Everything about Supermoto bikes
Where naked bikes are all about versatility, all roads about being able to do anything with comfort and sport bikes are all about speed, the supermotos are all about something else; fun. Lots of fun. Simply said, a supermoto is a dirt bike with rims and tyres suited for road use. And that is a brilliant combination.
They owe their iconic looks to the motocross world. One day, a dirt bike rider probably thought; “How awesome would it be if we could do all this crazy stuff on the roads?” and decided to put a pair of road rims on it. Voila, one of the most awesome motorcycle segments saw the light. They are lightweight, playful and have a very fun amount of torque, thanks to very few cylinders. Fun guaranteed.
SUPERMOTO BIKES
MADE TO WRECK
It sounds a bit disrespectful, but supermotos – just like dirt bikes – are basically made to wreck. To throw them down, launch them backwards or to throw them forward. And to pick them back up again and ride on. The plastic fairings (for as far as you can call them fairings) are flexible. And you should know; what bends does not break. To a certain degree of course. And when you do break things, they often aren’t too expensive to replace.
NOT MADE FOR TOP SPEED
BUT FOR CORNER SPEED
You don’t ride a supermoto to blast off at traffic lights. Or to do semi drag races with friends. Or to show off those 150 ponies in front of a cafe filled with potential dates. You ride a supermoto to take turns scandalously fast. To throw it into curves, to put it on one wheel – whether it’s the front or rear one – and to probably hook up those potential dates anyway while doing so.
All jokes aside; a supermoto is made for agility. To change directions as quick as possible, to take speed into turns and to ‘slide’ your way though. By the way, that sliding doesn’t make you quicker. It actually slows you down. But you look oh so cool while doing so. And that’s worth something too.
RESILIENCE LIKE NO OTHER
THE SUPERMOTO
This type of bike is known for its resilience. The stunts and above all, the smooth riding. You can lean off a supermoto like you would on a sport bike or naked bike. But you can also push it down and stick out that foot for the well-know supermoto riding style. And slide your way through turns.
When you come across pictures of supermoto riders, you often see them riding on one wheel. And can you really blame them? Supermotos often are one or two cylinder bikes. That means; not a lot of power, but very, very lightweight and a decent amount of torque.
It’s a type of bike that just wants to go up, onto that rear wheel. Add a decent pair of calipers on that front wheel, and it will go up onto that one bringing the back up in the air. It’s just that lightweight. Riding a supermoto is playful and fun. Does that make you a bit of a hooligan? Maybe. But we get that. And we respect that.
NOT SCARED OF OFFROAD RIDING
VERSATILE BIKE
A dirt bike beats the supermoto on offroad terrain. But supermotos themselves aren’t scared of some semi-offroad action too. Think of sand etcetera. Supermoto races are mostly very populair in France. During those races, riders ride on tracks that consist manly of tarmac, but also ride on sand for an average of 30%. So those supermotos are some versatile bikes.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUPERMOTO
AND DIRT BIKES
Supermotos differ themselves from dirt bikes on a few aspects. They’ve got wider and smaller rims. And on those rims you will find a pair of street tyres. Especially the front rim is way smaller than the rim of a dirt bike. When replacing the rims, one often also applies bigger brakes discs and brake pistons. This because one races on tarmac and thus needs to brake harder. To complete the setup, one also adjusts the suspension to adapt it to road use.
SEAT HEIGHT OF SUPERMOTO BIKES
TALL BABIES
Supermotos have a high seat height. This because they have lots of ground clearance, something which comes from those dirt bike roots. This allows for fast direction changes. And that sand used to be able to go somewhere. The latter doesn’t apply much to the supermoto, but the first thing does.
That’s why they stand tall. This gives a distorted picture, though. They are not just tall, but also very narrow. For smaller riders (think sub 1.68m) this often means it is a lost cause to reach the ground with both feet. But supermotos fall into the sporty bike category. One you sit on in a sporty matter. And what did we say about that? One foot on the ground, one on the peg. No need to put both feet on the ground. Saves you something to worry about!
COMPARE SEAT HEIGHTS OF SUPERMOTO BIKES
WITH THE COMPARISON-TOOL
Do you want to know how tall a certain supermoto is? In our overview below you will find all specs related to seat height, weight and power. In search of a supermoto with a low seat height? Or are you a tall motorcyclist and looking for the biggest one? Find out which one suits you best below! Or compare two supermotos. It is up to you.
Step 1: FIND MOTORCYCLE NUMBER ONE
| Model | Seat height | Weight | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| aprilia sx 125 | 88 cm | 134 kg | 14,8hp (11kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP | 89 cm | 186 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 RVE | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| GasGas SM 700 | 89,8 cm | 161 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna 701 Supermoto | 89 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna FS 450 | 92,7 cm | 119,5 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| KTM 690 SMC R | 89,2 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| KTM 450 SMR | 89,8 cm | 109 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| Suzuki DR-Z 400SM | 89 cm | 146 kg | 39,7hp (20,2kW) |
STEP 2: FIND MOTORCYCLE NUMBER 2
| Model | Seat height | Weight | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| aprilia sx 125 | 88 cm | 134 kg | 14,8hp (11kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP | 89 cm | 186 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 RVE | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| GasGas SM 700 | 89,8 cm | 161 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna 701 Supermoto | 89 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna FS 450 | 92,7 cm | 119,5 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| KTM 690 SMC R | 89,2 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| KTM 450 SMR | 89,8 cm | 109 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| Suzuki DR-Z 400SM | 89 cm | 146 kg | 39,7hp (20,2kW) |
STEP 1: FIND MOTORCYCLE NUMBER ONE
| Model | Seat height | Weight | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| aprilia sx 125 | 88 cm | 134 kg | 14,8hp (11kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP | 89 cm | 186 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 RVE | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| GasGas SM 700 | 89,8 cm | 161 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna 701 Supermoto | 89 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna FS 450 | 92,7 cm | 119,5 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| KTM 690 SMC R | 89,2 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| KTM 450 SMR | 89,8 cm | 109 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| Suzuki DR-Z 400SM | 89 cm | 146 kg | 39,7hp (20,2kW) |
STEP 2: FIND MOTORCYCLE NUMBER TWO
| Model | Seat height | Weight | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| aprilia sx 125 | 88 cm | 134 kg | 14,8hp (11kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP | 89 cm | 186 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 RVE | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| Ducati Hypermotard 950 | 87 cm | 188 kg | 114hp (83,7kW) |
| GasGas SM 700 | 89,8 cm | 161 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna 701 Supermoto | 89 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| Husqvarna FS 450 | 92,7 cm | 119,5 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| KTM 690 SMC R | 89,2 cm | 160 kg | 75hp (55kW) |
| KTM 450 SMR | 89,8 cm | 109 kg | 63hp (46kW) |
| Suzuki DR-Z 400SM | 89 cm | 146 kg | 39,7hp (20,2kW) |
CONCLUSION
Like we said, supermotos are all about fun. To search for the limits without going way too fast, or to flick the thing from side to side on smaller race tracks. To enjoy that agile riding style. The roots are found in the dirt bike world, which you often recognize in the riding style of supermoto riders. But don’t be fooled. The supermoto is a segment on its own and has a different setup from a dirt bike. Different rims, different brakes and different suspension. Are you looking for a bike that will give you miles of smiles? Then a supermoto is the way to go.
Looking for similar information about other types of motorcycles? Check out our overview.
