214 lbs, 70hp

[Spidey]

Drunken Monkey, so you say you want a superlight 60-70hp bike?  Check it . . .

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/12/completed-tucson-bt550-superle.html

[Scottish]

Well..... OK fine if I had to I'd ride it...... like the hounds of hell being pursue by the fiery inferno though the canyons of the netherworld! Ok, it's good.

[LA]

Oh, to weigh 140 lbs. - like I did in the 7th grade.

LA

[Drunken Monkey]

 

Now, I figure I can probably get enough to buy it if I sell one of my kids.

[swampduc]

Now, I figure I can probably get enough to buy it if I sell one of my kids.

You can make more. Do what you gotta do.

[Slag]

What fork is that?

[Oldfisti]

What fork is that?

Not sure. Looks like a high zoot racing fork with the billet bottoms and remote resivoirs.

[Roscoe]

Ahhh..Aprila 550 twin. This motor sounds wicked with an open exhaust, raced with a couple in supermoto.
I think this will become more and more common. There's already an rs125 honda with a CRFx250 single. Roland Sands has been developing road racing bikes converted from current MX bikes, similar to supermoto, but different geometry, and bodywork. And it's pretty easy to make 60 to 70hp with the bigger bikes like the 550 and the KTM 560 single. Heck, even the boys with $$$ are making 60+ with a 450. My stock ktm 450 with basic bolt-ons and jetting made 50hp with 220 lbs, and would pull the front on the first 4 gears...
Change the geometry of an MX bike with shorter forks and swingarm/shock adjustment, add bodywork, including tank and seat, and you have the makings of a very capable "schoolboy" road racer that can be run by a full grown man and not just a 130lb 7th grader. (although the 130lb 7th and 10th graders i've raced against were F'ing fast)_
It would be cool to see classes that utilized this format as it would open up a door to riders with motocross experience and bikes, that don't have the dough to have a dedicated road racing bike.

[Roscoe]

What fork is that?

I'ts def. a paioli  with the obvious stickers... and those beautiful berringer brakes!

[Roscoe]

Maybe this will give you an idea of the sound of that motor, this one with a  Sil setup. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPTWHAdTiJ8&feature=related

[Popeye the Sailor]

That bike has the same power to weight ratio that I do 

[Norm]

Nice bike, but there's no way it's 214# - maybe 314.

[NAKID]

Nice bike, but there's no way it's 214# - maybe 314.

"In an independent weigh-in conducted by French magazine Moto Journal, using a calibrated scale, the Tucson BT550 came in at just 97kg (214lbs)"

[Statler]

Nice bike, but there's no way it's 214# - maybe 314.

then lots of people are lying more than the standard manufacturer "error" for bikes.   The Tucson website is pretty detailed about the build and they discuss the nervousness they had taking it to certified scales through MotoJournal (French moto mag online).  Goal was allways sub 100 kg.  Apparantly weighed with all fluids except gas (my French is very rusty).

You can find their site and the motojournal site right off links from the initial post.  Pretty cool stuff.

[Norm]

I read the info on their site and they seem pretty certain about the weight, but by the time you figure basic things like forks, wheels, tires, etc., 214 just seems unobtainable. Of course, I've been wrong before (don't tell my wife).