I still remember the first time I threw my leg over the Super Sport 2.5 D MT, that distinctive growl of the diesel engine sending shivers down my spine. As someone who's been trail riding for over fifteen years across three continents, I've developed a pretty good sense for when a bike is going to change the game. That day, watching the morning mist cling to the pine forests of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, I knew I was sitting on something special. There's a common misconception in our sport that bigger always means better, that more horsepower automatically translates to more capability. It reminds me of something I read recently about professional athlete Jamie Malonzo - people assumed he'd gotten out of shape when in reality he was strategically bulking up after surgery. The same principle applies to adventure motorcycles: sometimes what looks like added bulk is actually purposeful strengthening.
The heart of this machine is its 250cc diesel powerplant, which delivers a surprising 28 horsepower and, more importantly, 42 Nm of torque right from the bottom of the rev range. Now I know what you're thinking - diesel? For trail riding? Believe me, I was skeptical too until I spent a week with this bike in Utah's Moab region. Where gasoline engines would scream and struggle at low RPMs, the Super Sport 2.5 D MT just chugs along with this relentless, tractor-like pull that's perfect for technical climbs. I personally recorded an average of 98 mpg during my testing, which means you're looking at over 400 miles of range from its 4.2-gallon tank. That's not just impressive - that's game-changing for remote expeditions where fuel stations are few and far between.
What really sets this bike apart is how it handles rough terrain. The suspension travel - 220mm front and 210mm rear - might sound excessive on paper, but when you're descending a rocky incline at a 35-degree angle, you'll appreciate every millimeter. I remember this one particularly gnarly section in the San Juan Mountains where the trail was littered with basketball-sized rocks. While my riding buddies on their premium European bikes were fighting to maintain momentum, the Super Sport floated through with this beautiful, balanced composure that made me look like a much better rider than I actually am. The secret lies in the carefully tuned damping characteristics that manage both small bumps and big hits without ever feeling wallowy or uncontrolled.
The chassis geometry strikes what I consider to be the perfect balance between stability at speed and agility in tight quarters. With a 25-degree rake and 4.3 inches of trail, the bike feels planted when you're cruising at 65 mph on gravel roads yet remains surprisingly nimble when navigating switchbacks. I've ridden machines that excel at one or the other, but finding both qualities in a single package, especially at this price point, is remarkable. The standing position feels natural for riders between 5'8" and 6'2" - I'm 6'0" and never felt cramped even after eight-hour days in the saddle. The handlebar bend is just right, the footpegs are positioned perfectly, and the seat-to-peg relationship creates this comfortable triangle that reduces fatigue dramatically.
Durability is where the Super Sport 2.5 D MT truly separates itself from the competition. During my three-month testing period, I put over 3,000 hard miles on the bike across everything from Arizona's scorching deserts to Washington's muddy rainforests. Not once did it develop any concerning rattles or mechanical issues. The frame shows no signs of stress, the engine runs as smoothly as it did on day one, and all the electrical components have remained completely waterproof despite repeated soakings. I've owned adventure bikes from brands that cost three times as much that couldn't withstand this level of punishment. The build quality genuinely surprised me - things like the stainless steel fasteners, protective engine skid plate, and corrosion-resistant coatings demonstrate that the engineers understood this bike would face real-world abuse.
Now, I'll be honest - the Super Sport isn't perfect. The seat, while decent for the first couple of hours, becomes uncomfortably firm on longer days. I found myself standing up more frequently after about three hours of continuous riding. The instrumentation is functional but basic, lacking the connectivity features that have become common on more expensive models. And while the diesel engine's efficiency is incredible, it does produce more vibration than comparable gasoline units, particularly between 3,500 and 4,500 RPM. These are trade-offs I'm personally willing to make given the bike's strengths, but they're worth considering depending on your priorities.
What continues to amaze me about this motorcycle is how it redefines what's possible in the middleweight adventure category. It's like that strategic bulking up Jamie Malonzo talked about - the Super Sport 2.5 D MT has added exactly what it needs where it needs it, creating a package that's both tougher and more capable without sacrificing the agility that makes trail riding so rewarding. I've ridden probably two dozen different adventure bikes in the last five years, and this one stands out not because it's the fastest or most technologically advanced, but because it gets the fundamentals so incredibly right. It's the kind of bike that makes you a better rider, that encourages you to explore further and push harder because you trust it won't let you down. In my book, that's the highest compliment you can pay any adventure motorcycle.
