Interested in a TE310, but have some concerns

[Pickle]

Hi All,

It is getting to be new bike time for me and I am very interested in a TE310. The most appealing part of is is that it is street legal and doesn't weight 300lbs. I don't intend to do extended riding on the road, or to even hit the freeway. I simply like the street legality for linking trails, and maybe the 1.5 mile commute to work from time to time.

From the reading I have done it seems that to make it run correctly in tight singletrack it has to be de-restricted, needs a 50 or 52 tooth sprocket, and needs a JD Jetting FI Tuner. Fine, that seems to be par for the course for just about any new trail bike.

However, I am still left with some concerns:

1. The off idle stumble and cough and die issues. As I understand it, the JD Jetting tuner should fix this, but I read of people still having issues with this. How prevalent is this problem? Are there other mods I would have to add to the list to get this to go away? I HATE a bike that stumbles off idle, or that flames out easily. I fought off idle stumble on my current KDX for a few years before I figured out that something was wrong with the reed cage and replaced it with a VForce reed cage.

2. The hot start issues. An e-start bike that will not start when hot is almost unbelievable to me, as hot-start issues seems to be the main reason to get an e-start 4-stroke. I would be rather mad if my $8k dirt bike stranded me 25 miles from the truck because it wouldn't re-start after a snack break. How prevalent is this issue? What has to be done to make it go away? I am probably spoiled with my KDX since it starts on 2 or 3 kicks after sitting for the winter, and starts on a half kick when hot.

The other option I am considering is a WR250f, which I can get for less money, but doesn't have the plate and I unfortunately live in a state where plating a dirt bike isn't possible. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[mnb]

I own a '11 TE310.

1) no problems since I installed the JD Surge 6X Tuner.

2) Never had a problem with this personally.

My bike has the O2 sensor pulled, the lamda plug in, but the pipe is still corked (I don't want it any louder). Stock exhaust. 13/50 sprocket combo.

I'm still getting used to the power curve and low gearing (177 miles on it so far), but I LOVE this bike. When the power really kicks in, it's pretty nice, it turns great, handles well and the suspension is good. All in all, it's a really nice bike.

 

[robertk61]

I also own one and have had it for nearly a year.

Never had any issues with the off idle stumble OR hot start issues.
I do have a JD tuner and only got it to be able to "fine tune" the bike. Makes it go heaps better and able to do it on the fly.
Mine was powered up when I got it, and I have never had any issues with it and has done about 600km (400 miles??).
Awesome for single track/trails, but not really a commuter with stock gearing (13/50), you will be revving the crap out of it when commuting-especially on a freeway.

Best and most fun bike I have ever had (besides my WR250)

 

[CrankN]

Sounds like a great bike. Is it possible to fit a big bore kit to help match it against the KTM350 or Husaberg390? I guess you couldn't as it is an bored 250 anyway.....

 

[Catang5oh]

I have a 2012 and i have had some break in flash out issues, but they seem to be improving. Will be hooking up ibeat and tuning soon.
love the bike, i personally think it runs as well as the KTM 350, demo rode one earlier this year.

 

[Motosportz]

Good buddy has the TE310 with JD. Runs very good but not perfect. Still a little rough down low but hardly noticeable just not 100% I think he could still tune it further. Never heard of any starting issues with these bikes. The motor is very good and I also ride with a dude with a 2012 KTM 350. I feel the 310 revs much faster and has a very strong mid range and really gives very little away tot he 350 which I find alarmingly soft on the bottom. I rode said KTM350 last Saturday and had to ride it pinned like a 250F, was surprised at the lack of power. His 350 also has the JD and does run a little better than the 310. He kept telling me how it was faster than my 02 GG250 and how he would smoke me. I contenplated this while waiting at the top of some hills End of the day we did drag races across the big flat parking lot and the 02 GG is faster. Feels a ton faster on the trail. So would not fear the KTM350. The 310 feels 20 pounds lighter and much smaller and handles better and is way less expensive. For what you describe (tighter trails and just a little street) it is nearly perfect IMHO.

 

[Pullened]

Fanatastic bike with a warranty. If you have any problems take it back and have them fix. Upgrade injector to 12hole and JD tuner will really make this bike rip on the trail. You dont have far to go (1.5 miles) maybe putting a 49 on the rear might help with streetability.

