• 4 Stroke Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Italy - About 1989 to 2014
     TE = 4st Enduro & TC = 4st Cross

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    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

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2011 te449

batterup

batterup

Husqvarna
B Class
i have never owned a husky before. i found a 2011 te449 with 500 miles on it. The owner wants $5400 for it, which i think is ok. I would like some advice on this year model. Is there anything i should be concerned with? I have a friend who rides a 2011 450 exc ktm and he says that the husky will be nothing but headaches and not as fast as his ktm. Is there any truth to what he is saying. do you guys think $5400 is a good price for this model year?


thanks
 
At that price it should be properly set up and in very good condition. And if properly set up you need not fear any KTM.
 
You can probably get a new 511 for a grand more. If he has some extras and you get him down a couple more hundred, it could be a good buy.
 
batterup said:
I have a friend who rides a 2011 450 exc ktm and he says that the husky will be nothing but headaches and not as fast as his ktm.
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I would go buy a new MY13 511 for the same price as that. Swap out the silencer and reload the ecu. Next time you see your friend, ask him how that PDS is working out for him?
 
I bought my 2011 for $5000 with 1000 miles on it a few weeks before the blowout sale. I thought it was a good deal at the time.
 
Those new $5000 units are going to be few and far between so if you find one grab it quick. Dealers basically had to have none in stock when the sale started and then get some before the warehouse emptied.
 
I bought MY2013 te449 for 5900 about 6 weeks ago Im sure you can find the same deal for a 511 if not cheaper
 
It's not listed today it must have ended but Check eBay there is a dealer in Minnesota (I think) that was selling the 449 for 5700 and 511 for 6100. I saw it yesterday he probably just has to relist the items. Don't quote me on the prices but it was right around that range and expect a few hundred for shipping
 
It's really dependent on location. Some people can always find cheaper dirt bikes, while other areas will always be around full blown retail or close to it. IMO , $5000 is pretty good for a bike that only has 500 miles on it, that's like still in break-in mode. If you consider $7500-8500 for a brand new one in most areas.

Also - you should consider how available parts are or any dealerships in your area.

As for the bike itself, I've read a review that compared the TE511 to the power of a DRZ400 (no joke- http://www.enduro360.com/2012/04/05/uncharacterised-posts/2012-husqvarna-te511-test-page-2/) "So how does it stack up against the competition? We can’t put the TE up against a KTM, any KTM, it just is not on par in any performance comparison. I did one full day of testing alongside my old 2006 450XC. The XC had the Acerbis six gallon tank mounted because it had to carry fuel for both bikes. In nearly every facet, the old KTM out rode the Husky.
In terms of pure performance: power, weight and handling it is probably closest to a Suzuki DRZ400. Yes, it has more motor, but only once it is opened up. The Husky has better quality components and is much, much cooler. Yet, in terms of all around performance characteristics, it and the DRZ are pretty close."

It's hard to find a unbiased opinion on any bike. Not too sure how that reviewer had their bike setup. Durability is up there if you take care of it like most other dirt bikes.

Best to test ride it and see for yourself.
 
if the te449 is like a drz400 I dont think I will buy it. I had a drz400sm and felt it was under powered, It would only power wheelie in 1st gear.
 
batterup said:
if the te449 is like a drz400 I dont think I will buy it. I had a drz400sm and felt it was under powered, It would only power wheelie in 1st gear.
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Honestly, I think that was a TE that was choked up to meet emissions standards. Or possibly comparing to the DRZ400E model (off road only model which is much more powerful then the 400SM)... Either way - test ride one to see for yourself. I've heard all spectrums of opinions from it being a rocketship to just another dirt bike.

I have a TE250 and love it, but I had to do some extras with the fueling system to get it 'close' to dirt bike mannerisms. I have heard the 449 and 511 models have difficulty with getting to some parts but again, just opinions.
 
henson802 said:
As for the bike itself, I've read a review that compared the TE511 to the power of a DRZ400 (no joke- http://www.enduro360.com/2012/04/05/uncharacterised-posts/2012-husqvarna-te511-test-page-2/) "So how does it stack up against the competition? We can’t put the TE up against a KTM, any KTM, it just is not on par in any performance comparison. I did one full day of testing alongside my old 2006 450XC. The XC had the Acerbis six gallon tank mounted because it had to carry fuel for both bikes. In nearly every facet, the old KTM out rode the Husky.
In terms of pure performance: power, weight and handling it is probably closest to a Suzuki DRZ400. Yes, it has more motor, but only once it is opened up. The Husky has better quality components and is much, much cooler. Yet, in terms of all around performance characteristics, it and the DRZ are pretty close."

