Track tips for a supermoto noob

I know that a lot of you guys are experienced track riders, and some of you ride supermoto. I've read a couple of good threads about what to prepare for when planning a track day.

I am planning a weekend at Mcminnville in Oregon, which includes two practice days and a race on Sunday. Never done a track day, never done a road race, very little experience on the 17" wheels. I can't afford new race tyres so will be running with the Pilot Powers I have on there. Kind of sounds like a bad idea when I describe it that way, but in my mind it's a great idea!

Curious what you all would suggest as far as gearing, riding tips, mental prep, etc. Knee down, or leg out? I can't imagine dragging my knee on the dirt bike but my buddy raves about it. I'll be riding my KTM 450 EXC, with the 13/50 gearing unless that sounds like way too low. Bike will probably top out at about 90 (screaming bloody murder) with that gear ratio. Here's a pic of the track:


Thoughts?

Leave the feet on the pegs. The gearing will be fine. No dirt section? so your tyres will also be fine. Air down and try and get lotsa heat in them. Remember if you do not lowside the whole weekend, you were not pushing yourself or the bike hard enough.
Looks like a blast. The SD would fare real well on that track too.

Woohoo! Thanks DD. I don't think there will be a dirt section unfortunately. I'm getting pretty stoked! I'm driving down with a buddy who races the series pretty regularly, he said the same thing about get-offs.

Don't forget Rule #1: Don't crash.

I've exclusively owned, and ridden, sports bikes for over thirty years but I had a KTM LC4 Supermoto for about five years. (It's what got me into KTM brand and mentality).

I've never really ridden off road much, nor motocross, so it took me a bit of time to get used to the riding style of that kind of bike. The thing handled so well, you could throw it into corners and it never seemed to have a limit for lean angles. At first I used to hang off and stick my knee out but it felt wrong and so I started experimenting with the foot out and getting right over the front end of the bike and not really bothering about the back end. It took a while but eventually I got to riding like this. Trying to get your knee down on a Supermoto is a bit like forcing something that doesn't want to happen IMO.

So, my advice is that you shouldn't try and ride the Supermoto like your road bikes. Just adapt and see how it wants to be ridden, I think they are pretty good at showing you how they want to be ridden, if that makes sense.

Zat Pat's Acres? If so it'a a go cart track...tight stuff.

Have fun!

Not Pat's. Hummmm..got to check that out....when you coming down? What's the name of this track?

Holy mackerel Superdan, that is an epic pic! Don't think I'll be backing it in like that anytime soon. Making it look a little too easy there...

Dougfir, I think the track is called Yamhill Fairgrounds. It may be a kart track, not sure. Weekend is March 22-23.

Bic, good advice. I will do exactly that, let the bike tell me what works. Most people do put their leg out in front and it seems like that would be natural. My friend is coming from sport bikes as well, I think he just likes dragging his knee. Here he is at another local spot:

Start with pressures in the low 20s. Id start with 22 front and 23 rear. Keep in mind those tyres were designed to work on much heavier bikes than the typical SM bike. Give yourself 1.5 to 2 laps to build a little heat in them and then tear it up.

Im of the knee down in fast corners and foot out in the slower ones crowd. Been riding SM for several years here in SoCal but recently sold the YZ450. Starting to get that SM bug again.

Have fun!

"Thinking of Oregon, I've often wondered how fun it might be to do an SM day in the rain ... Hmmmmmm ..."

Hey SD....come on up, get some moisture in them bones..

I O U a local beer or three with all the crap I give ya..

Bring your SD too and I will show you some of my fav's...

Forrest , March is kind of damp 'round here in Oregon, but you are in a wetter neck of the woods...and know what to expect

My bud was using his KTM 950 and doing really well on one of the small tracks in Oregon...'till they told him not to bring the 950 beast anymore.
He is one of the instructors for PSSR. (careful if you do a search on that)

Best bit of advice I can give you is when it seems to go wrong OPEN the throttle! Lowside is ok highside is not!

13/50 gearing may be a bit on the low side! Seem to remember when i swapped mine over to Mr Millars SM setup the chain was considerably shorter and the rear sprocket much smaller…..thinking more like 14/45????

….. i run 13/52 for tight twisty enduro stuff! - all be it with enduro rims - smaller sm wheels and you won't be using the first 3 gears at all!

Well, I have been up all night with the jitters and getting the bike ready for the weekend. What started out as a "tune up and fork oil change" turned into tune-up and full suspension revalve, starter rebuild, steering and swinger bearings, and miscellaneous fixes. I still don't have a proper catch can for the radiator but I rigged up a hose into a can and hoping I will pass inspection.

I rode the bike around the block in sweatpants and just about had a fit, the thing is so much fun and running like a top. Sunday should be good, I have very little expectations and I do not have a proper track tyre anyway- so I'll just be keeping it upright and enjoying myself. Life is good.

She's ready and I'll bet you are too.
Have fun and let us know all about it. Stay sober the night before.

14/47 is what I run on a kart track. I'm running Bridgestone Supermoto slicks and start cold at 18 front and rear. Add some axle sliders to the rear axle if you can. Most tech isp will pass you with a Red Bull can for a radiator catch. Also add one for the gas vent lines on the carb. If you drop it on the track, the gas leaks out and eats the asphalt. Thats up to the track, some require them, some dont.

Hey Forest...you need some armor? Bought some from a guy who quite riding. Had rode for years, bikes, inclosed trailer, bikes and gear for his kids....

Quit 'cause he lost his bike while running up the street in front of his house with shorts and T shirt, just warming it up.

Totally fook his leg up...looked half the size of the good one.