Will a DS be important for the new KTM based huskys?

+1 to ghte and duggoey. The 610 hit a sweetspot IMHO, and the 630/650 moved away from that. For my purposes I'd rather have less weight and less power than the 690 offers. That said, the 690 is the best now available. It is $$$, though. And orange. And it has a few of its own maintenance quirks, a tail that needs reinforcing to carry luggage, expensive parts, and limited fuel tank options. My friend owns a 690 and he was impressed by the the 701 concept's larger-looking tank. Here's wondering what the future holds.

Plated Husqaberg 501/690 would be real nice, and needed by a lot of people. I am a Husky head but would need to have plated bikes available to stick with Husky in the future. I am lucky enough to have a plated hard core dirt bike with the TE 510 and a world class DS with the TE 630. I admit (please don't give me too many lashings, lol) I would like to have the new Husky 501...if it had a plate.

Thank you Johnrg! I am one of the older riders as you describe!

I am disappointed there is currently no equivalent to the former TE250R. The bike had caught my interest with the lighting and lower seat. A lot of my current riding is a mix of back roads and off road. So I like to ride to the dirt. One comment about the bike "90% dirt 10% street. You guys know these bikes, what exactly are they saying?

oops forgot to mention I voted: Yes this will make me a customer

"One comment about the bike "90% dirt 10% street. You guys know these bikes, what exactly are they saying?"

Basically they are saying that if you intend to use this bike mainly for off-road, that's how it was designed. It's a full-on dirt bike that has had the minimum done to make it street legal.

For marketing aspect alone a street legal plate is very important. I can plate a WR 144 but not so in other places. As far as the Japenese not offering a good duel sport, let them lag behind the times. I would like to see a cheaper version duel sport with a long life engine. AKA the Terra.

The Berg 570 was only just within street legal limits within the EU and It´s highly unlikely that EU authorities´ll contemplate accepting any further the sale of bikes that are only destined to be used with a power-up kit. So that´s put most manufacturers off further development of plated DS and super motos. Even the Japanese have stopped making them. Looks as though we´ll just have to hold on to what we´ve got. Although CCM says that they´ll be coming out with a super moto version of their new gp-450 with the Kymco 449.

Thanks ptkatoomer! A real dirt bike as opposed to a play toy

I was thinking, surely they don't mean the engine/gearing could not deal with varying speeds only up to 60ish for 80 miles or so.

I definately would not want to be on a DRZ or a KLR on some of the so called DS trails I have got caught on in CA, love my plated race bike Dual Sport. Plenty of 150+ mile rides, would not have any other bike.

the new husky four strokes have plastic subframes. Seems like converting them to duel sport with rear racks is out

I was thinking the same thing but then again I don't think the bike is designed for the dual sport crowd. Maybe in the future?

And they can bend a little and recover.

oh ok I had no idea.