Sportsbike vs Supermoto

[gaius49]

The upright seating position will make you never go back to sportbikes

I keep hearing this, but I had exactly the opposite reaction. Once I tried the supersport posture, I never want to go back to a naked bike, let alone something more upright. I really, vastly prefer a full tuck and a good set of clipons. I have a bit of a hip issue, and after an hour or so my SV and my Enfield used to leave me with so much pain I couldn't walk. The full tuck doesn't cause me any trouble. Just my two cents.

 

[corndog67]

I went from a Ducati 1098 to the Aprilia SXV550.

The supermoto is WAY more fun and it's almost limitless in where you can go and what you can do. I miss my 1098 A LOT though because I used to do lots of touring on my sportbikes. Can't do those all day, hundreds of miles per day rides. The sumo kills my ass during the half day 150 miles rides I do. I consider the sumo the most fun under 55 mph you can possibly have. It's always on one wheel and every hump/bump is a new chance to go airborne. I have ridiculous fun just the short 10 minutes to work and back.

Two bikes is definitely the way to go. Right now, it's my only ride.

Listen to this guy./\

I went riding with a guy on an SXV550 Aprilirilailialia. Probably the most radical, high strung bike, I've ever been riding with. When he wasn't doing wheelies, he was drifiting it sideways everywhere. I would have ridden it, it looked fun as hell, but then I would have had to explain to my old lady why I needed her to co-sign another loan for a bike.

And CBR guy, try a Supermoto. Have you ridden one, or are y9u just going by how it looks? They work pretty damn well.

 

[ABC]

Once you ride a real Supermoto your life will never be the same. Wheelies, stairs, lawns, dirt trails, golden gate park, Death Valley, usal road.. The list could keep going

Sport bikes:track, street......

 

[sixtytwo]

Makes a great second bike. The handling is just amazing and the suspension can soak up potholes, speed bumps, and curbs like they're not there. Definitely better for tight twisties and urban environments, but as you'd probably expect, the acceleration and top speed is nowhere near as good as a supersport.

In the case of the DRZ or the WR250, neither of them are very good for the freeway. Even with more street oriented gearing, the DRZ tops out at 95ish and feels pretty busy even at 75. Also, don't expect the engine to last forever without rebuilds like the supersports...

 

[Sharky]

My 950 SM flat out gets it on. Docile/small enough to get around town just fine, it's an absolute weapon nearly everywhere else. Not really a Supermoto per se, but enough beans to do 130ish on the highway, pull the front wheel off in 3rd coming out of turns, brakes good enough to do massive stoppies and enough grunt to light the tire coming out of turns when you aren't wheelying.

Seriously, probably the most fun bike I've ever owned. 8 1/4 inches of suspension, comfortable to ride, it is a really good bike.

Oldfatguy let me ride his once. I quickly have it back because that's got a straight "do not pass go, go straight to jail" written all over it.

The downside is, its too tall and the seat is too wide. Feels like riding a supersized Motard. I prefer a standard sumo, but if I could only have one bike, the 950 might be it.

 

[OaklandF4i]

OP, I had a supermoto set up on a Husqvarna some time back. I found that a true supermotard (not talking the big CC ones) is probably the most focused of any bike category I have owned. IE, their utility isnt very broad. Fun in the city, tight twisties as long as they close to home, and possibly cart tracks... but anywhere else I would choose a different bike. I found myself picking a different bike to ride more often that not and eventually got rid of it. A blast for certain conditions for sure.

Great 3rd or 4th bike IMO. Your experience may very.

Consider a naked middleweight. Then u can wheelie, stoppy to your hearts content and still travel distances on it. Or take an old sportbike and throw some handlebars on it. As an only bike option, this is the most versatile IMO.

 

[caideN]

SM is the way to go. Many new riders pick sports bikes because they're cooler looking and a lot faster. For pure fun and enjoyment, nothing beats the SM.

I use to commute 23 miles each way and it was more comfortable than a sports bike. Just get a good helmet that has good aerodynamics.

 

[Sharky]

SM is the way to go. Many new riders pick sports bikes because they're cooler looking and a lot faster. For pure fun and enjoyment, nothing beats the SM.

I use to commute 23 miles each way and it was more comfortable than a sports bike. Just get a good helmet that has good aerodynamics.

Freeway commute is a shortcut to an engine rebuild on high strung sumos. Fine for an XRL, but I'd think twice before doing that all the time on a high dollar per rebuild KTM, Berg or Husky.

 

[OaklandF4i]

Freeway commute is a shortcut to an engine rebuild on high strung sumos. Fine for an XRL, but I'd think twice before doing that all the time on a high dollar per rebuild KTM, Berg or Husky.

This is something so few people who come from street bikes really understand. Hell, even my big XR will get a top end at 10K and complete top and bottom at 20k as preventative maintenance.

 

[KooLaid]

faster and quicker is subjective. Unless it's an all out drag race, my sumo is worlds faster around the tighter stuff than any supersport I've ever owned. I'd say a fast sportbike guy can easily learn to be an even faster sumo guy.

Off the line......my sxv is pretty quick but it's impossible to launch it really well since the front end always wants to go over the top no matter how far forward I lean. Also real tough to feather the clutch since it grabs and wants to hook up instantly.

Fastest I've ever had it was either 123 or 127 indicated but I backed off before finding out for sure.

 

[kxmike]

I sold my cbr1000 and got a drz sm. I wish I could have both but if only one...the drz wins. It does everything well except long freeway stints...which I dont do. It's cheap...comfortable...it kicks ass in the canyons...I can commute to work on it (40 miles each way)...can ride kart tracks with it...and I can even race AFM with it ( and ride it to work the next morning!). Mine has a few mods but the motor is stock and it will do 106 at thunderhill...and can cruise at 70mph all day...ive put 13k hard miles on this bike without any issues....I just checked the valves today and they are still in spec...and my tires last forever compared to my cbr which could eat a rear in one day at the track .......I like this bike so much I bought another one for my wife... ( she kept taking mine...she even raced it with AFM as well...and trophied on it!)

 

[Map8]

I love my DRZ. Just sold my YZF600 because I never rode it. Don't do much street riding anyway but the DRZ is always my choice. You can tour on them but you have to dedicated and good packer. I've done several 300 mile days on mine. The route has to carefully selected to avoid freeways/highways but thats kind of the point of moto touring in Northern California isn't it?

I'm 100% supermoto these days. All my bikes have more wheels than cylinders.













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[Dub]

Like most have said, sportbikes are superior when it comes to communting and freeway riding. I'm currently selling my R1 after buying a Hypermotard and its only due to not having enough room for both bikes in the garage. Clearly i'm having more fun on the Hyper.

 

[revnort]

It all has been pretty much said. I for one wouldn't want to tour on a 600 either though...

Two bikes is the way to go. However, the good news is you can buy a sumo and if you don't like it sell it for near what you paid for it and move on. Chances are though you'll be buying a bigger sumo for touring in addition to the smaller one though.