New 2013 Husqvarna TE 310 R: Yea or Nay for Dual Sport?

Tinken thanks for the info. That doesn't sound bad. I'm use to the bad valve issue. I have a honda 450x with the titanium valves that were replaced with SS.

I know, I apologize for that. I'm dreadfully honest, and terrible at sugar coating issues. I'm a great engineer, stand close enough and you can hear the gears turning. Gonna have to work on that delivery system though...

My dealer has one of these on his showroom at a really good price, and I am really debating if I should throw my 310 in the back of the truck when I visit him this weekend!

Gotta love Jack!

My mechanical engineer buddy will give succinct answers. I rarely come back with a second question once he has responded. I appreciate that.

The Huskys are great bikes and like all bikes, the just need a little tweaking here and there. A few ZipTy mods make the 310 nearly bulletproof as seen by watching Graffunder and others repeatively smash their 310s in the enduro competitions.

Did you order the code red! LOL

Hey, just bought a 13 txc310r. Love it so far. I had a woods nodded 05 cr250 with all the goodies as well, and I feel the husky handles better with far better power delivery. I'm an upper B class/ mid pack A class rider and the husky just seems to work better than most other bikes I've raced. I had the starter sorted and the Leo Vince map loaded and she rips now, couldn't be happier.

Tinken, what's involved with the valve job? Say I shipped you a head, what would this service run. Granted the bike only has 12 hrs on it, just thinking preventative. Thanks

I have a 2013 TXC310R and came from a YZ250 2 stroke. With a pipe to 310 is probably as fast (or faster) as the YZ. I would say the TXC is really a motocross/dirt bike first. It is actually not for sale or use on public highways, although some states will allow you to register it as a street bike/endure (like mine). It handles as good or better than my YZ with a smoother power delivery. This is a strait up dirt bike and is more similar to the CR than the TE, and not and endure or dual sport in any way. I haven't topped her out in 6th gear, but I would say she would struggle to hit over 65mph. I ride no faster than 45-50 on the street to simply connect trails. The bike is not designed to run consistent speeds for long durations, it is bad for the motor. So I would say anything longer than 3-5 miles of street rider is a bad idea.

The price they are being sold for what you are getting is a STEAL. You need to jump on this bike, the KTM equivalent is more than $9k. I took off the kick stand and got a 1.3lb battery and are down to around 225. That is lighter than most 450 MX bikes and certainly lighter than any endure/dual sport of a competing brand (4 stroke). The only true competitor is the KTM 350 EXC-F, and that bike is a heavy pig compared to the TCX with DOT tires, mirrors and turn signals. Also, the power band is lame, and more dual sport focused, where the 310R powerband is more like a motocross bike and wants to be hit and rev'd.

If your goal is to get the closest thing to an MX bike that you can slap a plate on and ride 1-5 miles to your nearest trail and RIP it up once you get there, this is it! If you are going to do 20-50+ mile road trips on fire roads and cruise around, this is NOT the bike for you and move on to a true dual sport.

Also, I stayed away from the big bore simply for weight. I'd rather have better handling lighter bike than 5-10 extra HP. Heck the CR250 makes around 38rwhp, I would imagine a 310 makes a few more and then add on an exhaust and reflash and you are probably easily in the low 40's, which is comparable to any 2 stroke MX bike and 450's of only a few years ago.

Wow, I'm a bit overwhelmed by all for the excellent input from everyone. Thank you!

Unfortunately there are no new 449/511's available (at least not within 300 miles).

However, on paper and for my intentions I believe I'd still prefer the 310 - though that of course might be subject to change if given the opportunity to ride all three. Nevertheless, so long as the 310 can get me to the tracks and trails within 25 miles of my home via back roads I'm okay with that (and happy to break out the trailer for anything further away).

I bought a VStar250 for my son from the same dealership a couple years ago. Great people, very accommodating and a pleasure to work with.

After a good conversation with owner yesterday I feel they are well-versed on the bike and no strangers to converting them to TXC spec.

As mentioned by another member, there's not too much required to prep them for dirt work. The owner said they uncork, remove the emissions and re-flash the ECU on about 90% of the TE's they sell, charging $265.00 to do the whole package. Sounds fair enough to save me the hassle and ensure it's done properly.

So I guess the only question remaining is to Rekluse or not Rekluse. I have never installed one any previous bikes but the vast majority of my riding has been on MX tracks so didn't much feel the need. However, I can see where a Rekluse might be a bigger asset for trails, hill climbing, etc.

Again, to everyone who chipped to share their knowledge and experiences, thank you. It is greatly appreciated.

25 miles of street driving one way is a lot on a TE or TXC. I saw the 449/511 in person and it is HUGE compared to the TXC or a typical motocross bike. I would not be happy throwing around a bike that big in the sand trails of NJ. I would just buy a 450MX bike at that point.

Holy wow! We do it for $60. And we turn the horns on a lathe. I'd be upset if they told me that much.

Actually, the TE310 and the TE449 are the same height and length with the exception of 8 pounds. The TC449 is lighter than them both.

IMO, $265 sounds a little steep to me. To uncork, they only need to hook it up to their computer, flash the LeoVince map, replace the TE's airfilter pieplate with the TXC airfilter cage, snatch the red restrictor trumpet out of the intake, slip the muffler off and remove the cat insert and then pull the charcoal canister. Couldn't be more than 1 hr shop time. Most shops charge $90/hr. You don't need to do anything to the O2 sensor as the race map simply ignores it. The only thing you have to purchase is the filter cage. I don't remember what that cost me but it was less than $30 I think.

Also depending on the type of trails you ride, the stock gearing(13/40) is too tall. Most go to the stock TXC gearing of 13/50. I compromised a bit and went 13/47. That way, I feel better running 50mph for short stints.

I have a 12 TE 310 and a 12 BETA 350 RS and the BETA would be my preference for one pretty good reason. As a plated bike and dual sport, the 6 speed, wide ratio trans (with separate lube system) is more comfortable on the highway and wholly adequate on ST. The smallest plated BETA is now. 400 but still a better choice IMO.

Two other things make BETA a good choice, a counterbalancer and a carb.

If you get a chance just test ride one.

Got rekluse with the 310....not needed, but makes life easier and more fun, cause you will not think twice about taking the harder lines.