What is it about motards?

[TOTO]

Ok , noob man here. I dont know what to think of motard motorcycles. What are they. It looks like a dirt bike, has road tyres, Goes fast, crappy fuel economy(ive been told), people put high performance mublers on them, and take them to the race track. O and I know they are great for wheelies - i've seen this with my own eyes.

I just can not connect all those things into one, but there we have a motard. Only definate thing I heard about motards is that they are FUN. WHY? HOW?

Educate me Please.

[xwhatsit]

Ok , noob man here. I dont know what to think of motard motorcycles. What are they. It looks like a dirt bike, has road tyres, Goes fast, crappy fuel economy(ive been told), people put high performance mublers on them, and take them to the race track.

I just can not connect all those things into one, but there we have a motard. Only definate thing I heard about motards is that they are FUN. WHY? HOW?

Educate me Please.

Crappy fuel economy -- not really, just small tanks, so low range.

Fun? Why? Ride a dirt bike some time on the road. You have long travel suspension, an incredibly torquey and fun engine to crack along with (singles don't need to be explained, they are just cool, accept it). Upright seating position and big bars with lots of leverage. Masses of ground clearance. It can be wrestled and thrown and slid through corners in ways you'd never be able to do and keep your life with a sportsbike. The tall geometry means you can wheelie and stoppie to your heart's content. The nastiest, most horrible twisted road that gives you the shits on a sportsbike is a playground for a motard.

Sportsbikes are about serious and elegant cornering. The perfect line, the perfect gear, brake, wind on throttle right on the apex. Motards are about fun and arsing about. Arcade-game Sega Rally style.

DO WANT

[orangeback]

Ok ,

I just can not connect all those things into one, but there we have a motard. Only definate thing I heard about motards is that they are FUN. WHY? HOW?

Educate me Please.
you have all the facts , and you still don't get it, you might as well give up, You may realise in a couple years once you've had a few more bikes what ridings about. no offence meaned, but ride one and you may see the light.

[TOTO]

I most definately plan to... :D

[limbimtimwim]

No one knows..

[hang0ver]

They are a conspiracy made up by the government to divide riders...

[Motu]

The Motards you see around are the poser's version of a real Supermotard.Developed from a form of racing that involved road racing,MX and speedway - riders could use any sort of bike they desired.What worked best on the varied surface and corners was a dirt bike with road race wheels and brakes running cut slicks or wets.Some people found they were fun on the street too.

[carver]

ii am about to purchase such a bike...high chance of it.
the reason being that you can take your riding skill to silly heights.
my top valued skill when riding is adaptablitiy, and what better bike to practice on?

[kinger]

I just can't figure why the inside leg goes out on a track.
On the dirt, sure, but with slicks fitted, on a dry track, why?

[R6_kid]

try one, you'll forever have a hooligan in you're head saying 'do a fucking wheelie' every time you get the chance... and stopping at intersections becomes stoppie time.

[carver]

try one, you'll forever have a hooligan in you're head saying 'do a fucking wheelie' every time you get the chance... and stopping at intersections becomes stoppie time.

and saying......join the mormon few!

[speights_bud]

Yerp! Motards are all about the adrenalin rush, the wheelies, the stoppies, the torque and the noise!!!! :D ...Oh and chewing out rear tires :devil2:

[TOTO]

I met someone on a ride and he told me his back tyre on kis KTM lasted 3000km averagge. Are all motards like that ?

[limbimtimwim]

I met someone on a ride and he told me his back tyre on kis KTM lasted 3000km averagge. Are all motards like that ?Well, what tyre was it? If you put a Metzeler Z6 on my DR-Z it'd last ages. But I ride like a wuss.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Motards cause even the most sensible level headed rider to become a nutter.

And nutters to become down right dangerous!

[TOTO]

oooo I so wanna be a nutter now ....:D

[avgas]

Motoretards are awesome.
I waiting for the KTM 990 single so i can get some good vibrations.

[The Pastor]

<img src="http://www.amaproracing.com/features/03/images/03mikesmith-sm_m.jpg">
thats why

[FilthyLuka]

I think i have a good analogy here.

Image a twisty back country road, smooth asphalt on a hot summers day.

Someone Riding an R1 begins to elegantly weave his bike in and out of corners, smooth on the throttle. Wanna define it with music? Something by Vivaldi

Imagine the same road.

