610 advice

[bullygrip]

Please accept my heartfelt apologies for my grammar, if anyone was offended. I am a product of a public school system where we were forbidden to pray for wisdom. Now to matters of importance, MY FUTURE RIDE! Would someone less intellectually gifted like myself be making a mistake to get the sm510 as a commuter bike? How often should you check the valve clearance on a 510 compared to a 610? And how long would that take for a dimwitted person like me? I heard 20 minutes

 

[rajobigguy]

Please accept my heartfelt apologies for my grammar, if anyone was offended. I am a product of a public school system where we were forbidden to pray for wisdom. Now to matters of importance, MY FUTURE RIDE! Would someone less intellectually gifted like myself be making a mistake to get the sm510 as a commuter bike? How often should you check the valve clearance on a 510 compared to a 610? And how long would that take for a dimwitted person like me? I heard 20 minutes

The 610 makes a much better commuter bike, that is particularly true if any frwy riding is involved.
The 610 is less finiky than it's smaller siblings, it runs cooler, requires less maintenance and the engine was built to do many more miles before it needs rebuilding.
Valves on the 610 are easy to adjust but you have to remove a few more things before you can get to them. If you are somewhat mechanically challenged there are several good shops that handle the work for you.

 

[miketv]

Hi bullygrip,

I have a 2006 TE610 and use it for just about everything except long distance traveling (+250mi days) and all day single track. Bought it used for $4500 last year and have had nothing but a tremendous amount of fun and satisfaction with the bike. The maintenance is very straight forward and can be done by anyone having an average mechanical aptitude with relative ease IMO.
Having ridden several of the bikes in this class including the DRZ400 all I can really say is the 610 will do everything the DRZ will, just a whole lot better. The only gripe I've really had with mine is the front forks are a tad stiff which I'll have sorted out this summer.

cheers,

Mike

 

[PALMER84ONE]

First off, why is the SM costing you 7300 if it’s not new?
Second off, as what has been said, "You will wish you had the SM610 over the DRZ400SM."
Third off, I think north put it well, the ALL MIGHTY rode the best that was around in the day. The long history of human donkey use has created a rich store of Cultural References. Camels may have had better maintenance intervals but, everyone had one. The Donkey "Equus africanus asinus" on the other hand was a true piece of Gods work.
Now go get the husky!

Yep, I use the dictionary.

 

[bullygrip]

Yep the husky it shall be! I found an 07, anyone have a strong opinion on a carburettor vs. the 08 efi? I could get either.

 

[Muddy Waters]

I had the same pondering when I was about to buy my bike
I was buying new so the monetary difference was only $1600, that's a Husky no brainer in my book, that amount will not get the DRZ one third of the way to where the Husky is Stock plus I was daydreaming/drooling over the 610sm looks... however lack of interesting terrain and coming back to riding after a 13 bikeless years made me chose to shelve the yearnings and go with the DRZsm, my boss thought otherwise and gave me a present; 08 610sm (so just work hard....it'll work itself out..... )

My neighbor has a 06 DRZsm with a Yoshimura pipe, jetted right, my take on it is this; the DRZ is skinnier between the legs, it's power feels more "electric" compered to the 610 "explosiveness" (mind you, you could ride the 610 in an "electric" manner, just short shift it.... )
The DRZ is good enough but not nearly as good.... (as the 610)
The DRZ's clutch pull is outstanding!!! you can use your pinkie to shift gears, on the 610 you need two fingers and you better mean it...
you'll spend some good money trying to bring the DRZ to the mind blowing level of outright dirty, nasty sexiness of the stock 610sm

My neighbor take on my (stock)610sm was; Damn this bike is SICK!!! (he was amazed at how much "more" the bike is, loved the extra power and the [stock] pipe bark...)

My opinion? you really need to look at what you got to work with, $2800 is a nice chunk to help the DRZ come two thirds to the 610

You'll be happy with the DRZ if you chose it....

However don't go test riding the 610 after you buy a DRZ...(it'll hurt)

Good luck


(probably oughta marge his two threads, both have good stuff regarding the same subject...?)

 

[Coffee]

(probably oughta marge his two threads, both have good stuff regarding the same subject...?)

One of the new mods wants to do that... we have been talking about that. He will do it soon enough (I hope) when he gets back online.

 

[Mike Kay]

Yep the husky it shall be! I found an 07, anyone have a strong opinion on a carburettor vs. the 08 efi? I could get either.

Get the efi. Its better. Better fuel economy. Better response, overall. Easier starting. Better re-sale. Dont be afraid of the efi at all. Its got all the bugs worked out.

 

[NothingClever]

Yep the husky it shall be! I found an 07, anyone have a strong opinion on a carburettor vs. the 08 efi? I could get either.

After a 20+ year break from riding I got back into it in 2002 on a FI bike.

It would surge (or "hunt") at steady RPMs and periodically stall in the WORST moments. The stalling was impossible to predict despite closely monitoring all conceivable conditions. BL = lean Euro mapping.

So, I bought a carb'd KTM and couldn't believe the smooth throttle response.

