Dual Sport or Full Supermoto???

[brandon2286]

Ive been debating over getting another bike, and since I already have a 600cc SS bike i dont need another high payment or insurance rate for that matter. I have been really getting into dirt riding and supermoto over the past few months, and really am not sure which approach to take on my next bike purchase. It seems like its either going to be a dual sport like the XR650 Honda or the DRZ400SM Suzuki. My thing is which would be the better buy? I could always get a set of SM wheels for the XR but they cost alot and the DRZ is already set up with them on there, and the Dirt wheels are readily available much cheaper. Has anyone ever done the swap to play in the dirt on a SM bike and vice versa? How long does it take and whatnot? All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[brandon2286]

anyone?

[Otto Man]

I got a '99 Superhawk 996 and an '03 KTM 525EXC. I'm getting pieces together to supermoto it, should be complete in a couple months. Including a dual sport kit, excel wheels w/ talon hubs, rotors, sprocket, etc...should be close to $2k (Over estimating alittle also, you know how hidden costs pop up). The factory DRZ400SM uses completly different suspension than the dirt DRZ. You can't buy stock DRZ dirt wheels and bolt them up. I don't know what you'd have to do to get it dirt ready, but IMHO, get a streeted one and go dirt. With it already being street legal, you have no legal hassles (DMV), turn signals, hi/low beam, etc.

The nice thing about going from dirt to street is to mantain the immense power. My stock 525 blows a DRZ400 completely out of the water, power wheeling in 5th at 50+mph at the 1/4 turn of the throttle, and still hits 100mph. Supermoto Junkie - Powered by vBulletin is the site to visit for all of your SM needs. I'm going from dirt to street because at the time I got my Katoom, it was intended for dirt only.

My setup is going to cost more because I am building a complete set of other wheels, ie, I can switch from dirt to street setup in the time it takes me to switch out wheels (30min). Each set of wheels will have their own chain/sprocket combo, tires, wheels, brakes, etc.

[metalrat]

I have a little guttless dual sport.(DR200)

It is a lot of fun riding that thing around town.
But I really do miss the brakes of my 600cc.(more than the throttle)

Otto Man is getting the full set up. Best way to go.
Be ready for dirt when you want.
Get solid brakes and sportbike traction in the most agile plattform
possible.

I was talking to a DRZ400 rider. He took a carb from the offroad only dr400
and it is a whole new bike!

[brandon2286]

hmmm, my 600 has crappy front brakes i really dont know whats wrong with them i just changed the pads too, but back on topic i really want something i can swap out either way you know? so what would be the best bet here? i am not looking for super speed or power

[SPOOLN GSXR]

Get the DRZ400SM. It's a better setup than the XR650 and a bit quicker. The SM has front forks from the RM's so it's more than capable. The conversion for a DRZ400SM to dirt is quite simple. Take the wheels from a DRZ400E (offroad only model) and run the SM front rotor and thats it if I remember correctly. DRZ's are damn near bullet proof, reliable and if you need more power than the stock 33 whp there are plenty of power mods to get you to about 58 whp. That's enough power to outrun CR500's so you will have plenty of power on tap. This is a good site for DRZ information...http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=25

[brandon2286]

sweet deal man thanks a bunch. I got a quote for 7k out the door on a black 08 with that 79 bucks a month plan from suzuki...good price or bs? what should i look to pay for an 08 drz?

[Otto Man]

Originally Posted by brandon2286

sweet deal man thanks a bunch. I got a quote for 7k out the door on a black 08 with that 79 bucks a month plan from suzuki...good price or bs? what should i look to pay for an 08 drz?

Those factory finacing programs piss me the fuck off. They rip off so many people it's not even funny. Look into it bit. You are getting ass-reamed with interest, for your first two years, you are paying like $15 bucks a month on the bike...rest goes to interest. You lose your ASS that way. I learned all this from a finance manager that works at a Honda dealership, who is a good friend of mine. Definitely don't go that route!! Get a loan through a bank, or save up about $1500 and save a huge chunk of money on payments n principle.

[soccerpimp09]

Yea... dont go the manufacturer financing route - that revolving credit 80 bux a month crap is a joke - you pay nothing toward your principle unless you make 150 dollar or more payments - so you end up owing about what you paid once the 2 year low payment plan is over.. bank finance.. or do as i do - if you cant afford the toy CASH - you cant afford the toy at all...

[stnkbg1]

My YZ already had all the SM parts with it when I got it, but was set up for MX when I picked it up. All I have to do to swap from dirt to street is swap the wheels and the front brake. My SM setup runs a 320mm motomaster rotor and caliper and when I got it I had to swap calipers and bleed the front brake every time I switched back and forth. Ended up picking up a complete stock front brake setup off ebay so now I just unbolt the Master cylinder/lever and swap over the whole front brake assembly. I can switch everything over in about 45min. I've only done it a few times though. I have so much fun on the pavement I just haven't bothered with the dirt much.

[brandon2286]

woo thanks for that valuable piece of info i will be sure not to do that scheme now. What would be a good out the door price on an 08?

[Stephen072774]

I have a DRZSM and I have an extra set of dirt wheels that I swap out... I have 2 sets of SM rotor on each wheelset so I can swap over in about 20-30 mins. Longest part is adjusting the chain. I run 41 tooth sprocket on SM and 44 on S wheels so I can run the same chain on both wheelsets.

[soccerpimp09]

Perhaps consider a lightly used DRZ? you can easily find one for 4500 or so... save you some cash - and not much has changed on that bike since 05 or 06...

[Stephen072774]

Originally Posted by Otto Man

You can't buy stock DRZ dirt wheels and bolt them up.

Sure you can...

[brandon2286]

thats what im talking about, how did you do that? how is it in the dirt?