Day 56

May 26th

	Today is the culmination of a week full of exquisite food, culture, and pleasant surprises. For the latter, I got to fulfill most of that surprise today at the Supermoto track. 

Thanks to Jinshu’s invitation, I got the opportunity to test out the newest model of the DZed.  There’s a track just on the edge of Osaka, which serves as Senzu’s main testing track. I arrived around 10 AM, leaving plenty of time for drill work before putting in laps. The company was kind enough to lend me a new set of riding apparel, as my stock adventure gear is not up to snuff for these conditions.  

Unlike Motocross (and other forms of off-road riding), Supermoto requires a mix of sturdy, yet breathable gear that is equipped to handle the changing surfaces.  For example, Jinshu provides me with a tough, guarded jacket that looks like armor.  The chest and elbows, in particular, are guarded with an extra layer of plastic to absorb any sudden falls.  The boots and pants are similar to my traditional MX pairs, although some Supermoto riders prefer street apparel for different tracks. 

Finally, the helmet and gloves they gave me are street-oriented. The helmet comes with a movable, tinted visor, which has a sleeker and more aerodynamic finish than its off-road counterparts.  With my pre-ride breakfast digested and new gear firmly applied, I was ready to start working on the DZed.  

Jinshu asked one of the company’s test riders to be on hand and help with some of my technique work.  His name is Rin. He used to be one of Senzu’s factory riders until injuries forced him to retire.  Since then, he has continued to work with the company as a consultant and test rider on all of their new bikes.  

We begin with some basic techniques on one corner of the track.  Contrary to popular belief, it is not advised to lean into turns on a Supermoto bike.  Because of the bike’s setup and springy suspension, the rider must offset the leaning motion in the turn by moving their body away from the corner. This helps keeps the bike balanced and consistent throughout the turn.  

We spent a good amount of time working on cornering before moving onto the next technique. That was emphasizing the use of the front brake.

Although my upbringing as a rider involved relying on the rear brake, Supermoto riding emphasizes the use of your front brake for any slowing maneuvers. Well, that and engine braking.  The other thing that Rin pointed out was to make sure my left leg stayed up by the radiator shroud, as dragging my foot around turns can result in getting caught on the pavement.

This technique was effortless to me, as this is a similar concept when cornering on an MX track.  After some technique practice, they allowed me to take a few practice laps before timing.  As I shift onto the first straightaway, it’s apparent that the feel of this bike is drastically different than my bike.

The wheels are smaller and wider, but nothing about the bike feels diminished.  Firmly planted on the pavement, this DZed glides across the road section like a sharpened skate over ice.  Coming into my first corner, I made sure to gradually rely on, but not overuse, my front brake.  I’ve seen plenty of guys dump their bikes on corners and I do not want to be added to that shit list lol.

After a few corners, I finally made my way into the dirt section of the track. This setup has a nice tabletop and roller section, along with a gigantic berm. The latter is perfect for slingshotting my way around a corner.  I made little time getting my bearings on the dirt, as the smooth tires provide zero grip on this section. 

Coming out of the dirt section was a nice jump, catapulting me back onto the pavement.  By this point, my adrenaline was running and my instinct as a rider began to kick in.  

Before I could send the bike through the course for lap times, Jinshu and Rin called me back to the pit.  They were happy with my initial showing but gave me a few suggestions and things to look out for during the ride.  Mainly, Jinshu was adamant that I make a mental note of the bike set up and how I adapt to the different wheels, compared to my DZed.

With their suggestions in mind, I tore back into gear and began recording lap times.  With each passing corner, I gain a bit more confidence in my riding posture and position.  Aside from working on the different techniques, I also tried to focus on my line selection for each lap.

As the term implies, all racers need to find a proper “line” to follow throughout a given track.  When racing MX, it’s common for guys to stay in one “rut” (which is a dug-in, canal-looking part of the track) and follow it through different sections. This gives the rider an idea of how quickly they can navigate through different sections and keep their speed. 

The dirt section continued to inspire confidence, as the rider-friendly berm did nothing but inflate my comfort level on the bike.  Sending this bike over jumps was truly thrilling, as the suspension and braking on this Supermoto make me feel like I’m cheating.  The biggest trick I was still looking to overcome was the transition between the dirt and pavement sections as I nearly skid on my 3rd timed lap.  

Not having knobby tires is a bit of an adjustment, as there were many times where I took a bad angle going around the turn.  As I accumulated laps, I began to realize why braking systems are expensive and more superior, to a typical dirt setup.  If this track is any indication, Supermoto tracks like to lean into their hairpin turn as there are a number of them here in Osaka.  

Lap after lap, I find my footing on the bike and quickly gravitate to all that it has to offer.  Keeping what Jinshu said to me in the pits, I kept tabs on the bike settings and adapted them to my riding style. 

With each passing lap came a new trick, as I started to figure out different ways to evade the tricks of the track.  My appreciation for Supermoto riders has risen greatly, as their braking abilities have to be beyond proficient to race at a high level.

Before I could wear off the rubber on the wheels, Jinshu waves me back into the pit. He proceeded to give me my lap times and feedback on what they thought of my ride. All things considered, they thought that I did a great job (for my first outing).  They took note of my bike set up while I cleaned up. After getting refreshed, the guys had another surprise for me.

To end our day of riding, they took me to one of the finest dining establishments in the city to sample the best Wagyu beef that Osaka could offer.  To keep it brief, the marbled beef was beyond amazing.  I could spend an entire entry describing the taste of that melted beef slab, but I’m going to let my appreciation permeate through these words. 

As we finished our meals and parted ways, both Jinshu and Rin presented me with their business cards. As you know, it’s a Japanese custom to pass your business card along as a form of creating social or working connections.  I thanked them for the amazing opportunity and that I would be in touch.  To that point, Jinshu told me to keep tabs on my bike settings and to stop by their shop in the morning.  In a week that began with a surprise, it looks like I’m bookending it with a similar sentiment.  

And with that, my week in the Kansai region has come to a close. Aside from an unexplained visit to Jinshu’s shop tomorrow, I’ll be off to the next region (whatever that may be).

Thanks again and I’ll see you soon!

-Ayden