As summer seems to be here already (it was 28deg C yesterday :D) the roads all the round the coast here are stationary. My GSX-R is not the best bike for town work (funnily enough :lol1: ) and I'm thinking of getting one of these:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m295/nidoes/drz.jpg

A couple of questions though that hopefully somebody will know the answers to!

I would also want to use it off-road a bit. I know that the std. S model would be far better for this, but mostly it'll be on road, hence the SM. Will it cope with off road work? I know the bike chassis itself (obviously) can, it's the tyres I'm not sure about.

Big thick knoblies are not essential - we have no mud where I live, just dry tracks. To give an idea, I took some pics whilst out walking the dog yesterday of the sort of tracks I'd want to ride it on

Stuff like this:
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m295/nidoes/2007_03030016.jpg

And this:
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m295/nidoes/2007_03030020.jpg

Now I know I'm not going to have much grip, and that the bike is going to be moving around a lot, but I can cope with that, grew up riding MX bikes. What worries me is will the stones cut the (road) tyres to shreds?

It's stuff like this
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m295/nidoes/2007_03030008.jpg
that I'm not sure about! Can this be tackled on an SM? Will it be so loose to ride that it won't be any fun? I have miles and miles of these sort of tracks just outside, so would be nice to make some use of them!

I have read somewhere that the gearing is raised (via the rear sprocket) on the SM model. If I want to lower it back down, and I put the off road sprocket on (for practising stunting on, big thing here in Spain :D ), will the chain still fit, or will I need to adding / removing links? I don't want it be to be too much of a pain in the arse.

Speaking of stunting, does anybody know what they are like to wheelie? I've never been too good at these (apart from the 1000 which is hard not to!) and would really like to practice for some of the Spainsh events. I know it's not ideal once again (perhaps a bit heavy for a crosser based bike at 130KG?) but I'm trying to cover as many bases as possible with this bike. A good balance point would be useful.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, what is its speed like on the road? I know it's going to be topped out at around 150-160 KMPH (90ish MPH) but that is the whole point. The gixer is only just out of first gear then, and I need something that can be fun whilst going slower, as it gets too hot to wear leathers all day :( However, is it still quick enough to safely overtake cars at around 50-60 MPH? By which I mean passed them quickly, not sitting in the other lane wishing for more power :lol1:

Will it sit at motorway speeds or is that really asking too much? :brickwall

Hope that a few people have experience on this bike :)

Cheers!

that will wreck those road tyres in no time best getting another set of wheels and knobblies for that use, look on ebay might be able to pick up a bargin, as for the power i'd say you'd be better off with a 640 ktm of ccm and alot of them come with two sets of wheels second hand

Supermoto General - visordown (http://www.visordown.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22)

Good place for supermoto advice....Alan

I rode one flat out round the Nurburgring on the standard knobblies... Performance was adequate, and on the road it's OK for most overtakes and so on. On the motorway it's fine at 70 but goes rapidly downhill after that - very exposed and bored more than anything else.

The knobblies are fine most of the time, though obviously compromised (understatement) when it comes to wet tarmac.

Personally I'd go for the S version and maybe look at picking up some SM rims if you find you need them.

SB

PS They're utterly bulletproof and easy to get serviced, too - just what you need as I believe you're outside the UK. Don't want to have to explain about Spagforth Whippet thrust washer shim clearances to Johnny Foreigner, do you? ;)

I had one of these for a loan bike whilst my zx636r was being serviced a while ago......


the novelty of the riding position, soft suspension etc went right out the window as soon as I went above 60....dull dull dull...and the fact the front mudguard acts as a sail and due to it being a windy day kept picking up the front end (literally) and moving me across the lanes on the road :eek:

Cheers folks - think I really need to test ride one but that is easier said than done over here. :(

ryansclassicscoob - I have ridden a 600 CCM a bit and was after something a bit slower really, the whole point is trying to find a compromise between something quick enough to be safe, but something that won't go proper quick even if I try :D. I have the gixer for going fast.

Just cruising down to the beach etc in the summer though I need something that can't go fast, as I'll only be in shorts & T-shirt. Bad I know, but there isn't really much option in July / August. If it goes fast it can be too tempting to ride as such at times, whereas if the bike hasn't go the power it's more relaxing (& likely) just to sit and go with the flow of the traffic :thumb:

The other reason I was thinking Suzuki was hit on the head by SB, a CCM etc will be a nightmare for parts here. I'd rather have something bullet proof, and a Suzuki has never let me down yet, despite years of thrashing the pants off them around race tracks :thumb:

Don't the CCM's use Suzuki engines? I think just about every part on a CCM is sourced from another manufacturer, so i can't see spares being a massive problem.:)

Don't the CCM's use Suzuki engines? I think just about every part on a CCM is sourced from another manufacturer, so i can't see spares being a massive problem.:)

The 400, yes. But I thought the 640 (which is what was suggested) was a different kettle of fish entirely?

Plus even the 400 is fiddled with so some parts won't be standard. the electrics, mainly, I suspect. And let's be honest - CCM weren't exactly renowned for build quality, were they? Before you suggest that Derbi or Moto Hispania are just as bad, that's true but they'll also be well known in local dealers...

SB

the 644s had the suzuki or the rotax engine

the 644s had the suzuki or the rotax engine

thought the 604 was rotax, 644 is suzuki, with head gasket problems, just read any suzuki dr650 or ccm forsale, they need to have the upgraded gasket, ccm make nice supermoto but thats were it ends, stick to the dr400sy, they'll bob along at 75mph quite happy, there okfor what you want offroad, more serious offroad work then get the 400E, engines are reliable just make sure you buy the oilfilter seal with the oil filter, they don't come together:wonder: odd yes but true, don't fit it and oil pressure loss to engine :freak3: