I LOVE my TE 449!

Had my first dirt ride yesterday. Similar experience to RT3856. To me the 449 comes into its own on the more open trails and I think would be right at home on a motox track. Quite frankly I found it pretty hard to ride in the real tight rough stuff. I had about an hour on tight, hilly lose boulder tracks and stalled heaps. Of course rider skill plays a big part, but I don't think I've stalled so much before. Might still be some tuning improvement to help, but bottom line, with the race map etc I just don't think this is where the TE shines. As you say no bike can do everything equally. Heaps of clutch and throttle and you get through (so glad I had electric start). Probably also not helped by a fairly stiff suspension set up. I'm pretty light so will need to play, starting with spring preload. Also factory tires are not be the greatest although lowering the pressure helped heaps.

Shifted to more open trails in the afternoon and had a ball - much better. Although still a little prone to stalling - I've probably always been very (too?) heavy on the rear brake and like backing it into corners - the TE won't let me get away with that so I suspect I'll need to change my riding style a bit (a good thing - there is such a thing as a front brake).

But overall fast and fun.

I am 6' 2" and don't have any issues with the seat to leg distance. The only thing I did was to instal bar risers.

kumz said:

Wow!

I love your TE449 too!

Tell me about your SM bits - where did they come from?

banda said:

Thanks man. Got the alpinas from jcpak bikes. Still waiting on a beringer front brake setup. Had a spare 100mm caliper that I was gonna use, but couldn't find a bracket to use. QTM only makes a 108mm one...

Bike is a blast to ride on the streets. Just added the JD power surge tuner yesterday. Good shit. I've got a WR300 for the dirt:ride:

Here in Hawaii, everyone is on a pumpkin. Not me :thumbsup:

kumz said:

Nice pumpkin smasher!!

Does the 449 or 511 have key ignitions or some way to lock them down if you went into a resteruant or whatever?

They are keyed ignition and they have a steeering lock.
Me, I have a cable lock also. Living in the great north wet I know there arepeople that would love to have a Husky for free.
So If I am going hiking or leaving it in any place that may be tempting for those few,I lock it down.

i have owned my 11'txc449 since late dec. and i have ridden single track and trails, my bike handles both very well.
i have found that in order to get the bike to handle you have to ride it hard. the traction is def. real and this bike hooks up!
i ride in alot of sand so the traction has been put to the test here.
the exposed header pipe is a hot issue and had to be covered before riding.
brakes are spot on and seem to be well fitted to this bike.
it seems that the idle stays alittle high and it affects some singletrack riding but i'm trying to sort that out.
i'm 6'2" and over 220# and i have not adj. any suspesion settings yet, 1st i wanted to get about 10-15 hrs on it before adjusting anything but it still seems comfortable to me.
i do need bar risers and will order some soon.
i added a light kit on mine and will be plating it soon as well.
over all , the bike has plenty of power both low speed and high, the suspension works well, and i am really happy that i sold my 450xc ktm and got back on a husqvarna.
thanks to fred hoess and to bob at central jersey cycle
both great guys !
warriordad

warriordad, on 05 February 2012 - 05:02 PM, said:

What kind of range(miles) do you get? Thanks.

i have not rode it empty yet, the longest ride has been 46 miles but at a real fast pace . it was low
on fuel but not empty
wd