Bikes....

[H.A.R. Racing]

As people may have seen from the automotive threads, we are a rally racing team (cars). In addition, we might be fielding a rallymoto for 2011 (I myself would be riding).

I wanted to ask respectfully for some advice on what type of bike we should consider. I have ridden dirt bikes up until my mid teens, and I have ridden supersport bikes for the past 5 years (street; some track experience). I know that some of the knowledge would cross-over. Given this information..... what do you guys think?

:confused::confused::confused::confused:


Thanks in advance,

A

H.A.R Racing

[Sans Peur]

Depends on the event.

I ride a KTM 690 and it's great for open, fast roads. For a rally moto event like Gorman, I'd prefer a 250 or 400.

Andrew

[H.A.R. Racing]

Any suggestion on a bike that would be a good hybrid for both types of events?

BMW perhaps?

[ropedrag]

I ride a BMW G650 X Challenge but I think the BEST RallyMoto bike would be the Aprilia 5.5

Motor issues with the older ones (engine seals) but the new ones are solid from what I understand.

[H.A.R. Racing]

What do you think of the new BMW F 800 GS

[tom grossmann]

The perfect bike...........I'd say my KTM300 EXC, oh wait that's right no 2-strokes (ok now that the all SS forum threads must have a rant law has been met)

Now being serious, it depends on your riding style and size, I'm a small guy whose rode / raced nothing but small bore bikes so my riding style works better with them. My pick would be a Husky TE-250 or 300 as they are street legal dirt bikes.

If I were bigger I might go for a KTM 525 or Husky TE-510. The adventure bikes are really good but not near as nimble........although if you watch Erzberg videos some of those guys on 900 twins absolutely fly. One other thought; when RallyMoto came about I had a this discussion with my race car builder pal and I was thinking 125-200cc 2 stroke (intial 2 strokes were listed) and he suggested going with a larger bore bike because the smaller displacement bike require total commitment and huge momentum.........meaning possibly more likely to crash. It made sense as you do have to ride small bore bikes like an animal to keep them going.

Tom

[ropedrag]

How does the old saying go?

There is no replacement for displacement :rolleyes:

The cold hard truth is a good rider will make any bike fast but some bikes are better suited to be ridden fast.

Makes sense that a "woods" bike while nimble will yield to a bike with more power on a gravel road. And I'm not a guy with any real 2 stroke experience but I would wonder about it having adequate traction when it "comes on". I remember the roads at the Idaho rally last year and they were SLICK!

[Robevo]

i vote for Aprilia or Kawasaki KLR 650

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gglxBKG07cY/Su2AVKT9RZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/RHxpadH7Sa4/s400/2010KLR650.jpg

im not a biker but my brother had one of these back then , i loved it!
Of course with some mods on it, like weight reductions :)

[Mike Hurst]

i vote for Aprilia or Kawasaki KLR 650



:eek:...picturing all the Aprilia guys who just spit their coffee on the screen.

[rallymk1]

:eek:...picturing all the Aprilia guys who just spit their coffee on the screen.

LOL, yeah I had to read it twice to make sure I didn't miss something.
They're pretty close........noooooooooooooooot!
I've used my DRZ400 which was alright, my vote would be KTM 525/530 or new Husky TE610.
I think anything below a 450 would just be wrung out all the time.

[tom grossmann]

A KLR makes a fine adventure bike but comparing it to the others from KTM, Aprilia, Husky & BMW is like comparing a Yukon to a Trophy Truck. I've ridden the new Huskys around the local MX track and they are quite good. The hard edged Dual Sports are sooooo much lighter than bikes like a DRZ. Most of the Dual Purpose bikes are 300lbs plus.

Tom

[gs2offroad]

Ape 5.5 or KTM 530

[H.A.R. Racing]

Does anybody have an opinion on the bike I mentioned?

http://mscoutin.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/f800gs-5.jpg

[Sans Peur]

Does anybody have an opinion on the bike I mentioned?



It looks heavy....

I wouldn't worry about finding the "perfect" bike. Just buy something that you're comfortable with and go race. After a season or two you'll have a better idea of what works for you.

Andrew

[Seth S]

I have been racing a KTM 690E since 2008 when I bought it new off the show room floor. The bike has been ridden at Sandblast twice, Black river twice, Rally Tennessee, Rally West Virginia, and several local tarmac hill climbs. It is a fantastic rally moto machine. Other bikes that work well at the KTM 450, 525 from 05-07 and the 08+ 450/530 do well also. Slightly modified DRZ400's hold there own along with the new BMW 450X's...which only lack fuel capacity.

If you want to run a big bike I'd consider either the KTm 950 Adventure or even more so the 950 Super Enduro. Don't waste your time with the KLR....no offense but is a piece of junk in need of a lot of work to become a good rally moto machine. Its a great simple dual sport machine but it lacks in almost every department over all other available candidates. I don't know much about the new BMW 800's but from what I have heard they are kind of heavy and don't perform as well on dirt as the KTm 950's.

Most events have a ton of KTM's, a bunch of BMW's, a handful of Suzukis and a few Hondas.

[Ascona73]

I ride a KLR650 and while it's a great commuter, handles excellent on tarmac, and in general is a blast touring on dirt roads and smooth trails...I would never want to run it hard on gravel. Mine is an '08 and weighs a tad over 400 lbs. It's underpowered and undersuspended for hard riding. But if you want to run 10k+ miles a year and get 55 mpg it's great.

[tcc]

I keep thinking for a bigger bike the bigger KTM enduros would be great (640, 690, or 950). The 950 SE would be awesome just because they're sexy as hell.

I think a competent rider on my 640 adventure would be pretty good as well.

[ropedrag]

Hold the phone......

Just noticed that Husqvarna has a new 630, two versions that are both street-able (meaning you can get a license plate). One is set up supermoto style and the other is dual sport style.

Now that BMW owns Husqvarna parts might not be such a bad thing to get anymore, likely a bit more reliable than the Aprilia 5.5 to boot.

[PeteN95]

Remember there are 3 classes, under 400, 400-800, and over 800. In all but the very fastest rallys, the middle weight bikes will be fastest. The BMW GS800 would be in the middle weight class and likely left behind by the much lighter bikes. I would say the Ape 550 and KTM 690 would be best on faster courses, the KTM 530 and Husky 510 on tighter ones. The Husky 610/630 are 60-70 lbs heavier than the DOHC 510 and make the same or less HP. If you want to win lightweight class, the new KTM 350 would be the machine, as is the 950/990 for heavy.