did i buy the wrong bike? te511 versus terra

[YOGAVNTURE]

Well look up Suzuki DR650 on google.........

Not talking about the TE511, I'm talking about Husky's Adventure bikes - EI: TR650, TE630, 610 etc..

There is no real way to make a TE511 fully road comfortable... it is and Enduro bike.

my goal is to make it more comfortable on the interstate than it is now........its unbearable. I have never been impresse with jap bikes. havent seen the dr650 you speak of yet. my only other view has been of a Yamaha. it looks decent. wondering it that would be more road friendly.

 

[JOXY]

What Adv bike do Yammy make???
Excuse my ignorance - I'm only an MX rider.

 

[YOGAVNTURE]

His current 610 would be a far better bike all round than the DR - it's a dinosaur.

the Yamaha bike ( I think its a 450 or maybe they make a 600 cc?) it must be more road friendly versus the te511.....it looks decent...........

 

[YOGAVNTURE]

What Adv bike do Yammy make???
Excuse my ignorance - I'm only an MX rider.

I know on youtube they have a side by side comparison of the te511. the ktm. and Yamaha bike......you might like it......I think the Yamaha might be a decent bike. it looks pretty good. to be honest I was at a Suzuki dealer and saw their endure bikes and they look out dated. (old square headlights as example)

 

[Russ]

my goal is to make it more comfortable on the interstate than it is now........its unbearable. I have never been impresse with jap bikes. havent seen the dr650 you speak of yet. my only other view has been of a Yamaha. it looks decent. wondering it that would be more road friendly.

If you want to persist with the 511 on road you'll need to gear it up (i.e. smaller rear sprocket and/or larger front), get a more comfortable seat (Seat Concepts) & sort the wheel/tyre issue out (balancing, perhaps fit wheel weights, check tyre pressure, perhaps try different tyres, perhaps suspension setup).

There's no doubt the 511 is a terrific machine. But it is 99% dirt focused so will never be anything more than ordinary on the road.

 

[JOXY]

Ahh yep, just seen them - they look a little more like they're suited to 'Hardcore' ADV, as in massive adventure rides...

 

[YOGAVNTURE]

If you want to persist with the 511 on road you'll need to gear it up (i.e. smaller rear sprocket and/or larger front), get a more comfortable seat (Seat Concepts) & sort the wheel/tyre issue out (balancing, perhaps fit wheel weights, check tyre pressure, perhaps try different tyres, perhaps suspension setup).

There's no doubt the 511 is a terrific machine. But it is 99% dirt focused so will never be anything more than ordinary on the road.

im a yogi , I don't even sit In chairs. so I can be happy with the stock seat.......I think changing the sprockets is quick and easy? and yes i agree, im not expert on this.but changing tires/rims/ etc. or something like that will help a lot.......BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THOSE STOCK TE511 TIRES ARE NOT MADE TO BE ON INTERSTATE AT ALL.......EVER........ I think if I change the tire to be more road friendly it would help a lot......maybe I shouldn't freak out......wondering if terra would be a better choice for me....I like the way the te511 sits high......and im tall. the terra sits low and my legs might be cramped........I sit well on the te511.......so isn't that half the battle.? you can alter a bike that fits you.......but u cant alter a bike that don't fit you............isn't that the bottom line? I wonder if I took the big Yamaha enduro out if it would be more road friendly versus the te511

 

[YOGAVNTURE]

If you want to persist with the 511 on road you'll need to gear it up (i.e. smaller rear sprocket and/or larger front), get a more comfortable seat (Seat Concepts) & sort the wheel/tyre issue out (balancing, perhaps fit wheel weights, check tyre pressure, perhaps try different tyres, perhaps suspension setup).

There's no doubt the 511 is a terrific machine. But it is 99% dirt focused so will never be anything more than ordinary on the road.

I wonder if the large Yamaha bike would have been a better choice for my desire to have a road/dirt bike? pictures online suggest that ........I guess when I bought my new te511 I just assumed it was an updated version of the te610 . I was wrong about that......the te511 is a full on motocross bike .......why they wouldn't at least make it a bit more road friendly is beyond me? they just took the tc bike. stuck lights on it........seems most people if they wanted a street legal dirt bike would want the manufacturer to alter its style/rideabilty a bit to be road friendly somewhat......that is not the case........I cant over emphasize how badly the te511 performed on the interstate... (but remember it also was a jewel in the dirt.)........I want more middle ground

 

[JOXY]

The TE511 is in no means a MX bike.. It's an Enduro bike.

 

[Russ]

I wonder if I took the big Yamaha enduro out if it would be more road friendly versus the te511

Depends on which Yamaha you're referring to. The WR450F is the equivalent of your 511, so would be no better, probably worse in fact as it only has a 5 speed box.

The XT660 or Tenere are a big, heavy bike, much more so than your 610, which goes against your stated desire for a light bike. Great for longer road/trail work, but too heavy for "real" off road riding. You should probably either stick with the 610 or look for something like a KTM 690 Enduro.

All bikes are a compromise between road & dirt. You should be honest with yourself where you mostly ride, then choose a bike suited to that. I have a 630 that I love, but am looking at a 310 as well as I would like a lighter bike for the dirt.

 

[YOGAVNTURE]

Ahh yep, just seen them - they look a little more like they're suited to 'Hardcore' ADV, as in massive adventure rides...

