Dealers Being Dumb

Every year since I've started riding, I've gotten the itch to pick up a new (to me, at least) bike every spring, whether it's replacing my old one or getting a second (God help me, the addiction might really start to become a problem at three). I recently heard a local shop, Solid Performance KTM had just started dealing KTMs, and being interested in a top-of-the-line enduro/supermoto I went over to check it out. The place was small but holy crap, they had everything except the brand new 1290 SuperDuke.

The Beast

They did have the two bikes I was interested in though. I wandered around for a bit, then struck up a conversation with the guy up front, and asked about the bikes. I figured the sales guys would come out, but they seemed disinterested in getting off their asses while someone wandered around the bikes. It was kind of frustrating, most places I've ever been the salespeople seemed quick to approach and try to find out what you're looking for, let you sit on the bike, work out payments, and make the sale move but I was pretty much ignored. If I do get what I was looking at I'll probably have to go back because I don't want to run out to Lancaster but sheesh, I was a little disappointed in the service.

At least the shop dog was a sweetheart.

Spring is Enduro season!

Spring is here, which means it's the perfect time to do some trailriding before everything become overgrown in the summer. In that vein, lets talk about a key skill that maybe you haven't picked up yet.

Log hopping.

plugbike.com

You're cruising the trail and over the winter a small tree has come down in your path. You could try to push through the brush to get around, but it's much simpler and easier just to hop it. Here's what you do.

Approach at a walking pace in first gear, while standing in a neutral position on your pegs. As you get a few feet from the log, crack the throttle and lean back while still weighting the pegs to lift the front tire. You should not sit down while doing this though! The idea is you want the front tire to hit the log while a few inches off the ground, or at least while it is unweighed. This will get the front over the log.

Now, on your first time hopping a log, you're gonna be scared and want to chop the throttle at this point. Don't do it. That will drop the front, throwing you forward and maybe stopping the rear against the log, launching you over the handlebars.

latimes.com

 Instead, keep your weight back and let the rear tire drive itself against and over the log. Once you've felt the tire roll over the log you can return to a neutral standing position and ride away clean.

As you learn this, you'll probably have the front tire hit the ground while your rear is still in the air. This is ok, but means your body position or throttle control was off. Ideally, you will be treating that log like a jump, and can literally launch off of it with practice.

redbull.com

Let's talk supermotos for the street.

Anyone who's ridden a dirt bike knows how much of a thrill they can be. One designed for road racing and made street legal is a recipe for hooliganism in the right hands. Lightweight with incredible acceleration (if lacking in the top-end of sport bikes) has led to the slogan of "fun at any speed". Supermotos are easily flickable, give you a huge vision advantage in traffic because you sit so high up, and can handle bumps, jumps and terrain that would break the suspension of a pure road bike. Also, they take crashes very well. Trust me, I know.

Also, wheelies.

superretards.com

So now you want one. There's tons to choose from, right? Not really, here in the states anyway. There's actually only one OEM still making a showroom sumo, and that's the DRZ400SM. The tech's about 10 years old and it's still carbed, slower than every other 250cc and up bike other than the KLX250X. The advantage the bike has is it's dependable as hell, has incredible service intervals, and a single carb is easy to work on. Plus the aftermarket offering for parts is cheap and vast.

DRZ400SM - photo from topspeed.com

Speaking of the KLX250X...You don't want one unless it's all you can afford, or it's your first bike. There's a reason they're unbelievably cheap used. They're the worst performing sumo out there. Like the DRZ, they are dependable however. Just slow.

The second most available purpose built sumo is the WR250X. It's much more modern than the DRZ, similarly priced, and makes similar power, all with a 6-speed transmission. They're very comparable though, the difference comes down to whether you want EFI or a carb, 6 speed or 5.

WR250x - yamahawr250x.com

After that you've got your 450 Japanese motocross bikes converted to street legal sumos. They'll sometimes pop up on craigslist, but you can make your own out of your own dirt bike if you're mechanically inclined. It'll cost a lot of time and a fair bit of money though, as compared to letting the other guy do the work and then snapping it up on craigslist for far less than they put into it. They have service requirements that will punish you if you don't keep up with them, so beware.

Finally, you've got your exotics. KTM makes amazing sumos, the 690 is highly coveted for it's speed and relative dependability, and there are 450 and 500cc supermoto racers converted to road use floating around out there. The Ferarri of the sumo world though, is the Aprilia SVX550. Wickedly fast, they are known for being extremely unreliable and expensive to fix. If you've got the money though it's the fastest you can buy. Husquevarna makes decent sumos and enduros you can convert as well.

KTM690LC4 - gdefon.com

Here in the states your best option for looking for sumos is craigslist, as about every sumo you can get is used, unless you want to buy a new motocross bike and spend another few grand converting it. Hopefully this guide has given you some ideas as to what's out there and what you'd like to get.