Supermoto Long Term Reliability

[2011GT]

I'm thinking about buying a trail bike and making a supermoto out of it. Thinking about a CRF450X or the WR450F. Either would be easy to convert. It would use this as my daily commuter to work and back (about 10 miles each way on surface streets).

What I don't have any clue about is the long term reliability with these bikes. What kind of maintenance would I need to do. I think Honda recommends an oil change after every other ride but that seems crazy. How many miles to the gallon should I be able to get out of one of these?

[dsrtuckteezy]

clean gas, clean air, clean oil and youre good to go. you'll have to check the valves periodically but that's easy, and youre looking at non mx motors so you wont have to check near as often.

as far as tanks, you wont get too many miles out of a stock tank, maybe like 60 or so? can always buy a bigger tank though

edit: oh and basic bike shit, like keeping your chain up to par, brakes, tires, etc...

[Mark04]

Look at DRZ400sm's if you are worried about reliability. Not the most powerful, but by far the most reliable supermoto out there.

[JasonRR]

My DRZ has been bullet proof and gets around 85 miles of aggressive riding per tank. They are heavier and slower, but mine has responded nicely to a couple of basic engine mods and I'm content with it for now.

The CRF450X is my supermoto of choice, but if I were looking at something for daily reliability, it'd be the DRZ.

[2011GT]

My DRZ has been bullet proof and gets around 85 miles of aggressive riding per tank. They are heavier and slower, but mine has responded nicely to a couple of basic engine mods and I'm content with it for now.

The CRF450X is my supermoto of choice, but if I were looking at something for daily reliability, it'd be the DRZ.

85 miles per tank. How many miles per gallon does that translate to?

[JasonRR]

I think it holds around 1.5 gal....they're supposed to get 70mpg (stock) if ridden casually, but I have a hard time with that.

[ram57ta]

Other than crash guards and a DRC EDGE tail-light my DRZ-s is stone stock with the stock tank. It holds more than 1.5 gallons but I've never really used it on the street other than a couple short trips around town so I can't really comment on the mileage but it is a fun little town bike. If I didn't have full blown knobbies on it I would ride it more but pavement eats those tires up.

[2011GT]

Other than crash guards and a DRC EDGE tail-light my DRZ-s is stone stock with the stock tank. It holds more than 1.5 gallons but I've never really used it on the street other than a couple short trips around town so I can't really comment on the mileage but it is a fun little town bike. If I didn't have full blown knobbies on it I would ride it more but pavement eats those tires up.

Is it possible to just fit street tires on the factory wheels?

[dsrtuckteezy]

ya you can,,,there wont be a ton of options for a 21" wheel though, and you'll still have to run tubes

edit: and with a 21" wheel it wont be a "supermoto"

[ram57ta]

I already have a spare stock rear wheel assembly and am looking for a stock front...then I'll locate some street tires to mount on it.

[Skidmark]

I know this really doesn't fit here, but yesterday I was riding down Green Oaks going about 50. I saw a bike behind me and thought it was a sportbike in the distance. I see 'em getting closer and then I look over and it's what appears to be a damn 50cc pitbike in size, but has street looking tires on it.

It had lights and had a plate on it too. I'm telling you, this thing was small. It looked like I was in Mario Kart.

I paced him at about 60MPH and was just thinking... W T F ?!

[Jaredther6er]

I had a Aprilia SXV450 for a couple of years. I put about 5,000 miles on it with no problems and I'm sure i could of gone way longer. I rode with some guys with DRZ400's. One had 25,000 miles and the other had 15,000 miles and they were both going strong.

[futant]

First of all i would not suggest moding a bike to be a supermoto, there are many you can get that are ready to go. the mods are very expensive, and you'll still have a small front brake likely. It's just not worth it unless you already have a 450 that's new and you want to take it to dirt on the weekends or something. many spend 2-3K for 17" wheels , etc and getting them street legal. There's no point in all that when you could own another bike for that price.

Once i geared up my husky , it is a great all around super moto. They are the most fun thing ive ever riden.

it's a lot more maintenance is my only complaint.
I think it depends on the purpose you have in mind for it . If you intend to commute a lot of miles on it (like daily), you might hate yourself.
For one, I have to get gas every 70 miles or so, annoying since that could be every other day depending on commute distance.
Also my husky (see sig) is a 500cc and it isn't nearly as fast as a sportbike on the freeway stuff >80mph. So again, they pretty much suck for a lot of freeway riding.

oil is supposed to be changed every 300 miles or less, but that was too damn often for me.
So i went to 500 miles, and filter every other time. That seems ilke it will work pretty good , the oil not looking too bad.

Keep that shit chained up too! fucking motards are like candy to thieves .
3/8" square chain 7' long with two 'slide pin' type locks is what i use. Very heavy, and will stand up to almost everything except a torch. I just leave it at work if possible.

for convenience sometimes if it's just a quick trip somewhere - i use a shorter, lighter chain and standard locks and just go around the wheel vs. the frame.

[futant]

oh correction , I tried 500 miles interval and it wasn't that bad.
so I went to 1000 miles for oil, and 2K for filters.
That is the absolute longest i would go on a supermoto. use very good oil like a castor synthethic.