What Is The BEST Most Reliable Husky Daul Sport Ever Made By The Italians

[Norman Foley]

Does the E stand for Electric start ? Any big 4 stroke has to have Electric start !

E stands for Electric start. This was to differentiate the TE610E DS, from the old left kick only TE610 Enduro bike. When the TE 610 DS was updated in '05, the TE610 Enduro bike was out of production, so they dropped the E on the DS version.

 

[mnb]

REAL Dual Sport? 2006+ TE610. Hands down. But there is no REAL Dual sport that weighs under 300 lbs. Why? The large low end on a REAL dual sport allows for more oil capacity, which greatly increases engine longevity and lengthens service intervals beyond a mere 600 miles.


A plated dirt bike isn't a dual sport in my book, so the TE250, 310, 450, 510 don't make the cut.

 

[reveille]

The Beta RS520 looks impressive indeed and I have heard good things about them too. The bad thing that I continually hear about the RS520 is poor fuel economy from the MX39 carb. I guess you could put a Exxon Valdez type tank to counter the poor range but then your weight takes a hit.

 

[K5PL5]

OK so I am use to lite 2 stroke bikes so I believe 275 loded up would be as heavy as I would want to go . I looked at the KTM500 looked very nice , checking out a Beta 520 in a few weeks , and for a husky I am thinking big engine 610 ? I am looking at dependability as very important , the Beta has oil for the engine / clutch separated , and it holds a lot of oil . Have not heard 1 thing yet bad about those bikes , I think the 610 husky has a decent record for reliability ?

The KTM 500 is an amazing bike but so its the price tag. It is worth looking at if you dont mind spending $10k for a sorted out dual sport that is VERY capable offroad. With that being said, I can hold my own on the 2013 TE449. Stock suspension is soft and I plan on sorting it out. Map 3 and a pipe really wakes it up and the way the rear wheel just grabs is awesome. CTS is pretty cool. The seat feels like a log splitter when Im out riding all day in supermoto mode. I never really notice it with the dirt wheels since Im usually standing up for that kind of riding.
I have to agree on the KLR. That thing is kind of like the Kawasaki Concours of dual sports. It does the job and keeps running forever.
Another bike Id like to share my comparison with the TE is a Suzuki DRZ400. Ive owned one and I gotta tell you, riding back to back a DRZ400S and a TE449...no comparison. The DRZ felt like a busted up old couch filled with sandbags.

 

[reveille]

Another bike Id like to share my comparison with the TE is a Suzuki DRZ400. Ive owned one and I gotta tell you, riding back to back a DRZ400S and a TE449...no comparison. The DRZ felt like a busted up old couch filled with sandbags.

That is an awesome analogy Thanks for the coffee shooting out of my nose

 

[jerbear610]

Most reliable dualsport? I went to hell and back on my 06' TE610 and she never let me down. Best true DS bike ever made. Do I like it better
than my 511 ? No, but they don't list the 511 as a "Dual Sport" but rather an Enduro. The 610, btw, is close to an XR or DRZ in reliability, imo.

 

[K5PL5]

Most reliable dualsport? I went to hell and back on my 06' TE610 and she never let me down. Best true DS bike ever made. Do I like it better
than my 511 ? No, but they don't list the 511 as a "Dual Sport" but rather an Enduro. The 610, btw, is close to an XR or DRZ in reliability, imo.

I have to say the stupid gas cap on my 07 610SM kept me from enjoying the bike. It p!ssed me off. I tried to ride the bike with some fellow riders on sportbikes and it was just too hard on the motor. I ended up selling it and getting an R1. I hated the R1. Ended up with a motard again haha.

 

[Cosmokenney]

Most reliable dualsport? I went to hell and back on my 06' TE610 and she never let me down. Best true DS bike ever made. Do I like it better
than my 511 ? No, but they don't list the 511 as a "Dual Sport" but rather an Enduro. The 610, btw, is close to an XR or DRZ in reliability, imo.

LOL, you have more bikes than I have fly rods!

 

[268fords]

I own an 09 TE310 and an 08 yamaha WR250R dual sport. The Yamaha loves the road but not so much the freeway (but it will easily cruise at 70+ mph), it loves to explore and is very easy to ride. It doesn't tire you out like a TE310 on long rides. The TE310 loves dirt, but not any road very much. Both are fuel injected. The TE is very tall and is not fun to mount or dismount, the Yamaha is noticeably lower and has an adjustable rear link that can trim off another inch or so of height. I'm 5'10" and I don't have a problem with the yamaha height...but the TE310 seat height can be killer if you get crossed up on the wrong side of a sloped trail.

