"MountainCommand" (MountainCommand)
09/29/2014 at 22:06 • Filed to: None
5
1|
"MountainCommand" (MountainCommand)
09/29/2014 at 22:06 • Filed to: None | 5
| 1 |
This weekend, a buddy and I went out for a cruise. He rides a drz400sm. We get to a point on the ride for a break, and he says "you want a go on the supermoto?". Like that is even a question! I hand him the keys to my fzr, and i get the keys to the drz. 70 miles later, with an aching butt, I was in love.
To give you an idea of where im coming from, i have only ever ridden a supersport. The fzr600 is such a bike. All my street bike riding knowledge is based off that bike.
Setting foot(butt) on a supermoto was familiar. Yet completely on a different level. No i am not going to compare the two, whats the point. Both are awesome and flawless! ;)
First impressions were as followed. Wow, this is high up. Good thing im tall and can still flat foot this thing. holy balls, these brembo 4 piston brakes (he upgraded) are insane. Potholes, what potholes? Tight turns are a piece of cake. BRAP! The noise it makes! people say brap all the time, but now i know why its so fun. Lots of torque. This feels like a bicycle. I can stand on the pegs and have my arms comfortably down like riding a scooter. Hitting redline is fun.
On the particular example i rode, there were no aids at all. No speedo, no mirrors, no gear indicator, no tach, no horn, no turn signals, no temp gauge. This is as extreme as it gets, but in a way, that made it even more exciting.
For the quircky bits. On a my bike, i rest my boot with the peg midway between my heel and toes. On the supermoto, you have to have your heel on the peg in order to reach the shifter. Then to downshift, you gotta lift your foot and step on the shifter.
The supermoto made me feel a lot more confident in riding. I dont know how to explain it, but i felt more in control of the bike. More comfortable. I guess i feel like on the sportbike, im trying to tame the beast. On a supermoto, its not a beast by definition, and there is no need to tame it, its already domesticated. Maybe it was due to the lack of extreme power and being able to honk on the throttle in any gear and not need a runways length of buffer space when powering on.
I did about 70 or more miles on the bike (backroads, traffic, and highway). But it was enough to gain a little more confidence and see some progress in myself after the first mile to the last mile.
Only complaint!: My butt hurt pretty bad after that stint. His seat was aftermarket, and not very soft. But what they say is true. Your bum will hurt after long riding on a sumo. But i could care less, the positives will make you forget about that.
This ride has only confirmed my suspicions about supermotos. You smile the entire time you ride it. They are most fun ive had since being able to flog the little 125's at the MSF course. And the fun doesnt stop there. Swap the tires and you have the whole offroad world awaiting.
yamaha wr450f... I am coming for you.
Ive also decided, as of my current state of affairs, I am going to keep the fzr600, and save up for the supermoto to be my second bike. I just cant give up the sportbike style yet. Both have a their own special places.
bob and john
> MountainCommand
09/29/2014 at 22:10 |
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I agree! As much as id LOVE to own a DRZ400, I just cant give my my GSV-R650. I just cant. That being said, first thing i'm buying next year is a track bike. Then a stunt bike. then, onces i'm old and insurance drops a good amount for me, i'll get a second bike to insure.