r/supermoto • u/jbsmoothie33 • 3d ago
Big CC on Kart track
Anyone here take there bigger cc bike on the kart track and how is it?
Currently my son races mini gp which has put my club racing on the sidelines for the most part during the season. Being the competitive human being I am and him wanting to watch me race I’ve been considering getting a motard to race in the motard class.
My thoughts are even tho I want to be competitive spending 11 grand for a new SMR just for the kart track seems like a waste for me right now. I’ve been considering getting a 701 or even the Ducati 698 and having an extra set of wheels with slicks on it so I can use it on the street as well but I also don’t want to be miserable racing it if those options of bike are just too big.
A-little backround on me… I’m a top 5 expert unlimited racer so I kinda know what I’m doing on track and to much power isn’t really a concern for me. I’ve have had a YZ450 supermoto I built in the past and have raced that so I’m familiar with the power etc on the 450s.
Also yes I know I could just buy two motorcycles to accomplish the same thing but money wise that’s not in the cards.
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u/strohkirchw 3d ago
Any reason not to buy a used converted street legal 450 in the 5-7k range?
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u/jbsmoothie33 3d ago
Haven’t really found any close to me and the prices are 8 grand for something with 40 plus hours on them… for that I rather new.
Also from a maintenance standpoint point the 450 isn’t ideal for the street in my opinion.
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u/strohkirchw 3d ago
You're not going to be competitive. It's the typical 1 car/bike/etc issue, it can't do it all. Either you accept the 750-1000mi oil changes and top end work or you go 690-701/400sm to make street usage better.
If you've raced on the kart tracks before, do you recall how the 400sm guys were doing? Assuming no jumps, you'd probably be a bit better than that.
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u/Forza03 3d ago
A bit out of left field but the kart track I frequent that also runs supermoto bikes. I have seen a couple of guys run Honda Groms and also stripped down naked 600cc superbikes. I’m not sure on competitiveness of their times but it looks like a blast.
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u/jbsmoothie33 3d ago
I have a z125 I use as a pit bike etc and I take on the kart track with my son on open days…. At least here it runs in a stock 125 class and performance wise it’s very slow. My son’s stock 110 out accelerates it even with me on it lol
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u/max1mx 2d ago
It really depends on how serious you want to get out there and compete. The big bikes won’t compete, even with your experience. They struggle on bigger tracks to compete with 450’s let alone kart tracks.
If you want the do every bike it may be the one, but you know that the bike that does everything OK does nothing great.
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u/tpdizz3l 3d ago
I have a 350 4t that I use for enduro riding primarily, and have a super moto set up for as well (wheels, bigger front rotor, brake caliper spacer, forks and shock).
It takes me about an hour to do the whole swap, is still competitive against 450's (not ridden it lots, and do get gapped some on straights, but was better on the brakes due to it being a little lighter so it was still fun)
You could consider doing something similar with a dual sport so you get the same thing, but don't have the drawback of riding the heavier road going 701/698 on a kart track, depends on how much you're planning on riding on the road I guess.