At the track
The engine pushes hard and relentlessly throughout its rev range, always with enough torque to make corner exits fun and entertaining. We tested the SM on the kart track at ICAR, in Mirabel, Quebec, the perfect place to put this magnificent, tight-cornering beast through its paces – though the absence of longer stretches did not allow us to liberate the SM’s power.

The first few laps required my full attention as the 14 degree ambient temperature and timid sunshine kept the cement surface cold – and traction-free – for the longest time. The bike’s light weight – it is a 501cc machine after all – let you get comfortable rather quickly, and then encourages you to indulge all your flights of fancy. It flops easily into corners, thanks to the ultra-precise front braking, all the way to the apex given that you also moved forward to add weight and traction to the front tire. On exit, you’d swear you’re riding a rocket, the beefy single-cylinder lifting the front wheel as you approach maximum rpm mark up to 4th gear.

Boot sellers just love Supermotard newbies who really drag their foot when entering corners on paved tracks. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

In typical Supermotard fashion, the SM 510R boasts tremendous agility and precision. The tradeoffs is of course lowered stability that is delicate to manage as you approach the limit of he front wheel traction – as with any race situation. And by the way, pay extra attention if you like to slide off the saddle and put a knee down on the ground, sportbike-style.

The fuel injection system and its acclaimed response does lack a little finesse when reapplying the throttle at very low rpm, but practice will make you perfect after a few hours of hard riding. The SM 510R is set up to be ridden motocross-style, with the inside “Insurance” leg trained forward, and with the rear wheel kicked out on every corner, from entry to exit… true bliss!

The precision of the front end and the wide handlebars make for lighting-quick angle changes. What’s more, the nimbleness and accuracy of the machine let the rider make fairly serious trajectory changes without batting an eyelash, as if it were reading the rider’s mind – another testimony to its dirt bike heritage.

For those looking for a thrilling, powerful, agile and slightly delinquent Supermotard, the SM 510R fits the bill. This fearsome machine, designed first and foremost for the track and homologated for the road, must be tamed by a seasoned hand to bring out its true potential. We got a taste of it, and it’s the real thing.

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Powerful engine, perfect gear ratio
Light, stiff chassis
High-end components
Competitive pricing
2-year warranty

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Throttle modulation at partial opening; prefers full throttle application!
The injection lacks finesse