What exactly are the TE510's meant to be used for?

For noise control, a Dual Sport helmet with a visor is much better then a MX helmet with goggles, and it keeps your face safe from those pesky sticks.

Even with ear plugs these bikes are still very loud. And thats just one more annoyance to add (wearing earplugs) which gets very irritating after a few hours of riding. You could get custom molded ones that might be a bit more comfortable, but again its just one bandaid to a list of issues I have that I don't with other bikes.

I have both, and one is not better than the other. They very much have their own place to be used. MX helmets are typically much lighter, slimmer and have much better ventilation to cope with low speeds. The sun visor is especially useful at times and can make the difference between clipping sticks/leaves/branches and entirely missing them, cause you know... you were blinded...
Most of that doesn't matter on the road, obstacles are much larger and typically aren't littered all over the place at face height, so a sun visor isn't as necessary. Speeds are much higher so ventilation isn't as important. And you typically don't move around anywhere near as much, so the helmet being heavier doesn't matter either, in fact it can be beneficial in cutting down wind buffeting.

If you swap the helmets around they both suck. MX helmets are way too noisy and catch heaps of wind on the road causing a lot more neck strain. Road helmets when used offroad are heavy, hot and provide less protection due to no sun visor = stick in your face, or if you flip the visor up to get some relief from the heat then the stick goes in your eye. Bottom line is i've got both and i've used both for all different situations. They completely suck outside of their element and its not a solution to just swap them, it's a compromise

A dual sport helmet is basically an MX helmet with a street bike like visor. I have one of these.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/35918/i/afx-fx-39-ds-strike-helmet
The visor makes it tolerable to ride at higher speeds for a while on the street, but still flows a lot more air than a street lid.

Not sure why your TE 510 is noisy, mine was quiet and pleasing to the ear.

The Arrow pipe in the p/u kit for the '08 TE's sound excellent, the later model stock pipes do sound much louder and raspier. That's just the way it is.

To the OP...

Plated dirt bike...in my area we can't plate 2t bikes, this is the next best thing IMO. Sure you suffer on the street, but who buys these things for the street?? My time is limited on the 510 so far but I can see these bikes excelling at desert racing(baja1000), hare scrambles, 2 track, sand and FSRs.

With a recluse clutch, I have mine geared for single track. I do use first gear for hills rather than second like most of my friends but don't have a problem with that. Top speed is over 160KPH (100mph) and cruises OK at 100KPH (60mph). Who needs more? My only complaint is that it's kind of heavy to lift over obstacles and out of the mud for an old fart like me at 68. My TE300 cured that problem but I'm keeping my 510 as a KLR650 clone. I've never owned any dirt bike where I didn't wish for a higher top gear for more relaxed cruising.

Had an 05 and 06 TE 510, loved the gearing for the woods always had a right gear in the tool bag. Only issue I had was that it was harder to change direction than a smaller bore bike (same for all makes ). My TE450 was a better bike in that department and it spooled up quicker as well. Over all it was a good beast and not at all intimidating. As for front end float at speed, it was cured by dropping the forks up the clamps one notch (not keen on dampers).

hello folks
Soon I will ride my 500 SWM into trails of Spain, rocks, muds and then in Morocco.
The schedule says maintenance every 2000 k , the dealer says you might change oil, filter ,take care of the stuff ( used ot it) and double it .
What do you think ?
the 500 has 51 HP, is supposed to be cooler and more " trail" than the husky . the CDI course is more linear .
EFI had changed ( but I do not know exactly how)

Probably true re the ecu. My SWM 650 R has a better mapping feel than my previous TE630. I think it is just a techno improvement based on 6-7 extra years of R&D on engine mapping etc.

thanks.
I will ask the dealer about that and the schedule too, but the guy is very "cool" with this ...
He really trusts these SWM


he maintenance schedule in the Owner's Manual for the "standard motorcycle, street legal (with limited power engine)" shows an initial service at 620 miles (1000 km) and then service every 3,100 miles (5,000 km) thereafter. Wow, those are long intervals for someone like me who services my dirt bikes every 500 miles. I said the same thing about my '08 TE 610.


http://rickramsey.net/TE310mods.htm#imstank.
II do not know what is the "limited power engine " anyway

I change my oil on my 510 every other ride off road. Cheap insurance to me. Clean air filter every ride unless the ride wasn’t dusty. Check all your pivot points for grease. I don’t know how SWM lubed them from the factory, but husky pretty much forgot to. I have been using belray waterproof grease since 09’ and have had great luck with it. Every time I pull the linkage, swing arm and such, everything always looks great.

Good advice 268fords.
Of course I cannot do that on a 5000 trail ride .
But it will be interesting to kwow about he grease points . Will ask the dealer .

I would also recommend pulling your wheels and replacing the grease in your bearings. Every time I check mine, I’m surprised with how well the belray grease protects them. They still look brand new and I’ve gone through many water crossings over the last 9 years.