TE450 VS TE630 - Which One & Why?

With any luck, my Triumph cruiser will be sold soon, and I will be buying a TE in the next few weeks. I have found a mint '06 TE450 and an equally mint '06 TE610, both are the same price. This will be my only street bike for the next few years, which I am excited about. I plan to ride mostly gravel and dirt roads. I may go to an OHV park, but not often. Dual sport rides are on my to do list. Also, I will be moving from Northern Iowa to Southern Missouri in 5-8 years, hopefully. I loved riding my XT350 that I had years ago, more so than riding my street bike locally.

So, my question is, do I get the 450 or 610, and why? I love the '05-'07 styled bikes, and I prefer the blue and yellow scheme. Having an '06 WR250 would be neat too, but that would come later on. The only real issue I am concerned about is fuel capacity. That is why I am questioning if a TE630 could be better.

For your riding, prolly the 630. The 450 has a great rush of power at 5-7k RPM, not alot of torque at lower RPMs. I had a TE 450 and loved it for harder, single track and rocks, I needed its lighter weight.

I just looked at that big TE again, it is actually a 610...

Get the 610. I have one and a TE310.

A little big, but that counterbalanced big 6 speed single is smooth on the road and its not a bad dirt bike. You can ride it anywhere you can ride the 450 off road if just a little slower. Coming off the Triumph it will feel like an Xr100.

The 450 is a race bike. Forget any highway riding on the 450.

Actually, my Triumph was suppose to be only 52hp at the crank, and weighs in around 550#. I have played with it some, and she runs much harder now. But, I think the 450 would be more fun.

Also, if I buy the TE450, I will be buying an '05 TC450 flattracker near it. So, having common parts would be a plus, in my warped little mind.

For the type of riding you plan on doing the 610 would be the better choice. In comparison to a 450 it'll eat pavement riding for breakfast and wash it down with a gravel road chaser.

There's a reason bikes like the xr600/650, te610/630, ktm640 and dr650 were (are) so popular......versatility and durability in both engine and chassis performance. Sure, a 450 is a better single track or race bike but that's not what you say you're planning to do.

My opinion comes from owning, at different times, a ktm450, swm500 and ktm625 (I've owned other bikes but these 3 are relevant to this discussion). The 625 was by far the most versatile bike I've owned. It could entertain me on a natural terrain mx track with my mates 1 day, then throw some soft panniers on and ride 500-900kms of highway the next.

The best advice would be to try and ride both bikes the way you intend to use them and be honest with yourself. I would advise you to also consider who you ride with and what they're riding. It can be more fun if your buddies bikes and terrain choices compliment each other rather than be wildly different.

Whatever you decide, enjoy and ride safe mate.

Your riding list does suggest the 610 would be better, the 450 is not a great road bike.

I totally agree. I will do some research on the 610.

I wish I could. One is five hours East of me, and the other is five hours South of me.

Again, great point, and I totally agree. So far, I would be riding with a KDX220, DR350S, CRF450X, WR450F, and a 525EXC. That is why I had picked the 450 several years ago. Also, forum member norice is talking about getting a TE/SM510, as he was not happy with his TE/SM630. He lives near-ish me.

All of the smaller TE's have gearing that is too short for any real highway time and being able to do nasty single track. 610 has one of the widest ratio trans around. One of each would be great...

So, thanks to the insight from all of you, I am going to try to get the 610. I truly believe it will be the better of the two for what I am wishing to do.


On a side question, is the 610 engine the same as any other engine? Like the '90's and early '00's single cams? The 400 and 570? I haven't looked into anything other than the twin cam 450/510 stuff.

The 610 is an awesome bike for a "one size fits all" machine. it is like a Suzuki DRZ400 on steroids with real highway capability. As the guy above said the wide ratio trans makes all the difference. I have a 20016 SM610 with extra dirt wheels and I ride in the woods too.

The motor is similar to the 90's single cam 410 and 610 motors, but it has E-start only and a reed valve to control crankcase pressure. That reed valve is the only weak link in the design. The OE cam chains can stretch and wear that reed valve which is sitting between the cam chain runs. Look in the 610 forum on this site and you will see what I am referring to. Ask the owner if he replaced the cam chain and check how many "clicks" the cam tensioner is exposed. Under 10 is good. i replaced my cam chain once and it was not a huge job and it has not stretched since.

Other than that, it is a rock solid bike.

I will do that. He did tell me that he has a manual adjuster on it already...

That's good!

TE610,

I HAD a te510. real hard starter in the winter.

I HAVE a TXC 449 (plated) WR250 (plated ) and a 2009 SM610.

The 610 ( which is really a 570 ) is the best for all day rides with my Sport Bike buddies, ( if they could only keep up )
And will run down gravel roads great.

The TE450/510 are race motors, not as smooth or reliable as the 610. as stated before.

I agree 100%