When I bought my 610, I specifically looked for carbs.

I like carbs.....buttery smooth .

 

[Mike Kay]

After a 20+ year break from riding I got back into it in 2002 on a FI bike.
.

$5 says that bike was a BMW GS 650.

I had one, it was my first fuel injected bike. Horrible!

The Husky is in no way like that.

 

[NothingClever]

You nailed it....F650 Dakar.

I spent a ton of money kitting that bike up and it was still a pig.

After that I bought the KTM 950 and the Husky. Next addition to the stable will be an '06 Ducati Multitstrada DS1000S .

 

[bullygrip]

thanks muddywaters

I had the same pondering when I was about to buy my bike
I was buying new so the monetary difference was only $1600, that's a Husky no brainer in my book, that amount will not get the DRZ one third of the way to where the Husky is Stock plus I was daydreaming/drooling over the 610sm looks... however lack of interesting terrain and coming back to riding after a 13 bikeless years made me chose to shelve the yearnings and go with the DRZsm, my boss thought otherwise and gave me a present; 08 610sm (so just work hard....it'll work itself out..... )

My neighbor has a 06 DRZsm with a Yoshimura pipe, jetted right, my take on it is this; the DRZ is skinnier between the legs, it's power feels more "electric" compered to the 610 "explosiveness" (mind you, you could ride the 610 in an "electric" manner, just short shift it.... )
The DRZ is good enough but not nearly as good.... (as the 610)
The DRZ's clutch pull is outstanding!!! you can use your pinkie to shift gears, on the 610 you need two fingers and you better mean it...
you'll spend some good money trying to bring the DRZ to the mind blowing level of outright dirty, nasty sexiness of the stock 610sm

My neighbor take on my (stock)610sm was; Damn this bike is SICK!!! (he was amazed at how much "more" the bike is, loved the extra power and the [stock] pipe bark...)

My opinion? you really need to look at what you got to work with, $2800 is a nice chunk to help the DRZ come two thirds to the 610

You'll be happy with the DRZ if you chose it....

However don't go test riding the 610 after you buy a DRZ...(it'll hurt)

Good luck


(probably oughta marge his two threads, both have good stuff regarding the same subject...?)

I want a 610 since I have seen the price of a used one, there cost is not much more than a drz. if you have time, how do you feel about the carburetted model compared to the efi model.

 

[PALMER84ONE]

Like what was said up there, I think Mike said it. Get the EFI. Mo better for altitude changes.

 

[WoodsChick]

Like what was said up there, I think Mike said it. Get the EFI. Mo better for altitude changes.

My carburetted 610 has been ridden from sea level to 8000' with no discernible difference in performance. Don't know if that's attributable to the bigger motor or what (my 450 gets a bit short of breath at those elevations, and my 250 would really suffer) but it did come as a bit of a surprise to me. I wouldn't mind the better fuel economy that comes with the FI, though.

I'd rather have a 610 over the DRZ...period. Even a carb'd model is going to be lightyears ahead of the DRZ.



WoodsChick

 

[Coffee]

My carburetted 610 has been ridden from sea level to 8000' with no discernible difference in performance. Don't know if that's attributable to the bigger motor or what...

It could be that stellar mechanic that you have that set it up

My carbed TE250 has no problem running smooth at 0-8000' elevations either. At some point we will either be all using EFI or be classified as vintage riders

 

[HuskyDude]

At some point we will either be all using EFI or be classified as vintage riders

Vintage rider...or did you mean Vintage rider that ride Vintage bikes.

 

[Coffee]

Vintage rider...or did you mean Vintage rider that ride Vintage bikes.

Guess we are all getting older

I need to type with more care

 

[NothingClever]

I'd rather have a 610 over the DRZ...period. Even a carb'd model is going to be lightyears ahead of the DRZ.



WoodsChick

Great minds think alike .

 

[Muddy Waters]

You're welcome BullyG
I can only offer you my opinion, some of the other people 'round here actually know what they're talking about.......

I want a 610 since I have seen the price of a used one, there cost is not much more than a drz. if you have time, how do you feel about the carburetted model compared to the efi model.

Only thing I know 'bout that is EFI seems to be the way of the future and I don't think they are going back to carbureted bikes any time soon

Again, look at your surroundings; In your daily commute and 75% of the time you're gonna spend on the bike will you see any decent elevation?
Is it worth it?
Can you save more by going with the older, non EFI model?
Will it cost more in the long run?

In general; Mike K. says it's good, is good enough for me......

BTW did you post this question on a DRZ forum?
I would like to hear their take on it
(wonder if they think we are a bunch of elitist snobs who drink their wine pinkie up???)

 

[HuskyDude]

(wonder if they think we are a bunch of elitist snobs who drink their wine pinkie up???)

That's funny.
Ya know I've had two DRZ on the road 06/250 and 07/400.

Both were...well OK bikes The 400 was nothing great but it wasn't a bad bike by no means for the first little while after I sold it I kinda missed it.

But I think I do that to all the bikes I've had.
( I think I've found the answer to that too...keep them)