Hellooo Husky Owners...and now I can finally say "Fellow" Husky Owners! since I bought one yesterday, an '09 TE 250 that will be instantly transformed into a 310 right out of the crate.

After 9 years of riding my first ever bike, an '01 KLX 300, I wanted more power than it could deliver, and an updated design (and my wife agreed!). To start, I could not have been more happy with the reliability, grunt, and general bullet-proof nature of the KLX. The thing ALWAYS fires right up within 1-3 kicks and runs strong all day long, or at least until I've had enough. It is Calif. plated and mostly stock except suspension and exhaust. My riding is mainly so cal desert but not the wide open stuff you may assume. There is plenty of technical single track and we always seek it out. I've taken the KLX to Moab 3 times and it did great everywhere we went. I don't race but I'd like to try it sometime and I can keep up with my friends on various bigger bikes such as the 530EXC (the equalizer being they weigh more, so do their bikes, and I've been riding longer).

My ONLY concern at this point is this TE 310's power! Upgrading from the KLX (300) to a 310 sort of defies logic :bonk: and I have zero saddle time on this or any Husky. So I'm taking a bit of a chance, based on a lot of reading and conversations, that the 310 will provide enough boost not to cause buyer's remorse by this time next year. I know hp isn't everything but, based on my research, i should see a 40%-50% gain from KLX to TE. If I do end up disappointed, then I see a TE 450 in my future (gotta have the plate).

I really want to hear it if you can offer an experience-based opinion as to whether I'm going to be sorely disappointed, OR (hopefully) NOT. I took my fair share of ribbing about riding a KLX all these years (girl's bike, clever things that KLX stands for, blah blah) but as long as I could keep up with the bigger badder bikes, I didn't care. Does anyone think I'm setting myself up for more of the same?

Thanks to all of you with opinions and experience on TEs! Through your many informative posts, you talked me into buying a Husky in the first place - and so did George at Up-Tite.

-Steve

I haven't ridden a KLX300, but have ridden a klx250 and do have a 2006 te250. From what I have read about the klx300, unless the engine is heavily modified, the te250 is will completely stomp it it in the power department, even before you add the 310 kit so I don't think you will be dissapointed.

I rode a well prepped and somewhat modified (pipe, carb, cams) KLX300 and was horrified by the lack of power. There was not much i really liked about that bike. Anyway i have ridden many 250 and 310 huskys and had a 06 TC250 with the 300 kit and they all EZ out-powered the KLX. I think you will be very happy. Also remember that the husky takes a good 700 miles to loosen up and make full power.

Thanks a lot guys, so far so good!! "Horrified," that's fantastic, so you're not a fan of the KLX but that's ok as long as you are a fan of the TE 310 that's all I care about! I hope somehow that was a crappy KLX cause those are out there too. Clearly I have to get over the 300 vs. 310 thing. It's still sounding like I made the right choice (meaning not needing the TE 450 to realize a significant power bump).

To your point about the 700 miles - George does not want to see the bike back for the power-up until after 600 and I'm a stickler for this kind of thing when the advice comes from such a reliable source. It's going to be torture riding all those street miles with a plugged up bike that I'm dying to get in the dirt.

Can't wait to write my own "first impressions" ride report once it's been unplugged and powered up, desert tanked, body armored, etc.

The TE is actually less than 300cc's (I hate the European bikes' somewhat dishonest displacement/name system) but as a bigger 310 rider I was very impressed with the amount of power this bike puts out. Seems like it puts out enough power that it rarely breaks traction, but still has a lot of get up to it. I love the engine! I'm one of those guys that does more with less in the motor deptartment though.

Oh, and the 600 mile power up? I get it, save the engine for the long run, but I'm not convinced that the super slow break in method has a huge difference on the motor. I wouldn't hit the rev limiter all day, but life is short, go ride the thing and love it.

I think Ride said the motor would take 700 miles to loosen up, most new engines take some time to reach full power. You do need to keep throttle and revs down until they are warmed up; just like your car.

Ehhhhxcellent! More votes in the "it has plenty of power" category. Love it! BTW I weigh 165 lbs - add what, 20 more with full gear, radio, water, so ~185 total.

Spoon, I like your thinking, I really do, but this is an investment that I want to last and I'm willing to take the short term hit, or at least I can say that now since I don't even have possession of it yet. One shop told me two tanks of gas for break-in, and George said 600 mi. I like 2 tanks better but George blows the other guys away in Husky experience so I will follow his lead at least until I go crazy and can't take it anymore.

I sold my beloved 2004 TE250 to a guy who owned a KLX250. He couldn't believe the power difference. The difference between a TE250 and a TE310 is pretty dramatic so I am sure you'll be impressed.

I really liked that 2004 and regret selling it. Anyone know of a brand new one still in the crate for cheap?

NC

GregMatty said:

That TC 250 George rides is a 300. He says it hits 100 in Baja

Why don't you ride the thing, and then you can tell us.

It's still on a truck working its way here. But when I do ride it, you will definitely hear about it, after break-in and power ups of course...

break it in hard :D

let us know how it goes

GregMatty said:

Fred's Sport Motors in Syracuse NY has a brand new 2004 TE250 on the floor.

Just curious-why didn't you just get a 310, instead of a 250 with a kit?

Norman_Foley said:

I finally have a new job so I'll give them a call.

Greg

Aahhhh, the KLX 300. I had a chance to ride one that a friend had, sorry but that bike has to be the worst handling, heaviest feeling and least powerfull pig of a bike ever built! The one I rode was almost new and the only upgrade was a pipe. The old XR work horse bikes were far superior in feel and handling. You will definately be amazed at the difference in feel and power of the TE and you will intantly understand why everyone gave you grief about the KLX.

Enjoy the new ride!

Aaron8 said:

I've wondered this as well.

In my experience with an unplugged 310, you won't be disappointed. I was literally amazed.

Silver_Fox said:

Really?

My family has a KLX 250 that we have beat the piss out of, it takes all the abuse and comes back for more. I feel that it has better suspension (upside down forks) and more power than an XR 250. Now I like both the XR and the KLX but with all of the good luck that I have had with the Kawi I would buy another one. It has more technology than an XR (not by much) but has proven XR reliable. Now that being said it is a backup bike for friends to ride now since my dad and I have a 250F 426 and 450F.

Just my thoughts

-mt-


Oh and good luck with the Husky cant wait to hear a ride report!:thumbsup:

Smur3:

I think you'll be as much or more impressed with the feel, handling, and overall capabilities of your new Husky as you will with the engine.

When I reentered the off-road world after a 17 year hiatus, I (mistakenly) bought a '07 KLX250s because I needed a plate, and I didn't know Husky TE's came with a title.

I quickly learned two things: Yes, I wanted to keep riding off-road, but the KLX wasn't the bike for me. It was a decent bike, but it came with a Honda XR100 engine disguised as a Kawi 250. It had to go.

Bought a '07 TE250. Flat loved it. Sort of with I still had it. Now I have a '09 310. I'm still working on it trying to find the sweet-spot of setup for me. Can't quite get it to turn as well as the 250, but that's only because I haven't spent enough time with it.

In case you didn't know, you'll need a thorough iBeat software treatment or buy a Power Commander w/ AutoTune for the EFI, as it will run like sh@#$t until you 'fix' it. They run lean, and they run hot. Be careful.