I discovered Supermoto this week

"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
04/02/2015 at 14:36 • Filed to: None

And it is fucking awesome. I converted my bike that I used !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to being street legal so I could ride the trails and the road. Now I took it one step farther, purchasing a set of supermoto wheels and tires so I could ride to work without having to replace the dirt tires every other week.

I can honestly say it is a new high that is an absolute blast. Changing from dirt to street took about 2 hours, first try, can probably get it down to an hour once I know the process for everything (what has to come off, go on, suspension changes, etc).

Seriously if you have a dirt bike that is road legal, get a set of supermoto wheels and tires because it is a ton of fun. Wife came home, looked at the bike, looked at me, and my response was “well you said I needed a new set of shoes”

DISCUSSION (22)

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 14:39

I've been seriously looking at buying a dual sport and doing this. The wife is non-plussed on the idea.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 14:40

I've always wanted to try this, it looks like so much fun. But while I have years of street riding, I have zero dirt experience, unless you count riding circles around my folks yard on the TTR-110.

450X_FTW > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
04/02/2015 at 14:40

I had to promise my wife I would not ride on the highway. Luckily we just moved a fair bit out of the city so it's a lot of country open type roads that have low traffic on them

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 14:42

I would be using it to commute about 35 miles one way on the highway. That's the main reason she said no. But dem carpool lanes doe.

450X_FTW > Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/02/2015 at 14:44

You have to know that you are going to fall riding dirt, it's a fact. I fall plenty of times and I've been riding for 20 years. But you have to know HOW to fall so you don't break arms, wrists, fingers, etc. Big difference is you stand up almost the whole time, let your knees take the suspension hits

450X_FTW > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
04/02/2015 at 14:44

Don't know about them, I live in Michigan where you gotta learn to dodge potholes like you dodge cell phone drivers

thejustache > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 14:55

Is there a different technique to riding a supermoto bike on the street than a normal road bike? Growing up I drove dirt bikes and then when I got my license I switched to street bikes... a friend of mine had a DRZ400 supermoto that I rode a few times, and it just never felt good to me. I just felt way too tall to be really planted and trust myself in turns, but then with the tires and wheels it wasn't really useful off the street either. I don't want to base my opinion off one case though...

Frank Grimes > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 14:55

I have mostly rode yz426 and wanted to convert to road use but would probably get tons of speeding tickets and arrested for wheelies and jumping stuff and going down stairs and crap.

450X_FTW > Frank Grimes
04/02/2015 at 14:58

Ive never had a speeding ticket , fingers crossed, but I can honestly say theres a good chance my first one will be on this bike

450X_FTW > thejustache
04/02/2015 at 14:59

The big thing is trusting your tires. Having ridden dirt for almost the past 20 years and this being my first try on pavement, I'm used to only trusting berms for hard cornering. Since that doesn't exist on pavement you gotta use your sidewalls and it is a new trust/experience to learn

handyjoe > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 15:02

I need one of these in my life. Supermoto is something I need to try, and soon.

I keep getting emails from http://socalsupermoto.com/ , and every now and then try to plan a trip out to California. One of these days, it will happen.

bob and john > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 15:11

"my response was "well you said I needed a new set of shoes"

LOL

thejustache > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 15:16

Yeah, I guess that's probably it. I have a lot more faith in my tires when I know I'm closer to the ground on a normal street bike and there is a much lower center of gravity. That said, the tires on my friend's bike were quite sticky and I never came close to having any issues, I just felt kind of sketchy... it was probably a mental thing.

450X_FTW > bob and john
04/02/2015 at 15:29

her only response was "i don't care as long as we still make the mortgage payment"

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 15:31

I grew up in Michigan and learned to drive there. I'll trade you the dipshit drivers who can't drive in Seattle, for the potholes.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 15:46

Yeah, I'd like to try it, but I'm leery about buying a bike and gear for something I end up not enjoying. I'm 30, and I hate to sound like a huge pussy, but I'm getting too old for getting hurt and stuff. I don't know what it is, but this is the first year of my life where I really feel myself slowing down.

450X_FTW > Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/02/2015 at 15:54

I'm 29, and I'm the youngest of the group I ride with. Most guys in my group are late 30's early 40's, but all very high in ADD man child type personalities. You can get a very decent bike for 2-3k, all the gear you'd need for $500 and not kill yourself

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 15:58

I should just cowboy up and do it. Although I'd like to get another street bike first. I have an old Honda CB-1 that I never have time or space to work on, so I'd like to unload it and get something running I can tool around on, like an SV650. Then maybe I'll have to start looking into a supermoto.

450X_FTW > Snuze: Needs another Swede
04/02/2015 at 16:01

My "street bike" is a cafe built 77' CB750F. Far cheaper than any newer rocket type bike

Frank Grimes > 450X_FTW
04/02/2015 at 19:16

be safe.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 450X_FTW
04/03/2015 at 08:32

I'm pretty jealous, that sounds like a nice bike. I love the old cafe racer style, been interested in them since I started riding 10 years or so ago. I need to unload the CB-1 first, which makes me sad, it's a great little bike I just have nowhere to work on it. It's been in a buddy's garage for months and I need to get it out of there.

Once I do get ride of it and get some funds, I'll start looking for something else. The SV is just a thought because they are cheap, reliable, have a huge aftermarket, and they hold their value well. I'd really like to get another CBR-1000RR but its just too far out of my price range at the moment. So I figure the SV will get me riding again and in a year or two I can sell it and move up.

JasonStern911 > 450X_FTW
04/03/2015 at 13:20

Supermotos are evil. They highly encourage you to do bad, often illegal things on and off public roads... not that I personally ever did anything like that when I owned one. :)