It sure seems odd at Enduro's I never see any Huskys. Loads of KTM's plus some Honda & Yamaha even a Suzuki or two but last Sunday at the 49er I was all by myself.

So I began to think, my old 92 EXC250 was awfully good in the woods and really honed my skills but that was 17 years ago and I was alot younger then too. I recall it having a much more compliant/softer suspension and held a line through rocks better, I think the turning radius was tighter too.

Shouldn't my new TE be superior to my old EXC and where are the TE's at the Enduros?

the husky just arent all that popular, dont buy a ktm just cause evry1 else has got 1, ride what u like unless u r alot slower, then maybe u can test ither ppls nikes out and see what you think.

was ur exc250 a 2t or a 4t??
probaly either way the te is superiour

It all comes down to whats popular. Huskys are not very common so people are scared they wont be as reliable or parts will be to hard to get. Also KTM's have amazing aftermarket support and are very popular these days. Im always jealous at the options my buddy has for his 530 exc. KTM makes aftermarket tanks them selfs so you can get factory quality not ims junk.

But I will say husky has done an amazing job in the last few years. Huskys are poping up everywhere these days. You see them in magazines and a dealer just opened down the street from me.

Kind of funny... different company, different product, different time.

But very cool now... anyone think Husqvarna.



BlipBlip/HuskyRips :thumbsup:

I just bought one and it'll be showing up soon. There aren't any Husky dealers in AL; I had to travel to get mine.
When you have dealers close by, people will buy them. We had a few Husky dealers around here in 2000 or so and there were Huskies showing up at all the races.
I think things are on the up for Husky and BMW will make a big push to get bikes out there.
I'm really liking the '09 TXC250; it feels lighter than my KTM 2-stroke. It makes about 1/2 the power everwhere but is fun and easier to ride.

kx96 said:

it was a 2t.
My Husky feels light enough and power is good, it was too tall when I bought it. Was over an inch higer than the KTM's so I lowered it 1", just too tall in tight woods IMO.
I ground down the steering stops for a little better tight turning on switch backs.

I was definitely faster on my KTM, could hang ok in the 250A class but not anymore. Difference though was I was 32 then and am now 50. Maybe its more my age.

Mostly I would guess it's a case of lack of dealers. Quite a few states don't have ONE dealer. Now with BMW, there's a chance that most of their dealers will distribute Husqvarna in the near future. It won't take that long as Huskies have about a $1000 price advantage and are a little bit more ready to go out of the box.

Here in the NW I was about the only one with a newer husky when i got my new 04 TE450 (I WAS the only one when i got my 99 WR250) Now a lot of people here ride them. We did an 8 person ride the other day and 4 were newer huskys. I had a lot to do with this but regardless there is for sure a resurgence of huskys locally. We have two VERY good dealers here in Taskys and Bills, that is a huge part of it. Huskys are a lot less expensive than a KTM and IMHO every bit as good or better. Things are moving forward.

As for your comment about the bikes being better as they get newer and the old bikes being very good...

http://www.cafehusky...read.php?t=5237

I think we'll see more of them over time. Same possibly for Husaberg (that 390 looks interesting). People I know around here mostly are on KTM's with random Yamaha or two. Not much else.

jrmobb said:

Lack of after market parts is ridiculous with Husky.I have been hanging in there year after year and I'm getting tired.The main thing for me now is a gas tank for a new te510,the IMS is a joke why couldn't they have incorporated the factory tank shrouds like on my 05?The tank looks stupid and if that's the only option this year I am buying a KTM.They have the best line of after market parts than anyone out there!I am still waiting to walk into a dealer and find a damn Husky t-shirt (and not pay 39.99 for it)!:banghead:

husky666 said:

there is a lot of after market stuff for huskys. The tanks ARE the issue as you noted. It sux. We have been shouting about this for years. Husky / BMW needs to step up and offer tanks when the bikes hit the floor. I seriously know of MANY lost sales due to the simple fact that they come with tiny gas tanks and no options. This just does nto work for many off road riders. Carrying gas on rides over 40 miles sux!

HUSKY, OFFER FACTORY OPTIONAL LARGE TANKS FOR ALL MODELS AND SELL MORE BIKES. COME ON, IT IS SIMPLE.

You are definately dreaming if you feel your husky of 17 years ago was a superior bush beast than one made today. I bet you look back to your youth (like I do) and the summer holidays were always sunny and no rain. Its great to remember a favourite bike of yore and in its day was right up there. So are todays husky's. Like so many have already scribed above, Husky is still a small player and has to overcome bias, small production capacity (vis a vis the majors) and a modest dealer presence. Just think about your bike a tad-I bet it goes like a rocket, handles well and is as reliable as all get out.
I can't tell you how average the 09 Kato 450 is I can't believe the blurb. it has nice ergo's but is not a patch on the Husky in the handling stakes-especially braking. The engine is not as tractable as previous years-they now basically shoehorn sx motors with electric legs in nowadays. We have definate TE and TC engines, suspensions etc. for specific roles. I bet you get lots of looks and questions and probably no negative comments.
My own orange brother who has wound me up for years has had an epifany, sold his KTM 450 and bought a run out 09 310 and could not be happier. Stay the course, Husky make very good machines, have solid parent support and are gradually making inroads into the market.
I agree husy's are a tall bike and it probably does make it more difficult for riders under 6 foot. That said they are all very close in height now and Husky's have lowered their seat height in the past 2 years.