Motard rider comes up to a corner, tears down 2 gears and slides the bike through the first corner, then stands it up on the exit. The background music? Fuel by Metallica

Get what i mean?

[TOTO]

I think i have a good analogy here.

Image a twisty back country road, smooth asphalt on a hot summers day.

Someone Riding an R1 begins to elegantly weave his bike in and out of corners, smooth on the throttle. Wanna define it with music? Something by Vivaldi

Imagine the same road.

Motard rider comes up to a corner, tears down 2 gears and slides the bike through the first corner, then stands it up on the exit. The background music? Fuel by Metallica

Get what i mean?


Yepeeee , I can see myself on a motard. Great visual . I got it.

[deanohit]

I just can't figure why the inside leg goes out on a track.
On the dirt, sure, but with slicks fitted, on a dry track, why?

Some guys find it helps with their balance.
Spose it depends if you started riding on dirt or seal.

Motards are just freakin awesome! This is the smilie of a motard rider:devil2:
Lets see ya ride a sprotbike slideways through a corner, then the next, and the next on as well. :banana:

[carver]

Lets see ya ride a sprotbike slideways through a corner, then the next, and the next on as well. :banana:

sure, when do you want to see this?

[erik]

Some guys find it helps with their balance.
Spose it depends if you started riding on dirt or seal.

Motards are just freakin awesome! This is the smilie of a motard rider:devil2:
Lets see ya ride a sprotbike slideways through a corner, then the next, and the next on as well. :banana:

How many people can actually ride a motard sideways through corners consistently like that? At taupo, I only saw them doing it at the corner at the end of pit straight (mind you, you can't see turns 5-7 well which I guess might be suitable), and then it was only one or two guys, the others were going round it without sliding. Even on a motard, it must still be fairly difficult to slide around corners like that.

[deanohit]

How many people can actually ride a motard sideways through corners consistently like that? At taupo, I only saw them doing it at the corner at the end of pit straight (mind you, you can't see turns 5-7 well which I guess might be suitable), and then it was only one or two guys, the others were going round it without sliding. Even on a motard, it must still be fairly difficult to slide around corners like that.
It seems Taupo isn't a slide friendly track, the motards I saw there weren't sliding much.
The motards at Paeroa and Nelson Port on the other hand, most were sliding a wee bit, while the front runners were really hanging it out.
Just look at all the lines leading into the corner!
Not my pics:

[TOTO]

That just looks against the lays of phisics to me. Its amazing. I Wanna go see with my own eyes. Where can I see motards racing next ? Anyone know ?

[clint640]

That just looks against the lays of phisics to me. Its amazing. I Wanna go see with my own eyes. Where can I see motards racing next ? Anyone know ?

Check out the event calendar in the Kiwi Rider.

What makes motards fun has a bit to do with what many motorcyclists consider a fun road - it's often quite tight twistys that give us wood. On a motard you sacrifice the aerodynamics & high speed capability of a sprotsbike (which you don't need in the tight stuff) for lighter weight & a riding position that gives you a lot more control over the bike, you've got a lot more leverage to punt less weight of bike through the turns.

The other main thing that makes a motard good on NZ roads is the extra suspension travel to deal with the rugged surface of many twisty roads.

Cheers Deano, #223 in those pics is me young mate Scotty, I'll be seeing him this arvo so I've printed them off.

Clint

[deanohit]

Cheers Deano, #223 in those pics is me young mate Scotty, I'll be seeing him this arvo so I've printed them off.

Clint
Goodo mate, he's a damn good rider that fella, was hanging the back out very nicely time after time. :cool:

[Badjelly]

So what is it about a motard (versus, say, a sports bike) that encourages sliding through corners? The steering geometry, I guess, but what specifically?

[Hellraiser]

That just looks against the lays of phisics to me. Its amazing. I Wanna go see with my own eyes. Where can I see motards racing next ? Anyone know ?

I'm sure there will be a few of them at the ANZAC Trackday.


So what is it about a motard (versus, say, a sports bike) that encourages sliding through corners? The steering geometry, I guess, but what specifically?

Wank Factor

[deanohit]

So what is it about a motard (versus, say, a sports bike) that encourages sliding through corners? The steering geometry, I guess, but what specifically?
Everything, but mainly the uprightness and wide bars make it easier.

