FE/FC SMR510 vs FE510

Hey guys, I am considering selling my 2009 SMR510 to upgrade to a newer generation bike. I'm looking to replace it with another supermoto and the FE501/S would probably be my best bet. I don't particularly like the 701 and don't care for the price tag/availability either. I figure I could get a lightly used FE501S and convert it to sumo.

I already have a 2016 TE300 for dirt duty so the 501 would be on strictly supermoto duty. This would include mostly street but maybe an occasional track day. Does anyone have any comparison to the SMR510 and a sumo converted 501? Road manners, vibrations, transmission gear ratio for road use?

Thanks!

I guess besides wheels, the only real investment to make it true Sumo would be modifying the suspension.

Tough decision, I'd like to but would have to sell a couple bikes of my bikes SMR510, WR360, 76' CB750. Hmmm...

Side stand would need to be replaced or shortened. Front fork guards may need to be trimmed for the tire to fit. Obviously a front brake caliper bracket is required for the oversized rotor. I've been kicking it around myself. I have a 2014 501 which has become a bit underused since I bought a 2015 300. The smoker just kicks ass for single track so the 501 is only pulling Dualsport duty now. A hoolighan sumo would be sweet though! Go for it!

Do you think Ty may have just a little WORK done on his 501?

hey Rev , have you had a 449/511?

The reason i ask , I test road the NEW 501. I was NOT impressed at all compared to my 449?

But i did not have it out on the flats wide opened.

Interesting. I would have guessed it was like a works bike.

Did you test ride a 501 or 501s? I would assume the smog equipment and ECU map would kill alot of power and grunt in comparison to a 501.

My 501s has around 150 hrs or so now,around 120 of it as a SM. Engine is still tight and valves still in spec. No weird vibrations i can say,bike is really smooth on the street with Bridgestone Battleaxes(150 on rear, some ppl run 160...the 150 fits really tight as it is though)

As mentioned above the SM needs a shorter kickstand.Front fork guards need to be cut to clear the short and fat front tire.I have an EBC 320mm rotor kit which works great,but ive hear ppl that track hard need better caliper and master cylinder too.Gearing i run a 14/45 and have run 14/42 also.I can't complain on the power of the S-model, with a power commander from Zip-ty racing, a full fmf pipe, and desmogged it runs really well. Suspension feels pretty good just cranking the rebound and compression up.If it wasn't for the occasional switch back to knobbies i would probably go 1-2 steps stiffer on the springs.Oh and recalibrate the speedo for the 17" wheel.

Awesome, all good feed back I really appreciate it.

One thing I can't find for sure, is there any differences between the engines on the 501 and 501s? Camshaft change or anything? Once you desmog and tune is it the engine at that point?

Mines a non S model and it freaking rips. I don't have experience riding a 449 or 511 to compare.

The S model has a thicker head gasket or base gasket,i forget which,to improve engine longevity.Other than that i believe everything is the same.

It was a S ( S for SMOG! )

Doing a bit more research seems to tell me that the changes to the motors are minor besides the emissions and mapping. This is one of the things that would hang me up, and so far I haven't found anything to be concerned about.

I would be pretty bummed if I went for the 501S because of its already street legal status, then find out the motor is tamed down compared to a 501. I have done some tricks to register non street legal bikes, but its always a risk whether it works in your favor or not.

Hmm you think? The 2016 FE510 is rated for 58 horse power and the SMR510 I think is rated around the same I thought? I know from some dyn o sheets on SMJ they were about 53 wheel without modifications.

The 501 has a much wider spread between 1st and 6th compared to the 510. For dual sporting hands down I like my 501 much better than my 510, I guess for pure street riding it matters less since you don't need such a low first gear. I guess a 510 geared tall for pure road use is just as good.

Updated aftermarket support is also a plus, as the 501 can share many components w/ the 500 EXC.

Valve cover on the 501 is so much easier to take off than the 510 for those frequent valve checks.

I do not have both anymore, sold the 510 a few years ago. So can't give you a true side by side comparison, my recollections of the 510 are becoming more vague by the day.

I think eat it alive is a bit much, but for sure the 510SMR had more power than the FE501 has. The SMR had very aggressive cams with lots of lift and more overlap than the 510 enduro, so it isn’t really apples to apples. Once you factor in the weight of newer bike, it becomes easier to spend the money on the 501 to get the engine to state of tune the SMR was.