My friend is selling his BMW X650 to go with KTM 530. He wants to loose 70lbs. I know that my 610 is fat. I ride mostly desert and sometimes go to Tahoe to ride in the woods. I love my 610 but saving 50lbs or more would make me a better rider. Is it worth going to 510? I was even thinking about this sweet Aprilia RXV450. I do need CA plated bike and I have 07 610TE.
The 510 has the same gearbox as the 310/450. Not widely spaced like your 610. It can be geared for the tight trails or for high speed, but not both at the same time - if that matters to you. Depends on $, but getting a 2010 te250 and keeping the 610 would give you wider range of bikes to ride. Other years could work as well. The TE250 is lighter than the 510.
Although I don't have a 610/630. And I do love my 510. Both are totally different rides. If I had to do over again I would have a 610/630 and a WR300 (or other 300) so you could have to best of both worlds. That's just because I would want a 2t for my second bike. If you want to stay with a 4t then like Coffee has suggest a TE250 or a TXC 250 would be a good choice. You also have the advantage of the new FI in both the newer 4T too.
I need the bike to be plated. I don't think 250 is CA street legal. FYI I'm one tooth down on the front. Maybe I just should invest more $ in to 610
As far as I know every TE and SM model are 50 state street legal in the USA from Husqvarna. The other models are not. No amount of $ will significantly lighten the 610, compared to changing bikes. hopefully some 610 owners will give input.
Your 610 is significantly lighter tyhan your mates X-Challenge and a lot more dirt capable. The 530 is a more dirt capable bike than your 610 but a lot less road capable. So if you are riding 50/50 then the 610 is still a good proposition. If your mate has re-orientated his riding and gone significantly more bush and you wish to ride with him then you have a dilemma. Personally I would keep with the 610 for a while and see how it goes.
I would love to have a lighter more dirt oriented bike but not at the cost of giving up my 610. If I only have one bike it's going to be the 610, if the choice is to have two bikes then one of them is going to be a wr300.
Hey there ElDiablo If you need more power, less weight, more race oriented components, you are planning on spending less time on the road and you don’t mind doing more maintenance on the bike… Then yes, it makes total sense to switch to the 510 The 510 is a ballsout street legal racer, the 610 is a very capable dual sporter I’m with ghte; wait a little and see if a switch needs to be made
It's really up to you and HOW you use your bike. Do you do much road? Since the 510's on down have such tighter gear ratios than the 610 I would say, could you do the riding you do now without the 610's 6th, or even 5th gear????? That's just my feable way at trying to give you some idea of the comparison of the gearing difference. I understand where you are coming from as a fellow 610 owner that also sometimes struggles with it's weight AND height on tighter trails. I do enough road though that I could never get rid of her. In a perfect world I would have my 610, also with spare quick change Sumo setup, and a new plated 310 for the other fun stuff. Someday hopefully. Anyone else here that can chime in that has owned both a 610 and othe TE's??
I don't ride my 610 on the street only when connecting to different trails. I spend a lot of time in 2nd and third and then 1st. I'm in 6th in the desert doing 70mph but I do need 100+ miles range on the tank. I'm also one tooth down in the front to slow down the 1st in technical parts. I have Kawasaki C14 for street and soon will replace it with Ducati Multistrada 1200.
Based on your last post a 510 would be perfect! This is what that bike is design to do. You would like this better than a 450 also & would compare equally or better than your friends 530. Besides what fun it would be having very fast legal lighter race bikes Have you ridden one? You won't believe the difference. You will have to make sure an aftermarket tank is available.
I think Coffee has a good idea, looking at a 250. Even lighter and much more flickable. Would give you a bigger contrast err variety. I would hate to sell my 610.
I agree, get a 250[I have one] if you keep your 610. If you are selling your 610 then the 510 would be better for you. You do not want to stay at 70 mph very long with a 250.
I have a 530 KTM and a 610. For long dualsport rides with hiway, I take the 610. For mainly off road with some road or hiway I use the 530. I like the power of both bikes and being able to lift the front wheel over logs or whatever with just a flick of the throttle.
