Hi Guys,
So I’m saving up some dosh to get a wreck and do it up, mostly so I can feel a little more compitent maintaining my BMW F650 (commuter), thought I’d go for a SuperMoto kinda thing.
Does anyone have any suggestions for where to start, what sort of bike can be easily modded to super moto kinda spec.
I’m not looking for the obvious KTM, CCM etc because they’re always going to cost a bunch.
If I go the field bike route is there any way to re-register it so it’s road legal?
A bit of advise would be great.
Cheers.
Jolyon
Welcome to the forum jolyon_russ I hope you enjoy it here.
So… straight to business
Well if you buy a second hand trailie which is already road legal you would have half the job done, something like a honda CRF450 or XR650 or even a Suzuki DR650. is usually a good starting point, all you have to do is get 17" rims and front brake disk plus modified calipers. there are plenty of crf’s on ebay. but for more in depth suggestion read this thread which more ore less cover that very issue. http://londonbikers.com/forums/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=24&MessageID=39094
Loads of options, check out www.thumpertalk.com as they cover a wide range of bikes (thumpers suprisingly). DRZ’s have a vast range of goodies you can add to them (and yes I am biased)!!
Cheers guys appreciate the help, Capt Moto, I posted then went browsing and found all you very detailed posts. Brilliant collection of information.
My commute this morning was not my usual route (hollow way road has been sloooooowwwwww all week and crawling with traffic cops last night) ended up going via Kings X hooked up with a guy on a CCM, pretty nice bike, we had a bit of a dual.
I think what I’m trying to get at is, I seem to be able to have just as much fun on my F650, do I need to be thinking about a ‘proper’ supermoto? What would I gain from laying out the extra dosh? Also much of the bikedge on eBay is way over my budget. I’m looking for something that’s been in a barn for 5-10 years that I can strip/learn/tinker with so ultimately I can stop paying mechanics to do work on my F.
Jolyon
This might sound harsh, but there is no easier way to tell you and please don’t think I am being rude but, if I was you… i’d sell the F650 a.s.a.p. or find someone willing to swap with a bike of your choice.
Cash is needed for the mods so be prepared to shell out some along the line.
hope you’ll find what you want
If you’re happy with your bike and it does everything you need, then keep it and enjoy it. Once you’ve outgrown it then move on. Otherwise save your money for petrol and coffee at the Ace.
If you’re looking for a shed of a bike you can tinker with at weekends and learn a bit with, then it might be worth while asking round your neighbourhood in case someone has one sitting in the back of their garage. A guy at my work is coming to the end of doing up an original 70’s Kawasaki Z1 one of his neighbours found at the bottom of their garden. It’s taken him years to source parts and gradually sort it out, but I can’t imagine a more satisfying ride than the first one on a bike you made yourself.
I’m sure plenty of people had a bike in their youth that now sits unloved under a sheet in the shed or something, slowly rusting away begging for someone to do it up.
I’d love to do it myself, but living in a terraced house in west london without a garage and a flatmate that wouldn’t appreciate a bike engine on the kitchen table sadly prohibits such things.
Capt Moto, the thing is that the F650 ticks to many boxes for me, pillion comfort being the most inportant, hard luggage being another, I don’t own a car so it’s my main form of transport, it’s as close to a car as a bike can get, for me at least. At christmas I took it on a 900 mile round trip from London to Cumbria, with girlfriend on the back and panniers full of clobber, how many thoroughbred super motos could do that?
A proper super moto bike would only ever be something to learn some mechanical skill on and have fun riding!
johnny, thanks for that eBay link, that looks a potential bargain, I’ve put a watch on it but haven’t even sorted renting a garage yet so expect to see it go to someone else. You hit the nail right on the head, I’m after a wreck, something to tinker with and learn the fine art of hitting a bike with a hammer until it works. Once I have the garage and funds sorted I’ll be hunting with a bit more purpose, probably have more luck up around where my mum lives in Banbury, more rural, more chance of a scramber being in a shed there than North London.
Cheers guys.
Jolyon
Did you have any luck yet? just let us know how you’re getting on in your search, I and I am sure the other here will keep an eye out for you if we hear anything about a cheap trailie going for sale.
Meantime I’ve just realized that there is this one mate that has got an old motocross bike in his garage that he still use for a bit of green laning and though its very old is still in working conditions and street legal too, I will have to enquire with him will report to you.
Would be helpful if you tell me what your budget is on this project.
cheers and good luck
Cheers for that Capt, would definately be interested in finding out some more details about your mates bike?
Budget wise, I could probably only raise about £500 now, I don’t know how realistic this is though.
I’m still paying off the F650 to be honest but have a pay review coming up in June.
Cheers again.
Jolyon
I have tried to contact my mate, but he’s probably riding or working and I can’t get through to him, I’ll send him an email and will let you know.
cheers
Hahaha, that’s more my kinda budget!
I bet that race can sounds swaaaheeet!
