Have not been here in a while, but did a service on my TE610ie yesterday for the first time in four years. Amazing how we forget how things go together on the bike if we have not done it in a while. Honestly, I still don't see a good replacement for this bike out there. Here are the questions: 1.) Is the old Italian Husky still alive with devoted fans keeping them going, or are they disappearing from memory? 2.) How many have switched to KTM, with the only Husky part remaining being the lipstick? 3.) How many are considering a real Husky (kind of) wearing SWM lipstick?
I think the older Italian Husky's will always have a following. Even if you can't see them wearing the lipstick. I mean, why would anyone want to see it go away ? With that thought in mind. There will always be some diehard followers. Trust me.
What we need is a light weight 750/800 cc (non parallel) twin with only 2 maps being road and enduro. Bike needs min 85hp and capable of running effortlessly at 120km's all day. Fuel range standard a min. of 400km and all in weight of 180k's fuelled. I rule out the GS800 as it is dated, heavy and underpowered. It should come standard with racks, bash plate and proper hand guards and proper 50/50 tyres, Heated grips and a centre stand, wide pegs and electric output. The choice now is either big crazy singles with no range and plastic sub frames. Or behemouths of 220K's plus fuelled. I ask, is this too hard to manufacture in todays techo age?
considering that there are plenty of us running the real swedish huskies, id say the heritage still lives a bit..
