Thinking of a Mild Supermoto Build

[Bpro]

For kart track fun just about anything you build will be fun, unless of course you are an overly competitive type. The cost of wheels has dropped drastically since I first built mine and back then you saw a lot of creative setups. Wheels from streetbikes like CBR600 F2's, SV650's and EX500's were popular to budget minded riders. Mods to get them on were fairly straightforward and cheap. I probably would have gone this route if I had researched a little more before purchasing my wheels.

Brakes are very important as you will need far more braking than the stock setup allows. I warped several rotors trying to get by on the stock stuff. On my first decent setup I ran an EBC rotor and a custom machined bracket to relocate the caliper. I later swapped in a later model fork and caliper that was supported by the aftermarket. EBC has a fairly cost effective kit for most modern bikes that includes a caliper relocation bracket. The folks running modded street wheels usually fabbed up a bracket similar to mine or if a 320mm rotor was available for the wheel, Purchased relocation brackets from one of several sources.

Suspension wise a stock MX set up can be made to work reasonably well for kart track stuff, but most dual sport and trail bikes will need springs and valving work to feel right. They are simple set up too soft for agressive riding. The KLX 250 and 30 are nice little bikes and can go pretty good under the right rider. I would avoid a 2 stroke if I did it again. My YZ250 is a blast to ride, but no where near as flexible or managable as a 4 stroke machine. Don't get me wrong, it handles great and is very fast but I have to work a lot harder than the 4 stroke guys to carry the same pace and it is very poorly suited to street riding. Highly tuned 2 strokes like the YZ or WR simply do not like to crise at a set pace and can easily get dangerously lean doing so. Its not an issue on the track as you are constantly either accelerating or decelerating and never 'cruising' but on the street its at best annoying and possible very expensive. An XR400 is a good choice as well, but I have been considering an XR250r as a fun bike ever since riding one that a friend owns. You rarely need more power than what the 250-300cc trail/dual sport bikes offer.(unless you are that type A kinda guy...)

[Jette_man]

Just get a drzsm if money is an issue. Sure they are heavier and *Faster longer deeper harder*Faster longer deeper harder*Faster longer deeper harder*Faster longer deeper harderer than some but they can definitely get down. I picked my 05 up this summer for $2700. I doubt you will be able to pick anything up for much less with a sumo setup and you will spend more if you set one up from dirt form. Just my $.02

[Cattani]

I was jacking around and found a cool ass site. I've never been the project type or the wrencher (mostly because I'm mechanically retarded), but this looks like a nice place to start for some ideas/kits.

Here is the "bare bones" kit: http://www.motostrano.com/sucokibabo.html

www.motostrano.com has a lot of neat stuff. Hell, I'm thinking about one now so I can hit the Kart track in between track weekends next year!

[Lizard 1]

There is no "craze" as Supermoto has been around for several years. In fact, it has died significantly since then. I just returned from WI and was hanging out with Mitch from HMC. Let me tell you something about Supermoto in WI and MI. It is FAR from dead and I think it may even resurface. In fact, Mitch is busy with builds he still does and customers coming to him for legit race builds as well as well sorted street applications. Trick components and stuff only that can be had from Europe...

That all being said, supermoto can be cheap. Apparently, you want a streetable version for riding in that environment. Perfectly acceptable idea.

My thoughts are that you need to consider $4-$5k and getting something legit. These wheezer motards are only going to get boring quick and have VERY big hurdles to overcome. If you plan to road race it, you need to consider that into the application also...

For pure street and go kart tracks? My suggestion is buy a pre built Supermoto MX based machine. 250 or 450, but for street use, the 450 is the best choice. The bigger cc bikes are just not as much fun and are heavy, harder to handle, etc. Actually, Mitch builds 450s almost exclusively anymore and the bigger singles are less and less popular... Meaning north of 600cc...

So, check out the interweb and search for an assembled MX based machine. In Ohio, it is as easy as pie to convert to street. Slap a light kit from Baja off Ebay and get her running. You'll smoke th shit out of anything with DRZ on the tank and anything 2 stroke. Trust me.... Cheap isn't always the best idea and 2 strokes are going to give you more fits than you'd get from a modern 4 stroke...

If tracking the thing on a big road course, I suggest 450s being the smallest to consider. Otherwise, the sustained RPMs at top speed are going to murder a crank. Go north of 500cc and do 4 stroke. DO NOT consider a 2 stroker...

