Which bike?

[Dirtdame]

Admittedly, for my size and weight, a plated two stroke 250 would be a favorite of mine if only we could have them here. I had a plated KDX200 for the longest while and finally had to sell it. Then I had a KTM EXC250 (not plated) and I had to sell that bike. I still have a KDX220 that I love to ride when I don't have to hit the pavement for any reason.

 

[Coffee]

...
Then there is the fuel injection - 2008. Standing on the pegs in a parking lot at the Twin Peaks overlook I was playing around like I might be doing some slow stuff in the dirt. And there it was - that twitchy, gotta slip the clutch cuz it won't go slow, EFI, high strung Pekingnese motor yapping away...


And I'm thinking that smaller isn't really going to make that much difference - these are thoroughbreds, and I'm looking for saddle pony.

These 2 items are related. Try a bike with a carb or a tuned up EFI bike, personally I think you might like a TE250/310.

 

[mxracernumber1]

waiting fo rthe seat thing to rear its ugly head...

Speaking of "real man's" bikes and all that - yesterday finally got to my local husky dealer to check these bikes out in person. They didn't have any TE's set up, but they did have two SMRs - 510 and a 450. After explaining to the sales guy that I've been trying to decide between TE 250/310/450, he suggested taking out the SMR510 for a demo. The 450 wasn't set up for it - he said it was same frame set up, and a bit more power.

Man am I glad I did that. Having never ridden a husky of any type before, nor anything as brutal as a race tuned 510 single, this was eye opening. My overall impression of these bikes now is: High Strung.

My last "dirt" bike was an 07 KLR650 - bought and used primarily for commuting, with the odd DS ride (Sheetiron 300, Death Valley 350 - good, solid rides, those). The KLR does it, but it ain't pretty sometimes. With the end of the job in the city came end of commuting, got rid of KLR, had a taste for the dirt, and figured - let's get dirtier - less weight, easier handling, who cares about power, as long as it'll do 50 on a fireroad I'm happy.

Enter Husky. What I didn't realize was just how high strung these beasts are. And the seat. That was a seat? I have literally eaten lunch on a hike sitting on a rock for an hour and been more comfortable than I was sitting on this seat for more than two minutes. Hanging off well before the corners was the only cheek relief to be had. Yikes.

Certainly no shortage of power here - the dealer asked what kind of riding I'm used to, after he mentioned he was into doing track days, so I told him I'm a roadracer (AFM). So he leads another guy and me up Valenica toward Twin Peaks, blasting his Duc Monster off from each stop light. And I'm spending a good deal of time trying to see straight ahead because the lofted front wheel is blocking my view. Certainly will save money on the tire bill - front tire will end up with only about half the miles of the back at that rate, I reckon. Unreal - and I don't even really like wheelies...

Then there is the fuel injection - 2008. Standing on the pegs in a parking lot at the Twin Peaks overlook I was playing around like I might be doing some slow stuff in the dirt. And there it was - that twitchy, gotta slip the clutch cuz it won't go slow, EFI, high strung Pekingnese motor yapping away. And I'm thinking to myself, "are we having fun yet??" And we're not even on dirt.

Hats off to anyone who can ride one of these beasts quickly and competently through the gnarly stuff, or wfo through the open stuff. Waaaay over my head.

And I'm thinking that smaller isn't really going to make that much difference - these are thoroughbreds, and I'm looking for saddle pony.

KLX250, WR250X, DRZ400 - maybe that's going to be the ride. I don't know....

Man, this post is as far as I read down this thread, but I was thinking the whole time, "this guy wants a D.S. bike and everyone is stuck on what size TE he should buy." I was waiting for someone to tell you that these are not true D.S. bikes. These are race-ready bikes that are D.O.T. legal so they can make short stints on the road.

I too thought it would be cool to have a Husky I could ride to work. I started riding my TE-450 to work as soon as I got it. Before I could get to work on the forst day, I was standing on the pegs the last 10 miles. I ride 32 miles one way. I was dreading getting back on the thing to ride home.

I hit every dirt road I could find between my house & work. I made it look like scenes from a Baja video on the big 450, but when I hit the black top, I found it tiring to fight the torque all the way home.

I gave it my best shot for about 4 weeks before I decided I had had enough. I thought about getting my seat redone by that guy down in Florida who does gel seats, but I thought "I'd hate a big squishy seat riding off-raod." So I decided to keep the plates, but to relegate the TE for off-road use only. Not to mention that after only 1 month of D.S. work commuting my rear tire was shot. The 450 eats tires for breakfast on the black top. Front was o.k. though. Like you said, it stayed in the air all the time (flashback to the 3rd gear sliding wheelie I pulled while turning left at a stop light in town on a wet road one morning).

These bike are VERY high strung. I see thier on-road capabilities more wel suited for weekends in the mountains when you gotta connect trails or run into town with your buddies to get a steak to cook on the grill back at camp-that's about the extent of it. They are neither geared nor suited for long D.S> sport rides. Even the SM models are high-strung with lots of torque & horsepower on-demand.

