SUPERMOTO

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Supermoto is a cross between Motocross and Road Racing. Most races are on road racing circuits with an off road section although a dirt section is not necessarily required. Unlike normal motorcycle racing the emphasis lies on slower speeds where rider skill matters far more than outright machine performance. Riders wear a combination of road race and off road equipment, normally leathers and a motocross helmet and boots.

The motorcycles currently used for Supermoto racing are predominantly single-cylinder four stroke powered dirtbikes with 17 inch or 16.5 inch wheels. The 17 inch wheels allow the use of up to 5.5 inch road racing slick tyres. Suspension is lowered and slightly stiffened in comparison with a stock dirt bike, and braking power is improved with oversize front brake rotors and calipers.

In 1991, Italian manufacturer Gilera released the 'Nordwest' model, the first factory produced supermoto. Other European manufactures quickly followed suit, among them KTM, Husqvarna, Husaberg and CCM; all manufacturers whose emphasis were off-road models at the time. Models were developed for both track and road use. It took another ten years, until the mid 2000s for Japanese manufacturers, such as Yamaha (2004), Honda (2005) and Suzuki (2005) to start introducing supermoto models in the European market.

Most of the supermoto bikes sold to the public are more domesticated models for road use rather than outright racing, for example the Suzuki DR-Z400SM. Slower and heavier but rock solid dual-purpose motorcycles such as the Kawasaki KLR650 are good examples of this. In the spring of 2006, Italian bike manufacturer Ducati announced their entry in the class with the Hypermotard machine, which has more in common with streetfighter-type motorcycles than realistically being considered a true supermoto bike capable of surviving jumps and crashes. KTM currently has available a 990 cc V-twin that could be described as the ultimate road going Hypermoto, and a brand new (and well appreciated) the single cylinder KTM690SM. Aprilia also has two 450 cc and 550 cc SXV V-twin track oriented supermotos for sale.