Supermotos. What are they all about? It's a question that's been floating around for years and no one seems to really know the answer. Having started out as a hardcore minority of converted 'crossers, the supermoto scene has bubbled away in the background and is now spilling over into the mainstream.
But is it really in the mainstream? While we have several UK supermoto race series coverage hasn't leapt beyond obscure satellite TV stations and the whole concept of supermoto has been morphed into something completely different. Gone are the back-garden specials, replaced my mass-produced models of what manufacturers think supermotos are. Which is where the confusion really starts.
With our five bikes unloaded from the back of the TWO van the variation between them was clear to see. On one side of the spectrum you have the KTM LC4, which is about as close as you can get to a true competition supermoto. As well as the chunky, racing wet-style tyres, the KTM has all the makings of a converted enduro tool, which it is - the LC4 E it's evolved from (that's 'E' for 'Enduro' in case you were confused) is virtually identical but comes with off-road wheels and different suspension.
Moving along we get Suzuki's DR-Z400SM, which again is a converted enduro bike. But it's a converted enduro bike that was fairly road-biased to start with. So it's a road bike that has come from a fairly easy-going enduro bike that was really just a road bike anyway. Clear? Let's move on. Next comes Yamaha's XT660X, which is a descendent of the good old XT660. In 2004, the XT got a bit of a makeover and out popped the supermoto 'X' version, as well as a funked up 'R'. So it's a soft enduro bike that has been re-designed with supermoto in mind.
Aprilia's ancient Pegaso big trailie has been re-born as the Pegaso 650 Strada, all street focused and supermoto-styled but with a decent nod towards daily practicalities. And finally there's the FMX650, which Honda says isn't a supermoto at all, it just looks like one. It's a Funmoto, whatever that is. Confusing, ain't it?
Then there's the big question: Why do you want a supermoto? You can't go touring, the tank range is tiny, there's naff all comfort and they vibrate like an Anne Summers party after a case of Lambrini. Motorways are out because the engines struggle to hold a constant 70mph, while the riding position hangs you out like a human kite. So, apart from riding in town, what can you do? You've got to get creative. Dunk these babies in the right environment - sunshine, tight twisty roads, and away from prying plod - and suddenly nothing else matters; they could just be the best toys on the planet. Which is why we punted ours to the South of France in the back of a van (expenses wouldn't stretch to the pile cream bill if we rode them) for a few days' charging around the Pyrenees.
Perpignan's only 40-odd miles from the Pyrenees and thanks to local knowledge we know the N116 from the town into the mountains is a stunning road to ride. And anyway, if things aren't good in France it's just a short hop into Spain or Andorra.
So it came to pass that Jim, Rob, Wozza, dedicated van man Daryll and myself found ourselves looking out over one of the most stunning twisty roads we'd ever seen. "I'm not sure I'd fancy that on a sportsbike," said Jim. "It'd be too fast. The only thing between you and a very long drop is a bit of rusty Armco. These bikes should be perfect, fast enough for fun, but without getting messy."
Perfect supermoto country then. Lots of 40-50mph corners, a surface that, on the whole, is excellent, but with a few bumps thrown in. Leathers and helmets on (er, motocross or road lid?) boots done up (same dilemma) and away we go.
Thirty miles of chaos later the road behind is covered with black lines from pointless and highly amusing skids, cars have been wheelied past and every pedestrian within earshot has been backfired at as five grinning riders pull up at a petrol station.
"This is the real deal, a proper supermoto," KTM mounted Jim virtually sobbed. "It vibrates so much at high revs I can hardly see the mirrors let alone what's reflected in them, and I think the seat's broken my coccyx." It's worth pointing out that Jim is particularly brittle, but it shows the nature of the KTM. The orange peril isn't pretending to be friendly so you get a solid seat, vibey engine and zero mod cons. But you also get a very aggressive bike.
"It's a really strong motor," Jim went on, "and pulls hard from low down with a typical, precise enduro gearbox, but riding it for more than an hour? No thanks." And with that he rested his lid on the DRZ's softer seat in an 'I'm riding that one next' way.
Continue the Supermoto Road Test - 2/2