 

[Pickle]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. Gearing for street use isn't anything I overly concerned with. For me, I plan on using it on the street less than 5% of the time and never on the freeway, unless I absolutely have to.

What is iBeat, and is that an 2nd option to the JD kit? Or is it used with the JD kit?

There are a couple threads on here about starting issues on the 250, so wouldn't the same issues apply to the 310 since it is the same thing, just with a little more displacement?

 

[Phoenix]

As the owner of a 2010 TXC 250 with the hot starting issue, I will say this: the issue will not leave you stranded because it kicks fine even when hot. In fact, it should start better after you've finished your snack and it has cooled down. I just put a new starter motor in my bike last week...I hope that this will be the last time I talk about hot starting problems, but if its not, I still LOVE my bike and will continue to ride it as an occasional kick-start bike. The TXC or TE 310 will be my next bike. There is simply no other bike that can compare to the X-lite 250s/310s in the three categories that are most important to me: suspension, weight and ergonomics. I've looked at them all and have ridden most. To get the same package in a different brand, you pretty much have to ditch the e-starter for a motocross version. The WR250 has a nice snappy motor, but it just doesn't handle like the Husky (IMO of course). I know i've seen at least 1 thread bout starting problems on a 310 so its not completely isolated to 250s.

iBeat is the tuning software. You can use it to check error codes, set TPS and modify CO values. JD kit is a little device that plugs in between your factory ECU and the fuel injector and it offers a much greater range of adjustability. I have both iBeat and JD. If you have a dealer close by, then the iBeat software might not be necessary.

 

[Pickle]

Thanks Phoenix. I was under the impression that the hot start issue caused the bike to not start with the kick starter also.

Pullened - I would imagine de-resticting the bike and adding the JD tuner will result in a voided warranty, right? So, it would probably be wise to leave the bike un-modified for the duration of the warranty (6 months??) just to make sure it was put together correctly and not about to blow up.

 

[robertk61]

Sounds like a great bike. Is it possible to fit a big bore kit to help match it against the KTM350 or Husaberg390? I guess you couldn't as it is an bored 250 anyway.....

These (310) are bored and stroked compared to the 250. As far as I know, there is not enough meat left in the cylinder wall to bore them. Cant really compare to KTM 350 or Berg 390, but one of these would probably rung rings around them in tight ST, and handle better/cheaper.

 

[old dirt]

Hi All,

It is getting to be new bike time for me and I am very interested in a TE310. The most appealing part of is is that it is street legal and doesn't weight 300lbs. I don't intend to do extended riding on the road, or to even hit the freeway. I simply like the street legality for linking trails, and maybe the 1.5 mile commute to work from time to time.

From the reading I have done it seems that to make it run correctly in tight singletrack it has to be de-restricted, needs a 50 or 52 tooth sprocket, and needs a JD Jetting FI Tuner. Fine, that seems to be par for the course for just about any new trail bike.

However, I am still left with some concerns:

1. The off idle stumble and cough and die issues. As I understand it, the JD Jetting tuner should fix this, but I read of people still having issues with this. How prevalent is this problem? Are there other mods I would have to add to the list to get this to go away? I HATE a bike that stumbles off idle, or that flames out easily. I fought off idle stumble on my current KDX for a few years before I figured out that something was wrong with the reed cage and replaced it with a VForce reed cage.

2. The hot start issues. An e-start bike that will not start when hot is almost unbelievable to me, as hot-start issues seems to be the main reason to get an e-start 4-stroke. I would be rather mad if my $8k dirt bike stranded me 25 miles from the truck because it wouldn't re-start after a snack break. How prevalent is this issue? What has to be done to make it go away? I am probably spoiled with my KDX since it starts on 2 or 3 kicks after sitting for the winter, and starts on a half kick when hot.

