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

P/U kit or 310 kit?

Discussion in '4 Stroke' started by XLEnduroMan, Apr 25, 2009.

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  1. XLEnduroMan Heroes Ride Huskys. The others follow.

    Location:
    Durham, CA.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '18 Husqvarna 701 Enduro.
    Other Motorcycles:
    '20 Ducati Hypermotard 950.
    If you had to pick one, regardless of the price difference, what would be the better choice for an 08 TE 250? The factory power up kit or the Athena big bore kit?
    XLEnduroMan, Apr 25, 2009
    #1

  2. HUSKYnXJnWI Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Central Wisconsin, USA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    09TE450
    :busted:both!

    No but I would get the 310 kit- and take the lambda sensor out/ with proper plugs - setting the system to PU mode. Maybe getting the exhaust doun the road/ better yet get a power commander. Still should have it all reset with Ibeat.
    That's what I would do- money aside and all-
    HUSKYnXJnWI, Apr 26, 2009
    #2

  3. fitness2go Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle WA
    Why would you ever get the Athena 300 kit without first installing the P-up kit?
    fitness2go, Apr 26, 2009
    #3

  4. XLEnduroMan Heroes Ride Huskys. The others follow.

    Location:
    Durham, CA.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '18 Husqvarna 701 Enduro.
    Other Motorcycles:
    '20 Ducati Hypermotard 950.
    I need to do something. :confused: The g/f TE 250 is not what was expected. We both own DRZ's, figured the 250 would be the better choice then the TE 450 for her. The 250 specs. about the same HP as the DRZ, and is much lighter, but is really a pain in the arse to ride in comparison then the DRZ. All the shifting required to keep the thing above 7K and keep it moving with out bogging is not fun. She went from a 1982 XT 550 to a 2007 DRZ 400 to a 2008 TE 250. The XT was the best motor for her yet. :banghead: She scoots right along on the TE, but it is a lot of work on the hand and foot. All the extra work needed to ride the 250 may actually make her slower. :censored:

    Would the big bore and/or p/u kit alleviate alot of the required shifting or is the 450 the answer?

    Thank you.
    XLEnduroMan, Apr 26, 2009
    #4

  5. Norman Foley Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Trumansburg, NY... The Beautiful, Finger Lakes
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR 86 250WR 93 WXE350 03 TE610
    Other Motorcycles:
    '85 Fantic 300 '12 HUSABERG TE250
    Both!
    Norman Foley, Apr 26, 2009
    #5

  6. HomeFinance Husqvarna
    A Class

    Both. The 300 kit will be limited by the stock set up. I rode my 08 TE 250 for a year with just the oem power up kit and was very happy with the power for about %80 of the riding I do. I just installed the new Athena 310 kit for the 08 TE 250. It comes with the cylinder,piston and the electronic box for the efi. It is just plug and play. No need for i-beat or power commander. Yesterday was my first ride with the 300. Very impressive. Still feels like the 250 with about 6+ more ponies.:thumbsup:
    HomeFinance, Apr 26, 2009
    #6

  7. Coffee CH Owner

    Location:
    Between homes - in ft Wayne IN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2006 TE250, 2013 TR650 Terra - sold
    My 2006 TE250 rips. The Power up kit will make it run properly (like mine).

    PU kit is what I would do, and a tune up at a dealer to adjust the ibeat if it needs it.
    Coffee, Apr 26, 2009
    #7

  8. XLEnduroMan Heroes Ride Huskys. The others follow.

    Location:
    Durham, CA.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '18 Husqvarna 701 Enduro.
    Other Motorcycles:
    '20 Ducati Hypermotard 950.
    The input here is appreciated. :thumbsup: I will get her set up with the p/u kit to start. She may want to wait for the 6 months though because of the warranty. I will ask her. I have heard the kits are back ordered but the individual components are available separately, so we have options.

    I guess we could sell/trade our DRZ's for an 08 450. Still have a few days left on the $1000 off promotion. :eek:
    XLEnduroMan, Apr 26, 2009
    #8

  9. Coffee CH Owner

    Location:
    Between homes - in ft Wayne IN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2006 TE250, 2013 TR650 Terra - sold
    The promotion has been extended until July 1st, you need to read the Corporate section more often :D

    http://www.cafehusky.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2824
    Coffee, Apr 26, 2009
    #9

  10. MOTORHEAD Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Mount Vernon, Indiana
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    none
    Other Motorcycles:
    2014 YAMAHA YZ250
    I'd have to agree, start with the PU kit. Try contacting http://motoxotica.com/ and see if they have any.

    You could always trade for a '09 TE310 because it basically already comes with both.
    MOTORHEAD, Apr 26, 2009
    #10

  11. WoodsChick Administrator

    Location:
    Oakland, CA Miramonte, CA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    3 Terras, 2 `07 SM610s, `09 WB165,
    Other Motorcycles:
    KTM, GasGas, Suzuki, Honda
    Those of us that own 125 2-strokes would vigorously claim that the above highlighted statement is simply not true :lol:

    Seriously, though, if your girlfriend is truly not happy with the 250, then perhaps some changes are in order. However, there is another way to view this situation, even though I don't know the skill level of your girlfriend. Please allow me to ramble on for a bit and tell you of my experiences. There really will be a point to it...:)

    Riding around on a big-bore 4-stroke is pretty easy. I have a KTM 450 EXC and it can be a very sedate experience when just puttering around in "old woman" mode (no reflection on your girlfriend at all, it's me that is the old woman:)) It makes me lazy because there is never a need to go looking for power...it is always right there in the palm of my right hand. It makes almost everything easier. No need to search for good lines, no need to make any effort at hill climbs, etc. The power of my 450 can cover up a lack of trail-riding skills sometimes. It takes a little more mental effort and a lot more skill to negotiate the same trail on my 125 2-stroke. There is more of a need to be aware of where I am in the powerband, more of a need to plan ahead when coming up to big hill climbs and trail obstacles such as log crossings, etc., much more of a need for some good clutch/throttle skills and a willingness to whack the throttle wide open when necessary. I can't fake it on the 125 :D

    I began riding on a CR80, then rode 125 2-strokes exclusively for the next 14 years, then on to a Yamaha 250f 4-stroke for a few years. There wasn't a whole lot of difference between my 125 2-stroke and the then-new generation high-revving Yamaha. However, the skills that I had honed riding 125's all those years made it a piece of cake to ride. I can't imagine how different the experience would have been if I'd started riding on my 450 and then tried to go backwards to that high-revving 250 4-stroke. I don't think the 450 would have taught me the necessary skills needed for the smaller bike, nor would it have allowed me to learn how to be aggressive enough to make the smaller bike work properly.

    So, I guess my point is that, now that she owns the 250, maybe she can use it to her advantage and let it take her riding experience in a different direction and use it as an advancement tool. There are a lot of skills that can be much more easily learned on a smaller bike. Remember how I said the 450 makes almost everything easier? Well, the one thing it doesn't make easier for me is going fast. I am always much faster on trails on my 125 (and was always faster on my 250, too) than the 450...and I can maintain that speed much longer before making mistakes that hurt.

    Another thing to think about is it's always more fun to ride a slower bike at 100% than it is to ride a faster bike at less than 100%. Now, that might sound funny coming from someone that owns a 610 and a 450, but it is absolutely true. I get a lot of joy out of hammering my
    125, knowing full-well that if I rode my 450 in the same manner I'd probably be dead by now :busted: Same thing with riding my Suzuki GSXR750 versus my SM610. The 610 is much more fun!

    Anyway, sorry for rambling on forever. Assuming your girlfriend isn't over 200lbs, the TE250 will have plenty of power for her if she learns how to find it and get it to the ground :thumbsup:



    WoodsChick
    WoodsChick, Apr 26, 2009
    #11

  12. fitness2go Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle WA
    They have a narrow tranny and aside from playing with the sprockets, there isn't much you can do...maybe p-up kit, athena kit and change the sprockets. the extra power will pull the new sprocket set up.

    What kind of riding does she do? Is she fast and agressive or more passive?
    fitness2go, Apr 26, 2009
    #12

  13. fitness2go Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle WA
    Awesome points Tami!
    fitness2go, Apr 26, 2009
    #13

  14. HuskyDude Moderator

    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    13/TR650
    Other Motorcycles:
    10/EC300, 76/TY175
    I had a big long appreciation post for Woodies.

    Had company come over, my kid got on my PC and now it's gone.:D

    So "Thanx WoodsChick" great post and "How true it is".

    :thumbsup::thumbsup:
    HuskyDude, Apr 26, 2009
    #14

  15. XLEnduroMan Heroes Ride Huskys. The others follow.

    Location:
    Durham, CA.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '18 Husqvarna 701 Enduro.
    Other Motorcycles:
    '20 Ducati Hypermotard 950.
    She is 150 lbs. It has to pull her around better then it did me at 220 lbs. She is a good, fast rider. Not to far behind when on the DRZ's. I know the primary gearing is different then the 450/510. This is her 5th bike, and the the smallest displacement one out of them. She started riding on the street and likes to go fast. I hope the p/u kit will wake it up enough so she doesn't have to wring it's neck everywhere, even in the tight stuff. I know it's a smaller displacement 4 stroke and needs to ridden as such. I am just ranting I guess. Thanks for listening and the input.
    XLEnduroMan, Apr 26, 2009
    #15

  16. Xcuvator Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Scholls Oregon
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TE450,610 WB165,WR250 WR360 & XC430
    Other Motorcycles:
    yes
    I think that those words of Woodschick's are well chosen.
    Xcuvator, Apr 26, 2009
    #16

  17. Darkside Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    SF Bay Area
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    none left
    Other Motorcycles:
    beta, ktm, aprilia
    That's the nature of the 250. you do have to wring it out to get power. A power up kit and even the bore kit to some extent will not change it's nature. Tell her to ride it like she stole it and dare her to try and blow it up. She'll be surprised.
    Darkside, Apr 26, 2009
    #17

  18. fitness2go Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle WA
    All I know is if that bike can haul Russ (Home Finance) around at a very hasty clip, your girlfriend and even you should be able to go fast as well! The power-up kit will make a very large difference because that bike should not be bogging! I rode it and at first it felt extremely easy to ride...almost weak. It is definitely a tight woods weapon that can rip...just got to flog it and it will make you feel like a superhero!
    fitness2go, Apr 26, 2009
    #18

  19. XLEnduroMan Heroes Ride Huskys. The others follow.

    Location:
    Durham, CA.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '18 Husqvarna 701 Enduro.
    Other Motorcycles:
    '20 Ducati Hypermotard 950.
    I will call MotoXotica later today and check on the status of the p/u kit availability. I know the smallest TE is a rocket, but neither of us is accustomed to the style of riding needed to get the most out of the bike. I am sure she will pick it up pretty quick though as we get past break in.

    Is there noticeable gains to be had with leaving the Lambda in with the p/u kit on the 250? I am guessing with the 250 we would want to remove the Lambda and have the ECU tuned either way.
    XLEnduroMan, Apr 27, 2009
    #19

  20. fitness2go Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle WA
    Remove it so that it defaults to race mapping. I anxious to hear if you two notice a difference.
    fitness2go, Apr 27, 2009
    #20
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