I use my Yamaha for back country roads and exploring and occasionally some serious dirt riding (I did modify the stock blah suspension - the rear shock absolutely needs to be revalved). Lots of aftermarket stuff for the Yamaha, tanks, gear, etc., lots of guys use them for adventure even though the engine only puts out about 26 HP. It has a great tranny spread with 5th and 6th both being overdriven. Big alternator, strong subframe, good mileage. The Yamaha replaced an 08 KLR650 and an 04 DRZ400s dual sport - it is much more fun and nicer everywhere IMO. You don't even need to check the valves for over 20K miles and the bikes are bulletproof - lots out there with no real known problems. It doesn't excel at anything but handles everything well while being fun to ride.

The biggest drawback of the WR250R is it's weight. I weighed my TE310 at 275 lbs with fuel, and the yamaha is about 30 lbs heavier, although it's low cg hides the weight well. Since the weight is carried low, picking it up is nothing like a big bore heavyweight bike.

BTW, I'm an old guy too, well over 60, bad back and all.

I had a 08' wr250r before I got my 08' TE510. Just like you said, the Yami was great on the pavement. That's about all it was good for. Sketchy suspension leaves you wanting more. The Husky on the other hand is a dream off road. Pavements alright for a few miles, then your begging for some dirt. They both ride like Cadillacs, just as long as they are where they belong! The Yami was comfortable for 100 mile trips on the pavement. 15 miles top for the Husky!

 

[P A Rider]

OK so the 610 sounds like a bike that would interest me for sure . I have a few rolls of duct tape in case I am on my way back from HELL n she finally stops running ! Duct tape fixs anything we all know that. I buy the good stuff to . I will never buy a big 4 stroke unless it has an electric start , n I like a larger oil reserve . How far back should I look for when looking at this model ? Was there any big change years ? I still have an 250 Xr from 1996 and it was the same till they stopped making it ! When looking at used bikes is there any really good add on that I should look for , other than the normal stuff ?

 

[K5PL5]

What Ive heard is 06 and newer with the 610s. I could be wrong.

 

[mnb]

What Ive heard is 06 and newer with the 610s. I could be wrong.

That is the era that has the most aftermarket support. My '03 is very similar (diff frame and plastics, traditional fork design, ie not UD), particularly in the engine area.

 

[Norman Foley]

That is the era that has the most aftermarket support. My '03 is very similar (diff frame and plastics, traditional fork design, ie not UD), particularly in the engine area.

Our '03's have the same frame, as the '06 and up. Tank, radiators, subframe, seat, plastics and wheels are all older '90's style.

 

[JonXX]

OK so the 610 sounds like a bike that would interest me for sure . I have a few rolls of duct tape in case I am on my way back from HELL n she finally stops running ! Duct tape fixs anything we all know that. I buy the good stuff to . I will never buy a big 4 stroke unless it has an electric start , n I like a larger oil reserve . How far back should I look for when looking at this model ? Was there any big change years ? I still have an 250 Xr from 1996 and it was the same till they stopped making it ! When looking at used bikes is there any really good add on that I should look for , other than the normal stuff ?

06-07 are carbed and have fully adjustable forks, 08-up (10 is the last year I think?) have fuel injection and less adjustable forks. My experience, having been head to head with an 08 610 and an 09 610, is that my 07 has more power and more range.

 

[P A Rider]

Jon XX you are suggesting that the 07 would be the best bike to start looking for ? What add on items do you think are likely to be on the bike and if not there any you would suggest ?

 

[K5PL5]

I did a JD jet kit and Ferracci pipe on my 07. Ran awesome

 

[Motosportz]

I agree, the 06 and 07 carbed bikes are great workhorse do it all DS bikes. They do vibrate some but in a nice pleasing harley kinda way. Long gearing and big torque make them unstoppable dirt or street. I had an 06, was a great bike.

 

[jerbear610]

Aside from the color, I don't know if there is much of a difference between the 06' and 07's. Mine had the JD Jetts and
a Leo Vince and 14 c/s. Perfect for dirt and road.

 

[R_Little]

I have 54,000 beat-it-like-a-rented-mule miles on my 07 610. The only "problem" I've had with it was the cam chain at 19,000. I think that both answers your question, and would be a strong recommendation for what you want to do.

Agree... 60%dirt ....if you weigh more than 180lbs get a TE610.

 

[JonXX]

Jon XX you are suggesting that the 07 would be the best bike to start looking for ? What add on items do you think are likely to be on the bike and if not there any you would suggest ?

Well it sounds to me like you're looking for a TE (enduro version), mine is an SM and as such will have a few differences in the "goodies" that folks will have added on. I'm suggesting that 06-07 would be the preference, with not a darned thing against a later model, just that they're different as I'd mentioned above. FI *does* have some advantages. Your fuel system preference is purely that, up to you. There are more TE guys than SM guys here (I think) so suggestions on add-ons other than "the standard" power-up kits, pipes, and protection items would be better given by...Not me. Haha. There are a couple of big threads here to look through in the 610 section, and there's a huge thread on supermotojunkies.com called "610 mod database" that you might look at as well. There's also a monster 610 thread in the thumpers section of adventurerider.com.

Shopping for a new (or new-to-you) bike is always the hardest part!