Calling all 2013 TE449 owners - Would you buy it again?

[Husqmarkus]

Playing on a hunch here, but maybe you too can spot the oil breather bottle on the Yamaha, Honda, KTM, Kawasaki, etc...
I know, I know, you said that You have never experienced it, but now you have seen it! See how much better you feel inside? All warm and fuzzy. quote]


Now were these modifications due to oil puking out from manufacturers specified capacities? Nice toes btw . Or are these modifications to make the bike carry more than the specified oil capacity? And yes, I do feel "warm and fuzzy" from seeing the modifications.

 

[Tinken]

Haha, I have no idea who's toes those are... Those are overflow bottles. The Yamaha pukes oil so bad, a oil return line had to be used.

 

[Motosportz]

Haha, I have no idea who's toes those are... Those are overflow bottles. The Yamaha pukes oil so bad, a oil reurn line had to be used.

Large single cylinder motors making a lot of power and RPM in small cases with small oil lead to oil exhausting issues. We asked for light powerful 4 strokes and we get what we asked for. A XR400 will not puke oil but weighs 2x as much and makes 1/3rd the power.

The Yamaha pukes oil so bad, a oil return line had to be used.

which should be well documented as Ty raced the crap out of those for several years.

 

[Husqmarkus]

Haha, I have no idea who's toes those are... Those are overflow bottles. The Yamaha pukes oil so bad, a oil reurn line had to be used.

Well then I stand corrected . If Honda and Yamaha puke oil out from factory then there is no reason why Husky shouldn't as well - after all, Huskies are much prettier to look at

 

[Radar]

My Husky will not puke oil unless I over fill it. My dealer gave me the revised oil fill instructions. maybe there is a typo in the printed manual.

 

[TooOld]

I don't know what all the fuss is about...as I've already said, my non-US spec bike goes really well. When on the Dealer floor, it was stock...standard exhaust can, indicators etc etc. When i took it home it was well set up with the Akro can that is supplied with the bike, Race Map 2 installed, indicators, horn, etc removed, no goofy looking mirrors either. All put into a box with the stock muffler where they all belong.
After reading some of the concerns re. oil level, airbox etc etc, he just told me not to worry about it, he is aware of all these idiosyncrasies and has set it up properly. Very encouraging. So I've ridden it to break it in, had just the one (so far) challenging trail ride, ridden on the road to and from trails and over some of the many gravel roads around here. On the sealed road I've no need to go over 50 - 55 mph, 'cos it's very twisty anyway, and doesn't take long to get to the gravel roads where the yee-haa begins.
This machine looks great (IMO), handles great, stacks of grunt (for me anyway), starts, stops, and gives me heaps of pleasure. A Top dealer (Though 100 miles away, why worry about that ? )...the price was right, so what's not to like?
IF I had to spend a grand more to "fix" things, and I still had to get my riding gear around another grand or more, then it would be still a under my next choice - a yam WR450, possibly an orange - dearer still..as I ask, what's the fuss?

 

[Motosportz]

as I ask, what's the fuss?

Those that don't own one seem to want to talk trash about it because of where the motor came from and who designed some if it. Thats where the fuss originates.

It is for sure a bastard red headed step child but that does not make it a bad bike.

 

[Rearwheelin]

Mine only has 850 miles on it. If it goes to 20,000 it will be worth it lol

 

[TooOld]

Well, I'll let you all on another reason I bought this Machine, apart from price, Good Dealer, looks, etc.
BMW.
WHAT? I hear all the Bee Emm bashers yelp! Well, BM-designed race engines in the F1, WSB, and their boxer engines, the newer F series, GS series -boxers and singles,- their cars etc etc, all have a generally excellent reliability. This Husqvarna with a BM designed, Husky modified engine, to me suggests it will be reliable. General top quality components, combined with all in the first sentence, must turn out to be a near perfect machine for me. And so far it has.
I don't care if Kymco Taiwan built it. Heaps more faith in this fact than if it was on mainland China. Quality seems good so far, They would have to be up to BMW quality standards at least. I don't mind too much that Husky has been sold (again), or if SP has it now. Same as if Honda or Yamaha or Cagiva or.... had bought it. It isn't going to change what my bike is. I don't like that the Italian workers are being treated like this, as one big gripe.
I doubt I'll be getting another "dirt" bike for a long time, if at all,and as I'm near 59, my Wife would probably leave.
For future buyers, this move will probably be a good thing for racing etc, but I don't do that anymore. Those buyers always have a choice of whatever is on the market.
My main thought in the 'buy-out' is concern for present Husky dealers - I hope they don't get shafted, and this too would affect Husky customers more, in my opinion.
So, for most of the above is why I bought one in the first instance, and so yes I would buy another '12 or '13 449TE. I don't know what is meant when commentators refer to the "direction BMW is taking Husqvarna", but I'm sure happy I grabbed one of these machines on their (BMW) way.I'm not defending BM, or anyone for that matter; just some more random thoughts. Cheers.