It's hard to find a unbiased opinion on any bike. Not too sure how that reviewer had their bike setup. Durability is up there if you take care of it like most other dirt bikes.

Best to test ride it and see for yourself.
Click to expand...

The review and website of Enduro360.com is Chilly White's. The TE511 tested was originally a stock, choked up, emission controlled, right off the Malcolm Smith showroom floor model. And completely stock, they are pretty mild, easy for the average Joe to ride and enjoy. And this article should be taken into consideration as just that.

Once Chilly opened his exhaust up, he said the bike preformed similar to my KTM 525. But Chilly still had a semi choked silencer and was not seeing the 511's full potential. Had he of added a 4.1rct instead of the Q4 silencer and reloaded his ecu with BMW map#3 he would of unleashed the 511 and been sitting on a fire breathing beast unlike anything that rolled off the showroom floor. With it's built in traction control, Cory would hole-shot the Pro pack every time. The TE511 is truly an amazing motorcycle.
 
James Patton said:
I own a DRZ 400 and a 511, DRZ is a joke compared .
Don't believe everything youread.
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You also said the TE511 is in another league as the WR450F soooooo.. ;)

But I will say that it was probably a toned down TE511 in that review - meaning it wasn't uncorked. But still - it's good to know what you are getting into and what will need to be done if not already. And as other posts have stated- some find it difficult to gain access to some of the parts like front shocks. I've read other reviews with similar details about the shocks/suspension setup.

Best thing is to always ride before you buy, and figure if parts / updates are needed -and a dealership or a place that specializes in Husqvarna is nearby.
 
henson802 said:
You also said the TE511 is in another league as the WR450F soooooo.. ;)

But I will say that it was probably a toned down TE511 in that review - meaning it wasn't uncorked. But still - it's good to know what you are getting into and what will need to be done if not already. And as other posts have stated- some find it difficult to gain access to some of the parts like front shocks. I've read other reviews with similar details about the shocks/suspension setup.

Best thing is to always ride before you buy, and figure if parts / updates are needed -and a dealership or a place that specializes in Husqvarna is nearby.
Click to expand...



Suspension setup problems?...I dont think so. Common KYB stuff that is widely available and responds to normal tuning. If anything the high mount linkage in the rear provides protection that isnt common, but it isnt hard to work on.

Any bike set up to be street legal will need decorking to maximize output. Power Commander has been in business for years solving this problem, they didnt need the 511 to justify their business.

The only time a DRZ and 511 would behave similarly is on a quiet putt up a gravel road. Anything that involves using the suspension or power will quickly reveal the improvements the 511 offers. The DRZ is a fine bike for its purpose, as is a KLR...but that purpose is not performance off-road riding.
 
m1kebeck said:
It's not listed today it must have ended but Check eBay there is a dealer in Minnesota (I think) that was selling the 449 for 5700 and 511 for 6100. I saw it yesterday he probably just has to relist the items. Don't quote me on the prices but it was right around that range and expect a few hundred for shipping
Click to expand...



This is where the 'properly set up' part comes in.

Dealers who are known to take care of their customers and properly set up bikes will be found in the Kudos section of this website, if a dealer isnt getting Kudos here then .....your mileage may vary.

Some of this discussion about setting up the bike right is a no brainer for those good dealers and some dealers do it without ever giving you a chance to experience the 'baseline' setup.

The 449 and 511 are unique and wonderful bikes and they get that way with minimal upgrades. Proper exhaust (I use the stock TXC Akrapovic can on our racing 511 ...aint nobody pass us yet on a straightaway..and a modified TE muffler on my 449); latest ECU set #3 (here is where a dealer can really help) or the JD/Power Commander add on.

That is all it took to make a race winning TXC511, add JD tuner or ECU update and tune suspension to fit rider, add good rider (made better by the 511)...everything else is optional
 
Never seen a DRZ 400win an enduro or hare scrambles at my club
Never saw a Drz even entered. Go to the races. You don't own 2 out of 3 bikes
Your talking about. I do and thats
My experience period i don't want to debate yor magazine experience
 
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