best motard bike platform?

jonb

jonb

Well-known member
so i found this site, http://www.moto-connection.com/

has some cool bikes, honda/suzuki/yamaha they've done wheels, brakes, light kits and a few other tweeks and shown how cool these bikes are as motards. i'm not interested in retaining any dirt functionality, just pure street.

i'm still drawn to that vertemati, hand made, out of the box ready. but also all the wrenching on a japanese bike seems fun as well :nerd i guess if i went japanese it would be honda :cool

i like the 450 more than the 650 but i guess its just that i'm drawn to the smaller bikes. which one is a better platform? i also think getting a ktm and supporting scuderia wouldnt be half bad. or is one of the yammy bikes going to be better? power and handling are any considerably better than the rest? tell me tell me! that cr450 looks badass :love so does that vertemati. what about vor or husky?

well i have a while to decide before my insurance claim comes in :teeth
 
muddy

muddy

Well-known member
From my little experience with motards in Europe, my favorite one was the Husky 610. But I don't think it's very good here due to the problem to get parts (and the cost of them I suppose).
The most terrific I have seen was the one prepared by the Wagner brothers in the east of France... Was awesome looking, with incredible power.

Pascal
 
illsender

illsender

Well-known member
Beware!!!

That guy from moto-crap-nection is a crook. He sent me wheels for a 650 r when is stressed i had an L. then he wouldn't refund $500 for parts returned. Hes a flake and Charges WAY too much.

McAllister Motorsports has Great prices and is a really great company to deal with. www.supermotousa.com He also puts on the races in NorCal
 
Peter

Peter

Well-known member
The XR650 makes a good super moto platform. Easy to work on and there are a lot of aftermarket parts available. For the street, go with a big engine...no replacement for displacement. Also, the CRF/YZ are not easily registered for the street.

As far as the euro bikes go, they are great but require frequent oil/filter changes and valve clearance check/adjustment. Seats are generally hard and narrow as well. I really like the Vert too and I'll get one when I win the lotto.

I have a KTM Duke 2 and I just got a VOR 530 SME. Both are great, but some parts can be hard to find. The VOR is surprisingly quick, especially after adding a Keihin FCR 41 carb. The Duke is kind of heavy at around 330-340. The VOR is considerably lighter at around 270. The VOR requires oil changes every 5 hours or so. It only holds 1 litre of oil. I enjoy working on my bikes but these things are not for everyone.

Peter
 
jonb

jonb

Well-known member
whats the licensing process for say a cr or yz?
where did you buy the vor?

how hard is the oil change on the vor? every 5 hours? damn! not bad though if its easy to get at in terms of filter :nerd
 
Peter

Peter

Well-known member
Technically, you cannot register a CRF/YZ/WR for the street in California. With that said, some people have been successful. I don't know what their secret is but to me its a gamble I'm not willing to take.

You should know that CRF's are highly tuned and have pistons with basically no skirt. This means that you'll need to check your top end often if you do a lot of miles. The YZ 450 has only a 4 speed, while the WR450 has a 5 speed box and E start. Also, both the CRF and YZ have no lighting coil or provisions for street equipment. You can get an aftermarket dual sport kit for an additional $500-$700. These 450s are race bikes and are relatively high maintenance.

I got my VOR from Jim and Jim's Motoxotica in Sonoma. It was a left over 2002 model. Oil/filter changes are easy, in fact I just did my first one on this bike. Oil filters are about $15 each and are available as far as I know only from VOR dealers.

Peter
 
westie

westie

Its Dethklok!
Yeah, I bought the DukeII. Motard ready right outta the box. Gutted the exhaust and put a 41mm carb(?) on it. I'm becoming a local legend on Redwood Rd.!
 
thump

thump

Well-known member
I'm on a 2001 ktm supermoto

Like Westie's only longer springs.

KTM support is reasonably OK in the bay area.
 
jonb

jonb

Well-known member
xr650 then would have to be the "L" not the "R" correct so that it may be registered and licensed for the street correcT? and they make good 17" rims for the L and other hop-ups? ssuspension exhaust etc? :D
 
Peter

Peter

Well-known member
Add a dual sport kit and you can register the XR650R for street use. The R has an aluminum frame and a liquid cooled engine. Take a look at Rich's XR. There are some pics of it floating around on BARF somewhere.

Peter
 
hooliganrider

hooliganrider

Well-known member
Peter said:
Add a dual sport kit and you can register the XR650R for street use. The R has an aluminum frame and a liquid cooled engine. Take a look at Rich's XR. There are some pics of it floating around on BARF somewhere.

Peter
Click to expand...


here's a pic

429420-108-0835_img.jpg
 
jonb

jonb

Well-known member
got it i was wondering what the diff was :p but with a light kit the "r" basically can become an "l" on paper? cool!
 
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