Like several other posts, I have picked up a new to me 2006 TE450 in very good shape and I am looking for any tips, warnings, prognostications or bouts of clairvoyance on what I am getting myself into...I rode dirtbikes decades ago and have been around a knobby or two and have been wanting to get off the beaten path again and the opportuity popped up...any help would be appreciated and yes, I have read the "Must do modifications to Husqvarnas 4 strokes & must buy parts" thread and will be following the advice I found but looking for more specific info on this particular rocketship...Thanks, Dave from So Cal

Welcome back, the trails have missed you or in your case I should say the Desert has been calling for you.   
How many miles on it and what mods have been done already? I don't own that specific bike but I'm sure someone will
chime in that does. If it's stock the standard upgrades would be aftermarket pipe and jetting (JD Jett kit) for power and
possibly suspension tuning , gearing etc.. How do you like it so far ?  A pic and a little more info would help. Enjoy and
give a report sometime soon.    PS    Boo the Dodger's, Kemp and his frickin' walk off homer's after returning from DL.
You're not going to catch the Giants.....I hope...... Will D. Howard become a Laker ??   Nash alone will give LaLa Land a ring.
Boo Lakers... O.T. I know...sorry, but I love talkin' smack    East smack...Brooklyn Nets ? or Nicks?   or no one gives a shit... OUT !.

JoePass, on 18 July 2012 - 08:36 PM, said:

I'm a motorsports fan so I plead ignorant to your smack talk...bike is stock, been jetted and de-plugged and has 1200 miles...and I love it so far...gnarly bastaad that it is...shoulda spent a little more time in the kiddee pool before jumping in but lifes short so go big, go now or go watch a round ball game...

you  will  want a  uptite  alum  y  for  the cooling  system.  uptite  skid plate  too.    and  filters  for  the  carb  vents  from  george also.    get  the  suspension  set up  and  you should  be  good  to  go.  congrats  and  welcome  back...

Saw the talk about the Y and had forgotten about the vent filters so thanks for the heads up...

Excellent bike! I've been on my '04 TE 510 since '05 and that bike has never let me down! I would imagine the 450 will do you the same. Have fun!

Yeah, there's not much wrong with the 05s. In addition to the coolant "Y" and the likelihood of some suspension tweaking (depending on your weight and riding style) then I'd flag up the crossover pipe that joins the two radiators (the skinny pipe that loops over the frame in front of the fuel tank). The stocker can burst and should be replaced with 8mm (5/16") reinforced fuel hose and a couple of good quality clips. The hydraulic clutch can misbehave as it gets old. Very often it's wear in the slave cylinder (that can be mitigated with a 7602 aftermarket piston), In any case there are a bunch of "how to" threads on the clutch here and on the Cafe Husky forum and it's mostly down to servicing, keeping it clean, using thin mineral oil (like 5wt fork oil) and bleeding it properly. Make sure that the coolant overflow bottle (if it has one) has a little coolant in it - if it's empty then superheated coolant overflow can burst it. Apart from that it's standard dirtbike fare, like regular servicing of oil, filters, suspension bearings and whatnot. If you pull something apart then a bit of loctite onthe fasteners on any thumper is always a good idea.

Have a google for Husqvarna Outlet - they have owners / service manuals and parts fiches for free download.

Oh, and don't forget to ride the snot out of it!

Edited by 7point62, 20 July 2012 - 04:53 PM.

Great motorcycle.... should last a long time as long as you don't ride it at high RPM's for long distances.... as a commuter road bike.

These are dirt bikes... not dual-sports... they just come with turn signals so you can connect the trails with public roads.

Riding the 04 to 09 Italian Husqvarna 4-stoke motors on blacktop roads for long distances just kills destroys these engines.

Still a great bike and I have one in the garage which I still use from time to time as a dual-sport exploration bike.

If you're close enough ride  the  bike over to Uptite and talk to George about it.  111 W. Dyer Rd.  Santa Ana, CA. Mon-Sat 9-5 or 6

Thanks again for the tips for the coolant system and Uptite shop, A little too much street to get there but will definitely check them out...

glangston, on 21 July 2012 - 06:38 AM, said:

OK, stopped by and met George...and well, I had heard about him from a friend and former Husky desert racer (way back in the late 70s, early 80s) and everything I heard turned out to be true, George is a great guy with a vast knowledge base on all things Husky and I will be doing some shopping for sure...what a great resource...just need to get my bike there and let him give it the once over...