Getting Started

The most common questions we hear about getting started in supermoto:

Q: So, a Supermoto bike seems pretty specific to just Supermoto, what else can I use my bike for?

A: There are quite a few things that we do with our bikes when we are not racing.

• Flat Track.  Throw on a set of rain tires on your 17's and race indoor over the winter with Mickey Fay in Puyallup, WA or Monroe, WA with WHR Motorsports
• Arenacross.  We have established classes with  WHR Motorsports for their winter Arenacross Nationals
• Convert back to MX, Enduro usage.  Separate wheels/brakes/suspension are suggested
• Street usage.  Not all Supermoto bikes are streetable (but insurance is cheap!) for a variety of reasons such as oil capacity and maintenance, but it has been done before.

Q: Do you allow Quads/atv's?

A: We enjoy having the quad/ATV crowd participate.  Most of the tracks we go to allow quads, so if for any reason we are not allowed to have them at a specific facility, we will make the announcement ahead of time.

The technical requirements for quads is the same as motorcycles: safety wire or silicon all the drain plugs, route fuel vent lines to a catch can, replace any radiator fluid with water or water + water wetter and you're good to go.

Q: Do I need to have 17" wheels and big brakes on my motorcycle to race ?

A: No.  Not at all.  Supermoto racing is all about rider skill, not bike modification.  There are plenty of riders who are just as fast as on stock 21/19" wheels as they are on 17's.  We highly recommend that you start out by keeping your stock wheels and buying a set of tires. Below is a list of tires that will fit on your stock rims.  Most of these tires are inexpensive and can be purchased from most any motorcycle shop.

Sportsman Tire Suggestions:

All that you have to do to get involved in the sport and ride is to mount some tires on your bike that will fit the stock rims. Here are a list of some tires that have been proven to work:
 

Wheel Size	Manufacturer	Model/Description	Size
18"	Kings Tires	KT966	4.10x18 or 460x18
		KT967	120/90x18
	Avon	GP1	4.10 x 18
		Gripster	110/80 x 18
	Dunlop	Trailmax	120/90x18
	Maxxis	Pro Maxx
19"	Carlisle	51-S	4.00x19
		Avenger 4.00x19	4.00x19 or smaller
		Universal	4.00x19 or smaller
	Pirelli;	MT53	4.00x19 or smaller
	Maxxis;	DTR-1	27x7x19
	Goodyear Eagle	DT II	27.0x7.0x19
	Goodyear	DT1	4.00x19 or smaller
	Dunlop	K70	4.00x19
		K180F	110/80x19
	Continental	Milestone	120/80x19 and 130/80x19
21 inch	Avon	Gripster AM24	90/90S21
		AV33	90/90H21
	Kings Tire		90/90-21
	Dunlop	D604	90/90-21
	Maxxis	Promax

Bike Setup:

Q: What do I have to do to the bike to get it track ready?

A: It's a pretty simple list of thing that should take you less than an hour to get setup

1. Remove the coolant from your radiator.  Replace it with water or water and water wetter
2. Any bolt that can drain oil or water should be either safety wired or siliconed in place.
    

Suspension

Q: Do I have to lower my suspension?

A: Nope. Many people lower and stiffen their suspension, but it is not a requirement. The main thing to do if you are just starting out is to stiffen your compression on the forks and rear shock, as well as slow down your rebound. This will enable you to stay more stable in the corners.

Some basic setup tips for using stock suspension:

1. Pull the forks as far up in the triple clamps as possible (you need weight on the front tire)
2. Use about 3/4's of all the available rebound on both the forks and shock (the adjuster on the forks is on the top of the fork, but the bottom of the shock).  The return of the bike to the top of the suspension stroke should be fairly slow
3. Low tire pressures are a good idea.  On 17" tires you run around 20-25lbs of air pressure, on any other tire you should run about 15-18 lbs (this is so the tire can flex on the sidewalls)
4. Dial in about 3/4 of available compression on both the forks and shock (adjusters are on the bottom of the forks and on the top of shock)
5. Sag: Front sag should be about 23-25mm, rear sag should be 80-90mm
    

Riding Gear:

Q: Do I need to wear leathers?

A: You do not "need" to wear leathers. There are plenty of people who wear MX gear. However, there is nothing better to protect you from road rash than a good set of leathers. Prices on leathers can range anywhere from $300 for a set off the rack at your local dealer to $1500 or so from custom racing leather manufacturers. This may sound expensive, but ponder the thought of replacing MX gear every time that you burn a hole in it over a two year period, and the cost is about the same.
 
The mandatory items are:
D.O.T. approved helmet
eye protection
boots
gloves
long pants
long sleeve jersey

The recommended items:
At a minimum, we STRONGLY suggest a durable set of motocross gear. We would also suggest:
elbow pads
knee pads
tailbone pad
hip pads
shoulder and back protection (a MX chest protector will work)
leather gloves
motocross boots
If you want to wear MX gear, there are several companies that sell a protective "armor" jacket that can be worn under a MX jersey. They range in price, but are worth every penny. Once again, "trust us!"

Just starting out :

Q: what if I want to try supermoto and I dont have leathers or maybe even a bike?

A:   We at Supermoto USA will do just about anything to get you going.  We do have several "extra" sets of leathers that are available to be borrowed.  If you contact us in advance we may be able to make arrangments for seat time on one of our bikes (obviously, you pay for anything you break on them). Please contact either Kurt or Ron