Any supermoto fans on here? Looking for advice.

[VT2MA]

So, I found out that I have already made my last tuition payment and made it through this semester with a little more money than I thought I would.. I think I'm convinced on the 4 strokes. Options at this point are a $1200 2002 DRZ400s and a $1350 2005 CRF450x. The drz needs 'a carb clean and tail light bulb" and the crf needs a the top end re-assembled with the 'new' parts he got on ebay. Leaning towards the drz, but he hasnt gotten back to me yet. Now I'm wondering how much super-moto I will want to do, haha, a dual sport may be fun enough to bansh around the city.
George

 

[kalifornia]

i think i read the crf's will suffer some serious oil starvation at high rpms for extended periods. you might look into that

 

[delta one]

i think i read the crf's will suffer some serious oil starvation at high rpms for extended periods. you might look into that

I did a quick google search for it and found it to be a very common issue on only the '05 tranny, but also found the solution was simple as well.
the manual apparently states too little oil for street duty, guys are using a full quart and they don't have issues with the "splash system" anymore.

besides the honda looks wicked

note: not my bike, I just wish it was

 

[black_xb12r]

but the yamaha's look better than the hondas! lol

this is my 250F for the short tight tracks

 

[chevnut55]

ill have to put my s/m wheels back on to take a picture,the black wheels should go nice with the new black plastics.
that another thing on the street ,a big poer 2 stroke sounds fun..and would be ,but if your trying to keep the front end down everytime you take off your going to get busted fast, i got stoped 3 times on mine because it did not look like a street bike,i will be blacking it out and going back to the stock exhaust..stealth is more fun sometimes.
i also like the drz klx because its easy and cheap to get parts but if money was not a problem i would be on a ktm,i rode with one and it acted like my klx but he could wheelie any time he wanted ,im good from 1-3 then i have to work at it.

 

[VT2MA]

Well I've been scouring the Craigslist for a bike for a while now. I've come across a 2000 drz400e for 1200 bucks. Any reason not to?

 

[drsuzuki]

I think the e is dirt only. So no lights or signals. Might not even have a title to tag it? Unless your in one of the states that you can make a dirtbike street legal?

 

[VT2MA]

Yessir I am. Good old VT

 

[drsuzuki]

The E has the better carb but your going to have softer suspension unless the previous owner has it set up for sumo. Plus you have the wheel issues unless your just gong to ride it as a dual sport?

 

[boreas]

love my 2002 drz E (bought it used),yes it has been bullet proof for the last 5 years of rough northern Canadian trails. It is a blast to drive,its not the best off road bike but it does good at every thing you point it at!! except air box deep water!!!!!

 

[VT2MA]

Well I did it. 2000 DRZ400e. $1100, started up instantly.

 

[MotoPhreke]

4 words, Manual Cam Chain Tensioner (mine died an unhappy death at fairly low mileage when the automatic one failed.). Scope out Thumpertalk for all the must do's.. And congrats on the new toy..

 

[boreas]

motophreke [up] on the mcct

 

[gbalias]

how did i not see this SM discussion!?!?!?!? lol.


drz's are a great bike. the engines mostly. if you plan on doing any hard SM riding though, that suspension is gonna disappoint. thats why its nice to try and start with a DRZSM (if youre set on the suzi) because they use the RM forks.

also, someone posted earlier that you need to change the triple clamp to fit SM front wheels...this isnt true. ive never had to do that on any of the ones ive built.

ive had a 98 YZ400, 2000 YZ426, 2005 DRZ400SM, and now an 08 YZ450.

one of the best mods for the DRZ is the carb and a full pipe. either an FCR39 (which you can find off the older yamahas (preferred because the intake bell can be removed and replaced with one to properly fit the DRZ)) or the CVK40 carb that comes from the KLR650s. IMO, the best option for a streeted DRZ.


my 98 400

my 00 426

the DRZ (FCR39MX carb, full yosh pipe, KN filter, i built the gold rims up, and did the cosmetics (lighting, etc))

and the current beast:

get in touch with me if youve got any questions about any of it and ill try and help as much i can.

 

[MotoPhreke]

This was mine:

I rode this thing through stuff you'd never imagine.. Well, maybe you would..

 

[VT2MA]

You guys are making it so hard to decide if I should supermoto it or just dual purpose her. I know thumpertalk is the place to be asking, but you guys are family.

gbalias; you said you didnt widen the forks/tree for any of your bikes? what size front tire would you recommend. I have access to a full cnc machine shop so I could cad some parts. Also, I have the 400e which I was told has as better carb than the s or sm. Would you still recommend a swap?

I'm not looking to race, just for use as a street hooligan for when I don't want to beat my Buell on the crap roads around here. My immediate plans are;
high/low light
led brake light
dot tires
manual chain tensioner (thanks MotoPhreke)
mirrors and maybe blinkers to avoid hassle from MA cops

So what else should I plan on doing before spring?

Thanks again,
VT2MA

 

[drsuzuki]

You could keep the rims you have and just put some street tires on it. Something more on road than off like a 70/30 or a 60/40. Really depends on where you plan on doing most of your riding.

 

[black_xb12r]

gbalias, the pic of you ridin, what kind of boots are those? they look super comfy, and looks like they have sliders... i need a new pair for next year with sliders i destroyed a pair in one season by rubbin...

here my SM

 

[gbalias]

sm rims are generally 3.5F / 4.5-5x17R.

front tire is a 120/60. on some bikes you MAY need to trim the fork guards so the tire doesnt rub on it. but thats something you can do even with a box cutter. and depending on that particular bikes guard design. i didnt have to on my steel frame yamis, but the 450 i did.

i just say its easier to start with the SM and try and have a spare dirt setup than the other way around. the SM suspension is far more capable in all aspects. you get some S dirt rims and voila. change the carb is easy. but then theres the price difference i guess.

my yz400 in the pics is actually wearing my DRZ rims. lucky theyre same axle size. i machined axle spacers, brackets, etc. uses the stock DRZSM ft rotor on a relocator i machined. lol.

then i laced the black hoops on YZ hubs i had so i could put the gold hoops on my street DRZ. it was my commuter. had to bling it a least a lil bit. haha.

those boots are the AXO Primes. see if you can catch last years model for cheap. ive seen em go for llike $149. when new they were 350 or something. ive had mine a few years and love em.

 

[upthemaiden]

Some good looking bikes! That drz-e looks like a good start. My first bike was an 83 yamaha xt550. Wish I had kept it and tossed some street tires on it. I ended up selling it to my cousin for $200 when I got my next bike.

I'm hoping to pick up a SM within the year. I'd love to find something like an rmz450 that someone has already made street legal, but I'll see what I can find when the time comes. I'll probably end up with a DRZsm.