The other option I am considering is a WR250f, which I can get for less money, but doesn't have the plate and I unfortunately live in a state where plating a dirt bike isn't possible. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[old dirt]

I just picked up mu 2012 te310 4 days ago. I have only ridden it around my field for 15 or 20 minutes at a time. I have not installed the full power conversion parts yet as I have removing the charcoal canister, tail section turn signals, etc. However I have already experienced the reluctance to start when the motor is warmed up. The stater solenoid/relay activates and the starter motor tries to turn the motor over, and sometimes it works and the motor starts and other time I have to kick it. Mu buddy has a 2009 te 310, anf his starts fine all of the time. The dealer thinks I'm nuts and keeps telling me I've drained the battery. Not the case. I did notice in the manual it says not to use the starter when the motor has warmed up. What's up with that? I wish I knew that before I bought the bike.

 

[MotoXotica]

Pickle,break up with your computer and got get the Husky 310.i would be shocked if it were not true love!sounds like it is exactly the girl you are looking for!(hope this does not offend the ladies out there)dan

 

[Pickle]

@olddirt - Can you post a photo of the manual saying not to use the button when the bike is warm? Not that I don't believe you, but that is something I have never heard any bike's manual say! It also may be the answer to a couple of threads here.

@MotoXotica - You make a good point, but you are a dealer ;-). $8k is a lot to spend on a toy, so I want to be sure! I will be riding whatever I buy for the next 10 years, so I hope the 10 years is full of fun and riding, and not full of cursing at the bike.

 

[Spook]

Sounds like a great bike. Is it possible to fit a big bore kit to help match it against the KTM350 or Husaberg390? I guess you couldn't as it is an bored 250 anyway.....

Bartosz Oblucki raced a 2012 TE310 in South Australia that had a custom 340 kit installed. There is a one page article that was in the Dec issue of Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine about it but it's very brief. I will try scan and post it later sometime.

A quote from the Mechanic - "We fabricated a 340 kit and the results were unreal. This new engine capacity, combined with a Power Commander put the 310's dyno results in the same region of stock 450f's"

It would be good to see this option available as an aftermarket Husky special part. A 340 kit in such a small agile frame would be insane.

 

[robertk61]

I just picked up mu 2012 te310 4 days ago. I have only ridden it around my field for 15 or 20 minutes at a time. I have not installed the full power conversion parts yet as I have removing the charcoal canister, tail section turn signals, etc. However I have already experienced the reluctance to start when the motor is warmed up. The stater solenoid/relay activates and the starter motor tries to turn the motor over, and sometimes it works and the motor starts and other time I have to kick it. Mu buddy has a 2009 te 310, anf his starts fine all of the time. The dealer thinks I'm nuts and keeps telling me I've drained the battery. Not the case. I did notice in the manual it says not to use the starter when the motor has warmed up. What's up with that? I wish I knew that before I bought the bike.

If you read carefully, it says not to use the "warm up lever" when hot.
Go full power with it, get rid of the emmisions crap and cat, uncork it and you will find it will run much better. They are set very lean to get past emmisions in the US I believe.

 

[Spook]

I did notice in the manual it says not to use the starter when the motor has warmed up. What's up with that? I wish I knew that before I bought the bike.

As rob61 above mentions, by 'starter' they mean the choke, or 'warm up lever'.

 

[old dirt]

@olddirt - Can you post a photo of the manual saying not to use the button when the bike is warm? Not that I don't believe you, but that is something I have never heard any bike's manual say! It also may be the answer to a couple of threads here.

@MotoXotica - You make a good point, but you are a dealer ;-). $8k is a lot to spend on a toy, so I want to be sure! I will be riding whatever I buy for the next 10 years, so I hope the 10 years is full of fun and riding, and not full of cursing at the bike.

On page 11 of the "Quick Manual" (the only manual supplied with the bike when I picked it up), in step 5 it says: "When starting with an already warmed up engine DO NOT USE the starter."

One reply that I received says that the word starter refers to the starter lever, not the actual starter button. I think he may be correct, but that still doesn't help because my electric starter is basically useless when the engine is warmed up, and the bike stalls ALOT. I don't know which problem pisses me off more. Especially since the bike is brand new.

 

[mnb]

I can't speak about non powered up behavior as I never even started my bike before it was powered up. It was prone to stalling, though. Bumping up the idle speed a bit solved almost all of that.

After I put in the JD tuner, it runs like a champ. Starting it requires less starter lever use. If it stalls, it's definitely my fault. The bike still lacks ability to finesse it at low speeds and rpms, which makes walking it up the ramp under power into the truck difficult, but out on the trail, it's kickin butt.