Husky Handling

I am looking for advise on how to improve the handling on my 09 250 TXC. Specifically on how the front end has a sluggish heavy feeling on tight trails. I have ridden many 250 xcf's and felt comfortable right away. No one has felt comfortable on my bike but I cannot put my finger on the problem. Bike is great on fire roads and fields but not in the woods. Is this just the way the bike is? Do any of you have the same experience?

Have you adjusted the fork tubes in the clamps? I would start there.

Make sure the whole suspension set up is correct including the shock. If the rear is out it will impact the front end. As an aside try dropping it down the clamps half an inch.
Also Huskies hate fat front tyres look at getting thin ones and run them soft.

I have dropped the forks and the suspension seems decent.
I think it is more than that. Without being able to ride a different one
I guess what I am asking is if anyone thinks there TXC handles good in the woods. It seems odd that I can jump on a number of KTMs and feel right at home where the Husky feels downright dangerous and everyone that rides it thinks the same way.

Steering head nut too tight?

It will have a different feel than a xcw250f but not "good" to "dangerous" Sounds like more of something being up than just personal preference... somethings got to be wrong with the set up... somewhere. Take heed and go through all the basic set up tips being brought up.

Okay thanks guys, I will not give up on it yet.

I sometimes ride a mates KTM EXC 400 and feel very comfotable on when sitting down. However, it is a different story when standing. The Kato is a good bike but the Huskies directional change and all round ability is superior to the Kato imho. My mate is an excellent rider who stands 99% of the time and feels the ergs on the Husky are better than the Kato when standing. We recently both rode an 09 KTM 250 to see if the difference was the engine mass. The outcome was interesting. The 250 more closly resembled the TE 310 characteristics but we both felt it was not as good as the Husky when standing. We are both only six foot. I think it is as simple as the KTMs are a softer ride and are excellent when seated, however the Huskies being tall come into their own when standing and are terrific in the tight.

Something must be wrong, as the others suggested, because the TXC's are anything but sluggish in the handling dept. Sure they're not quite as nimble as a 2t, but the 08 & up TXC's have very crisp handling and the front is very sure footed - it's one of most noticeable attributes about the TXC's
World's ahead of my 2007 TE. I often pick oddball lines or change lines partway thru a section just because it's so easy to. Couldn't easily do that on my 07.

mine was washing out a bit from the day I had it,drew took it for a spin at the husky gathering and immediately went back to his truck=my steering stem nut was cranked too tight and was slowing the steering down,he thought it had a steering damper on it!!

Thanks for the response. My steering nut is good, fresh bearings and grease in it. It has heavier springs front and back, maybe I should put the stockers in.

Dangerous? Not sure what that means ... Maybe you can explain more on how it is dangerous .... Harsh is the word must use on this suspension of not tweaked any ..

My 08 TXC250 does very well in the woods and everywhere else stock form ... I only adjusted the preload and changed the oil volume & WT ...

It's a little unconventional, but try adjusting your idle up. If you keep the idle higher you'll get a more consistent feel from the forces of all that mass spinning.

Like I said, it's a little unconventional, but try it, you may be surprised.

You should have the one for your weight, the sag is really important when setting your bike.

My 510 picked up a heavy uneasy feeling in the front end after awhile, from new. I backed out and re-torqued the triple clamp bolts and the top and bottom handle bar post/bolts. It has been a missile since. I have not touched the fork height.

Oh , thanks for the tip. That is a good way to describe what I mean, a
heavy sluggish feeling. I did put the stock rear spring in and it feels better just moving around the garage. I am anxious to try it.

Jim

Motosportz is spot on... springs and sag make a BIG difference, you might shop for a good suspension tuner to help out.

Speaking of sag... what should it be set at on a 09 310?