1. 4 Stroke Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Italy - About 1989 to 2014
    TE = 4st Enduro & TC = 4st Cross

Calling all 2013 TE449 owners - Would you buy it again?

Discussion in '4 Stroke' started by JeffV, Jun 22, 2013.

  1. Husqmarkus Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Waco, Texas
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Te449
    Other Motorcycles:
    WR250x Yama, 2010 Tiger 1050
  2. Tinken Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Hesperia, CA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    MY12 WR511
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha
    Haha, I have no idea who's toes those are... Those are overflow bottles. The Yamaha pukes oil so bad, a oil return line had to be used.
  3. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many

    Large single cylinder motors making a lot of power and RPM in small cases with small oil lead to oil exhausting issues. We asked for light powerful 4 strokes and we get what we asked for. A XR400 will not puke oil but weighs 2x as much and makes 1/3rd the power.

    which should be well documented as Ty raced the crap out of those for several years.
  4. Husqmarkus Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Waco, Texas
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Te449
    Other Motorcycles:
    WR250x Yama, 2010 Tiger 1050
    Well then I stand corrected :). If Honda and Yamaha puke oil out from factory then there is no reason why Husky shouldn't as well - after all, Huskies are much prettier to look at :applause:
    TE in RC likes this.
  5. Radar Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2012 TE449
    My Husky will not puke oil unless I over fill it. My dealer gave me the revised oil fill instructions. maybe there is a typo in the printed manual.
  6. TooOld Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Not far from Hobbiton
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '12 TE 449
    Other Motorcycles:
    All gone
    I don't know what all the fuss is about...as I've already said, my non-US spec bike goes really well. When on the Dealer floor, it was stock...standard exhaust can, indicators etc etc. When i took it home it was well set up with the Akro can that is supplied with the bike, Race Map 2 installed, indicators, horn, etc removed, no goofy looking mirrors either. All put into a box with the stock muffler where they all belong.
    After reading some of the concerns re. oil level, airbox etc etc, he just told me not to worry about it, he is aware of all these idiosyncrasies and has set it up properly. Very encouraging. So I've ridden it to break it in, had just the one (so far) challenging trail ride, ridden on the road to and from trails and over some of the many gravel roads around here. On the sealed road I've no need to go over 50 - 55 mph, 'cos it's very twisty anyway, and doesn't take long to get to the gravel roads where the yee-haa begins.
    This machine looks great (IMO), handles great, stacks of grunt (for me anyway), starts, stops, and gives me heaps of pleasure. A Top dealer (Though 100 miles away, why worry about that ?:thinking: )...the price was right, so what's not to like?
    IF I had to spend a grand more to "fix" things, and I still had to get my riding gear around another grand or more, then it would be still a under my next choice - a yam WR450, possibly an orange - dearer still..as I ask, what's the fuss?:cheers:
    Radar and Motosportz like this.
  7. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many
    Those that don't own one seem to want to talk trash about it because of where the motor came from and who designed some if it. Thats where the fuss originates.

    It is for sure a bastard red headed step child but that does not make it a bad bike.
    4eyes, LandofMotards and James Patton like this.
  8. Rearwheelin Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Bakersfield , OffroadAfornia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 XCW 300
    Mine only has 850 miles on it. If it goes to 20,000 it will be worth it lol
  9. TooOld Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Not far from Hobbiton
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '12 TE 449
    Other Motorcycles:
    All gone
    Well, I'll let you all on another reason I bought this Machine, apart from price, Good Dealer, looks, etc.
    BMW.
    WHAT? I hear all the Bee Emm bashers yelp! Well, BM-designed race engines in the F1, WSB, and their boxer engines, the newer F series, GS series -boxers and singles,- their cars etc etc, all have a generally excellent reliability. This Husqvarna with a BM designed, Husky modified engine, to me suggests it will be reliable. General top quality components, combined with all in the first sentence, must turn out to be a near perfect machine for me. And so far it has.
    I don't care if Kymco Taiwan built it. Heaps more faith in this fact than if it was on mainland China. Quality seems good so far, They would have to be up to BMW quality standards at least. I don't mind too much :banghead: that Husky has been sold (again), or if SP has it now. Same as if Honda or Yamaha or Cagiva or.... had bought it. It isn't going to change what my bike is. I don't like that the Italian workers are being treated like this, as one big gripe.
    I doubt I'll be getting another "dirt" bike for a long time, if at all,and as I'm near 59, my Wife would probably leave.:naughty:
    For future buyers, this move will probably be a good thing for racing etc, but I don't do that anymore. Those buyers always have a choice of whatever is on the market.
    My main thought in the 'buy-out' is concern for present Husky dealers - I hope they don't get shafted, and this too would affect Husky customers more, in my opinion.
    So, for most of the above is why I bought one in the first instance, and so yes I would buy another '12 or '13 449TE. I don't know what is meant when commentators refer to the "direction BMW is taking Husqvarna", but I'm sure happy I grabbed one of these machines on their (BMW) way.I'm not defending BM, or anyone for that matter; just some more random thoughts. Cheers.:cheers:
  10. Radar Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2012 TE449
    I agree with you 100%...except you are not too old.:)
    LandofMotards likes this.
  11. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many


    So you bought the bike on the merits of it being a good bike and from a manufacturer that you feel has a good history of building good stuff. Good sound reasons to do so and ended up with a very good bike you enjoy. This is how I pick bikes also. Enjoy. I actually bought my TR650 (BWM) because of how good my 511 turned out to be. Pretty impressed with that bike as well.

