I have a 2008 EFI 610 with relatively low mileage (7,000 km) and I am playing with the idea of removing all lights, flickers, instrument panel, mirrors, plates the works and using the bike only for rough technical trails. I would like to give it a lot more grunt by changing the gearing to suit. Has anybody done this and what gearing did you use? And do you have any other tips to make the bike better for this application?
this bike only gets ridden in the woods. Gearing is 14/49, JD tuner, x3 pipe, Moty lite weight bat, etc...
That's the best idea, but some people just can't swing it. I'm either selling mine or getting a 2nd bike. It will do the job and pretty well, but if you're not strong you'll get hurt. I'm used to the weight and use it to my advantage when possible.
I originally had the same plan for my TE310, but after I took everything off, I changed my mind. If you do it, leave the connectors in place and you might save yourself some time and wiring in the future. I ended up going with Highway Dirt Bike handguards with integral LED flashers and mirrors and Highway Dirt Bikes low-profile billet LED flashers in the rear. I hid the horn behind the headlight housing. I did change the gearing to a more off-road friendly ratio, but other than a license plate on the back, it looks like an Enduro machine.
I actually have six bikes, two of which are 2t MX bikes converted for woods riding. I recently acquired a KTM 950 SE and discovered that it can do everything the 610 can, so I thought I would turn the 610 into something else, hence starting this thread. Where I live we are not too concerned about whether or not our bikes are plated, we basically have the attitude, well you have to catch me first.
I agree with what Coffee and Lunger have said- especially the latter regarding having to be strong to treat the thing as a real woods bike. That said I've seen a few of Rough Rider's vids and it's clear to me the guy isn't afraid (and has the skills) to run the nuts off the thing. My hats off to you guys...I'll run my 630 pretty hard but don't by any stretch ride it like I did the old YZ125 I had throughout my younger years (b/c I'm older and have to redevelop some of those skills and also b/c the 630 just isn't that kind of bike.)
If I were to turn my 630 into a woods only bike I'd do the following: gear set for woods only (14/45) front and rear suspension re-work for woods only ultra light offroad knobbie tires (non DOT) for the intended terrain front / rear rotor guards remove pax pegs, mirrors, rear rack and blinkers install aftermarket pegs ( I use Roc-Stompa) rim locks short turn throttle light weight handguards (cyrcra) 1/2 tank of fuel and leave the headlight/tail light installed instead
i have a 2009 610 that is setup pretty much the same as 1lungers. i have ridden single tracks on it for the last 2 years, with mates on all sorts of smaller bikes, and have had a great time. it does get heavy but if you are of a good size its very manageble. it will tractor up anything! after doing just about every mod i could and still wanting more (or less in regard to the weight) i bought a 2nd hand 310 which i now use for the tight stuff. the difference is very (very!) noticable and from initially wanting to keep both bikes, i now cannot think of a time when i would rather ride the 610 over the 310 in the tight stuff. i am still keeping the 610 but i will revert it back to being more suited to longer kms. if i you can only have one bike, the 610 is a great do everything machine.
Thanks that sounds pretty much what I need to do. I have always run rim locks, roto guards and decent bark busters. I think what I will do is change the gear set (14/45), revalve suspension and change tires and then give it a go before removing electrics.
Flattery will get you everywhere Eric . I am not too big, 5'9 with medium build and I recently turned 48, so not that young anymore either. I believe technique plays a huge roll and if you get it right you don't have to be that strong or that fit to have fun out there. Having said that I certainly would never dream of racing the 610 in enduros or anything like that.
Agreed fella. I'm about to turn 46 and got back into dirt riding a few years ago and loving every bit of it. We know we never loose the intellectual skills (what's right and wrong technique) but, as we also know, if you've been outta the dirt for many years then it's not always the automatic/fluid/instinctive skills we had when very young (I started at age 7 and stayed on dirt bikes almost daily until I was in my mid-twenties.) So I can frail on the thing pretty well, but am also enjoying regaining the skills/instinct. For my style of riding I like the heft of my 630....in many instances it (IMO) helps. Great bikes. I haven't the luxury of more than one bike and don't have a pick-up, so this thing has been perfect to get me where I wanna ride and then go off-road.
