TE610: Convince me to buy it!

First of all I'd like to say hi to everyone! It's my first post & I'd like to pick your brains about the 610. I know there's info on advrider about the 610, but I don't have weeks to sift thru a 13000 post thread

Background:

I am new to motorbikes & bought my first bike, a 2008 650 V-strom, last Aug. I have put on about 16000km (10000mi) & enjoy the bike.

Problem:

My riding buddy has a (older) KLR & we explore many of the local forestry roads. Now this isn't normally a problem for the V-strom, but sometimes we follow off-shoot roads that turn all rocky & gnarly & my bike becomes a real handful. I find that my bash plate is full of dents when I get home. I'd like to follow him into more of this type of stuff but it's just not fair to the bike to do so.

Solution:

I thought about replacing the V-strom & have done some research. Initially it was down to three bikes, the TE610, KLR, & DRZ. I eliminated the latter two & thought I was set on the TE610 until I read this adventure thread & now I am torn between the TE610 & the WR250R (both 2009 models). Crazy that there's 360cc between the two bikes, isn't it?

Anyway, here's what I'd like to know:

• subframe - is it sturdy enough to hold load Dirtbagz with camping gear, etc?
• fuel tank - what large tank w/locking cap alternatives are there? Which is best?
• Service intervals - the WR doesn't even need a valve check until 26000 miles, how 'bout the 610?
• Known Issues - what are they?

Sub frame is super beefy. Easily carries a rack. Various aftermarket racks with panniers available. Dirt bagz no problem. I pre-ran the '08 Baja 1000 on my '08 610 with a tent/sleeping bag/clothes, etc. Rode from my home to baja. Then bashed around the course for 3 days. Then rode home, all with that gear on the back. No way i would take a wr250 over 5 hours of freeway, just to get there....

Fuel tank holds 2.7 gallons and the bikes get around 50mpg, higher if you are taking it easy. That very conservatively 130 miles. For longer rides you need a bolt on auxillary tank on the rear or side or front. No larger tank available now. There is a 'promise' of a tank coming but not until the end of the year at the soonest (if ever).

Service intervals-change oil every 1000 miles or so. Adjust valves at 1000 miles and then check once a year, if that.

Known issues:
Some bikes have bad batteries.
Some bikes have a loose countebalancer nut. Or main gear nut.
Some bikes have funny electrical stuff when riding in rain, but it seems to go away and isnt critical.
Seat isnt comfortable.
Fuel tank has plastic connectors that can break if you take the tank off the carelessly.
Weak headlight assembly.
Some bikes have clutch pull off center.
No rim locks
No compression adjustment on the '08
Bike comes stock very corked up. Power up kit is available. That may or may not be an issue.

Comparing a 250 to a 570 is apples and oranges. One is a great little wifes/firt time/kids bike. The other is a fantastic dual sport bike that you can load up and ride forever.

You will regret the 250 after you outgrow it, about your 4th-5th ride.
The 610 will be your go to fun machine for many, many years. Its not even worth comparing the 2.

Ever ride on a highway on a 250? Ever have anyone on the back? Camping gear? Ever ride past a large RV on one of those little things?

Buy the 610 and post some pics and join the family.

If this is your only bike then I think the 250 will KILL you on the highway.

I know it's a little more sedate up north, but here in LA if you aren't doing 75 you are getting run over. you need to be able to do 85-90 just to be able to maneuver.

If you're looking for a dirtbike only, then weight is king. Lighter is better, and everything else is secondary. There is something to be said for power though And the 610 has GOBS of power. But if you're keeping the strom I'd get a barely street legal "dirt bike" rather than a "dual sport" like the 610. If it's your only bike, the 610 is a great do it all bike.

The service interval is decent on the 610, comparable to the BMW Dakar or the KLR. THe Cam chains seem to stretch more/sooner than on those bikes, (probably because of the aforementioned power)

The subframe on the 610 is pretty decent, but again, weight is everything. I broke my rear rack and blew the shock on a ten day trip to Baja last year, and that was on a BMW Dakar. I don't think anybody would say the 610 is as strong as the Dakar. But it's 130 pounds lighter.

The lesson I learned was to take a lot less crap next time. See http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431849 for a good 610 ride report.

One thing that is mentioned, but I think is underrated is the 6 speed tranny in the 610. It is gorgeous!

Well I'm glad I asked questions. I assumed the gas tanks I saw for the 610 would work on the newer FI models -- wrong assumption! Damn damn damn I guess it wasn't meant to be. The limited range looks to be a deal breaker. I gotta do some more research & call up the after market tank companies to see if anything is in the works. God damn it...

Send Big Dawg an email with your questions, he had both, sold his Husky after 30,000 miles to get the WR.