I gotta say I love my Husky. I went riding with a group of guys I met on TT back a few months ago & they are now Husky converts. As for quality, reliability and workmanship. Husqvarana delivers the best bang for the buck of any brand out there, and putting the word "reliability" in a sentence descibing a competition 4-stroke is a major accomplishment on Husqvarna's part. I have to say this is the best dirt bike I have every had or ever ridden (all-around). I have some gripes, but this Husky is far and away best overall.

I had an idea you were looking for something more D.S. worthy. While there are some folks that like to run up the clock on their TE's on the road, there are bikes that are far better suited to it. The TE is going to be the best thing on dirt, but I think you want a comfortable mix.

Here is where a TE-610 fits the niche that you are in. Still, a seat modification will be the first thing on the agenda, but you're going to love a bike that is a true D.S. that is the 610. It has the lugging power to get you out of a jam without making too much fuss, but the power is smooth and managable. It's more akin to a dual sport XR-400 than a Ferrari-type racer such as the TE.

I have owned the 2007 KLX-250 and ridden the KLR-250 and XR-650 and currently own the WR-250. I'm 204 lbs. If you're near that wieght, the WR is going to be an excellent choice for you. Stay away from the KLX. The WR costs $1K more then the KLX, but that Kawi is a total pig. It can barely get out of it's own way. The WR is smooth, handles like a dream on the road and is great off-road as well. The seat is good, but the passenger strap must be removed. I'm 6'1" and the strap is right where I want to sit, so I took it off. I don't have much of a problem with it now. Also, the WR has about 7 more horse power than the KLX. The WR is also fuel-injected. I know you didn't like your first experience with F.I. on a bike, but it's really not a problem on the WR. If you get below 65 deg. on one of these extremely restricted D.S. bikes, look to hire a bobsled team to get you going in the mornig. THe KLX is impossible to crank. The WR with F.I. cranks on-time every time. Doesn't matter if it's 30 deg. out.

As far as a true D.S. bike, you can't go wrong with the WR-250R. If you're a bigger guy though (over 220). I would reccommend going with a tame XR-650L or the TE-610. Don't count out the 610 until you've ridden one. It's totally different form the 250,310,450,510. It's a tractor with managable power.

My reccomenation to you would be to find a fine CH member near you with a 610 or go back to the dealer and demand he put you on one, not just what he wants to sell you. By the way "not set up yet" means this is what we have assembled (or what we have in stock) and this is what I want to sell you-this aint Burger KIng and special orders DO upset us.

If I were in the market for one now, the 610 would definitely be my pick. While it costs just a little more, it's a far better machine than the XR-650 and far more off-road capable. I've had quite a bit of seat time on all the latest D.S. machines (see below) and attached some random pics (hope you don't mind). I've had a lot of fun on them all. By the way, that XR-650 down there is a 2007 model and was 3 days old, flipped end over end in knee-deep mud more than 2 miles long and broken-in properly.

Get your sore hiney on a 610. Buy the seat upgrade. Enjoy the best brand bike you've ever owned. Thank us later.

 

[mxracernumber1]

I have a little KLX300 dualsport conversion. I like it for really slow tight going, because it has a lower saddle height and very low ratios in the 1st and 2nd gear. And yes it has a softer seat, too. But it weighs close to what my 450 weighs and most of the Japanese DOT legal bikes weigh a lot more than the Husky's. I am no racer and I'm old too (and short), but I still enjoy my TE. I am going to get a softer seat foam for it. It really kicks it in the desert, where there are whoop de dos and deep sand, but the bike still has enough chops for tighter stuff. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

In full D.O.T. clothing, your KLX weighs about 30 more lbs. than your TE-450. I had the KLX-250 D.S. It wieghed. 301. 2008 WR-250R wieghs 294. TE fully dressed weighed in at 269. Both had about 1/2 tank of gas. I drove them both to work one week, right through the shipping door & right up onto the scale. Shipping scale is calibrated every 3 months.

 

[Logroller]

Maybe someone mentioned it, but if you get tired with the 250 power you can always upgrade it to a 310. I'm not talking about a new bike, but engine work. I know someone who changed his '06 TE250 in to a 310.

I'm an '06 TE450 owner and I like the bike, but I can see (never ridden it) how the 250 version would be a blast for single track/similar conditions. By the way, the 450 isn't much of a road machine in my opinion for a few reasons; just don't like keeping the motor open with freeway speeds, seat is sheot for long sits, and of course knobs are less than favorable on paved roads.

If there really isn't a need for a plated bike, you might consider another Husky model. Fortunately for me I sorta live close to dirt action so the plate comes in handy for the road commute. Although, I prefer to haul as much as I can. Plus, they are fun to ride around the neighborhood. Again, not the freeway.