Supermotos are getting my attention again, and I’m here for it.
When I worked at dealerships back in the day, I vividly remember thumbing through the Lockhart-Phillips 70/30 parts catalog and thinking, “This looks incredible.”
Some years later, a good buddy and coworker of mine was racing pro in the AMA Supermoto 450 class. He let me ride his backup ’03 YZ450F at a track day at Jennings GP, and it took about three laps before I was hooked. Like, full-on addict hooked.
I promptly sold my GSX-R600 track bike, picked up a new-to-me ’07 YZ450F, and immediately broke out the 70/30 catalog. Beringer big brake kit, 17s, slicks, and a slipper clutch. I was all in.
Why Supermoto Gets Under Your Skin
If you’re unfamiliar, think dirt-bike roots with pavement-focused wheels, tires, and brakes. Supermoto racing mixes road racing and motocross, often combining pavement, dirt, and jumps. But you don’t need a mixed-surface track to understand the appeal.
To me, a supermoto is the perfect sport motorcycle. Yes, really.
On a tight track, it lets mere mortals like your average track-day weekend warrior (me) get more out of the bike.
Wanna drag your knee and pass bigger bikes like they’re traffic cones? Check. Wanna get sideways in the tight corners? Check. Wanna hit some jumps? Try that on a Gixxer and see what happens.
A supermoto lets you chase that full-tilt feeling without needing a superbike’s speed to get there. That’s a huge part of the appeal.
Are there drawbacks? Of course. Ride a dirt-bike-based single on the highway for a while and you’ll understand. Vibration, a narrow seat, and zero wind protection can get old fast. Race-derived bikes also bring maintenance demands that deserve more attention than a casual street rider might expect.
But on the right road or track? They’re ridiculously good fun. There’s less expensive bodywork to worry about in a low-speed spill, and the way they change direction is addictive.
The more approachable street models can also make good learning bikes for riders comfortable with the seat height. A full-on competition 450 is a different conversation.
When the Supermoto Scene Was Everywhere
Back then, there were grassroots series all over the place where us converts could meet each other and race at all kinds of cool tracks.
My favorite was the Middle Georgia kart track, later known as the Herrin Compound, which had paved jumps. Wild!
Manufacturers were giving us plenty to get excited about: Suzuki’s DR-Z400SM, KTM’s 450 and 560 SMRs, and the Husaberg FS 650, just to name a few.
Then the scene around me started losing momentum.
It didn’t happen in one dramatic moment. Supermoto just kinda faded into the background here in the US. The hardcore riders kept going, but the excitement I remembered from the dealerships and local racing scene became harder to find.
Looking at the bikes manufacturers are offering now, I’m getting that old feeling again.
The Supermoto Bikes Getting Me Excited Again
KTM has the race-ready 450 SMR, plus the street-legal 390 SMC R and 690 SMC R.
Husqvarna has the 701 Supermoto for the street and the FS 450 for the track.
Hell, even Ducati has a competition-focused entry with the Desmo450 SM.
Electric bike Stans can rejoice too, because the Stark VARG SM is here to party.
And Suzuki finally gave the DR-Z a major overhaul with the DR-Z4SM.
Street bikes, race bikes, and an electric option. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to pay attention to supermoto again, there’s plenty to look at.
Three Laps Might Be All It Takes
You don’t have to start with a brand-new bike. That old dirt bike in your garage might be the beginning of something very entertaining.
A set of 17s is where plenty of conversions start, but budget for the right brakes, gearing, and setup for the riding you want to do. Wheels alone aren’t the whole job.
Find a supermoto-friendly track day or a local club and give it a shot. You might never go back to a sport bike.
It took me three laps.
Got any supermoto stories? Drop me a line at TheGarage@BlackFlag-Moto.com. I’d love to hear them.