supermotard

Suzuki DR750- Urban Moto

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Volker Schmidt lost 40 kilos (88 pounds) and so can you! Starting with a Suzuki Dr650, Volker Schmidt began removing everything not essential and using lightened versions of essential pieces. Power was increased with the addition of a 750cc engine and a Devil exhaust. Handling was improved with the help of Wilbers springs cushioning 17-inch rims. A steel-braided brake lines and a wavy rotor improve braking feedback and a cafe style seat means being able to handle the engine vibration feedback for many miles.

Volker’s bike lost 40 kilos on the remove-what-you-don’t-need-and-replace-what you-can-afford-to-diet and all he gained was jealous stares from his Wiesbaden, Germany neighbors. Lose weight, don’t wait.
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Suzuki DR750 Engine and frame
Devil Exhaust
Wilbers Springs
Fork brace
Hidden cables
Wavy front rotor
Cafe racer-style seat
Yamaha SR500 gas tank-12 liters (3 gallons)
3.5 x 17 x 120 Front
4.5 x 17 x 150 Rear

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(UPDATE: A few more pics). Another sweet custom. This time an old school Yamaha thumper!

Hats off to my readers who are really rolling these days.

So we go from six cylinders to one. But this is no less a desirable bike to my eye. I saw one of these years ago in a grainy shot somewhere and was instantly taken. I have loved the aluminum tanked Yamaha’s since I was a kid annoying the salesman at the dealership.  And now that I have the motard bug…  well to to see this together in such a nice high res photo has me thinking expensive thoughts indeed.  Really impressive build.

Thanks Shane Murray for the photo.

A Nice Fathers Day ride on the Trusted DR Motard.

A Spectacular day n my old and faithful DR65 motard.  Even though Northeast Florida is no twisty  mecca with elevation changes we still have a few nice scenic loops here and there.  For my Fathers day getaway I took the river road (SR13) south from Jacksonville and cut over some wide open farmland through St Augustine and back up the coast road (A1a).  It’s actually a really nice 100 mile loop with plenty of places to stretch your legs along with some excellent eateries and watering holes along the way.  I really need to get out there more often.  It’s a LOT nicer than I generally give it credit for.  Anyway these were spur of the moment with an old camera phone.  Sorry about that.  Next time I’ll “show it off” a little better than this.  If you’re ever around Northeast Florida and want to go for a nice loop drop me a line and I’ll get you the routes.

 

And Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there.  I hope you got out for a ride!

 

 

 

 

An interesting 1979 XL 500 Motard(ish) Tracker(ish) build.

Laurent Huille sends in this intriguing build. I had a build like this in mind a few years back when one almost fell into my lap.  I would have gone in a different direction with the exhaust and headlight I think but this shows that it could have worked.

Hello,
I’m a French biker
This 1979 XLS 500 is my second “self custom bike” (pardon pour mon anglais approximatif!)
Have a good day!

A before and after pic.

A Motard BSA Gold Star

No that’s not a typo….
Thanks to our regular contributor Chuck Lathe who writes in:

I’m attaching a couple of photos of a BSA Gold Star. I wrote the owners name down, but now I can’t remember which one is his name. Anyway, I asked and he said the bike weighs about 320 pounds. There are a couple of very small headlights and there is a tag and brake light under the seat so a lot of cops would say it’s street legal. (I’m guessing others might not.) Instead of a of a primary chain, he has a belt in there. The bike was on the road and sounds good and not at all obnoxious.

Keep up the good work.
Regards, Chuck Lathe

Link Fixed: Really cool video technique in this Supermoto video.

Update: Link fixed. Sorry about that.

I’ve seen the Gyro cam videos (it’s on her somewhere too) but this is really close and it’s really bargain basement.  Check out the rig here!  Not much English but you’ll get the idea.  Would love to do this at Deals gap next may.

Local Track – Vivid Supermoto Angles from Supermotard Denmark on Vimeo.