[blueblade]

BTW just because you are on a motard, doesnt mean its easy to do those cool looking slides. It takes a lot of skill and practice. Plenty of guys that have been riding motards for ages cant do it. I only ever did it by mistake.
I wouldnt mind betting that the top guys (Toby Sommers etc) could slide just about anything.

[jimmy 2006]

Goodo mate, he's a damn good rider that fella, was hanging the back out very nicely time after time. :cool:

you should see him just mucking around in the bush, bloody talented.
i hear he is riding fast on that 505sx

[limbimtimwim]

BTW just because you are on a motard, doesnt mean its easy to do those cool looking slides. It takes a lot of skill and practice. Plenty of guys that have been riding motards for ages cant do it. I only ever did it by mistake.And the lack of mechanical sympathy. And a budget for soles on the boots. You watch the good ones and their boot doesn't really touch down at all though.

[martybabe]

:mad: Oh well thankyou! No bloody interest in motards but I thought I'd read it cause Totos a good kid. Thank you so much for putting yet another bike on my sodding wish list. No not one bike ,a whole ferkin gaggle of em.Just when you think you've got it sorted someone pops up full of enthusiasm and fun and spoils it for every one else. There's some big fans in here aint there.

Well you just enjoy yourselves,dont tell me will ya.I know you just did but I've bought a bathroom now,coulda syphoned of a few dollars eh.

The best taps you can buy or a motard? oh give me the taps please,so much fun,turning them on and off and on. sheesh. share people.

NOT INTERESTED! how much could I get one of them for then,please. :drool:

[TOTO]

:mad: Oh well thankyou! No bloody interest in motards but I thought I'd read it cause Totos a good kid. Thank you so much for putting yet another bike on my sodding wish list. No not one bike ,a whole ferkin gaggle of em.Just when you think you've got it sorted someone pops up full of enthusiasm and fun and spoils it for every one else. There's some big fans in here aint there.

Well you just enjoy yourselves,dont tell me will ya.I know you just did but I've bought a bathroom now,coulda syphoned of a few dollars eh.

The best taps you can buy or a motard? oh give me the taps please,so much fun,turning them on and off and on. sheesh. share people.

NOT INTERESTED! how much could I get one of them for then,please. :drool:

Hahaha Laughed so hard at the taps - turn them on , turn them off - LOL - close to comedy genious.

I saw a KTM 525(not sure) for 11grand brand new. May be able to get a second hand one in good condition for about 8k - I'm guessing. Someone in the know , enlighten us please :)

[deanohit]

I saw a KTM 525(not sure) for 11grand brand new. May be able to get a second hand one in good condition for about 8k - I'm guessing. Someone in the know , enlighten us please :)
Talk to Macstar. :cool:
not sure if he still has his 520 for sale.

It's a toss up, do you want full power but high maintenance?
Or low maintenance but modest power?

[Morcs]

Ill answer the original post after the weekend.

I take delivery of my brand new 2008 DR-Z400SM on thursday.

But got to run it in before the Full Yoshimura system, jetkit and K&N go in.

$9450 all on inc ORC.

:2thumbsup

[jimmy 2006]

don't forget the 3x3 mod, then your away laughing. so so jealous

please tell me that you got it in black! and this bike is on the learner bikes list.................

[jimmy 2006]

don't forget the 3x3 mod, then your away laughing. so so jealous

please tell me that you got it in black! and this bike is on the learner bikes list.................

either of these i would be stoked with

[carver]

speed over that bumpy stuff is a big bonus on nz roads

[Hellraiser]

either of these i would be stoked with

Why settle for second best, if you want a motard that is going to make you really smile then splash out and get 1 of these.

[daaatomic]

That Aprilia is sick, but I have to say, as soon as i get my next liscence, I'm getting one of these.(which happens to be the big evil brother of what I have now)

[carver]

i was stoppie'n a DRZ sm in the wet today and wheelie'n it too, along with a few slides in the wet....
they are very...agile bikes

[jimmy 2006]

Why settle for second best, if you want a motard that is going to make you really smile then splash out and get 1 of these.

would absolutely love one of them! !
but i could buy 2 drzs for that price at the moment, and i can't even justify buying 1! just not enough cash in the bank....

[madandy]

Motard riders are the drifters/snowboarders/skaters of the motorcycle world. Knew a young guy who'd fitted road wheels, brakes & tyres to a Kwaka 250 and rode it around the Bay of Islands in the late '90's...
I grew up on dirt bikes and a SM style would be very welcome in my gagre :D
I'd never risk my sack hanging the rear out on publice roads but the fun factor would be off the scale.

