Just bought a Supermoto

thedoc46 · 9 Feb 2011 at 21:01

Picking this KLX-250sf up on Saturday.

122_0903_02_z+2009_kawasaki_klx250sf+right_side_view.jpg

Always been a sports bike rider, but where I live now, riding a sports bike is a waste of time. Everything is flat and straight. So anyway, the roads may be boring, but there's plenty of fa ntastic offroading to do. Endless amounts of gravel / mud trails since I live a stones throw away from the Everglades. So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. I don't want the hassle of a trailer just to get the bike where I want it to go, so a road legal ver was a must.

I appreciate that this bike will be severely unpowered for road use compared to what I've been use to in the past. But my plan is to convert it to a 351 & 34mm carbs, making it a zippy little thing. I'm hoping it'll be enough for off road? Anyone into MX care to comment? Out of all my days of biking some of my best memories are when I use to go abroad to the likes of Greece & Spain and rent an MX bike. Back then they were all 2-stroke and fast as hell. Going up gravel roads and trails was always the best part of my holiday.

Anyone here know how far you can push race tires on gravel roads? Watching some supermoto races on youtube, they seem to go at it even in the mud. I suppose i'll find out next week.

domthecondom · 9 Feb 2011 at 21:36

I do some green laning but no suermoto

thedoc46 · 1 Mar 2011 at 20:19

Well, I bought my bike and have been riding it for two weeks now. Changed the end can to an FMF Q4 Powercore and changed the stock ugly tail to a much sleeker Edge2 Tailkit smoked with LED's. End can boosted performance a lot, but still need to go with a pumper carb and 351 mod. No rush on that yet though. Been having a lot of fun on some deserted roads and I have been going into some nice and remote places where bear and panther coud potentially jump out at you. Though you'd be real lucky to see a panther, since they are endangered ! Road tyres are no good for soft sand unfortunately, but on gravel roads they are fine. I think you really need MX tires for sand and wet mud..

Coming from sports bikes, i will say these are a lot of fun.. Unfortunately the end can is a little too loud for my liking. I dunno if I'm getting old or what, but my tolerance levels are not what they use to be when it comes to noise. I use to have a Ducati 750 Monster a few yrs back with a pair of Terminogi's and i don't recall them even being as loud and annoying as this little beast. Perhaps its cos its a single cyl thumper, you feel it more? Who knows !!! Probably just cos i'm getting old ! dang.

Scort · 2 Mar 2011 at 21:42

Really liking that

Fireskull · 2 Mar 2011 at 21:53

I love how a different exhaust can change the whole look of a bike

thedoc46 · 3 Mar 2011 at 01:59

Yeah, exhausts do make a huge difference. Also the one thing I love about riding in the USA, is no one gives a hoot how loud your can is and that includes the law. There's no 'Not for road use' stamp that you have to try and hide on a tug. You don't even need insurance or helmet if you don't want it.(FL at least).. To insure this bike its only $100 fully comp, that I've not bothered with yet.. I know I should for the sake of a hundred bucks. But at least its something to not worry about. The license plate is miniscule compared to a UK legal one, and that makes a huge difference on the look too. Actually a lot of people completely hide it under their mud guard. I tried but couldn't find a good spot. The legislators in England sure know how to make a bike ugly with all their ridiculous laws on this and that! That part I don't miss. Good country lanes I do !!!

MatteH Oxford · 3 Mar 2011 at 21:43

Looks ace! :cool:

I've had the following supermoto/enduro bikes:

DRZ400E
CFR450

I am jealous of you living in the states, how on earth could a UK person like myself become resident without having to marry a nice American lady?

bloodiedathame · 3 Mar 2011 at 23:02

One of my mates had a CCM, wheelied everywhere and almost went deaf. Loved every minute apparently.

VoG · 4 Mar 2011 at 01:22

surprised you didn't slap a supertrapp on it, they do a range of tuneable ( quiet ) pipes, they might even be a stateside company iirc?

thedoc46 · 4 Mar 2011 at 03:20

VoG said:
surprised you didn't slap a supertrapp on it, they do a range of tuneable ( quiet ) pipes, they might even be a stateside company iirc?

After riding it some more, i think my ears were just a little more sensitive that day.. Maybe something to do with the booze I had the night before

Actually its not too bad with good ear plugs in and no hangover even if only very slight. They make a Leo Vince can with different baffles you can switch out, but i don't think I'll be changing.. Just not going out the next day after a few.

thedoc46 · 4 Mar 2011 at 03:26

MatteH Oxford said:
Looks ace!

I've had the following supermoto/enduro bikes:

DRZ400E
CFR450

I am jealous of you living in the states, how on earth could a UK person like myself become resident without having to marry a nice American lady?

Nice bikes btw.... As for your question.....It's very difficult TBH, as I tell everyone who asks. Marry an American if you can. Otherwise be prepared to put a lot of money on the line with no guarantees. I done the latter cos I was already married, and it has been a long and risky road. But oh so worth it !!!

Dogbreath · 4 Mar 2011 at 10:25

VoG said:
surprised you didn't slap a supertrapp on it, they do a range of tuneable ( quiet ) pipes, they might even be a stateside company iirc?

Those Supertrapp exhausts are pretty crap IMO, the design relies on restriction to silence the exhaust rather than absorption.