Husqvarna SM 510 too much for a beginner?

[Neal Caffrey]

I have the option to buy a new Husqvarna SM510 (year 2007), for 5000€, and I need to know if it's too much (dangerous) for a beginner.


Don't suggest me to buy the SM610 because I would chose SM510 or SM450 for their light weight.

Also, it is a smart move for a beginner to buy brand new, or would be better to get an used one (under 5000 km) for 3500€?
I know the SM510 won't last many km, so a new one would be a better idea, and the price difference is not big.

The mantainence has to be made every 1000km, or even more frequent?

 

[msmith345]

Maintenance will be more frequent. You really can't neglect a supermoto at all, work on it, go ride, come home work on it. Just the nature of a performance oriented bike. The combination of grippy tires and traction provided on the street, and the dirt oriented engine, which is designed for the knobbies to slip on dirt is really hard on sprockets, chain, clutch, transmission, etc.

You're not going to notice the weight. I'd say if you want a supermoto and are true beginner, go with a Suzuki DRZ 400 SM. Not near as maintenance heavy, more forgiving, easier to ride, cheaper, run forever. Pick up a used one, run it for a year or two, sell if for about what you paid for it, buy a higher performance one if that's what you decide you really want.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

Thank you for the answer.

I forgot to write that I wouldn't use the bike for track racing, like it was ment to be used. I would use it on roads, like any other street bike.

The maintainance manual for SM510 has two tabels, one for the 510 with limited power engine, used in normal street conditions, and one for SM510 used for racing, with full power engine.

Racing SM510 has maintainance intervals every 3/5 and 15 hours.
Street used SM510 has maintainance intervals every 1000/5000 and 10000 km.

So this means that SM510 used for a normal street ride, needs oil change every 1000km. I wouldn't call that HIGH maintainance, unless you ride the bike everyday. I won't.

I know that everybody is suggesting to start with SM610 or DRZ, but I won't ride the bike more than once a few days, so if I get one, I would like to keep it, not change bikes every 2 years.

All the SM610 owners regret that they didn't got the SM510 instead.
I don't need to ride long distances, or at high speeds. It would be only for fun.

That's why I asked about the 510 and not about 610.
If I'll get one, I won't upgrade. At least I hope not.

So, is it TOO MUCH for a beginner, saftely wise?

Thanks for the answer though. I apreciate it.

 

[K5PL5]

Maintenance wise, its not a beginner bike.
A beginner can ride a BMW S1000RR in my opinion. It's all up to the individual and how they ride it.
Ive had a 610SM, WR400F supermoto (Yamaha), SM510R, DRZ400S, and my current TE449 with SM setup. By far, the 510 was the most capable and fun but it is a competition oriented bike. A little more maintenance. Wasnt bad tho.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

Maintenance wise, its not a beginner bike.
A beginner can ride a BMW S1000RR in my opinion. It's all up to the individual and how they ride it.
Ive had a 610SM, WR400F supermoto (Yamaha), SM510R, DRZ400S, and my current TE449 with SM setup. By far, the 510 was the most capable and fun but it is a competition oriented bike. A little more maintenance. Wasnt bad tho.

How frequently did you had to change the oil and check the valves on your SM510R?

If this has to be made every 1000 km, then for me would mean once a month. That's not that bad...I guess.

But is 510 so dangerous that every turn can end up with a fall? Or if you can control yourself it can be used as a street bike?

 

[vmoreira]

How frequently did you had to change the oil and check the valves on your SM510R?

If this has to be made every 1000 km, then for me would mean once a month. That's not that bad...I guess.

But is 510 so dangerous that every turn can end up with a fall? Or if you can control yourself it can be used as a street bike?

Hi Neal, every turn can end up with a fall on any bike.
The SMR510 has great suspensions, massive brakes and a powerful engine. Use it wisely.
I change oil and filter every 600/800kms, have aprox 10.000kms and the valves are still on spec.
It's a great bike and a blast to ride.
Have fun!

 

[K5PL5]

I felt more confident on the bike because of its amazing brakes, suspension, and power. I changed the oil ever 600-800 miles. If the bike gets hard to start when hot, thats a good indicator the valves are out of spec. The thing to pay attention to is the bottom end bearings just as much as caring for the top end. Under heavy abuse, these engines CAN grenade. Example, low/no coolant, infrequent oil changes, etc.
My 510 had a Wiseco high compr piston, slipper clutch, JD jet kit, and a two stage ignition. A slip of the clutch in 6th gear brought the front end up. Super fun bike.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

Thanks for the answers guys.

Do you think that 5000€ (6800$) is a good price for a new, zero km SM510 2007?

I will try to negociate with them and maybe they'll give me this MV Agusta leather jacket included in the price.


I will test drive it, and if I won't be too scared, maybe it's for me.
I tested the R6 and it was fun. SM510 can't be worse. I'll take extra care on every leaning to the right.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

I forgot to mention that they also have a new 2007 SM450 for the same price.

Any advice?

 

[Bart]

btw 5K euro for a 2007 is way to much (I'd say 3,5k max).

 

[Neal Caffrey]

btw 5K euro for a 2007 is way to much (I'd say 3,5k max).

Here prices are crazy.

A 2nd hand Husqvarna SM510 is 3000-4000€, a new SM510 year 2007 is 5000€, and a new SM310R 2014 is 6800€.
Even if I will try to import one from Italy, they are 3000-4000€ used, and with transport and taxes I get to 5000€.

A 2014 SM511 is 8600€.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

UPDATE

I have searched for more Husqvarnas and I found 2 x TE 450, one 2009 850km, one 2010 6800km, each costs 3000€.

