Why not Supermotard bikes

[RIB333]

I've been following this new class since I first heard about it. There are a lot of opinions about the bikes, handling, motor life and so forth. A fair amout of skeptics out there on these points as well as the cost. I am not that knowlegdable on the modern crop of 4T dirt bikes or the Supermotards based on them. Would it make more sense to use an SM type bike as a starting point? Do the more street biased bikes nedd less prep? How about the SM motors, are they more suited to conversion to a road race bike?

[tweav]

the big issue with starting with a 450 motard is there are no jap bike at all that come as a sm from the factory . so your stuck with a europe bike . and there are not too many dealers for those . at least not near me . I've got right around 10000 dollar in my wr450sm . that's not a very cheap place to start from . it would be much cheaper to get last years dirt bike for like 4000 as a starting point don't you think?

[RIB333]

I see your point but I thought that Suzuki made a DRZ bike. I think that an issue with a used dirt bike could be the motor.

[tweav]

the drz has a 10 year old design for the motor and it's a just 400 . it also weighs over 300 lbs . I don't think anybody would stand a chance of winning on such a dated bike. I think the drz built up only makes 40 couple hp too.
I really think japan need to pick up the ball , because they've completely missed the supermoto nich .

[Kris VanOrden]

the drz has a 10 year old design for the motor and it's a just 400 . it also weighs over 300 lbs . I don't think anybody would stand a chance of winning on such a dated bike. I think the drz built up only makes 40 couple hp too.
I really think japan need to pick up the ball , because they've completely missed the supermoto nich .

everyone i know with the DRZ says they are a slug and like tweav said even built they come in last.