Help deciding on which bike?

Been lurking lately looking at the Husky TE's. Been on dirtbikes for 25+years, trailride mostly, race 2-3 low key enduros/harescrambles a year and ride with my 3 boys most of the time.

I ride a variety of terrain, but mostly 2nd-3rd gear woods stuff.

I currently ride a highly modded KDX220 w/ KX125 front end conversion. Came to conclusion that this was the perfect 2-stroke to fit my needs after many previous bikes including KTM 200/250 exc's.

I have spent a considerable amount of time on my riding buddies Yamaha WR250 and I really enjoy that bike. Sometimes it feels like it could use some more umff, but for the most part I love the power delivery for 90% of the stuff I ride.

Been really considering a TE250 lately. Seems like the bike would fit the bill well.

The only slight hesitation I have is that in October I have been invited on a Baja trip with an old friend. This would be a low key cruise around Baja for about 5-7 days. My buddy is almost 70 and is no speed demon. We would be riding mostly dirt roads and about 300 miles of the course. My question is would the TE250 be able to handle this once in a lifetime trip, or is it too much for the bike to handle?

I have no plans on any other situations like the Baja trip for the bike other than maybe short jaunts on some fireroads around my house.

Am I barking up the wrong tree or is the 250 a winner?

Also, never owning a Husky, is there anything particular I would need to be aware of on a '08 model, or can I just get on and ride off the showroom floor?

The 250 is solid. With the new 250cc bikes about to be released in the US, you should be able to find left over '08's and soon, '09's at very very reasonable prices.

A 310 is also a nice bike, if you can get around it at the races.

Down in baja the bikes do fine if geared right, and with a big tank, and common sense riding. Add an Uptite skidplate.

Off the dealers floor the '08's are great. Just make sure yours has a pipe guard and some heat resistant tape on the airbox. Earlier releases had pipe clearence issues. Remove the throttle stop. Have the forks re-worked at LTR.

Well, here is the thing. If I were to only ride off-road, then I would stick with my KDX. I have built the bike to perform perfectly for what I currently ride.

But, I have been wanting a bike w/ a plate for a couple of years now. I live right at the foothills of the Mt. Hood Nat'l Forest and would like to have a bike that I can zip out of my garage for some logging roads.

The TE seems to be the perfect fit. I have also found a '07 TE250 that has 550 miles on it for around $4200.

I don't know about Oregon, but we easily plated our TXC 450. They didn't even ask questions. The MSO doesn't say "Offroad Use Only," so that's enough to fool the tag people here. Now, it looks like it is going to be a pain to convert it to a road bike. Lights, brake switch, speedo, wiring harness, kickstand, blah blah blah. All that comes with the TE (well most of it). Of course, remaps and dynos aren't all that cheap either. All in all, I think I would go TE if we had to do it again. I would get TE 250 or 310.

Well, over on thumpertalk, I am getting advice ranging from the 250 - 610. I have been thinking that maybe the 450 would be a good choice.

The reason I like my KDX220 over the KTM 2-strokes is that I am a "luger". I like to ride a gear high in almost all situations and am a lazy rider in that regard. I prefer traction over roost. Maybe the bigger 4-stroke would fit my riding style better. I have owned a highly modded XR400 that was one of my altime favorite bikes, but hard starting even with the pumper carb was its downfall. If it would have been e-start, I might still have that bike. I dont like the higher reving new 4-strokes. I feel like I am fighting the power all of the time.

Also, I have found a local '07 TE250 w/ 550 miles on it for a good price. Carb vs. EFI?

i've read the thread over on TT and the one here, i own an 07 TE450 and i have to say the more i read, the more i reckon you should be looking at a carbed TE, the 250 is a great bike, a mate has one and it's easily as capable as my 450 in the trails we ride. if the price on that 06 is fair and you're happy with that amount of go then grab it. want some more go? get a 310 or a 450, but after owning injected road bikes for a lot of years, and knowing the agro my mates are going through with their newer cat and O2 sensor equipped injected road bikes i wouldn't be rushing into an injected one yet, wait till their more sorted.
My 450 is so easy to ride, i can idle up hills over rocks and logs with no effort at all, it really is a tractor, the only thing i would suggest is look at the sidestand mount, if the PO has kicked it on the stand chances are the bracket and mounts are stretched, other than that mine has performed faultlessly. I can even kick start it with a flat battery !


paul

So, I met with my 70 year old buddy yesterday to discuss our trip to Baja. Looks like 4-5 days of riding w/ about 100-200 miles a day. The mix is 50/50 hwy/dirt road. He said speeds on the hwy. would be around 55-60mph since we will have a very new rider with us.

Considering this, will the TE250 still be OK? I would put on a larger tank, and regear it of-course. I would also run more street oriented tires for the trip as well.

The 250 would be my first choice for the woods riding I love to do, but I dont want to tax the bike or damage it with a long (700+mile) road oriented trip.

Also, would I need to do an oil change somewhere along the way to be safe, or would it be OK for the duration or the trip?

The opposite end of the spectrum is a '06 TE610 that is local w/ low miles for a good price as well. I know it would handle the Baja trip and excel in this situation, but how bad is it in the woods?

Good to hear about the little 250.

I am intrigued by that 610 because I have always been found of big thumpers having ridden XR400 and XR600 in the past. But, when I went to the KTM 200 exc and KDX, I was loving life in the woods! But, there is nothing like trucking up a nasty hillclimb knowing that you can tractor up no matter what.

decision, decision....

Now the 2010's are out..on paper at least. More?????