What do you think? Should I get the TE 450 2009 850km for 3000€, also buy the SM wheels and street kit, and use it both on street and off road? How difficult is to change the wheels and wheel rotor?


I understood that TE it's better than SM, because has a better ECU, better gears mapping and softer suspension. True?

But what are the differences between 450 and 510 models? Advantages, disadvantages?

 

[huskylove]

Get the "brand new" or the one with the lowest absolute miles. I would get the sm you smoke about above. 850km is next to nothing so it will have a long life!

Great beginner bikes btw, if you can keep the front wheel down.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

I just came back from MV Agusta showroom, and I negociated the price for the 2007 SM450 or SM510 both new, to 4000€. I offered 3700€ for the SM450, and I'll wait for an answer.

The 2008 TE510 2600km from BMW showroom, will make me a discount, and sell it for 3100€ with two sets of wheels, but the bike looks pretty bad, with scratches all over the plastics.
They told me the I can buy new plastics for under 100€, but I find that hard to beleive.
Here it is http://www.bikeshop.ro/handler.php?t...=6&zoom=1#foto

The brand new 2007 SM450/510 for 4000€ seems to be the better deal, but I am a little scared to be honest.

The bikes from MV Agusta are located in one of their showrooms from other city, so I only got to see the TE510 from BMW.
It's very very tall, (even if I am 1.90cm tall) and with the offroad wheels, the bike doesn't looks to be very easy to handle.

Do you think that the SM450 would be better for me? Honestly I don't think I will be taking it off road too often.

So if they won't accept less than 4000€ for SM450 or SM510 what should I choose.
And if they accept 3700€ for the SM450, should I get that one instead?

Is the 510 much more powerfull than the 450, for the use in the city?
I want the one that doesn't wheely very easy, and is easy to handle. Which one is it, 450?

 

[DErZ]

Neal,

Id say dont limit yourself. The great thing about supermotos is that you can do road and offroad. Even on the same wheels.

A quick google and I found the full plastics kit for $120 http://www.ebay.com/bhp/husqvarna-plastic

Its a bit of an oxymoron buying a supermoto and not wanting to wheelie it

If i was you id get the 510 as they have a bit more power/torque and better on the road.

Look forward to seeing what you get.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

Thanks.

Meanwhile the deal with BMW for the TE510 with SM kit felt down because they ask 3500€.

MV Agusta they asked for SMR450 or 510 4000€, and I offered them 3700€ for the SMR450. I still got no answer from them.

Logically would be to accept, because the SMR450 is 300€ cheaper than the 510.

I have two questions:
- If I will also get one pair of tyres for dual sport, can I use the SM wheels off road? I mean keep the same wheels, but use for off road a pair of tyres for off road.
- the plastics kit for slimmer SMR450 2008 will fit on a SMR450 2007?

I don't u derstand why I have to wait for the administrators to aprove my post. It takes one day to get an answer.

Thanks anyway.

 

[huskylove]

Get the 510 dude.

I sold my 450smr for 6300$ with a bunch of miles and only cosmetic mods. You can get a zero mile bike for less??? Id kill for that deal.

 

[Neal Caffrey]

Get the 510 dude.

I sold my 450smr for 6300$ with a bunch of miles and only cosmetic mods. You can get a zero mile bike for less??? Id kill for that deal.

Yes, they have one 2007 SMR450 never started and a 2007 SMR510 never started for 5000 euro each. I got the price to 4000 euro for each of them.
Now I hope they will accept 3700-3800 for the SMR450. A new SMR450 is 300 euro cheaper than a new SMR510.
But they said yesterday that will call me to say yes or no. They didn't. If I will call them back, I will sound interested to buy and won't accept 3800 euro for the 450. Maybe I will wait until next week and monday I will take the 510 deal if they won't go lower for 450. Or should I call tomorrow?

You know that it's not one of the newer model with injection, it's the 2007 with carburettor that sit for 7 years in the showroom. After I will get that bike I will have to change the tyres, oil and every fluids and gaskets it has. Plus that they offer NO warranty.

I would prefer the SMR450 deal, so if they accept 300 euro less it's even better. If not, they force me to take the SMR510 for 4000 euro, even if I want the 450.

Can you tell me why you got the 450 and not the 510? Any weak points for the 450 that I should know about? The 2007 model has ventilator and ignition key, right? The 450 has a bigger fuel tank than the 510?

Thanks.

 

[DErZ]

Why are you wavering towards the 450?

 

[Neal Caffrey]

Why are you wavering towards the 450?

I read that 450 is better for a beginner.

For the more advanced riders, I read that on a tight race track, 450 it's better than 510 because revs much faster, so it goes faster from one corner to another, while the 510 is much better on straight lines and on open race track, but on corners is struggles to keep the front wheel down.

I would be using the bike in the city, not highway, so it seems that 450 would suit me better.

I also got the impression that 450 is better for handling than 510 is on tight spaces. Is true?

Some of you who had both 450 and 510, said that the differences are very small, and I won't notice a difference.
Others say that 450 is much harder to make it wheelie on higher gears, than 510 is, so for a beginner 450 is safer.

Here are the rating scores for SMR450 and SMR510:
http://www.bikez.com/rating/husqvarna_smr450_supermoto_2007.php
http://www.bikez.com/rating/husqvarna_smr510_supermoto_2007.php

510 wins on engine performance, race track performance, and fun factor, but 450 wins on value for money, reliability, and lower accident risk.
This is very subjective, but if a new 450 is cheaper than a new 510 and the differences are very small for a beginner to notice, than I should get the SMR450.

If they will ask 4000 euro for 450 also, than I will get the SMR510.
I don't know if it's a good idea to call them again, and ask them if they have considered my offer of 3800 euro for the new 2007 SMR450.
Or I should wait a few days?