9 Hours on 2013 TXC310, Very Disapointed in this bike

[Dirtdame]

Not to get too far off-topic, but my 1997 KDX200 with later model USD forks has never had a failure of any sort. Never, nunca, nope...nada..... and it still runs strong with the normal maintenance of air filter and oil changes....AND it is still by far the fastest of all the bikes I've ever owned in the tight technical stuff . It came std with a seat that was firm but wide, a seat height of about 36.5 to 37 inches, a mere pipe change with reeds and it puts out mid-thirties HP.
So where's the progress? LOL...

Yeah....I love my li'l green Kwackers, too!

 

[Connor]

Did someone say Husqvarna had something KTM doesn't?
What problems have you had with your Husky?

Theirs a few things I dislike about my husqvarna. They can be hard to find parts for in comparison to any of the Jap bikes or even a KTM. I have found that while they tried to make the husqvarna engine small and light weight that they over looked other small things. Want an example? The radiator hoses on the X-Lites are only a centimeter or two off the header. I had to take my tank off and put a zip ty around the bottom hose and zip ty it to something higher up to keep it from starting to melt. The little tab that bolts to the header had already melted through the rubber barrier that keep the metal tab from touching the radiator hose directly more than once, and than melted through heat shrink we put on as well. My bike will hardly ever start by kick (maybe 1 out of every 10 or so kicks). The battery in it was bad when I got it and the bike wouldn't start from the dealer. I had to repalce my starter motor with only 5 hours on my bike, the windings literally ripped out of the motor and got melted to the armature, which husky would not warranty!!! That was bullshit! A bike with 5 hours needs a new starter motor? Come on...really? Even the dealer said they've never seen anything like that happen. The bikes also have a huge amount of engine breaking on decel and they are top heavy. However, the last two items aren't that huge of a deal, and can be dealt with. With all that said, for the most part I still like my husky. My point was that you shouldn't bash on KTM because if their bikes were as bad as you all try to make them out to be, than they wouldn't be so popular.

 

[joedirt]

The starter is BS.
I don't see how the dealer let the bike go out the door with a bad battery.
As far as the engine braking thats what four strokes do.
Top heavy? Have you ridden any other brands?
I don't bash KTM and do know plenty of people that ride them. How many years did it take to get the starter to work in their 2 strokes?
The 2 guys I ride with on KTM250xc's took the starters off cause they were useless.
Another guys new KTM250sxf sat in the shop for 2 months till they figured out why it wouldn't run.
Andrew Shorts fuel pump took a crap on the face of a jump at High Point. You would think his bike doesn't have may hours on it.

I use to ride Hondas. How many years did it take for them to correct the valve problems?

All brands have problems.

 

[Benriding]

TE 310 2011-50hrs no problems, think it's a great platform, and have been very happy! Seems they just need to work harder to keep things in spec. KTM might help with this, but possibly at much higher prices.

 

[MikeB]

There are 2 things Husky owners have that NO one else does. Café Husky with a really solid world wide community of enthusiasts willing to help and Tinken/ZipTy - what other brand has a site where anyone can log in and get advice, help, knowledge, wisdom from what is basically factory development race support.?

I can modify just about any bike for my preferences and tastes - and live with some imperfections (although my TXC310 has been perfectly troublefree) - but how do you ever replace a community like this?

 

[K5PL5]

My point still stands...their is nothing on a husqvarna bike that KTM's don't have. I will take up for them because I've seen everyone seem to hate on them here. Not many other brands, just the KTM's it seems like, and I don't know why. Btw I wanted a KTM but they were just out of my budget.

I love KTMs too. GAS GAS as well. I believe it is a love/hate thing with most of these guys. They all know KTMs are good bikes. I've owned them before and I'm sure I'll own one again. Coincidentally, maybe a red/white one haha.

 

[LandofMotards]

Yeah no kidding. This site is a big reason I want a Husky. I really don't think I'd bother with the brand if the cafe didn't exist
Not to mention offroad racing never crossed my mind until reading posts from roberstaccio and watching ajax's videos. Now I'm hooking. Before that I thought dirt bikes were just for MX and Supermoto lol. Someday I'll do an ISDE

 

[shilo020]

This is a community of friends discussing a mutual love. Be nice.

 

[oregonsage]

Funny thing is that just the other day someone started a thread with the theme....the xlite must be just fine because those 449/511 guys are always talking about improving their bikes and hardly anything gets said about the 250/310... doh!
I smiled...

 

[Motosportz]

Funny thing is that just the other day someone started a thread with the theme....the xlite must be just fine because those 449/511 guys are always talking about improving their bikes and hardly anything gets said about the 250/310... doh!
I smiled...

The reality is the dealers and people in the know i have spoke to said the 449/511 is very reliable while the X-lights have all sorts of issues from starter breaking out of the case, to not starting, to issues with the wiring harness, cam issues, to endless EFI issues. My personal experience is that the 511 is very reliable and has few issues and the x-lights seems very hit and miss. Some seem to have no issues where others seem to have endless issues.

