Best street going motard

[Wobbly]

So what do people think is the best street going motard? Something that performs well, doesn't weigh a ton, looks reasonably bling but doesn't break the bank and which has a reasonable maintenance schedule. This more or less excludes the MX based bikes, such as the WR450 and CRF450, as they require a fair amount of maintenance that makes day to day riding something of a comittment for a slacker like me :lol:

I've found the DRZ really good so far, but I could see wanting something a bit more comfortable for the longer trips away. The LC4 SM looks like a nice piece of kit and seems to have good maintenance intervals and a great big sump size, but I've heard an awful lot of people saying that the vibes get to be a problem on longer rides. The new bergs looks really, really tastey, but the maintenance on them must be the same as for MX based bikes?

That all said, I think the huskies seem to have a good compromise at the moment? They're obviously fairly confident about their product to give it a 2 year warranty, and they don't sound like they eat valves, require frequent top-end rebuilds or need valve clearance checks every 5 minutes.

That's one thing I like about the DRZ motor, is that its easily serviceable and has a very low maintenance requirement. Hmm, I wonder if a DRZ motor would fit into a CRF-450 frame and could get ADR compliance easily enough...... :-k

[Wobbly]

Hmm........

http://vsmr.net/files/CR-DR400.jpg

[Flash]

The Husky sm610 would be the go but still a fat bastard. To be a true super motard it should be under 130kg's I recon :roll:

[Flash]

I've been looking and I believe the DRZ is the best although Yamaha reliability is very good However with only a litre of oil requires a lot of oil changes (hey Muzz) Obviouly the Huskys are good other wise they wouldn't give a 2 year warrany, On the oil side of things it takes by measure 1.7 litres. Husky said service it every 2000km's they need to see it every 5000km's. I'm slightly more anal than that (Not as bad as Muzz :D )and I do it every 1000km's. My fiters except for the first oil change have been clean, and the magnetic sump plug has had no metal on it either :D :D So there you have My oppinion.

[Muzzard]

Wait for the release/availability of the ADR compliant Aprilia SMR550. That will be a nice street motard, of course with some of the weighty bits removed.
Me, I still lend towards a new KTM LC8 Moto. :blob:

[Flash]

You may need to dip it in acid to get the weight to a reasonable level,
or at least give it some diet pills.
I've been fiddling with some composites to replace a lot of parts and I'm trying to get a purge tank to weld up titanium. Might be a good option to lighten it a little.

[Muzzard]

Acid? Your on acid! Them KTM's would have enough torque to get that sailor off your big sister. Wouldn't matter about the weight factor, I reckon it would be rather smooth on the entry to corners, but unsettling as you regain the rear grip and start to wind it on. They come with some nifty WP super duper front and rear end, so one would imagine also coupled to the dollar factor, the suspension would be able to be set up correctly.
Who cares anyway so long as it does a decent wheelie and will light 'em up out of the corners! :twisted:

[danno]

It would have to be weight as the major consideration for a Motard, wouldn't it? The light bike with sticky tyres taking those glam' road bikes in the corners is what motarding means to me.
112kg, 60hp at the rear wheel and too many suspension options for me to comprehend.
The berg does this and it has the right amount of vibration to keep a woman riding 'til the tank is empty... what else could you want? ...and no, I ain't a woman.

[Wobbly]

How have you found the servicing? I've heard that the servicing schedule is tough, but they run like clockwork as long as you stick to it religiously :-k

[Muzzard]

Weight maybe the deciding factor for many, but for me simply the hoon factor would swing me onto a new LC8. Besides, I could stick the missus on the back and still be able to do over the sportbikes!
More power to the masses! :D
If I could get the right figure from a Berger dealer I would be taking on a 650 tomorrow and waiting for the KTM to be further developed.
A new LC4 would also be nice.

[Muzzard]

Hmm........

http://vsmr.net/files/CR-DR400.jpg

Now that is interesting Neil. I did see it when you first posted it up and forgot to post a comment about it. I have done a few early Thumper Racing conversions whereby I have stuffed 280 kitted XR engines into alloy deltabox style CR frames. They go well and this was obviously pre- CRF days.

[Flash]

I recon that would be agreat street motard,you'd have the reliable DRZ motor and the light weight CR motocrosser. That would have to come in at around 110kgs on the road. :D

[Trubritbiker]

166kg, 100bhp TOY :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

http://www.highland.se/home/index.htm

[Muzzard]

The bike set up for long track looks the goods! :twisted:
But then again so does the motard! :D

[Trubritbiker]

the only problem is that if they do go on sale they probably won't sell because they are not an established name over here ie Honda, KTM etc. People are afraid to be different.

[Muzzard]

I have sent for detail from the Factory John as I am unable to locate a dealer/distributor here. I have a few ideas regarding that bike that would help to solve a problem on a lateral project.
P.M. me for details as your expertise in engineering/specials would be appreciated.