BMW builds awesome supermoto!

**slob** · 7th July 2006, 17:08

Sorry if this is a repost BTW..

I was browsing the BMW website just for the hell of it and came across the new HP2 with the 17inch road wheel option (essentially a supermoto), which appears to be an awesome bike (175kg, 105hp).

Have a look at the pic:

**James Deuce** · 7th July 2006, 17:15

No just a repost, massively behind the times. Sat on one at Motorad about 3 months ago.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...hlight=BMW+HP2

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...hlight=BMW+HP2

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...hlight=BMW+HP2

We like that bike, we does, and it is nice to see you enthusiastic about it.

Now you have to buy me one due to this OUTRAGEOUS repost.

**slob** · 7th July 2006, 17:27

Originally Posted by Jim2

No just a repost, massively behind the times. Sat on one at Motorad about 3 months ago.

Sorry, but I did a search on "bmw" and got nothing back

.
At any rate, I was trying to emphasize the 17 inch road wheel optioned version (which is why I used the term "supermoto", even though BMW themselves haven't). It adds a whole new dimension to the bike!

Originally Posted by Jim2

We like that bike, we does, and it is nice to see you enthusiastic about it.

Them 17 inch wheels make all the difference!

Originally Posted by Jim2

Now you have to buy me one due to this OUTRAGEOUS repost.

No worries Jim, I just need to score 1st division in Lotto first..

**98tls** · 7th July 2006, 17:28

Pretty sure Bike Rider magazine (nz) has already done an article/test on one.

**Sensei** · 7th July 2006, 17:50

Hummm Motard = Single Piston
Light weight 130kgs
Look good
No heads hanging out the side of MOTOR !!
Has Chain drive
the list goes on

**Motu** · 7th July 2006, 18:07

Originally Posted by Sensei

the list goes on

It's the rider that makes it a motard - until it's sliding sideways it's just another wannabe streetbike.

**Ixion** · 7th July 2006, 18:41

Which prompts me to ask a question that has puzzled me for some time. Why is it called a MOTARD. I know what it IS. But why "motard"? "mo" for motorcycle I guess, but "tard" ?

**Badcat** · 7th July 2006, 19:25

Originally Posted by Ixion

Which prompts me to ask a question that has puzzled me for some time. Why is it called a MOTARD. I know what it IS. But why "motard"? "mo" for motorcycle I guess, but "tard" ?

i think supermotard was from the origins of the sport.
there was a TV show that spawned the sport on the mid-80s in the US called superbikers where the riders competed on a mixed track - dirt and road surfaces. i think Brad Lackey was one of the original competititors. the fastest guys were on converted MX bikes.
it only lasted a season i think then was pulled.
the French kept the sport going with an event called the "golden handlebars" i believe, right through till the late '90s when the world caught up. Motard is french for motorbike i think.
well - that's what i read a long time ago anyway.

k

**XTC** · 8th July 2006, 11:51

Sensei- Motard = single piston....

If motard = single piston where does that leave the Aprilia SXV4.5 and 5.5??

**Oscar** · 9th July 2006, 11:51

Been there, ridden that.
I liked it.

See the next Kiwi Rider, Vege Chris and I styling it up on the HP2, GS and GSA. Big boys on big bikes...

**slob** · 10th July 2006, 11:51

Originally Posted by Ixion

Which prompts me to ask a question that has puzzled me for some time. Why is it called a MOTARD. I know what it IS. But why "motard"? "mo" for motorcycle I guess, but "tard" ?

Actually, Motu kind of answered that:

Originally Posted by Motu

It's the rider that makes it a motard...

"Motard" is french for "Biker" (just as "Moto" is french for "Bike").

All other associations with motocross bikes kitted with road wheels + brakes comes purely from the "Supermoto" series of racing which started in France (based on the american "Superbikers" tv show from the '80s - the american show had more variety of bikes though e.g. road bikes with knobblies).

Originally Posted by Sensei

Hummm Motard = Single Piston
Light weight 130kgs
Look good
No heads hanging out the side of MOTOR !!
Has Chain drive
the list goes on

That sounds a lot like an HD rider saying "If it ain't got lots of chrome and an american, air-cooled, pushrod v-twin then it ain't a bike, dagnammit!".

Mind you, I didn't mean to say the HP2 would be a good candidate for supermoto-series racing, I meant to say it appears to be a good supermoto-style streetbike..

**Motu** · 10th July 2006, 12:34

It was originaly put together to get riders of all disaplins together on one track - so the track had sealed sections,dirt sections,a jump and a speedway curve.Of course the Yanks were best at it because it was practicaly what they did on the ''National Circuit''.They raced on sealed circuits,speedway dirt ovals,and the TT or steeplechase,which was a flat dirt circuit of left and right turns with a jump...all done on street based bikes.

Freddy Spencer and Eddie Lawson rode in the early French Supermotard series.

**slob** · 10th July 2006, 12:47

I did a little bit of research, and it seems that on the american "Superbikers" show they almost exclusively used 500cc 2-stroke motocross bikes with 19 (not 17) inch wheels.

Here's a good site for pics + info:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/S...remember1.html

Also, I attached a pic of Eddie Lawson's YZ490:

**Motu** · 10th July 2006, 12:50

Bugger,I can't seem to edit my post.After more googleing,I think this site has the best run down on what happened back then.

http://www.bruno.schmid.com/what/what.htm