What's a modern supermotard supposed to look and act like these days?
The supermoto era began with converted motocross bikes. Suspension is reworked with decreased travel for improved handling on pavement and less dive under braking. Large-diameter dirtbike wheels are swapped out for 17-inchers that allow a broad range of sportbike rubber to choose from. And the front brake is upgraded with a brawnier set-up that includes a larger rotor to handle deceleration from higher speeds.
Wham-o! That's it in a flash. From high-flying motocrosser to a pavement eating … er, high-flyer, too, if the rider so wishes. A converted MXer is a riot on a canyon road, but it's incredibly ill-suited to the freeway drones on the way to the twisties.
More recently, however, manufacturers have issued supermoto hybrids of sorts (no, not the eco-friendly kind of hybrid … blech!). They're primarily streetbikes powered by a Single or a Twin, but lack the lengthy suspension travel of a motocrosser or a motocrosser's bare-bones style.
These bikes maintain much of the aggressive dirtbike-gone-street-evil look along with a supermoto's upright, assertive riding stance that provides good steering leverage. But engine power and smoothness is in a totally different league.
More:
2010 Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 vs. Ducati Hypermotard 796 on Motorcycle.com
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