superbikes vs. supermoto

[roadant]

You needz to be more specific (well not really). On tight roads, rough roads, dirty roads, slippery roads I'll choose the SM. On smoother, faster roads the superbike gets the nod. Example: 9 or 84 would be superbike and Kings or Hamilton would be SM. It's not about being faster but just having more fun!!!

 

[Junkie]

When did I say that?

My original statements is stating that sport bikes need room to stretch their legs. My second statement is stating that the only time you can really "use the power" of a sport bike is in a straight line on the road way. All the other twisty stuff isn't that great on a sport bike that is why I say go with a SM.

Comfort wise SM wins also. After awhile in the saddle of a sport bike it's no fun at all.

comfort the tard wins? lol wut... my 929 is way more comfortable than my tard, which was one of the cushier tards out there

 

[Corb]

Sportbikes give more feedback especially front end. Less forgiving over rugh roads. They're weight and riding position beat you up more if riding hard over tight roads but capable of fun even over triple digit speeds.

Supermotos are more forgiving [yes a Husaberg 570 less so than a DRZ still more so than a GSXR1K over less than ideal riding conditions] fun even at 6/10ths, crash better.
Can't rail two up, sucks if your fave twisties are 50miles of freeway from home.

btw think this fits here
fw to 4min & 7.32 mark for the riding
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The fattard CBR is badass and check out that 675 Triumph!

 

[Hooli]

Sportbikes give more feedback especially front end. Less forgiving over rugh roads. They're weight and riding position beat you up more if riding hard over tight roads but capable of fun even over triple digit speeds.

IIRC Rob @ Evolution designed a set of DRZ replacement triples that give more front feedback.

The DRZ is solid.

I was considering a DRZ not too long ago. I've read the same; the only caveat is that they don't like long freeway drones or extensive engine mods, or they might grenade.

 

[Ogg]

Dunno, when I took China Grade north off of Big Basin today and it turned to snot & needles and then to mud & slop, I was happy I picked the DRZ this morning

 

[OldFatGuy]

comfort the tard wins? lol wut... my 929 is way more comfortable than my tard, which was one of the cushier tards out there

Depends on what part of your body you're talking about. I used to have a 929 and found it pretty comfortable on long rides for the most part. But my knees used to kill me after a while from being all scrunched up. On a SM, my knees are fine, but my butt hurts after a while.

 

[josmo]

quite obvious at its limits both types of bikes are purpose design !
choice is easy on a particular and appropriate track...as an all around functional daily traffic commuter choice is not so easy
for me i found myself barely riding on public roads anymore(only in the hills);now just riding on closed circuits (tarmac &dirt)as much as i can so my choice of bikes is easy

;besides personal preference (sans posing) ,the rest...

 

[bpowa]

depends what kind of twisties.. i.e. roads like coalinga/hwy25, and hyw9 I prefer a superbike.. Roads like taunitas greek, gazzos, peskadero, alpine, it goes on. I prefer the supermoto.

Its good to have both.. even though I dont.

< 80mph SM, > 80mph sprotbile

I guess sumo wins.. because 80mph is over the legal limit :/

 

[Corb]

IIRC Rob @ Evolution designed a set of DRZ replacement triples that give more front feedback.

Interesting, I will look in to it.
But overall the handelbars vs clip-ons, the longer travel suspension and the less radical chassis geometry of the supermotos will never be able to really give you the same feel for the front end as a modern racerep.
It was obvious on all the supermotos I rode, even race preped YZF's and CRF's.
Its not that relevant anyway to an extent. For the same reasons the sm's let you manhandle handelbars a lot more than you would clip-ons and not make as much drama about it.
Both fun fer sure to ride. I hope I will always have one of each at least.

 

[Toecutter]

in all honesty i'm asking which is more fun on the twisties???

Both, get one of each.

 

[sjmike]

hypermotart or aprillia's v-twin moto.

those bikes are nothing alike btw

hypermotard is basically a sportbike that looks like a supermoto. it is not though. it is over 400 pds and is a naked sportbike. wet weight is what 420 or more?

sxv wet is around 280ish depending on tank rims etc

 

[ntula]

the one that makes you feel the most invincible when your wear your red cape and blue tights

 

[Seesm]

I can ride both pretty well and I go WAAAY faster in the twisties on a SM bike...

