TE449 Finishes The 2015 Dakar

[Dangermouse449]

I was just scrolling through looking at bikes that made the finish of this year's Dakar.

I clicked on 37th placed Fran Errázuriz listed as a Husqvarna expecting to see a white KTM,

but to my surprise he rode a TE449!

Great to see someone on one of the Italian bikes amongst all the new gear.

I dip my hat to you sir



http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2015/us/rider/073.html

Not without some trouble!!

 

[Normann]

David, he's rider from Bianchi Prata team.
https://www.facebook.com/bianchiprata.team?fref=ts

 

[Huskynoobee]

The bike was having so much fun, looks like it decided to finish on its own!

 

[duggoey]

Proof they can be tough enough machines to last that crazy race. Very glad to see the motors will live on.
Go Toby Price by the way, 3rd place for a first time rookee and best place for an Aussie since Andy Caldecott.

 

[OlderHuskyRider]

The 449 and 511 bikes will never be Italian to me. Italian is 2010 and back.

449/511 engines, designed by BMW Motorrad of Germany. Which outsourced the engine production to Kymco which actually produces the engines in Taiwan.

 

[Dangermouse449]

Regardless, orphaned by all, still a finisher!
2 of 4 bikes finished, not bad for a non-factory outfit.

And yes duggoey, awesome effort for Toby Price.
I doubt we'll get to see much of him on the Aus circuit anymore now the world knows who he is
Of course here, we've always known he was fast.

 

[robertaccio]

The 449 and 511 bikes will never be Italian to me. Italian is 2010 and back.

449/511 engines, designed by BMW Motorrad of Germany. Which outsourced the engine production to Kymco of Korea. Which actually produces the engines in Taiwan.

Agree but with one exception KYMCO was and is a Taiwanese based and started company......(not Korean)

 

[OlderHuskyRider]

Agree but with one exception KYMCO was and is a Taiwanese based and started company......(not Korean)

Sorry, I edited my post and add this:
KYMCO or Kwang Yang Motor Co, Ltd (Chinese: 光陽工業; pinyin: Guāng Yáng Gōng Yè), is aTaiwanese company that manufactures motor scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs for worldwide distribution. Founded in 1963 after splitting from Honda, KYMCO originally made parts for Honda. The company built its first complete scooter in 1970 and began marketing under the "KYMCO" brand name in 1992. In the 2000s, Kymco became the largest scooter manufacturer in Taiwan, and the fifth largest scooter and manufacturer worldwide.[1] KYMCO's headquarters and factory are located in Kaohsiung,Taiwan, with about 3000 employees, and producing more than 570,000 vehicles per year. The company has production facilities in Jakarta, Petaling Jaya, Shanghai, Changsha and Chengdu.
In early 2008, KYMCO was chosen by BMW to supply the engines for their G450 X Enduro bike.[2]

 

[Dangermouse449]

.....which were then assembled in Europe.

Whatever the engine country of origin, assembly etc, the motorcycle production line was in Italy, that's where the bikes rolled out the door finished.

Every manufacturer get parts suppliers to make things for them, GMs V6 Alloytec engine's block is cast in Mexico, assembled here in Australia and shipped to the local assembly plants around the world. Does that mean the car less Gm??

The Prata team got 2 of their 4 old model bikes to the end of the toughest rally in the world.
A brilliant effort!!

 

[Tinken]

Only the castings are created in Taiwan due to their state of the art technology in injection molding. It wasn't until years later that KTM announced having this technology. This makes the 449 cases lighter and stronger than traditional sand casts. All other parts manufactured in Germany and then assembled in Italy.

 

[grinder96]

I found my TE449 to be a blast, dependable and easy to maintain!!! I don't care where it came from, I liked the specs and was happy to have had one and would get another someday without question!!

If curious why I sold, I exchanged it for a TE630 to do a different kind of riding!

 

[GFJ]

There was a rally prepared one, prepared by Simon pavey from south wales in the uk, up for sale in the UK on eBay recently.

Had only 20 miles on it, as new. Full ohlins set up, aux tanks, roadbook etc. Started at £18k, and ended up being reduced to £12.5k. Still don't think it sold.

I had seen it in the flesh as I'd bought his stock 449. Looked a very tidy piece of kit.

 

[duggoey]

There was a rally prepared one, prepared by Simon pavey from south wales in the uk, up for sale in the UK on eBay recently.

Had only 20 miles on it, as new. Full ohlins set up, aux tanks, roadbook etc. Started at £18k, and ended up being reduced to £12.5k. Still don't think it sold.

I had seen it in the flesh as I'd bought his stock 449. Looked a very tidy piece of kit.

Pavey is an aussie. Although his best finish was something around 50th many years ago. Any bike that can finish the distance and have a good go at the specials shows some level of decent design and craftsmanship.

 

[duggoey]

I was watching a quick interview of Toby Price post Dakar two days ago, KTM factory racing strips every bike down to the frame and basically rebuilds them daily during the race. Bet the 449 didnt get that in the unsupported position.

 

[Dangermouse449]

I was watching a quick interview of Toby Price post Dakar two days ago, KTM factory racing strips every bike down to the frame and basically rebuilds them daily during the race. Bet the 449 didnt get that in the unsupported position.

Yes, it's clear that a deep set of pockets certainly helps in these types of events. (though not always a given)
Take nothing away from Toby though, he's a freak & super fast. Especially for a guy who broke his neck pracitcing the Baja only a coulpe of years ago.

I used to drive rally cars here in Austrailia, I'm no world beater but we used to do ok on the longer championship rounds over three days.
I had a super reliable Datsun 1600 (P510) that went ok. There were faster guys than us, but you have to finish to get a trophy