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

toto, if it has to be explained to you, you will not understand it anyway

[orangeback]

Why settle for second best, if you want a motard that is going to make you really smile then splash out and get 1 of these.
cool bike, but time boom , with next to no warranty , i looked at one b4 WR and they would only stand behind it if it was restricted to below 50hp , and have three mates with them , starter , melting seat ,electrics ,etc have all gone on them , but not as bad as his husabom F650 that he had b4.
would still like one though

[TOTO]

toto, if it has to be explained to you, you will not understand it anyway

I could comment more in depth about that statement, but you probably wont get it either...

[jimmy 2006]

cool bike, but time boom , with next to no warranty , i looked at one b4 WR and they would only stand behind it if it was restricted to below 50hp , and have three mates with them , starter , melting seat ,electrics ,etc have all gone on them , but not as bad as his husabom F650 that he had b4.
would still like one though

you sure that your not talking about the 550 ? all accounts i have heard of the 450 have been good................. ??????????????????

[Badjelly]

BTW just because you are on a motard, doesn't mean its easy to do those cool looking slides. It takes a lot of skill and practice.

Skill and practice? That rules me out, then.

[speights_bud]

I wouldn't mind betting that the top guys (Toby Sommers etc) could slide just about anything.
Freddie Spencer and Mick Doohan could do a fair bit of that, not to mention many other riders, sliding a Sprotsbike is great fun, More often than not just for playing rather than speed, although the rear end often slides a little under heavy breaking

I've seen some video footage of myself on my GPX250 compression sliding at Taupo, leaving black lines into turn 1. Just mucking around, sliding more and more crossed up. I Crashed eventually on turn 5 while sliding in, video showed the rear end just getting waaay out and eventually i ended up doing a 180 before falling off while laughing hysterically:wari:.

One day i wanna grow up to be Just like Ruben Xaus (Pic 3) :2thumbsup

[Padmei]

:mad: Oh well thankyou! No bloody interest in motards but I thought I'd read it cause Totos a good kid. Thank you so much for putting yet another bike on my sodding wish list. No not one bike ,a whole ferkin gaggle of em.Just when you think you've got it sorted someone pops up full of enthusiasm and fun and spoils it for every one else. There's some big fans in here aint there.

Well you just enjoy yourselves,dont tell me will ya.I know you just did but I've bought a bathroom now,coulda syphoned of a few dollars eh.

The best taps you can buy or a motard? oh give me the taps please,so much fun,turning them on and off and on. sheesh. share people.

NOT INTERESTED! how much could I get one of them for then,please. :drool:



Ah yes isn't the power of suggestion a terrible thing. I've not been interested in retards before reading this - even though my mate has a new KTM990sm.

The trouble is I can see myself in my minds eye sliding thru corners with beautiful young supermarket checkout girls oohing & aahing at my flowing long hair swishing in the wind as my well endowed package swells with every wheelie exit from the hairpin...

Then I look for something else to curb my midlife crisis :(

[xwhatsit]

beautiful young supermarket checkout girls
That's an oxymoron and you know it. Clearly your mind is broken, stick to the GB :innocent:

[skidMark]

This is what motards are for....

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/96784Xaus.jpg

[carver]

This is what motards are for....

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/96784Xaus.jpg

when will you get one then?

[TygerTung]

I notice all those professional looking pictures of people sliding all don't have a foot out?

Having raced against them they do tend to be a bit slower though the corners, and I have heard people talking about unpredictable lines.

It's a bit of a bummer if you're on a slower bike to have them go slower through the corners, maybe get in your way, maybe not, then they blast past you on the straights. Such is racing though and I'm not gonna whine about it.

[Shells]

Supermoto - the thing about it (for me at least) is the larfs. Road riding, motard track days (especially the dirt section), green laning in the summer or winter and mx days - nowt like passing someone on knobblies when ya on road tyres :lol: (albeit slowish novices). Had a CCM R30 to start, progressed to a KTM625 but having both those engines explode then went with a more reliable Honda XR650 (which was sadly stolen last November). There is a danger of importing ridiculous amounts of bling from the US for the XR and managed to spend £2.8k in the end (including an electric start kit from Europe). I miss the old black beast but still got me WR so just change wheels when necessary.

Oh, other thing bout the tard is most 'offs' don't cost much to right.