The only place I will prefer a 250, is in the real tight slow stuff, where you can't use the throttle to get out of trouble and you have to use your legs to keep the bike up.

It really depends what you want to do, the KLR is a lot closer to your VStrom, than a Husky. If you want a rush, you want a Husky.

Despite what the manuals say, I would expect a 250 to need more maintenance for the same duty.

Funny you mentioned that! I contacted BigDog & also ordered a couple dvd's. His reply on the TE vs WR:

Why did I switch bikes ??

Forget the little WR if you must have lots of torque and horsepower---it’s not for everybody-----simply put ----it’s a 250.

There are many advantages to the WR and only one disadvantage. The disadvantage is horsepower of course.

The little WR is much faster and easier to ride than the 610 in anything other than pavement and easy gravel. Much faster. It handles worlds better and has the same sweet wide ratio transmission. It ‘s much smoother quieter and much less maintenance. The fuel injection is spot on and perfect. My Husky was carbed by the way.

Subframes on both bikes are not an issue.

The WR doesn’t even require a valve check until 26,000 miles---that’s not a misprint. Just no maintenance to this motor at all except oil changes.

When I bought the WR I had no intention of selling the Husky----until after I spent quite a few miles on the WR---it just runs circles around the Husky. I knew I’d never ride the Husky again.

The Husky is a very good bike---you may have to have the horsepower. The WR is not for everybody. The only thing I really hated about the Husky is the extremely short turning radius—you had to have a parking lot to turn that thing around---it was crazy.

It just felt like a pig after riding the WR. Seats way more comfy too.

Mark


I haven't given up on the Husky, but I need to sort out the fuel tank issue. There are a few large tank options for the WR250R so I am hoping for the same end results for the TE.

Tank on the husky is 3.7 (+/-), not 2.7 as mentioned above. Range is an easy 150, beyond that you may be pushing it depending on the bike, the rider, and so on.

I briefly considered the WR, but with the big spaces we have out here, there's a bit of road (as opposed to trail) riding to do.

Well some more bad news: the local Husky dealer recently sold his last 610 & told me there are none left for the country -- this was confirmed by other dealers I called. I guess only 100 bikes were brought in for 150-something dealers...

Anyway, he offered to simply switch the wheels off a TE410 & put them on a SM610 he has in stock. What do you guys think of this idea? Is it really that simple or will other changes be necessary (forks, shocks, brakes, etc)?

Clean used ones do come up from time to time.

Bill was the guy I just talked to. He filled me in on the "there are zero new TE610's in Canada" scenario.

Anyway, here's his idea: he has a guy that is interested in his TE410 but wants to motard it. He has a guy (me ) looking for unobtanium TE610. He's willing to swap rims. I don't know enough about bikes to go ahead with this. My fear is that I'll end up with some bastardized bike with bastardized handling characteristics. Are there any pluses & minuses I should be aware of?

You really cant just put a 21inch front wheel on a 'tard bike, all kinds of stuff will be wrong. Cable lengths, suspension lengths, steering angle, triple clamps will have to be replaced or spacers adapted, etc. .etc

You can take a motard and simply put 17" dual sport tires. But that doesnt sound like what you are describing. Its got limitations off road, but doable, and its nice and low for shorter folks.

See if the 410 guy will swap forks, triple clamps, wheels, cables, etc. and then you might be close. Make sure the pick-up works on your odometer.

You can also buy forks/triple clamps/wheels on ebay and then have both the original bike and the 'tard. Better re-sale.

Just some ideas for ya.

For a bike ya ride from home, the 610 is hard to beat. But yeah a bike ya ride from the campground to the fishing hole and then to town for worms, i can see the WR250 taking care of business.
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I stand corrected on the tank size. Wish i could claim a type-o, but its more like early alzheimers. Good catch. 3.5-3.7 gallons. Not 2.7.

Thanks so much for all the info everyone, but I think I will stay the course until I find a 'proper' TE610. I have no probs keeping the V-strom until the right bike comes along

There are no 09 TE610s in Canada. I can assure you of that.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

Here is a good review on the TE.
http://www.bikebarnmc.com/post.cfm/bike-barns-first-test-2007-husqvarna-te610

That little WR is heavy for a 250 at 295lbs wet, think Big Dawg's Husky must have been a bit tired in the suspension department.

It is true, the turning circle is wide, but in the dirt you just lean the bike over and give it some throttle, it turns on a dime.

You know, it might be my luck of knowledge but I find it hard to believe that an old KLR can go anywhere that this bike can’t…….



Well at lest till the gas runs out…….

Woodschick (the owner of this 610SM wildebeest) can give you more info and maybe debunk my theory?
You do realize how different this thing is going to be from your Vshtrom?

(BTW, why are we trying to convince someone with 6Ten user name to buy a sixten…?)

Don't get one, you won't like it. Get a KLR instead..............