuff.
Ktm 950sm’s are the same, incredible fun

Bomble wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:03 pm Agree with Julian so I ended up moving to the bigger stuff. I know the purists say they aren’t proper motos but they definitely still have the “feel.”
A to B on most roads I was faster on my 701 than my 450 and I think the hyper is quicker again. Not that the quickness really matters but I find the bigger ones just as much fun as the smaller stuff.
Ktm 950sm’s are the same, incredible fun

I'll have to try one sometime, but I suspect that they'd feel like a tall, heavy big bike, and I've got short legs.
I used an early SV650 quite a bit 20 years ago and thought it was really good on back roads, just needed a more aggressive riding position.

I miss my supermoto.

I had a DR-Z400 that was an absolute hoot even though it only made 36BHP. This was a proper 'built in a shed' SM before manufacturers started making them as part of their range. Regarding the "only for 20 minutes" thing - you have to get through the pain barrier (over a few weeks!) and then you don't notice the plank of a seat. I managed a couple of long-ish range trips on mine, including a tour of Wales.

That headlight was utterly shit at night but the bike was SO much fun to ride!

GuzziPaul wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2020 4:00 pm I've always fancied one , with two sets of wheels for road in the summer and knobblies for green laneing in the winter.

You don't need two sets of wheels or knobblies to off road. This is me and the gang of knobheads I used to 'moto with in Kent and Sussex back in the day, all done on cut slicks or wets....

thats my Mate Lee "Mr tattoo" jumping the husky i think

formula400 wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:25 pm thats my Mate Lee "Mr tattoo" jumping the husky i think

'Tis indeed.

Tell him mille says hi if you speak to him. Not seen or spoken to him for the best part of 10 years, last time I saw him he was a waggon recovery driver cum embalmer cum bike mechanic cum tattoist.....

And ask him if he's till got "that" crash helmet?

I was gonna say,that's an 'in yer face' paint job,but that may be a poor choice of words!

Na he got rid of that long ago. I’ll message him now and tell him

formula400 wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2020 9:37 pm Na he got rid of that long ago.

I love the idea of him trying to sell it and having to find someone else who looks like that....

Had a few, 2 CCM R30s (604 rotax and 710 Suzuki), 3 x KTMs (640LC4, 950SM 690 Duke), XT660X, Xr600 and I think something else, but I can't remember what it was right now. CCM R30 rotax being my favourite of the bunch.

Everytime I watch a vid like the ones above or below, it makes me want another!

"Insane...", my hairy yellow arse!

That's a youtube wannabe who can't ride a supermoto properly.

Now this, on the other hand...