2009 610 TE. Am i making a mistake ?

[Blazes]

I have just bought a 2009 619TE. One of the last one's here in South Africa. Never ridden one as they seem scarce and NO demos available?
Have a 2007 450 TE and loving it to bits--My first 4strk Husky. The reason i am asking if i have made a mistake is the following: I have just sold my XR 650 R was too big for a Fun and play bike for me. And the Kickstart I have also put my 650/ 2005 Dakar up for sale and it seems that it will also be finding a new home soon. I want to replace the Dakar with the 610. The Dakar has been a bike i have been using to take groups out on Tours and has served me well. But just too heavy for the type of Tours i have started doing. The importer told me that they are launching a 630 later this year--i have had bad luck with the first released bikes and thus will maybe look at one later.
Question: What can i expect from the motor--powerwise to the XR. I know the Dakar is flat. I love the more adventure orientated bike and am hoping that the 610 will do it for me. I also see that there is more than enough positive input regarding mods i would need to do--bash plate etc. Info will be greatly appreciated--Must admit i am excited

 

[Doormandan]

You are on the right track with the 610, mine has done very well in tight areas/sand and the bike has great road manors with the 6th gear also. You will find the bike has the power and the suspension too make it fell like a dirt bike( perhaps a slight bid heaver)with power that is usable.

Great Choice

Dan L

 

[rajobigguy]

One of my best riding buddies had a 650R and my bike is a '06 610TE. His 650 was geared slightly lower than my Husky and had a little more bottom end hit but ran out of legs pretty quick. The 650 has a little better turning radius at slow speeds (easier to make a u-turn on a tight trail) but is much less stabil at higher speeds. Suspension on the Husky seems better. Husky vibrates a lot less. Stock honda generator can't power anything much more powerful than a flashlight while the Husky can run a couple of Super Oscars and still have enough juice to run an on board automatic ice cube maker. Both bikes are in the neighbor hood of 300#s and watching my buddy trying to kickstart the 650 while supporting it on a nasty sidehill was entertainment at it's finest. They are both good bikes but the 610 is much more refined and versatile. Any buyers remorse that you're experiencing right now will fade away quikly after you've spent a few miles on the bike.

 

[North]

They are great bikes, I love mine.

 

[Blazes]

One of my best riding buddies had a 650R and my bike is a '06 610TE. His 650 was geared slightly lower than my Husky and had a little more bottom end hit but ran out of legs pretty quick. The 650 has a little better turning radius at slow speeds (easier to make a u-turn on a tight trail) but is much less stabil at higher speeds. Suspension on the Husky seems better. Husky vibrates a lot less. Stock honda generator can't power anything much more powerful than a flashlight while the Husky can run a couple of Super Oscars and still have enough juice to run an on board automatic ice cube maker. Both bikes are in the neighbor hood of 300#s and watching my buddy trying to kickstart the 650 while supporting it on a nasty sidehill was entertainment at it's finest. They are both good bikes but the 610 is much more refined and versatile. Any buyers remorse that you're experiencing right now will fade away quikly after you've spent a few miles on the bike.

If the Husky vibrates less than the Honda ---I will be in Heaven--Found the Honda smoother than the Dakar. Much less stable at higher speed ? What speed are we talking about ? I have NO clue as to the Top speed of the 610. My Dakar could run 167kmh on the GPS. The Honda could easily do 170kmh on the GPS.
The Honda was very thirsty compared to the Dakar and would get very hot in technical riding. Did not bother to do anything technical with the Dakkie--Just not worth dropping it.

 

[xymotic]

If the Husky vibrates less than the Honda ---I will be in Heaven--Found the Honda smoother than the Dakar. Much less stable at higher speed ? What speed are we talking about ? I have NO clue as to the Top speed of the 610. My Dakar could run 167kmh on the GPS. The Honda could easily do 170kmh on the GPS.
The Honda was very thirsty compared to the Dakar and would get very hot in technical riding. Did not bother to do anything technical with the Dakkie--Just not worth dropping it.

I ditched a Dakar for the 610. I was just flat tired of picking up the Dakar. I could do it once or twice a day, but then the ride wasn't any fun.

the 610 is not as nice as the Dakar on the Highway. The Dakar was 90 MPH all day long. The husky seems a little twitchy at speeds above 70. In LA we have grooved concrete and it gets a headshake above 70. (I blame the 908 front) HOWEVER, on decent tarmac, it will go. I have dropped a tooth on the front sprocket to a 14 (I think) and last weekend I had it to 104 mph (gps). But cruise is 70-75.

If the Dakar is 30% better on road, the Husky is 2X better on dirt roads, and on singletrack or rocks it's 10x the bike. In sand, there's just no comparison, the Dakar was not fun in sand.

For Farkles, it really doesn't need much, hanguards, a skidplate (I like the Up-Tite) a better seat (just like the Dakar) and maybe the PMB rack or Giant-loop bags. (either or but not both) and a different headlight

I can't compare to the XR but it has WAY more power than the Dakar, and there are less vibes in the bars than the Dakar had. And the only time I feel heat from the bike is if I'm jammed forward riding two up. I'm pretty certain the XR POURS heat off the engine onto the rider, no?

 

[Blazes]

I ditched a Dakar for the 610. I was just flat tired of picking up the Dakar. I could do it once or twice a day, but then the ride wasn't any fun.

the 610 is not as nice as the Dakar on the Highway. The Dakar was 90 MPH all day long. The husky seems a little twitchy at speeds above 70. In LA we have grooved concrete and it gets a headshake above 70. (I blame the 908 front) HOWEVER, on decent tarmac, it will go. I have dropped a tooth on the front sprocket to a 14 (I think) and last weekend I had it to 104 mph (gps). But cruise is 70-75.

If the Dakar is 30% better on road, the Husky is 2X better on dirt roads, and on singletrack or rocks it's 10x the bike. In sand, there's just no comparison, the Dakar was not fun in sand.

For Farkles, it really doesn't need much, hanguards, a skidplate (I like the Up-Tite) a better seat (just like the Dakar) and maybe the PMB rack or Giant-loop bags. (either or but not both) and a different headlight

I can't compare to the XR but it has WAY more power than the Dakar, and there are less vibes in the bars than the Dakar had. And the only time I feel heat from the bike is if I'm jammed forward riding two up. I'm pretty certain the XR POURS heat off the engine onto the rider, no?

. Thank's so far, i am feeling at ease already. Yes the Sand was a issue. I fortunately have ridden a few desert races in the old days with my 2smk 500XC huskies and actually love thick sand. But when i started riding the sand with my 450Te. What Sand. Seems like by what i hear the 610 is more dirt orientated Just What i need.