 

[Wack]

"my favorite local (to me) road is Highway 58. There are plenty of portions of it that are lots of fun at speeds that you probably shouldn't be going. "

The first few miles and last few on 58 are great for a 'tard. On the balance of 58 they would just get sucked into the ram air. BITD a mono off one of the whoops at a buck.

 

[Kestrel]

It really depends. If the road isn't super tight, almost any bike will be better than a supermoto. Most of what I ride tends to be in the 40-85mph range. A supermoto could do it, but my SV would do a better job than the SM possibly could.

That's the thing though... Most road riding isn't always going to be super tight. A superbike can't reasonably be justified for most every day riding, but nor can a supermotard... Slide in a middle displacement twin though, and voila. There's not much better for that 40-80mph range.

I considered a DRZ, but it just wouldn't be able to compete with what I've already got. The SV is not bad in the super, super tight stuff, but it is *much* better in just about everything else.

 

[Wack]

"A supermoto could do it, but my SV would do a better job than the SM possibly could."

Ever ridden a SXV550, more HP and a 100pounds less weight.

 

[Ogg]

I considered a DRZ, but it just wouldn't be able to compete with what I've already got. The SV is not bad in the super, super tight stuff, but it is *much* better in just about everything else.

The other bonus with something like a DRZ is the long travel suspension. Soaks up the bumps so us old farts can still walk at the end of the day

Sure, a sumo isn't best for everything -- but there's a sumo-shaped hole in the lineup if you're going to have more'n one

 

[Kestrel]

"A supermoto could do it, but my SV would do a better job than the SM possibly could."

Ever ridden a SXV550, more HP and a 100pounds less weight.

While I appreciate the effort, race bikes should not be brought into this discussion. But I'll bite anyway.

There are various bikes out there that are ideal for various applications. An R6 makes a great track bike, for example, but is hardly appropriate to take off into the woods and run hare scrambles.

Every bike is a compromise in some way or another. Supermotards are fantastic bikes in specific conditions where other bikes may falter. Vice versa for the aforementioned R6.

I think many riders would agree however that the vast majority of roads are ridden between the speeds that I mentioned in my previous post - 40 to 85 mph or so. Laws can be broken in any given situation. Most riders try to keep it reasonable in order to hold on the their precious licenses.

A supermotard is a shitty bike if it spends all day long above 70mph, and as such can't be considered the least bit decent for long distance serious travel. The problem with those super tight twisty roads is that there is usually some travel to do in between. A lot of guys end up buying something like a DRZ only to turn around and sell it a few months later when they realize that it isn't exactly what they were looking for. Anything above 60-65 is painful. Sure, it can be done.. but there's a tool for every job, and a supermoto isn't ideal for making a lot of time fast.

I proposed the idea of a middleweight sportbike / similar as an ideal compromise. Many of us have learned that it is fun to ride a slow bike fast, but not nearly as much to have to restrain yourself with a fast bike while riding slowly.

Perfect solution? Voila. The middleweight.

The supermoto does some things better, but not as much as a middleweight sprotbile with bars. As much as you would like to argue, most riders would be better suited with the above Street Triple than they would with a supermotard. That said, I still love supermotos. But just make sure that it isn't your only bike.

 

[Corb]

Had an SV650. Really liked it.
Still frustratingly slow compared to a sportbike still nowere as nimble as a supermoto.
As an only bike I will always have a liter sportbike.
But having a supermoto on the side is awesome. Hope I'll never be without one.

 

[Onebadscot]

race bikes should not be brought into this discussion.

A supermotard is a shitty bike if it spends all day long above 70mph,

I know you said no race bikes, but.....

My smr is not shitty running 70+ at the track. Come on out to Infineon or Thunderhill for some track tarding. While I've logged 1000's of miles of back road riding, I do not miss the cars or asshole drivers.