Matt400 said:

Dude don't underestimate this fact! It gets the better of me all the time.

If you rode that old exc back-to-back with your husky, you'd be throwing rocks at the exc after the ride!

There was a day when I was 31, regularly whipped up on the yong A riders, qualified for Loretta Lynn's easily, and dominated the +25 +30 a motos. Now, I hide from the youg guns as they embarass me, prefer the +35 class, and can't wait for +40!

Don't judge your current performance by past achievements. It takes the fun away and is unfair and unrealistic to yourself. Just ride what you like and make sure you have FUN!!!!!!!!!

I agree that bikes have for sure evolved. That said there are some diamonds out there that stack up favorably to the new models. I have owned a 99, 02 WR250 and loved them, i ride my buddys 07 all the time and have ridden he 09. The 09 is my favorite. I chanced on a 94 WXC250 a while back in great shape. I have ridden this bike back to back with a well setup 07 WR250 and must say the 94 is just as good and better in some respects. The wide 6 speed, factory slim and low 3.4 gallon tank, nice showa suspesnion, excellent motor and 3 pounds lighter (measured), zerks on the swing arm and linkage, much lower seat, etc. Just food for thought. And I am not hyping the 94, i really could care less. the owner of the 07 agrees. My main mount is my 09 WR125 which I freaking LOVE.

Ride said:

Off topic <sorry> but will you be getting a chance to weigh the '10 tc250? I'm ready for a no BS weight, and I saw your scale setup in that maico thread......... I'd sure like to know the real weight, ready to ride, no gas.

36MotoMarc said:

Someone already posted it on a scale here.

In our area within a 200km range there are just as many Husky dealers as KTM's and last weekends event was a District 36 local ride. There may have been a few out of area riders but out of a couple hundred I was by myself on the Husky.

ghte said:

I can't say superior cuz it was so long ago but it was extremely good and was the bike that advanced me to A's. There have been other bikes, after the EXC I rode a 96 XR for many years, I immediately felt slower on the 96 XR vs the 92 EXC but kept it due to the fun factor and after the XR was an 03 RM250 that I moded the suspension & motor for woods use but still yearned for the old EXC. Bought my TE cuz it came with a plate which is cool to me, I don't have to trailer it as much.

Quote

That it does, I need to play with the suspension some more maybe, I think its too stiff for the way I ride. The plush EXC would not deflect through the rock fields as much.

Quote

True! one fella at the start commented about my plate, something about riding to dinner afterwards :smirk:

36MotoMarc said:

You make a good point that's for sure. I think where I got caught up in it all was after my 92 EXC250 I have been slower on all my other bikes but in fairness my 96 XR400 and 03 RM250 are not enduro bikes like the EXC was and my TE came many years later after getting slower with age.

Ride makes an interesting comparison on the 94 WXC250

Matt400 said:

I have that same problem. :smirk: I don't mind the motor in the XR400 so much but the suspesnion and noodle fork handling ruin it for me.

Ride said:

:smirk: yes but what a bike! Does nothing great but does everything you throw at it. For 6 years I ran enduro's, dual sports and play rides till the weight got to me. My TE is too tiny for any real road use, feels like a moped on the pavement.

I need a bike for every occasion vs a do all or need to cut back where I ride.

Matt400 said:

Here in New Jersey where public land can only be accessed with a STREET LEGAL vehicle... I've been telling everyone to buy a street legal Husky or KTM and get rid of your Motocrosser and or ATV.

The days of dirt bike and atvs accessing public land are quickly coming to an end and Husqvarna was wise in stepping up with what everyone has been asking the Japanese manufactures to do for years and that is "BUILD STREET LEGAL DIRT BIKES!"

If I remember the old way to do it was to load up my enduro bike and drive 30 minutes to an hour and park in a state forest.... only to worry about a some ranger coming up and harassing me, because I didn't have turn signals.

Now I just ride from my house and within 2/10th of a mile I'm in the woods and that old 30 minute commute to the state forest has now turned into a 3 hour trail through farm fields, woods trails and a few miles of blacktop roads that I use to connect the dots.

Yep, Husqvarna may have just solved New Jersey's land use problem with their TE line of street legal dirt bikes.

BlipBlip/HuskyRips :thumbsup: