'09 SM510 vs. '09 TE510

I just got back from the dealer (bad idea!) and they are offering a great deal on a new '09 SM510 so of course I just gotta have one.
I don't see much in this forum about the Super Motos but I think the engines are similar to the TE's, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Since I'm not familiar with this engine I'm curious about reliability and longevity issues and was looking for input from any riders out there that own either one of these bikes.
Thanks!

We have an 06 SM510 and love it. The bike is very torquey and the brakes are phenomenal. I believe the differences are not really in the engine...SM has shorter travel forks, different wheels (obviously), different gearing and an oversized front brake. Other than that, i believe everything is the same.

I guess the question is...do you plan on taking this offroad mostly with some time on road...or the opposite? The shorter travel suspension can be a big bummer in dealing with big jumps or tall drops off rocks...and the big front rotor definitely makes you think twice when you see rocks and other debris.

As for reliability, ours is an 06 and has 10500(ish) miles. The only problems I've had have been the cam chain (replaced once) and the speedometer went out (its not if, its when). Oh, and the thing eats swingarm chain sliders (can't figure that one out). No other problems (knock on wood).

We also have a 450 TXC and the power seems very similar. I don't like the way the 510 handles off road on trails (though I've only tried once), but I imagine that is related to the fact that I usually ride a perky 250 KTM along with the supermoto suspension. The 510 owns in the twisties, though!

Hey thanks for the response, I will be riding street only so I won't have to worry about any off-road issues. I will probably be putting about 3k miles per year on it so if yours has gone over 10k miles that's the kind of longevity I'm looking for.

I have a 09 SM450R, and I love it.
mine is 90% track tho, and has under 500 miles on it still.

only real gripe I have with the bike is the gearbox is very notchy under 25 mph.

I have an 06 SMR 450. I think the longevity of the motor is great. I have 7400 miles and counting! Only found the valves out of spec once.

Other than that, I have my complaints about the Marzocchi 50mm fork. The lug on the bottom of my fork leg was never tightened down from the factory so it started leaking fork oil on the bottom. Ordering another fork leg was about $600 and had a 1 month lead time, plus it had to be shipped from Italy. I ended up having to remove the lower lug, which in turn destroys the fine magnesium threads even after removing the set screw, then take it to a machinist to have them chase the treads before I could re-assemble. So far, its worked ok. I plan to switch the forks out to a Japanese fork, but good luck using the brembo radial-mounted caliper! Looks like I will need a new caliper, then build a custom re-locater bracket that mounts up the new caliper that can also hold the speedo cable, then start messing with the axle and spacers.

Also, I totally agree with you on the swingarm chain slider. It eats them for breakfast.

if you send your fork leg to RaceTech, they can mount a 100mm radial brake caliper mount to it.
or you could do the adapter.

What is a great deal? I see you are in CA.

1000 miles on mine so far with no issues, 09 SM510

SMR engine has a counterbalancer and it has a shorter swing arm than the dirt bikes.

09 510smr 1700+ since last October no probe yet except the low fuel light is gone and the rear tire went fast

yeah the Dunlop 253 tires wear fast, but arent that great IMO.
they get really greasy on the track if you are really hammering it.

Thanks for all the input, the only other question I have about the '09 SM510 is does't it need to have the power up kit installed to run properly? The sales people at my dealer aren't very knowledgeable about Husky's ( they are a Harley deler! ) and when I asked the sales guy he said the 510 didn't have the throttle stop and the 450 did so that meant the 510 did not need a power up kit.

I have an '09 SMR450 BTW. The thing rips, I love it! As for the power up kit. It's a little different on the SMR's compared to the regular dirt bikes. It obviously has the dual exhaust and the cats and baffles are permanently built in on the SMR, not removable like on the dirt bikes. Bummer because the stock exhaust is HEAVY and the only option to lighten it up is to buy a whole new system or at least new slip-ons.

Back to powering up the bike, no kit required, the parts come with the bike. There was a throttle stop on my 450 and likely on your 510, give it a twist and you'll be able to tell, if it hardly turns, there's a stop in there! Included with the bike should be a plug to put on the exhaust where the O2 sensor goes, a plug for the wiring harness where the O2 sensor plugged in, and a replacement air filter cage and a set of passenger pegs. Easy to do work and transforms the bike. I never even rode it before I "powered it up". It's a must do in my opinion and sooner the better, let that bike breathe and run like it's supposed to!

Enjoy!

my 510 had the throttle stop in it.

i was gonna break the bike in before i did the pu, but after 3 times around the block i put all the stuff in the box on the bike , except the passenger pegs hahah. it ran like crap all choked up

never rode on a track and just figured all the tires would lock up and slide all over like the dunlop, but the contiforce thats on it now seems to do alot better job