Roundup

ROUNDUP

SUPERMOTO: NEW HOPE FOR SINGLES?

CAN SUPERMOTO—THE fashionable European offshoot of the early-Eighties made-for-television American Superbikers series—save single-cylinder streetbikes? Enthusiasm for this form of racing is nearing epidemic levels, but whether it will translate to success in the showroom is uncertain.

Though the big Thumper remains a staple in the dualpurpose market, sporting street Singles have never caught on in the good oT U.S. of A. No shock, really, given America’s vast network of horsepowerhungry roads. The best that the mid-Eighties Honda GB500 and Yamaha SRX600, for example, could achieve was cult-classic status. More contemporary models, such as the Aprilia Pegaso 650 (discontinued a couple of years ago), BMW F650CS, and KTM 640 LC4 Supermoto and 640 Duke, also leave dealers in small numbers. Fun bikes all, but small potatoes, sales-wise.

Hope may be on the horizon. Ducati Chief of Design Pierre Terblanche, the guiding force behind the 999 and Multistrada, would like to produce a dedicated supermoto streetbike using a supercharged version of the early Nineties Supermono engine. At the moment, though, the factory doesn’t support the idea.

Honda is also looking at the class, but foresees significant challenges. “The racing is fantastic,” acknowledged a company PR-type. “The question is, could we build exactly what the customer wants? Or would he prefer to convert a CRF450R?”

Despite the demise of the Pegaso, Aprilia likes the concept, too. “Supermoto was uniquely American, became global and has come back to the U.S.,” said a spokesman. “As popular as supermoto is in Europe and with the explosion in single-cylinder technology, it seems like a natural progression for supermoto to become a very popular street category.” Matthew Miles