 

[Radar]

Well, I'll let you all on another reason I bought this Machine, apart from price, Good Dealer, looks, etc.
BMW.
WHAT? I hear all the Bee Emm bashers yelp! Well, BM-designed race engines in the F1, WSB, and their boxer engines, the newer F series, GS series -boxers and singles,- their cars etc etc, all have a generally excellent reliability. This Husqvarna with a BM designed, Husky modified engine, to me suggests it will be reliable. General top quality components, combined with all in the first sentence, must turn out to be a near perfect machine for me. And so far it has.
I don't care if Kymco Taiwan built it. Heaps more faith in this fact than if it was on mainland China. Quality seems good so far, They would have to be up to BMW quality standards at least. I don't mind too much that Husky has been sold (again), or if SP has it now. Same as if Honda or Yamaha or Cagiva or.... had bought it. It isn't going to change what my bike is. I don't like that the Italian workers are being treated like this, as one big gripe.
I doubt I'll be getting another "dirt" bike for a long time, if at all,and as I'm near 59, my Wife would probably leave.
For future buyers, this move will probably be a good thing for racing etc, but I don't do that anymore. Those buyers always have a choice of whatever is on the market.
My main thought in the 'buy-out' is concern for present Husky dealers - I hope they don't get shafted, and this too would affect Husky customers more, in my opinion.
So, for most of the above is why I bought one in the first instance, and so yes I would buy another '12 or '13 449TE. I don't know what is meant when commentators refer to the "direction BMW is taking Husqvarna", but I'm sure happy I grabbed one of these machines on their (BMW) way.I'm not defending BM, or anyone for that matter; just some more random thoughts. Cheers.

I agree with you 100%...except you are not too old.

 

[Motosportz]

Well, I'll let you all on another reason I bought this Machine, apart from price, Good Dealer, looks, etc.
BMW.
WHAT? I hear all the Bee Emm bashers yelp! Well, BM-designed race engines in the F1, WSB, and their boxer engines, the newer F series, GS series -boxers and singles,- their cars etc etc, all have a generally excellent reliability. This Husqvarna with a BM designed, Husky modified engine, to me suggests it will be reliable. General top quality components, combined with all in the first sentence, must turn out to be a near perfect machine for me. And so far it has.
I don't care if Kymco Taiwan built it. Heaps more faith in this fact than if it was on mainland China. Quality seems good so far, They would have to be up to BMW quality standards at least. I don't mind too much that Husky has been sold (again), or if SP has it now. Same as if Honda or Yamaha or Cagiva or.... had bought it. It isn't going to change what my bike is. I don't like that the Italian workers are being treated like this, as one big gripe.
I doubt I'll be getting another "dirt" bike for a long time, if at all,and as I'm near 59, my Wife would probably leave.
For future buyers, this move will probably be a good thing for racing etc, but I don't do that anymore. Those buyers always have a choice of whatever is on the market.
My main thought in the 'buy-out' is concern for present Husky dealers - I hope they don't get shafted, and this too would affect Husky customers more, in my opinion.
So, for most of the above is why I bought one in the first instance, and so yes I would buy another '12 or '13 449TE. I don't know what is meant when commentators refer to the "direction BMW is taking Husqvarna", but I'm sure happy I grabbed one of these machines on their (BMW) way.I'm not defending BM, or anyone for that matter; just some more random thoughts. Cheers.

So you bought the bike on the merits of it being a good bike and from a manufacturer that you feel has a good history of building good stuff. Good sound reasons to do so and ended up with a very good bike you enjoy. This is how I pick bikes also. Enjoy. I actually bought my TR650 (BWM) because of how good my 511 turned out to be. Pretty impressed with that bike as well.

Oh, and for the record I never really knew or cared about BMW before all this nor do I really have a feeling one way or another for the company. I did own a K100 and Rode a K1300R (sweet machine) and thought both were very good. That was my total BMW experience before hand. Well I did try a G650 once and thought it was a good street bike. there stuff seems overly complicated but always forward thinking and pushing the limits on ideas. I like forward thinking.

 

[LandofMotards]

So you bought the bike on the merits of it being a good bike and from a manufacturer that you feel has a good history of building good stuff. Good sound reasons to do so and ended up with a very good bike you enjoy. This is how I pick bikes also. Enjoy. I actually bought my TR650 (BWM) because of how good my 511 turned out to be. Pretty impressed with that bike as well.

I like your opinions but you need to stop throwing out your fleet of bikes. Thats probably why he was upset. I know I'm jealous lol

 

[Motosportz]

I like your opinions but you need to stop throwing out your fleet of bikes. Thats probably why he was upset. I know I'm jealous lol

Ha ha ha I have actually slimmed my bike pile down quite a bit.

 

[LandofMotards]

Ha ha ha I have actually slimmed my bike pile down quite a bit.

I don't know how much longer I can hold out, a Vespa with off road tires may be in my future lol.

 

[Motosportz]

Vespas are for girls you need to cause a Ruckus...

Or maybe you prefer the street version...

 

[henson802]

I simply don't read Mike hating it or others here. I must still have my sunglasses on.
You are also forgetting that until just recently the $40 remap was not available and MOST, not ALL, of us had to spend hundreds on tuners to make the thing run. Simple fact your glossing over.