If you plan on spending $1500 on that Kaw, I suggest you check into that more closely. Probably need a top end, probably need to add some things as I see things missing. On top of all that, you probably will have about another $1k in to the thing and still be behind the 8 ball... So, save some coin during winter and look at Supermoto Junkie for something on there. Watch CRF450s as they are notorious with issues concerning vavles and adjusting them. Replacing is common and expensive - if you do, ask if they replaced the valves and if so, check for something like Kibblewhite as they have steel based valves that will last longer. But, you will have more in maintenance with a Honda... Look for a Yammie or similar...

Good luck!

[Lizard 1]

I was jacking around and found a cool ass site. I've never been the project type or the wrencher (mostly because I'm mechanically retarded), but this looks like a nice place to start for some ideas/kits.

Here is the "bare bones" kit: http://www.motostrano.com/sucokibabo.html

www.motostrano.com has a lot of neat stuff. Hell, I'm thinking about one now so I can hit the Kart track in between track weekends next year!

450, you want a 5" or 5.5" wide rear... 4.25s are really cheap and can be used, but you want wider...

That caliper looks cheap and probably will need upgraded, but a great idea as a place to start...

[Cattani]

450, you want a 5" or 5.5" wide rear... 4.25s are really cheap and can be used, but you want wider...

That caliper looks cheap and probably will need upgraded, but a great idea as a place to start...

I admittedly know NOTHING about any of this stuff, so thanks for the pointers. I'm talking STRICTLY for Kart tracks here...could I get by w/ a cheap ass kit like the one shown or do I need to go all out for one of the $2k kits?

[Lizard 1]

Slay machine: $3k and FAR better than a DRZ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KTM-S...Q5fmotorcycles

Could probably offer $2500 and slap a Baja kit on this mofo and get your buddies wondering why they bought turds...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamah...Q5fmotorcycles

Wanna be baller? Buy this. Have seen this one and another one with less hours a few days ago. This thing reaks of pure awesomeness... I wanted to touch myself after seeing a few of these...

http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showt...more-race-bike...

There are tons of bikes to consider. Good luck!

[Cattani]

I can't see the third one b/c I'm not a member, but the other two are sick! That 525 would be a nice option for $2500. SOMEONE BUY MY MOTHER FUCKING GIXXER!!!

[Lizard 1]

I admittedly know NOTHING about any of this stuff, so thanks for the pointers. I'm talking STRICTLY for Kart tracks here...could I get by w/ a cheap ass kit like the one shown or do I need to go all out for one of the $2k kits?

I would shoot for at least a 5" rear. Hell, the guys at the top are running 6" rears now!!

I just think that at times, what people need to consider is the resell. Selling the thing with a narrow rear is going to KILL the resale. I know you never buy anything to sell it if you are riding it, but I consider these things. I just think for a few bucks more, you can get a wider rear and hell, check used, man. You'd be amazed at how cheap you can pick a set of wheels up for. Buy a good caliper and use a Yamaha R6 front M/C and keep the stock steel braided front line.

Just keep the suspension stock for now (They really only shave off a little anymore - nothing like 3" shorter anymore...) and slap on some wheels, a Baja kit and do some wheelies!

If you are serious, get a 16.5" front and the wider rear. Grab a set of legit caliper, M/C, line and related for the front and get a good exhaust and dial it in. But in reality, stock bikes right now are pretty damn good in terms of exhaust. In fact, a few systems will drop hp and only create noise...

[Lizard 1]

I can't see the third one b/c I'm not a member, but the other two are sick! That 525 would be a nice option for $2500. SOMEONE BUY MY MOTHER FUCKING GIXXER!!!

Enjoy:



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Specs:

This bike was built for Chris Fillmore for the 2009 X-Games. Unfortunately
Chris was not able to attend the 2009 X-Games because of a conflicting AMA
Road Race. The bike has a couple of hours of testing and that's it. This
2009 450 KTM comes with a HMC built race engine with CNC ported head and high
comp piston, 5 speed gearbox, K&N air filter kit, Akrapovic factory pipe
(Larger diameter than the Akrapovic you can buy), Adler slipper clutch, FABA
tubeless spoke wheels, 3.50x16.5 front, 5.50x17 rear, SMR euro swingarm
(shorter than stock), WP fork and shock modified and valved by WP factory
technician with 108mm radial brake caliper mount fork bottom (normal is
100mm), Beringer front brake caliper, Beringer front rotor, Beringer front
brake master and carbon front number plate. There are many more items of
lesser importance.