Hi David , there is something you are missing here that kelly is not illustrating very well and that is the inertia of the motor. That difference accounts for your faster less tired feeling more than the actual weight difference. It also directly translates into the flickable feeling of your 250 more than the actual weight. An example of this comes from years ago when I liked to race, I always raced my husky 350 even though the weight difference was only 3 lbs. You could be blindfolded and not tell the difference when lifting the bikes, yet when you rode them you would swear the 610 was 40 lbs heavier. That is why the 450 feel sportier than a 510 and of course why the 250 feels sportier than the 450. Btw your TE 450 is not a pig, try a DRZ, that is a pig.
Yep and there is something with the way the weight is distributed or something as I know this 08 is heavy by motor cycle standards and it shows when you pick it up to load it or move it around the garage. But on the trail, this all goes away... pick up some speed, get the RPMs up, and it is light. I'm no mechanical engineer or anything , but however they engineered the bike seems to hide the weight alot in the corners. Probably something simple, but it works ... PS -- I get my friends to help me load \ unload it and I always like to read this article even though I'm not a 450 guy http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/135/1854/Motorcycle-Article/2008-Husqvarna-TC-450-Bike-Test.aspx
Just did a bunch of work on it prepping it for life outside the garage. Much more needed when parts show up. It's nice working on new bikes, they're clean! Swapped rad guards (BPD) from 510, changed to Motoz rear tire and Tubliss system (that kicked my ass all afternoon!), set rear sag, tied down Turntech battery, plastered stickers. Still need barkbusters (HDB's on the way), pipe guards (P3 on the way), skidplate (don't know yet, I don't like P3's coverage), disc guards (will swap my Motosportz front from 510, EE going on the rear), install the TrailTech Vapor when HDB stuff arrives and a few more things.
Been receiving upgrades over the last week and slowly getting it ready for the nastiness. HDB handguard setup with TT Vapor protector and mirrors. EE rear disc guard. UFO rear fender extension with EE plate mount. Installed temp, speed and rpm sensors for Vapor-RPM is erratic so need to adjust wraps on the plug wire. Waiting in pipe guards from P3 and haven't decided on a skidplate yet. P3's seems a little lean on the rear frame coverage, but better than stock. Will hold out for a bit to see what pops up in the next month as Motosportz and Hyde are both working on a version for this new model.
Sorry to reply to my own recent post, just noticed how the throttle housing is looking real vulnerable up there all by itself. Is there anything wrong with flipping it over to get it below the "sweep" zone?
Thanks Dean, When are we going to get all these 250's together? I need to get this thing into the wild regardless. Been nursing one stupid injury after another lately. Sucks getting older.
Hey pops I'm lovin' that Motoz S/T! It loves mud and mucky watery stuff for sure. Just had it out for a couple hours this morning at the local buzz pit playing around. Am running it at 6lb's with Tubliss system. Way better side knobs stickage than the stock Enduro Comp 3. I can tell I'm going to get faster on this bike than I've ever been on the 510. It just flicks around berms and doesn't wear me down like the Wolf did. Forks are pretty darn sweet so far, can't imagine what this thing is going to feel like after it's broken in. Only consistent issue right now is a bog when gassing it from 3-3.5k rpm, trying to get the front end up. Forks have saved me so far I should probably be riding it a little higher in the rpm range too. Minor.