Anyhow, I like mine for what it is, its served me well after mods and made me happy. I still wouldn't buy it or another product that needed tuners, ecu updates and exhaust mods to run when new. If I had known these things in 2011 I would have steered clear.
Here we are in 2013 and now it is well known they don't run or breath correctly until modified, its cheaper to fix these things now thanks to the likes of ZipTy and others.

I don't want a fight here, its an opinion from someone who DOES own one.

This is very true. I've shared my feelings in other threads and don't want to be a negative nancy. But I will share my experience:

The nearest Husqvarna shop to me is 3 hour drive, and they had blank looks when I was talking about reflashing the ECU. My 2010 TE 250 still doesn't respond well when I twist the wrist fast to accelerate, it blebs more often then not.. and I have JD Tuner. Now I need reflash ECU to map #173 (sarcastic ya) and get a 12 port injector. I bought the bike thinking I could accelerate quick when I need to, but even after plunking down $400 for the JD Tuner at the time - changing sprocket, opening airbox, take off smog crud, and changing the tuning to recommended, and as others recommended, it still blebs. To me - that is a bike that isn't running to spec as it should when you buy a bike new. Not to mention the bottom end seized up. GRANTED, and I know my fault, I was changing oil at 600-800 miles (I ride a lot of road to get to trails, almost half and half).. I blame myself for that. But - I am not a hardcore rider. Even though it was powered up, I wasn't ever keeping revs above 6500 (as it would be if it wasn't powered up) for more then 3 seconds at a time.. and rarely would even do that. I still blame myself for the sieze, but not the blebs in the lower parts of the acceleration.

Regardless - I do like the bike. But I think if you don't have a knoweldgable, helpful dealer nearby , then you will have some headaches. And when I bought my 2010 TE250, it was advertised as Dual sport.. ala Yamaha WR250 .. that couldn't be further from the truth, two totally different animals.

 

[Motosportz]

This is very true. I've shared my feelings in other threads and don't want to be a negative nancy. But I will share my experience:

The nearest Husqvarna shop to me is 3 hour drive, and they had blank looks when I was talking about reflashing the ECU. My 2010 TE 250 still doesn't respond well when I twist the wrist fast to accelerate, it blebs more often then not.. and I have JD Tuner. Now I need reflash ECU to map #173 (sarcastic ya) and get a 12 port injector. I bought the bike thinking I could accelerate quick when I need to, but even after plunking down $400 for the JD Tuner at the time - changing sprocket, opening airbox, take off smog crud, and changing the tuning to recommended, and as others recommended, it still blebs. To me - that is a bike that isn't running to spec as it should when you buy a bike new. Not to mention the bottom end seized up. GRANTED, and I know my fault, I was changing oil at 600-800 miles (I ride a lot of road to get to trails, almost half and half).. I blame myself for that. But - I am not a hardcore rider. Even though it was powered up, I wasn't ever keeping revs above 6500 (as it would be if it wasn't powered up) for more then 3 seconds at a time.. and rarely would even do that. I still blame myself for the sieze, but not the blebs in the lower parts of the acceleration.

Regardless - I do like the bike. But I think if you don't have a knoweldgable, helpful dealer nearby , then you will have some headaches. And when I bought my 2010 TE250, it was advertised as Dual sport.. ala Yamaha WR250 .. that couldn't be further from the truth, two totally different animals.

Are you talking about a 449/511 or 310 here? Sounds like a 310 which has it's own set of issues. The 449/511 TE models will run pretty darn good with just the free included power up plug installed. And WAY better with the ECU remap and open muffler. As for DS there are two types, one is a race bike with a plate, (KTMs/TE310 etc) and one is a real Ds bike like the 300 plus pound Yamaha 250.

 

[henson802]

I was talking 250 sorry. But I've heard relatively same issues about needing reflash after uncorking. Which is fine if the dealership near you is good. But at least in the Northeast, they are few and far between.

Race bikes with a plate aren't dual sports, they are ENDURO bikes. And the Yamaha 250 barely hits 300 lbs with a full tank of fuel, I know cause my buddy has one. Very low maintenence, and when I hit on the accelerator, no blebs.

That's all I will say - Husqvarna are great bikes - but you definitely will need a handy dealership nearby imo.

 

[oregonsage]

Race bikes with a plate aren't dual sports, they are ENDURO bikes. And the Yamaha 250 barely hits 300 lbs with a full tank of fuel, I know cause my buddy has one. Very low maintenence, and when I hit on the accelerator, no blebs.

Weve had this discussion at length and there is no consistent definition of what a Dualsport vs Enduro vs Dual Purpose. Peruse a few manufacturers website and you will find no agreement on this point. Various sanctioning bodies rules arent much help either. This really does seem to be a case where the definition is understood differently depending on who you are and where you are.

When I hear Enduro this is the first thing that enters my mind....

 

[henson802]

Well - Enduro bikes are raced on and off road - whether that is older bikes or newer. Dual Sports / Dual Purpose are not raced but are able to go on and off.

That's how a lot of my off road riding friends interpret it at least. But yah - there is definitely a fuzzy line there.