What makes the best street-motard?

[wysper]

So if you are a newbie getting into motards and the like.
Would the DR650 or the XT660 both be good places to start?
Learn the differences in handling and then maybe move to more aggressive motards from there?

[Mikkel]

I'm sure the high-strung 450 ccm motards are a lot of fun - but they are supposedly a bit dear on the maintanence side of things.

The 600+ ccm "workhorse" motards will still be a lot of fun with bucketloads of torque, while being more reliable and cheaper to run. IMHO that is preferable for a street motard - but that's just my take on it.

One thing to bear in mind if you buy a factory off-road bike is that you'd want to:

-Get motard wheels and tyres (add about $2500)
-Upgrade your front brake - adapter and larger disc (more $$)
-Ideally get your suspension dialled in for road-use which might require reconfiguration of internals.

As such a factory street motard might be the cheaper option compared to streeting an off-road bike. Nothing wrong with keeping the off-road suspension settings, it'll still be a lot of fun and very comfortable and friendly to ride. Could imagine it would start getting a bit hairy at higher speeds though and I suspect you wouldn't get as much feedback from the road too.

[humphrt]

please... get a grip on reality. If a motard could do the 'times' around a track a Sports/super bike could then surely they'd be competing and winning at all levels....however THEY"RE NOT!

They're chook chasers !!!!

I'm sorry just a little confused by all this. We all know that a supersport/bike will kill a motard on the straights and a motard will own the corners so lets just leave it at that.

And why all the 'motard hating' in the motard section why dont you go take you straight line skill somewhere else.

[Motardman]

It's just jealousy, they don't like being out cornered by 'chook chasers'.....is funny really, we're all on two wheels so should really stick together...but like with all things it just turns into a p1ssing contest...as a species we're doomed.

[humphrt]

...as a species we're doomed.

Lol, you said it mate.

Anyway i took a mates KTM450SX for a burn. Soooooooo much fun. Me on one of them is a good magnet for a big white sedan with disco lights.

[Motardman]

Lol, you said it mate.

Anyway i took a mates KTM450SX for a burn. Soooooooo much fun. Me on one of them is a good magnet for a big white sedan with disco lights.

I know what you mean, I'm trying to nurse my license to the 2 year anniversary of my points.....fooking KTM is not helping

[humphrt]

Yeah well lucky you. I'll just keep dreaming of motardy goodness till i've got my full licence and have sold the lard bucket im riding right now.
I know i shouldnt complain but i've got the motard bug and just wanna start now... bloody licence thingy. Gotta start somewhere i guess, one slow painful step at a time.

[Motardman]

True.....what you need is for them to start importing this sucker

[humphrt]

Ohhhh nice bike. I'd probly get bored with the lack of power though and im 6'3 so... well that wouldnt be such an issue on mx bikes. I reckon i just gotta wait till im on my full or if they change the laws to allow restricteds to ride 400 singles then i'd be set

[Motardman]

Probably not much in it compared to say the DRZ SM, plus it'll be a whole heap lighter and much newer technology.....

[humphrt]

Yeah, i was thinking more along the lines of WR400/426/450. Unless someone convinces me otherwise

[Motardman]

The WR400 route could work out cheaper if you take your time getting the best deals for bits......and sure will work out faster

[humphrt]

Sweet well i guess the hunt begins

[idleidolidyll]

My god there's some bullshit in here!

200kph+ motards?

Motards are brick walls at high speed. After about 140 they practically crawl to their maximum speed and I'd suggest the number of motards in NZ under 700cc that can pull over 200kph could be counted on the fingers of one hand with digits to spare.

Bloody fast to 140/150kph but beyond that the sportbikes will start to reel them in very quickly.

the bullshit is much like claims of close to 70HP from a 525-540 single cyl motor with reliability: wet dreams perhaps but reality? unlikely.
The 2 cylinder Aprilia manages to reach those numbers but it does it at the expense of reliability and with extreme maintenance regardless.

some people obviously have very fast dynos and speedos.

[idleidolidyll]

MY statement was that put equal riders on each bike and the sportsbike would have the quickest lap times..

That depends on the track.
At Pukekohe; it's a fact. At Taupo it becomes a grey area and on most street circuits, motards will often be quicker.