I'm thinking of getting an 09 TE 610, but am curious how well this bike handles the dirt? Any comments appreciated.
I have a 09/TE610 It is more than capable on and in Dirt than my XR 650R i had. I love it to bits. Not as mind blowing as my 450TE But then these are two completely different bikes. Most probably better than most DS bikes that are sold as DS Bikes today--just my dimes worth.
If you are an experienced dirt rider it will do the job just fine. My prior dirt ride was a CRF450X and the 610 isnt much less capable with a good set of knobs mounted. You can tell it is slightly less light on its feet, but otherwise works fine for hardcore offroad. I spent a day chasing my brother around the central Oregon desert a few weeks ago. He was riding a KTM 250 2 stroke and is an expert class rider. He took it easy on me, but I stayed with him through everything slow and fast and wasnt beat up at the end of the day. It turns fine, handles big whoops and doesnt shake its head on decel. The only thing I didnt throw at it was any real motorcross style jumps. My only complaint was that the rear shock was a bit soft for that type of riding and my 260 lb carcass, but I can fix that for a little over $100. At the other end of the scale the 610 is light years better in the dirt than my last XR650, but comparable on pavement.
I'm selling my KTM 200 XCW, and trying to get a dual-sport that is good on the road, and decent in the dirt realizing that it won't be as good as the KTM XCW. It sounds like the 610 is probably the best all-around DS available today after all the research i've done. I'm also contemplating the new 630 when available, but thats even heavier and adds concern about the extra 20 pounds, especially if I get this on single-track. You never know where you'll end up when riding with others. Thanks for your comments.
I've been riding offroad for 20 years. I just bought an '09 two weeks ago. Rode it for the first time last weeked - 200 miles offroad. It will go anywhere my WR450 will go, and I can do it at almost the same pace, except when the trees get tight. I'm very impressed with how the TE handles, everything from single track to open hilly terrain. In fact, it handles high speed terrain better than my WR! And it has the best gear ratios for dual sporting, a low first and a tall 6th. I looked at all the other options, including the KTM 690. There were a lot of things I didn't like about the 690, especially after talking to a few owners. Reliability was very questionable. I've also owned a DRZ400S, DR350 and DR650 dual sports. The TE is in a different class. The DRZ doesn't even come close. This bike can do it all. If I were a bigger guy, it would be a viable race bike, although the weight would be more tiring.
I use my 06 for everything, commuting, backroads, gravel, trails, ect. For me it's a perfect fit and does everything well. I've run it @ 75mph on the road and then off on trails in the hills of southern ohio for an afternoon. Doesn't weigh anymore than a DRZ, handles very well offroad for a 300lb bike, stable at any speed, reliable and I think it's the best bike in the 500 to 700cc class. The only time I've been left wanting something else is when it get's really tight in the woods, the big TE wears me out after a day. Not that the bike won't or rider won't do it, I just think there are better tools for that particular job (think TXC250). I wouldn't trade mine for the world and have been very satisfied after I got a few things like the front forks, jetting, exhaust and seat dialed in. It's not uncommon for me to do a 150+mi mixed ride on a saturday and be pretty comfortable doing it.
As far as big bore dualsport bikes are concerned, I believe the Husky is one of the best ones for off-road. I rode a KLX650 for ten + yrs before getting my 610 and I used to think it was the greatest ds bike ever. The Husky is much better in every way. To be fair and honest the 610 is not ideal for really tight single-track woods trails but it will get the job done. The stock gearing is too tall so lowering the gearing some helps a lot. The height and weight can be a bitch on tight trails but you learn how to deal with it in time. The thing that makes it unique is that it gives you a good balance of off-road capability and highway capability whereas most bikes are one or the other. Jerry
I have both the 200 XC-W and the 610. A 200 the 610 is not, but in similar conditions surprisingly competent. Turns great, the motor is very forgiving and overall works well. Suspension could be more compliant and gearing too tall for the tight stuff but all correctable. Won't give up the 200, but the 610 is a great option for dual sporting.
I love my 08 610. The suspension and tires need attention for optimum dirt work. With the 610 it get's easy to forget it's a dualsport when the whoops and trees show up in the way. Road work is no problem. My opinion is that this IS the best dualsport on the market. Here's some dirt footage on the 610. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmJn0d3F_A
I just took mine out for it's first dirt ride. Went to McCain Valley with a couple of buddies. We had my 610 an 08' 250 (now 300), and an 08' 510. It is noticibly heavier than the other two (everyone wanted to ride the new bike, so I got to ride theirs too!). However, I handles much better than I was expecting it to. You can feel the weight when slamming through the whoops. After five miles of that I was ready for the tight and nasty single track. It did great. It tractored up some very tight and twisty hills in the rocks and sage. It is more controlable and easier to ride than a TE510 in the same situation. You just have to realize that it's bigger and heavier and respect that. I didn't buy it to replace my 250. I bought it for longer trips (D-37 DualSport type stuff). I like it much better than the DRZ-400's I've ridden and the DR350 I owned. Later Mike
Went to Minooka OHV park on Saturday. We rode a lot of very tight single track and some tough rocky hills. The 610 is not a 250, and I was dead tired by the end of the day, but the 610 did great. If I ride here much I will have to chop my bars. Heres one pic on a hill.
Like others have already stated, the 610 is arguably the best dual sport bike made. It can handle the hwy. for hrs at at time and do it with reasonable comfort (the seat not withstanding). Off road it way more capable than one would think for a 300# bike, you really don't feel the weight until the going gets slow and tight. When other are saying that "it turns well" I'm pretty sure that they mean it handles well which it does but it has a pretty wide turning radius which takes a little getting used to. So far as high speed open territory goes, that's where the bikes really shines. It can hold it's own with competition open class bikes if you give it a little room the strecth it's legs, it's the most stable bike I've ever ridden for high speed off road. Really great machine and IMO the best looking DS out there.
