'10 TE 450 vs '11 TE 449.

[XLEnduroMan]

I have not ridden a Husky 450 or 449. A fellow rider is sold on Husqvarna after riding my '08 TE 510. He has a line on both bikes new, and the 450 is $1k cheaper. Is the 450 the better choice? Motor wise, is one noticeably stronger or are they pretty much the same? I am trying to help stear him in the right direction. The new platform of the 449 sure does look and review nice. I do have iBeat and am familiar with the 450 platform so I am leaning towards the 450. A question for myself, does a 450 pull a 510 in a drag race as it has a shorter stroke?

 

[Arctra]

I was faced with a similar decision a few months ago - except deciding between a 2010 TE450 and a 2011 TE511. I chose the 2010 TE450 because it's the last in that line of bikes so will have all the bugs ironed out. I was uncertain about the 511's engine too, but think it has proven itself now.

I think I would make the same decision again.

 

[swogjb]

I was tossing up between 2010 450 or a 2011 449/511.
I went for the 449 and I am stoked with my decision.
It puts it's power down better than any bike I have owned before and feels so sure footed and stable.
From what I have read the 449/511 reliability is excellent.
My JD Tuner rolled up today and man does that give the bike some balls.
IMO the 449 would be the way to go.
Cheers
Glenn

 

[OlderHuskyRider]

Another vote here for the last year of the Italian 450 motor. I have almost 6000 miles and no major problems whatsoever. The fuel pump got varnished up early on, but that was solved. The 450 rips, the EFI has been flawless from 800 feet to 10,000 feet elevation. I finally got the KYB forks sorted out and the bike handles great. He can use the $1k difference to add to the stable platform of the 450 and have an awesome bike.

 

[Motosportz]

Having owned both IMHO the 449/511 is a good bit better. Better EFI, GREAT smoother motor, better suspension, lighter feeling, seems better put together. And I am not trashing the old platform as I flat loved my TXC450. the newer bike feels smaller and lighter, has awesome EFI that can be even better, has such a smooth accommodating motor, hooks up everywhere like no other bike (CTS), just a great bike. Feels very polished for as first year effort. Don't be scared of the motor it has been around for 4 years and no real issues I have seen. Nothing wrong with ether, I just prefer the 449/511. For outright power the TXC510 is still king though.

 

[spud1968]

Haven ridden both the 450 and 449 I now owner a 449. About 3 months ago during the course of a race i caught up a rider on a 1980's Suzuki PE250. The bike looked well setup and power from that 250 engine was amazing. Its inbarrassing to say i had great difficulty in getting past him and then getting away. The rider i found out later on was a top national winner of a former era. So, what i'm saying is forget about the badge of either the 449/450 and ride them both, and which feels best thats the one to buy - best of luck and keep it Husky

 

[XLEnduroMan]

He is going with the 2010 TE 450. A Husqvarna! A couple of weekends ago we were out riding just after the rain had stopped, was supper sloppy out with quite a few blow downs in the way. He has a new 2008 Honda XRL 650, getting it over the blow downs and through the slop and then getting on my 510 he was hooked. At the end of the day he said he needed a new dirt bike. I pitched him on Husqvarna. A couple of days later I got bummed out as he said he was looking at the orange bikes. I told him yes the orange bikes have a better DS tranny, but no EFI, if that is what he wanted. He didnt need the wr tranny on the KTM's and wanted a good dirt bike as he is keeping his XRL for DS use. He will pick it up before the weekend.

 

[rockdancer]

Just wanted some opinions on this again now that there are more 449s around
I still like the old 450 and Italian styling and motor. But thinking maybe the 449s a better trail bike?
More reliable?

 

[Doug Piper]

Having just talked to the Husky Main Dealer in the UK, they have had one of the 449 engines apart and were surprised how well it was put together, his words were (built to last). Then again i am biased as i have a TE449 and love it, the traction it finds is the best in all the bikes i have ever ridden and owned.

 

[Tinken]

The 449/511 has come a long ways from this original review. The near electric motor is nearly bullet proof with the addition of the latest engine mods. Quite possibly a do everything platform.

 

[Doug Piper]

The engine is also going to be used in the new CCM 450 Adventurer.

 

[Huskinator]

All my bikes are 450/510's. I don't have any experience with the 449/511. I want to hear from actual owners of both the new and older 4strokes. My question is, are the 449/511 bikes really that much better to justify getting one? I know the older bikes like the back of my hand and I'm happy as a pig in s**t with my current stable of italian stallions. But I can't help thinking I'm missing out on something.

 

[Huskynoobee]

Dude, you really must ride one to see for yourself. I took a 12 year off road hiatus before I bought my 449. That means I was also that much older than the last time I rode.

I honestly feel faster now than when I was 20 something and I give lots of credit to my 449. Don't just putt around, find a gnarly, rutted, rocky hill and see it shine.

If that doesn't make your nipples hard, then your decision is easy.

 

[Motosportz]

All my bikes are 450/510's. I don't have any experience with the 449/511. I want to hear from actual owners of both the new and older 4strokes. My question is, are the 449/511 bikes really that much better to justify getting one? I know the older bikes like the back of my hand and I'm happy as a pig in s**t with my current stable of italian stallions. But I can't help thinking I'm missing out on something.

I posted above and have owned several of the older italian bikes / motors and one of the TE511 I own now. They are different animals but i really like the TE511. Really liked the 08 TE450 I had too. If you like the 450/510 stick with it, you are not really missing anything. They are just different. The 450/510 seems like more a brut motor where the 449/511 seems smoother and more refined feeling. The older motors seem more powerful stock for stock, the 449/511 needs uncorked to make old 450 like power. the EFI on the 449/511 is far better than the older EFI. Bikes feel a good bit different. The new bike is modern and interesting feeling to ride and is a little different than most bikes where the 450/510 feel much more conventional old school 4 stroke in a good way. I will say regardless of who designed it and where its built the 449/511 motor is smoother, feels a good bit more refined, does not seem to have the connecting rod and other bearing issues, the clutch slave issue and does not leak oil and water out of half the mating parts like the older motor does. Both very good mounts that just feel different. Again, I don't think the new bike is a huge leap forward, if you like the older mounts keep them, very good platform as is. The CTS is very nice. the KYB stuff seems a little better. The older bikes feel more conventional where the new bike is semi odd, I like it some don't. The older bike is EZer to work on. I feel like i can hustle through the tighter stuff better on the newer bike with the smoother better controlled engine and CTS. Buddy Mike had a 510 he owned for years, one ride on my 511 and a buddies 449 and he sold his 510 and got a 511 and is happy. Hope that helps, trying to be as honest as i can and post the differences.

 

[domrvt]

I skipped a few generations, but I feel far more confident on my TE449 than I did on the TE410 it replaced. I do sort of miss the agricultural sound of the TE410 though; makes it seem like it can't be broken.