    Oh, and for the record I never really knew or cared about BMW before all this nor do I really have a feeling one way or another for the company. I did own a K100 and Rode a K1300R (sweet machine) and thought both were very good. That was my total BMW experience before hand. Well I did try a G650 once and thought it was a good street bike. there stuff seems overly complicated but always forward thinking and pushing the limits on ideas. I like forward thinking.
    LandofMotards likes this.
  12. LandofMotards Moderator

    Location:
    Colorado
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2014 TC250
    I like your opinions but you need to stop throwing out your fleet of bikes. Thats probably why he was upset. I know I'm jealous lol
    4eyes likes this.
  13. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many

    Ha ha ha I have actually slimmed my bike pile down quite a bit.
  14. LandofMotards Moderator

    Location:
    Colorado
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2014 TC250
    I don't know how much longer I can hold out, a Vespa with off road tires may be in my future lol.
  15. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many
    Vespas are for girls you need to cause a Ruckus...

    [IMG]

    Or maybe you prefer the street version...

    [IMG]

    :D
    LandofMotards likes this.
  16. henson802 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Cali
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    450
    This is very true. I've shared my feelings in other threads and don't want to be a negative nancy. But I will share my experience:

    The nearest Husqvarna shop to me is 3 hour drive, and they had blank looks when I was talking about reflashing the ECU. My 2010 TE 250 still doesn't respond well when I twist the wrist fast to accelerate, it blebs more often then not.. and I have JD Tuner. Now I need reflash ECU to map #173 (sarcastic ya) and get a 12 port injector. I bought the bike thinking I could accelerate quick when I need to, but even after plunking down $400 for the JD Tuner at the time - changing sprocket, opening airbox, take off smog crud, and changing the tuning to recommended, and as others recommended, it still blebs. To me - that is a bike that isn't running to spec as it should when you buy a bike new. Not to mention the bottom end seized up. GRANTED, and I know my fault, I was changing oil at 600-800 miles (I ride a lot of road to get to trails, almost half and half).. I blame myself for that. But - I am not a hardcore rider. Even though it was powered up, I wasn't ever keeping revs above 6500 (as it would be if it wasn't powered up) for more then 3 seconds at a time.. and rarely would even do that. I still blame myself for the sieze, but not the blebs in the lower parts of the acceleration.

    Regardless - I do like the bike. But I think if you don't have a knoweldgable, helpful dealer nearby , then you will have some headaches. And when I bought my 2010 TE250, it was advertised as Dual sport.. ala Yamaha WR250 .. that couldn't be further from the truth, two totally different animals.
  17. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many


    Are you talking about a 449/511 or 310 here? Sounds like a 310 which has it's own set of issues. The 449/511 TE models will run pretty darn good with just the free included power up plug installed. And WAY better with the ECU remap and open muffler. As for DS there are two types, one is a race bike with a plate, (KTMs/TE310 etc) and one is a real Ds bike like the 300 plus pound Yamaha 250.
  18. henson802 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Cali
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    450
    I was talking 250 sorry. But I've heard relatively same issues about needing reflash after uncorking. Which is fine if the dealership near you is good. But at least in the Northeast, they are few and far between.

    Race bikes with a plate aren't dual sports, they are ENDURO bikes. And the Yamaha 250 barely hits 300 lbs with a full tank of fuel, I know cause my buddy has one. Very low maintenence, and when I hit on the accelerator, no blebs.

    That's all I will say - Husqvarna are great bikes - but you definitely will need a handy dealership nearby imo.
    Motosportz likes this.
  19. oregonsage 4st Clerk

    Location:
    Dry Washington
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    FX450
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha DT400 x 2, BMW G310R
    Weve had this discussion at length and there is no consistent definition of what a Dualsport vs Enduro vs Dual Purpose. Peruse a few manufacturers website and you will find no agreement on this point. Various sanctioning bodies rules arent much help either. This really does seem to be a case where the definition is understood differently depending on who you are and where you are.

    When I hear Enduro this is the first thing that enters my mind....

    [IMG]
    4eyes likes this.
  20. henson802 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Cali
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    450
    Well - Enduro bikes are raced on and off road - whether that is older bikes or newer. Dual Sports / Dual Purpose are not raced but are able to go on and off.

    That's how a lot of my off road riding friends interpret it at least. But yah - there is definitely a fuzzy line there.