Racing Supermoto on the cheap

[Map8]

Great article at Jalopnik's Lanesplitter.com site about a guy racing the AMA National Lites series on a ten year-old 250 he found on craigslist and a very lean budget. Racing the AMA SupermotoWest series would be even cheaper (less travel).

http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/how-one-pro-rider-did-a-whole-season-on-a-1-600-craigs-1794528573

 

[Judaslefourbe]

I felt a strange connection reading this article

 

[Guoseph]

But the engine blew up so it's actually $2600 bucks.

Don't see a lot of 250's come up in the classifieds, is it not a thing around here?

 

[Map8]

$2,600 is still really cheap to race in a national series.

250s go in waves as fast kids come up through the class. Well built 250s are usually ridden by 105 lb. 14 year olds while moving from minis to 450s or making the jump to road racing. Most adults race 450s or minis so you see a lot more of those for sale.

 

[Phanuel]

This is a dumb question, but where do guys get the lower radial brake mount fork bottoms? Since dirt come with axial and tiny brakes. Is there a big difference between an adapter and a suitably beefier axial brake or a proper radial lower and big brake?

 

[Junkie]

I suspect an adapter is a worse option vs a caliper that just bolts up, but I'm no pro. A radial bottom would be the best option, but that gets awfully expensive.

Both of my supermotos use a Braking 4pot caliper that bolts directly to the fork lower, and a matching Braking 320mm rotor, and a Brembo radial master.

A step below that (but plenty for most street riders) is a 320mm rotor and an adapter to move your stock caliper out.

 

[squidworth]

Keeping the stock caliper and rotor allows you to carry more speed into the corners and out brake your competitors....

 

[Phanuel]

I suspect an adapter is a worse option vs a caliper that just bolts up, but I'm no pro. A radial bottom would be the best option, but that gets awfully expensive.

Both of my supermotos use a Braking 4pot caliper that bolts directly to the fork lower, and a matching Braking 320mm rotor, and a Brembo radial master.

A step below that (but plenty for most street riders) is a 320mm rotor and an adapter to move your stock caliper out.

What I keep seeing is a radial fork leg and a big bike 4 pot or an adapter and a 4 pot. I haven't seen any axial that bolt without an adapter of some kind.

 

[Junkie]

Here's my trackbike the day I bought it (different tires since then). My streetbike is the same.

 

[Map8]

The factory production supermoto racers like the KTM450SMR, Husky 450 or Aprilia SXVs come with radial calipers. Even my 2006 KTM450SMR came with a radial caliper. You can source an Ohlins fork with a radial mount and then hunt down the mc and caliper of your choice.

Most of the fast racers converting MX bikes buy a kit from Beringer (mastercylinder/lever, upgraded brake line, 6-piston caliper and 320mm rotor) and they work really well. The bikes are so light and have so much rubber on the ground that I think braking feel is more important than components.

Come out to Sonoma this weekend and watch the pros and check out their bikes. $15 gets you into both the AFM and AMA SupermotoWest races.