[Motu]

I notice all those professional looking pictures of people sliding all don't have a foot out?


Those with their foot on the peg will be road racing types,those with a foot out from an off road background.Real supermotard racing is on mixed surfaces,and all the riders will have their foot out - no point in having the foot out for a dirt corner and on the peg for a sealed corner,do them all the same.

[Mikkel]

I WANT ONE GOD DAMMIT!!! :devil2:

Am a bit uncertain whether to go 2-stroke or 4-stroke... 4-stroke would be better for longer trips and on the flat boring bits that you have to travel in order to get to the fun twisty bits. I gather a motard would be quite ok on gravel as well...

What ccm, brands and models would people recommend? And I'm thinking a motard for the road here - not a high strung race bike that has a piston life of 20 hours or some such.

[carver]

I WANT ONE GOD DAMMIT!!! :devil2:

Am a bit uncertain whether to go 2-stroke or 4-stroke... 4-stroke would be better for longer trips and on the flat boring bits that you have to travel in order to get to the fun twisty bits. I gather a motard would be quite ok on gravel as well...

What ccm, brands and models would people recommend? And I'm thinking a motard for the road here - not a high strung race bike that has a piston life of 20 hours or some such.

DRZ400sm

yes, these bikes make you silly, tonight i got chased by security once again, and once again i did a 2nd gear balance point wheelie past their suzuki carry.
this bike is great for stoppies too!

[limbimtimwim]

Well, now everyone is getting one, I should sell mine because it's not cool anymore.

[The Stranger]

I met someone on a ride and he told me his back tyre on kis KTM lasted 3000km averagge. Are all motards like that ?

Like what? That's about average for a road bike isn't it?

[boomer]

I think i'll buy an SM tomorrow.. you 'tards are having all the fun!

[carver]

Well, now everyone is getting one, I should sell mine because it's not cool anymore.

IM NOT EVERYONE!
i had a DR650 in semi motard trim once before.
mormon few-stunt crew

these do great stunts too!

[TOTO]

Saw a Cool KTM mortard in Colemans suzuki today for 8.5 grand. Just fanatabilous

[Padmei]

IM NOT EVERYONE!
i had a DR650 in semi motard trim once before.
mormon few-stunt crew

these do great stunts too!

gonna blow my cover now as a noob - whats the mormon few stunt crew thing mean? Is it cryptic or just an inside joke?

[Morcs]

when will you get one then?

So you got one too! will have to start a new crew eh :2thumbsup

[carver]

gonna blow my cover now as a noob - whats the mormon few stunt crew thing mean? Is it cryptic or just an inside joke?

nope, its a serious crew of riders who like riding hard on the road, not the track, and like guns generally


So you got one too! will have to start a new crew eh :2thumbsup

ride with me sometime...maybe the 22, im more than happy to meet you in puke

[Morcs]

nope, its a serious crew of riders who like riding hard on the road, not the track, and like guns generally



ride with me sometime...maybe the 22, im more than happy to meet you in puke

Choice. When I get my license back eh :niceone:

[carver]

Choice. When I get my license back eh :niceone:

how long now (pm or rep it to me if you want)

got anything whilst on the Sm?

[carver]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-152056650.htm

this is a good buy, i know the previous owner

[boomer]

got mine in black today with the pro circuit t4 on it....

roll on the good times as i practice down the parking lot backing it in

[Mikkel]

What other models besides the drz400sm would be worthwhile considering for a motard?

[carver]

got mine in black today with the pro circuit t4 on it....

roll on the good times as i practice down the parking lot backing it in

how loud is the T4?
come ride with me dude, i know you ride at a good pace

[boomer]

how loud is the T4?
come ride with me dude, i know you ride at a good pace

cheers man.. let me know when your out and we'll catch up!

the t4 is louder than my growler bro :confused: reeeeeeaaaal loud !

[carver]

cheers man.. let me know when your out and we'll catch up!

the t4 is louder than my growler bro :confused: reeeeeeaaaal loud !

oh real, i rode one with a 2bro's pipe and it was deafening.
you done the 3x3 airbox and re-jet mods to it yet?

il flick ya a PM dude with some details

[YAMASAKI]

stop procrastinating..... just do it, you know you want to :D
here's some inspiration.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i5sqcZXrXI&feature=related

[gearte]

Life begins at 45 degrees!!! Taupo 25th May!!