Supermoto posters

**Coyote** · 19th November 2007, 07:31

Originally Posted by Macstar

Bit of both...

Digital speedo, 17inch wheels, rotor sprockets, indicators, mirror (road legal) etc etc about $1000 used.

Maintenance schedule is full on:

I try to do oil every 500km / filters 1000km
Valve clearances spose to be about every 1000km
Air filter clean / check 500-1000km
Spark plug 3000km
Fork oil 3000km

Engine rebuild 10000km? (if you're lucky...)
Carb rebuild approx 10000km (just doing at the mo)
Then usual stuff like chain and sprokets, brake fluids, radiator fluid, tyres etc.

This is a mixture of what is recommended by manufacturer and my own compensation for not really taking the bike off road and through mud etc. as I think dirt riding is a bit harsher on the bike.

Anyone else have a rough maintenance schedule for their supermoto?

Shiiiiit

Don't think I could really afford to keep that up. Unless you've been getting cheaper oil? I'd be looking at doing the oil and air filter every second weekend!

I'll hopefully learn to do the maintenence for myself, I was capable of replacing the front disks on my VFR (which required taking the headers off to get a stand underneath the sump).

I'd definately need something else to commute on. Since I've burnt through the VFR's tyre so quickly I had thought about getting a scooter/moped to do the majority of my k's, looks like that'd be a good idea if I got a MX based motard too. An RD50 would be cool

I know about Motard conversion costs. Hopefully I'd get a Motard straight off rather than converting a dirt bike, though I wouldn't mind having a project. I've got a spare VFR400 swingarm...

This looks good as a hack: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-127581141.htm
I've seen several of them on trademe going for cheap in the past. Might even be able to save up the cash and not deal with finance

**Macstar** · 19th November 2007, 07:44

Originally Posted by Coyote

This looks good as a hack: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-127581141.htm
I've seen several of them on trademe going for cheap in the past. Might even be able to save up the cash and not deal with finance

I test rode a lateish model DR350 thinking that could be my more reliable "hack" too. Even a 350 was absolutely gutless. Buttoning off and then ripping back the throttle in 1st or 2nd gear would hardly even take the load of the front forks... Basically a GN 250 with bigger wheels and a supposed extra 100cc

**Coyote** · 19th November 2007, 07:54

Originally Posted by Macstar

I test rode a lateish model DR350 thinking that could be my more reliable "hack" too. Even a 350 was absolutely gutless. Buttoning off and then ripping back the throttle in 1st or 2nd gear would hardly even take the load of the front forks... Basically a GN 250 with bigger wheels and a supposed extra 100cc

This is a 2 Stroke Enduro rather than a 4 Stroke farm bike. Should still be good for wheelies. Just a thought anyway, I'd have to test ride it before making my mind up

**Supermoto Junkie** · 19th November 2007, 08:13

Originally Posted by Sully60

If its broke then fix it!

Seriously it all depends on what you do with it. I agree the off road environment is harsh but on riding the things flat out on the pavement (road or street racing) isn't exactly gentle either. Riding around on the road would probably be the easiest on the bike depending how restrained you can be and not wheelie and back them in whenever you can.
Racing around kart tracks, street races and circuits where you spend a considerable time with the trottle wide open I'd change the oil every two hours or two meetings.
And like you said if you go and do some proper off roading (you'd be surprised where you can go on a Supermoto even on street tyres) you may manage to get dirt or water in the oil so you have to be pretty carefull about changing the oil regularly there too.
I reckon no matter what you ride and how you ride it spend as much money as you can keeping fresh oil the engine!

The piston and ring interval thing is pretty obvious to most people but the thing I noticed when I pulled the Ol' YZ down (40-50 odd hours)was the state of the cam chain was pretty bad and had just started to wear away at the sprockets, could have been a lot more expensive if I'd left it longer.

One last motard specific thing and I don't have enough experience with "production" motards. But if you convert an MX'r keep an eye on the fork bushes. They just don't seem to be up to all the braking forces or constant cornering loads, or something I don't really know. It may be specific to Yamaha's but both my WR and YZ needed new fork bushes quite quickly. And when they get sloppy at best you fork seals weep at worst you wipe your visor off your helmet doing a face plant

twice

I agree totaly Sully,

I have also found that the fork bushes in my XR650sm's would flog out quite quick (but they got a hell of alot of wheelie and stoppie action), also the steering head bearings didn't like the constant wheelies, I had to tighten them fairly often....but then again I am 125kg!!!

**Supermoto Junkie** · 19th November 2007, 08:17

Originally Posted by Macstar

Bit of both...

Digital speedo, 17inch wheels, rotor sprockets, indicators, mirror (road legal) etc etc about $1000 used.

Maintenance schedule is full on:

I try to do oil every 500km / filters 1000km
Valve clearances spose to be about every 1000km
Air filter clean / check 500-1000km
Spark plug 3000km
Fork oil 3000km

Engine rebuild 10000km? (if you're lucky...)
Carb rebuild approx 10000km (just doing at the mo)
Then usual stuff like chain and sprokets, brake fluids, radiator fluid, tyres etc.

This is a mixture of what is recommended by manufacturer and my own compensation for not really taking the bike off road and through mud etc. as I think dirt riding is a bit harsher on the bike.

Anyone else have a rough maintenance schedule for their supermoto?

Shit mate.......was the $1k including spoke rims or alloys? either way i think i'll bring my next convertion to you to do, I end up dropping around 3 - 4k when i convert a bike to SM,

Nice work

**NordieBoy** · 19th November 2007, 08:18

Originally Posted by deanohit

Also my vid from Paeroa this year, was awesome to see, going to see the Nelson Port races next year

:

I'll be at Nelson with my camera and orange vest.

**NordieBoy** · 19th November 2007, 08:20

Originally Posted by deanohit

Like Sully said, the watercooling allows engines to perform better.
The DRZ400 has the same amount of power as the DR650, but more maintenence as the 400 is working harder. Personally I would rather deal with the extra maintnence of the 400 than the extra weight of the 650.

For a fun motard I'd go for the DR650.
The extra torque would be welcome.
For a racier one I'd lean toward the lighter bike.

**NordieBoy** · 19th November 2007, 08:23

Originally Posted by Coyote

Haha, I've always wondered if they'd make tarmac jumps. Yes, they would. Love to give that a shot.

For all the Supermoto tracks in Europe they arn't allowed to have a jump that lands on tarmac if they want to be able to run races at the top level.

A few British tracks had to remove jumps because of that.

**Coyote** · 19th November 2007, 08:27

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

For all the Supermoto tracks in Europe they arn't allowed to have a jump that lands on tarmac if they want to be able to run races at the top level.

A few British tracks had to remove jumps because of that.

Makes sense when you see the collision on the jump at the end of the clip.

Even so, as with most things, it would be great fun untill you got hurt

**NordieBoy** · 19th November 2007, 08:28

Originally Posted by Sully60

Well, you have proved me wrong, MCN pubilshes a lot of shit but they don't misreport things that have actually happened.

I imagine his heart rate was rather high on the exit of that corner!

Just about any shot of Christian Iddon cornering is like that

**Supermoto Junkie** · 19th November 2007, 08:34

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

For all the Supermoto tracks in Europe they arn't allowed to have a jump that lands on tarmac if they want to be able to run races at the top level.

A few British tracks had to remove jumps because of that.

I have a DVD of Thierry Van Den Bocsh playing on a works KTM around a test track with tarmac jumps, in the interveiw he talks about the rules being changed in europe for the teir one racing that outlaws tarmac jumps and landings, he thought is was probably a good idea as a ay to slow things down a bit...........damn he is fast