Would like to discuss Husky TE310 & TE450, years 2007-2013

Ol'HuskyRider and especially Motosportz, great pics! Motosportz, your bikes are shinier than any brand new ones I've seen! Beautiful!

All, you've provided great input. Thanks!

Colombia510, your statement, "If you like to trouble shoot electrical gremlins in the forest alone then get a efi model...," cracks me up. This IS a fear of mine. Packing fuses sounds like a great idea. How about packing an injector, a fuel pump, and a computer? Do you carry any of these? I have no idea what these parts cost but I bet the total price of all three exceeds $1000.00. That's a lot of expensive parts to carry around for several years until you might need them.

I was wanting the TE310 originally because I thought it was lighter, but now I've learned that it's not. The 450/449's and 510/511's weigh close to the same. I think I need to open up to the possibility of a 510/511 as well.

There is a 2006 TE510 on Craigslist (Orange County, CA), for $2900.00. A little older than what I thought I wanted, but this is a great price. Mileage not stated. http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/4279199826.html

This is an interesting pair of TE450's. http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/4226897361.html

Here's the one I'm considering. Great conversation with the owner. We talked more about trails and the desert than we did the bike. http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/4278902142.html

Last one of the crop. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/mcy/4292468653.html

That covers the current crop of used TE 449/450/510/511, for So Cal.

Then there are a number of 310's in the area for around $4500.00, as well.

There are a couple of new "blow out" 511's around. Still lots of "blow out" 310's around.

Just an FYI. I went from a 09 TXC510 to a 13 TE310R. I think I weighed about 4kg difference between the two, 310 being lighter. Regardless, the (11,12,13,) 310 feels MUCH lighter to ride. Much more flickable, will change direction easier and doesn't wear me out as much. 310 likes to be ridden in the upper RPM, kinda 2 stroke like. It just depends on what you like, big bore torque that can be lugged around and ridden for longer distance at high speed or fast revving, exciting single track weapon that is quicker and easier to handle in the tight stuff. I have more fun on the 310.

Boogie, how tall are you and how much do you weigh? I'm wondering if this has anything to do with it. I'm wondering if my size nudges me towards the bigger bike. I'm 6'4" 220lbs.

Last trip out, I rode a friend's Yamaha WR250 (2005). I loved it! Nimble and plenty of power on the goat trails in the desert (rocky single tracks in the desert hills).

The last bike I owned was a 1984 WR510 (2-stroke). I loved this bike too.

Hell, I have no idea where I will use the thing! A buddy wants explore the Death Valley area of California. Sounds like adventure riding to me, but I'm game.

I just looked at the 2013 449/511. That avant-garde tank location is not appealing to me. I'm not going to buy one of these.

I'm 6'3" 236lbs (265lbs with gear). I use lower footpegs and clamps that move my bars forward and up which give me more room than the stock 510.

I'm usually the biggest guy on the smallest bike most rides. lol

I kept my 510 for months after getting the 310 just incase I didn't like the small bore... it collected dust in the shed so I sold it (510 was still a great bike and awesome in the open terrain)

The real answer is: 310 + a 450/510/449/511. Buy two, see which one you ride more

Don't get me wrong...I like the 310 when I feel like riding it like it needs to be ridden. It's the days I just want to loaf around that I find it lacking. Keep it wound up like a 250 2-stroke and it rocks.

Boogie, I hear you! No man can own just one pair of Levi's. Same for his bike - I mean bikes - I mean bike collection.

It is interesting to hear your perspective. You actually came from the bigger bike. I will be thinking about your point all evening now.

There's also a 2012 barely used TE310 that I'm looking at. Price is close to that of the 2009 TE450, I mentioned in my opening post.

In California, the TE450/510 were factory street legal starting in 2006. I ride in SoCal and would not consider a bike that wasn't CA street legal. It opens up a lot more riding options to be plated.

Motosportz, that's good to hear. I do like the mass centralization effort. I appreciate your thumbs-up in regard to this bike too. This discussion has made want to get out a ride that much more! Not much negative being shared at all, which is great! There's a reason we all like Huskys. Damn good bikes!

I didn't like the tank location either, and that is one of the reasons I went with the 310. When riding single track I don't think the 310 can be beat, but for putzing around on fire roads, a 449 or even a 511 would be better. The 310 is just geared too narrow for that kind of riding.

I think a bigger decision for me would be that the older huskies were made to be rebuilt every damn race. Tank comes off with one bolt, seat and side plastics can go with it. Boom 2 minutes and the bodywork/tank is off the bike. Now we can do everything but the bottom end with the engine in place..

I am taking delivery of my 2014 511 at the end of the week, the main thing I am already groaning about is how some components are buried behind others and the bike is going to be a major pita to trouble shoot or work on.

That said, its a new bike, hope I don't have to do any real work on it

I had a older 450 and seriously the thing was a work of art for a mechanic. Never gave me any trouble, but due to the reputation I also bought a used spare motor "just in case" lol.

Huskylove, nice! I hope you ride the wheels off that thing! - in the good way.

Where do you live? What sort of riding/trips will you be enjoying your new Husky on?

How often do you buy a new bike? Is it an epic event as it is with me, or do you have a garage full of them, and you've bought a lot of bikes over the years?

No sir I usually only have 1 motorcycle at a time. Last march I sold one car (I had 2) and took some money I had to purchase my dream bike (2010 Ducati Hypermotard Evo) and sold at the time my 450 Husqvarna supermoto. I paid for my dream bike cash it had 500 miles on it and was like new. I have been riding it sparingly because I love it so much to keep the miles low, it is at only 3,500 miles so far. I love it. But I realize it is limiting me with my rides as it is a big powerful sport type bike with long travel suspension. I want something that is a bit less work to ride.

SO, I am picking up a te511 (financing a portion of it) to use as my daily ride. Then park the ducati and other vehicles to save insurance on them. I will hopefully be doing lots of dual sport trips the first couple of months, few running around town miles...Then will be purchasing supermoto wheels and parts. Use the bike as a street supermoto, and swap the dual sport wheels for a month or two in the "winter" and go do some longer rides. Kind of a do it all bike. They crash very well, insurance is 1/3 my other bike, gets better fuel mileage, easier to park, I can attach storage without denoting the look of the bike much! Plus I get to wear my MX boots and helmet everywhere again!

This is my first brand new bike ever purchased as I am only 25. Actually first new vehicle ever. So it is a big deal for me. I hope the bike does it all like I plan as I do not ride freeway more than 15 miles at a time really. So it will be my mini-adventure bike

Good luck in your decision there are other factors with buying new vs used I wont go into, I just wanted something with good reliability (this is why I have not considered a 511 till recently they are in very high regard for mechanical reliability it seems). Also for 6500$! It is HALF the price of a ktm 690! And about 60% the cost of a ktm 500! After tax both those bikes are nearly 12k here with dealers not wanting to deal with you at all because "the bikes sell soon as we get them". VS Husqvarna dealers are trying to get rid of the bmw stuff and go to the 12000$ ktm's to make some money!

Well that is the point, one is designed to be worked on every race day...the other is designed to be put together and ridden! I was not knocking either really. I love the ease of access to any parts on the 450/510 but love the idea of not having to fiddle with it ala 449 511