 

[K5PL5]

I must have been lucky with the 4 Huskys ive owned so far.
Each one had a "WTF" part or concept on it though haha. Like the gas cap on my 610 SM. Wow. The rad shrouds on my WR/510SMR...what else...the nutserts in the fuel tanks...the kickstands..that seems to be an Italian thing tho. I remember watching a guy pull out on an older Ducati and forgetting he removed the spring. First left turn was an eye opener for him as we all yelled "yoooo...heeeyyyy...kickstaaaand!"

 

[okiehusky]

Am I a lucky guy or what? I picked up a '12 Model and have only had one problem.....starting. The first day I brought it home to boot! I hadn't read about nor did the dealer tell me about the richening lever above the clutch perch. Thought the damned thing was a hot start. Ran the battery down and began to cuss that machine like the dog I thought it was. Since that episode, it has started instantly hot or cold. Zero hesitation. Zero troubles with anything. And I ride it hard here in Oklahoma in Hare Scrambles and single track. I'm a 2 stroke guy. Have been and always will be. I have 7 of them in the garage. But this 4 stroke is fun and that Magic Button is sweet. OK. I'm done.

 

[Motosportz]

But this 4 stroke is fun and that Magic Button is sweet. OK. I'm done.

Absolutely, love riding them. Best handling bikes made.

 

[robertaccio]

Like I mentioned Ive got the 2011 TE310 which has been bullet proof. raced, no DNF and podiumed numerous local HS events, Nat H&H (all loops), Nat ISDE Qualifier and endless tough trail rides with zero issues.
2013 TXC310R is being rebuilt/re-suspended as we speak, funny though the first real race I did on it was a local HS and another non DNF, 2nd in the open 45+ class on a failing motor..... so even the fail ended in a finish and 2nd place plaque!! 3 world championships on these x-lite motors do show me that they are tough little beasts when all is going well and all is race/ride prepped well.
edit these are highly strung, engineered to be race motors (imbedded with a short maintenance cycle), bear that in mind as well.

 

[raisrx251]

My point still stands...their is nothing on a husqvarna bike that KTM's don't have. I will take up for them because I've seen everyone seem to hate on them here. Not many other brands, just the KTM's it seems like, and I don't know why. Btw I wanted a KTM but they were just out of my budget.

Where's Fletchman when you need him...

 

[Huskynoobee]

I have said this before, but I think they build lots of xlites on "Wine Wednesday". I was seriously considering getting a 310 for my lady, but she's tall enough to ride my '11 TE449. While the 310 has some good attributes, it seems the mumbo jumbo about the new red heads took precidence over curing long term problems with the engines. There won't be one of those in our future, but a new 449 or 511 could come home someday soon.

By the way...the loss of the CTS system WILL be a loss to the motorcycle world, and KTM can't touch that with a 10 foot pole. KTM doesn't really have much in the way of new tech. just refining up to 10 year old stuff last time I looked at them and then laughed at the prices they charge! (Cough cough PDS? cough)

 

[Connor]

The starter is BS.
I don't see how the dealer let the bike go out the door with a bad battery.
As far as the engine braking thats what four strokes do.
Top heavy? Have you ridden any other brands?
I don't bash KTM and do know plenty of people that ride them. How many years did it take to get the starter to work in their 2 strokes?
The 2 guys I ride with on KTM250xc's took the starters off cause they were useless.
Another guys new KTM250sxf sat in the shop for 2 months till they figured out why it wouldn't run.
Andrew Shorts fuel pump took a crap on the face of a jump at High Point. You would think his bike doesn't have may hours on it.

I use to ride Hondas. How many years did it take for them to correct the valve problems?

All brands have problems.

Your right. The KTM's electric start system is a crap shot as well, or at lest it was.. I know plenty of friends that have ktm250xc's and 300xc's that did the same thing you mentioned and just got rid of the whole electric start assembly. And yes I have ridden other brands, they don't feel as top heavy. Maybe it's my small size compared with a relatively tall seat height on the 310 that makes it feel like that for me. My over all point wasn't that KTM is better (even though I personally feel they are and the conversation sort of escalated that way) but the fact that you don't have to bash on another brand just to because they are more popular.

 

[Johnrg]

Just picked up my bike and valves were slightly out. I was told they have been advised to tighten the spec to assist the decoimpressor. Nothing more I can do but enjoy the bike... It does ride well and it's true that with most everything, there are issues. No car/van/electronic gadget these days is perfect and while we all want them so one can simply get them close and then work around any issues. My workarounds... Never get stuck where I cannot back out and turn around ;-)

*update... Did an oil change this morning and was testing kick effort and cold it's even noticeable. I can easily kick just standing there as opposed to full body weight on the kick starter. So getting the exhaust valve right (decomp side) at the low end of spec may indeed be the ticket.

and... after a test run to get it hot and stop a few times to test kick and electric start, it indeed kicks easier and no click as of yet. So my rule of thumb is going to be get the valve as close to .20 as I can. .229, while in spec was not working. Will "pay" to have the small increment .025 shims for this one.

 

[Motosportz]

And yes I have ridden other brands, they don't feel as top heavy. Maybe it's my small size compared with a relatively tall seat height on the 310 that makes it feel like that for me.

I think thats a good point. I ride with a lot of KTM 350 guys and they do seem somehow less tall or cumbersome at times.

 

[Mike-AK]

The seat height does not appear to be radically different between the brands to me, but the KTMs with the PDS seem to sag in a bit more. Perhaps that is the difference.