Sat, 19 Sep 1998 18:15:09 +0200 - Message No. 4068
From: "Terje Johansen"

Subject: SV: Varadero : I will buy it (when I 'll got the dosh that is...)


Hi Jorn, I'l try to write in english, since this is an international meetingplace. 
I see that you have a handfull off offroadmeetings in Sweeden, and since we have started det first offroadclub (for big offroadbiks) in Norway just some weeks ago, i like to talk to you about meetings where we could drive together etc. I do not know where you are located, but otc (offroad-touring club) is a national club, but for the moment, most members is located around Oslo. 
Our homepage: http://home.sol.no/~stigpett/otc/index.html
Our mailadress: otc@online.no

Ride safe, or
Ride fast - save time.
otc#1 - @234 - TKJ
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Jorn Ronnow 
Til: AT List 
Dato: 19. september 1998 16:31
Emne: RE: (XRV) Varadero : I will buy it (when I 'll got the dosh that is...)


>gmitropoulos@pnc.co.uk wrote:
>
>> >>> I am sure there are loads of @ riders who, like me, spend the 99.9999%
>> of
>> >>> their riding time on tarmac rather than off road.
>> 
>> >But then, what's the point of riding an offroad bike? And even more so:
>> >what's the piont in making/buying a street bike with mild offroad
>> >cosmetics? A VTR would do the job much better on winding tarmac roads
>> >thanks to lower center of gravity and smaller wheels.
>
>> For a start I do not believe that who ever has an RD07 is actually riding
>> an off road bike. A bike that can go off road, maybe, but far 
>> from off road
>> bike.
>
>We've had five offroad meetings (that I know of) in my Sweden so far this year, most of them gravel road roadbook rallies (from approx 250 to 700 kms) and one big meeting on a military exercise field with two different offroad tracks (25 km track - fun and hard work with some lovely sandy parts!). I've attended all meetings I could and lots of other @s also came, mixing with the Dominators, KTMs etc. I think all the @ riders who came to a meeting would agree: It IS an offroad bike! (Which is probably why privateers have used it in the Paris-Dakar).
>
>As far as tarmac is concerned, we take it easy on tarmac in order not to wear out our knobby tyres.
>
>> Well, I will answer your question with a question. What is the point of
>> riding a supermoto?
>
>None what so ever. A supermoto is for posing, not driving.
>
>> I am sure you know the answer. Give me a KTM 
>> Duke which
>> IS "a street bike with mild offroad cosmetics" and try to catch me in any
>> back/mountain twisty road, using a VTR/CBRRR/ZXR/etc.
>
>With my old RG 500 Gamma or the RD350 I had before - no problem! The lower center of gravity and smaller front wheels make these bikes superior on twisty roads. No surprise - that's what they are made for. I haven't driven one, but I guess a Ducati 600 would do the job even better than my old street bikes.
>
>> What's the point? the point is ease of use, power delivery that does not
>> scare the rider, better control, more comfortable, much easier 
>> and safer to
>> ride in a city, faster in the city, faster in twisty roads, shall I
>> continue???
>
>Except for the city aspect, a street single or small twin leaves the supermotos behind. Just look at the results in the "Sound of Singles" road racing series.
>
>> The @ has been a hybrid from the moment it first appeared.
>
>It's a rally replica with rally capabilities: The Honda Production Racer in Paris-Dakar 1988 (60 built) was a standard RD03 with modified suspension, larger tanks, another muffler and higher gear ratio (to keep the full speed revs down). In 1990, 8 RD04s where rebuilt the same way. 
>
>Compare this to Yamaha's Super Tenere: The engine in the desert rally bike is basically the same (TRX 850), other than that, it's a totally differtent bike with different frame etc.
>
>Keep sliding
>-Jorn
>




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