I shouldn't freak out. I just bought a new f150 truck and retired my old ford ranger.......at first I preferred the driveablity of the old ranger.......its just like anything new ........you have to get used to it.....maybe if I alter the tires on the new te511 or they wear down a bit.......and the engine gets broken in , I can be happy with the bike .......im 52 years old and I like the lightweightness of the new te511 , even though I think the light weight promotes the squirrel front end on the interstate........CANT HAVE EVERYTHING.......BUT I CAN TRY!

 

[YOGAVNTURE]

Depends on which Yamaha you're referring to. The WR450F is the equivalent of your 511, so would be no better, probably worse in fact as it only has a 5 speed box.

The XT660 or Tenere are a big, heavy bike, much more so than your 610, which goes against your stated desire for a light bike. Great for longer road/trail work, but too heavy for "real" off road riding. You should probably either stick with the 610 or look for something like a KTM 690 Enduro.

All bikes are a compromise between road & dirt. You should be honest with yourself where you mostly ride, then choose a bike suited to that. I have a 630 that I love, but am looking at a 310 as well as I would like a lighter bike for the dirt.

good advise. I guess I bought the 511 thinking they had though out road usage for it.....they didn't. so now I have to make do.....being honest I guess I should keep my te610 and use it for my road bike.......and keep the te511 when I go for more dirt work......but I still want both in one bike........husky markets the terra for that.......but just looking at pics of the terra versus te511 you can see how the terra sits lower.....and is more compact.......not good for a big guy like me........its just money, im sure the te511 can be altered , with not too much pocketbook pain. I have full motocross tires on my te610 .......now if I put supermotos or smooth trials tire on my te511.......it might be a killer road bike?????? (change spockets too, that's easy I think).

 

[Motosportz]

Balance the wheels and it will be real smooth, gear it up and it will crus 65 all day long. I do many 150 plus mile DS rides on mine and love it. 45 mpg street wheelies, 40 mph gravel rode brod slides and wheelies, tight single track. Setup right this is a great do it all bike. I use mine primarily as a DS bike and this always includes street to gett here and I have zero issues. Last year i rode gnarly single track for 3 days while camping with a friend and then rode it 70 miles home on pavement. Was awesome.

 

[McKay]

Balance the wheels and it will be real smooth, gear it up and it will crus 65 all day long. I do many 150 plus mile DS rides on mine and love it. 45 mpg street wheelies, 40 mph gravel rode brod slides and wheelies, tight single track. Setup right this is a great do it all bike. I use mine primarily as a DS bike and this always includes street to gett here and I have zero issues. Last year i rode gnarly single track for 3 days while camping with a friend and then rode it 70 miles home on pavement. Was awesome.

I disagree, neither the 449 or 511 are street-comfortable for more than a 20 miles or so, they are obnoxious on pavement at highway speeds. Has nothing to do with the tires or sprockets or balance or seats (I have all those and while they help, its still a b@tch on pavement), its the transmission ratios and the high revving engine. Balancing does indeed help but these are not street bikes, I think Yogi needs the Terra for what he wants. The 449 and 511 in the tough dirt are a dream once we get them running right.

 

[heatingguy]

its all about the tires fully agree with msz also might a just pressure in tires you will get use to running nobs on pavement but you can always buy a more road type tire ....

 

[McKay]

I don't know what a dr650 is.......I will look it up.......I looked it up . I don't want a jap bike.

That statement cracked me up!

 

[ajaxauto]

A TE 510 is a DIRT BIKE with a plate The only time it should be on the road is to go get gas.I have one and it is not for the street.The best real Dual Sport bike read Dual sport bike I ever had was a KTM 640 Adventure.I own a wrecking yard and use to buy these bike wrecked and repair them.Well the 640 with the 7 gallon tank and the suspention redone for off road took me places I never thought I could go.Then I purchased a 2006 TE 510 and
relised it was a pure off road bike not a dual sport.99 present of the time I race so it is ok But if you want a real Dual Sport the TE 510 in not going to make you happy It is a Dirt Bike with a plate

 

[Motosportz]

friend of mine has a KTM 640, it vibrates like a paint shaker, is heavy and wide. No think you. He is envious of my 511.

 

[Motosportz]

I disagree, neither the 449 or 511 are street-comfortable for more than a 20 miles or so, they are obnoxious on pavement at highway speeds. Has nothing to do with the tires or sprockets or balance or seats (I have all those and while they help, its still a b@tch on pavement), its the transmission ratios and the high revving engine. Balancing does indeed help but these are not street bikes, I think Yogi needs the Terra for what he wants. The 449 and 511 in the tough dirt are a dream once we get them running right.

to each his own. Almost every time I ride mine there is 25-60 of pavement. This is interspersed with gravel and tight trail. LOVE this bike for all that. It is in the setup. Balanced wheels, SeatConcepts seat, Nomad tank and the right gearing and I'm in DS heaven. I hang with TE310's and KTM 350 on the trail and leave them for dead on the gravel and street. For ME this bike works great and I have zero issues with 50 plus miles of street. In fact i pass a lot of the time on the rear wheel.

Goofy vid i put together when i first got the bike and even before i did any real upgrades.

I have a 114 mile DS loop I do right from my house, about 35 miles are street to get up there and back, rest is all gravel and very cool single track. I have ridden this with friends with DZR400, KTM 450, and various other bikes. I have zero issues doing this. I find the TE511 a GREAT do it all DS bike. IMHO it is all setting it up for what you need.

 

[Mike-AK]

mike I can help you along the path of sobriety if you are strong enuf. sending the love. and praying for you.