Will a DS be important for the new KTM based huskys?

[JonDirt]

I believe that Husky got it right with the 610 (for that time) the 630 was a plus and minus improvement. It was heavier, however both are not low maintenance machines. The 650 was imho not a real DS in the vein of the 610/630. The Japanese offerings are dated, heavy and uninspiring albeit they go forever. KTM's 690 is the best of the bunch and as Duggoey said, slight improvements to the stock seat, slighlty softer suspension and stock carry racks and it is exactly what Husky should produce.

+1 to ghte and duggoey. The 610 hit a sweetspot IMHO, and the 630/650 moved away from that. For my purposes I'd rather have less weight and less power than the 690 offers. That said, the 690 is the best now available. It is $$$, though. And orange. And it has a few of its own maintenance quirks, a tail that needs reinforcing to carry luggage, expensive parts, and limited fuel tank options. My friend owns a 690 and he was impressed by the the 701 concept's larger-looking tank. Here's wondering what the future holds.

 

[XLEnduroMan]

Plated Husqaberg 501/690 would be real nice, and needed by a lot of people. I am a Husky head but would need to have plated bikes available to stick with Husky in the future. I am lucky enough to have a plated hard core dirt bike with the TE 510 and a world class DS with the TE 630. I admit (please don't give me too many lashings, lol) I would like to have the new Husky 501...if it had a plate.

 

[Huskynoobee]

I voted yes, because I too live in the western stronghold of the communist party. I didn't say it would make me a customer though because in order for me to plunck down the cashish they would have to offer a bike of comparable quality to my current 449 at a price that would give me the same (or at least close to) value in comparison to the KTM offerings.

I would have learned to live with orange plastic even with the increased maintenance if they were more reasonably priced. But when I looked at the Husky, and literally put them side by side it was a no brainer. Once I confirmed the maintenace needs were far less for the Husky, I felt like a freekin genius! Bergs looked neat, but no plate meant no sale. I'm pretty sure the Green Sticker's days are numbered here with the AQMD/KGB in charge and I keep bikes for a looong time.

Being a realist, I'm pretty sure that the ship has sailed in terms of a modestly priced Husqvarna product. That being said, I would love to be proven wrong!

 

[2wheeler]

Consider many older riders are considering riding again and where they chose to live offers trail access a few miles from home. Or I'm on a ride and the gas station I need to fuel up is 5 miles down the state highway. A dual sport/plated bike then is top of their list for requirements of a new bike.

For me was simple... a street legal dirt bike at the lowest possible weight and with the right suspension and components out of the box. Husky offered that and was not the most expensive and was not painted orange (I hate the color orange... the bike I'm sure is fine). Having a plated bike is nothing new and neither is meeting EPA and other standards world wide for 4-stroke emissions. Strange is my only reaction to not fielding a street legal model, esp., in CA. I mean come on... It's almost 90 degrees today in mid November! If there were plated bikes sold... Rolling live billboards for the bikes would be doing free promotions on every hilltop and canyon.

Sure you can have top level racers winning but if the public won't buy the bike because it isn't appropriate, WTF. $10k+ is crazy for a dirt bike but then again Specialized gets $10,500 for a new S-Works sans motor, SUP manufacturers trying to steal $4500 for a "race" SUP. In the end it's the customer that decides what they want and what they can afford. As we get older we get wiser and even though some may have the capital to buy a new Husky, reality and common sense tend to overrule irrational exuberance. I think long and hard about purchases so Husky may do fine this year but with plates they'de do a whole lot better, if simply to offer the public what it wants and needs.

Thank you Johnrg! I am one of the older riders as you describe!

I am disappointed there is currently no equivalent to the former TE250R. The bike had caught my interest with the lighting and lower seat. A lot of my current riding is a mix of back roads and off road. So I like to ride to the dirt. One comment about the bike "90% dirt 10% street. You guys know these bikes, what exactly are they saying?

 

[2wheeler]

oops forgot to mention I voted: Yes this will make me a customer

 

[ptkatoomer]

"One comment about the bike "90% dirt 10% street. You guys know these bikes, what exactly are they saying?"

Basically they are saying that if you intend to use this bike mainly for off-road, that's how it was designed. It's a full-on dirt bike that has had the minimum done to make it street legal.

 

[fletchman45]

For marketing aspect alone a street legal plate is very important. I can plate a WR 144 but not so in other places. As far as the Japenese not offering a good duel sport, let them lag behind the times. I would like to see a cheaper version duel sport with a long life engine. AKA the Terra.

 

[organ donor]

The Berg 570 was only just within street legal limits within the EU and It´s highly unlikely that EU authorities´ll contemplate accepting any further the sale of bikes that are only destined to be used with a power-up kit. So that´s put most manufacturers off further development of plated DS and super motos. Even the Japanese have stopped making them. Looks as though we´ll just have to hold on to what we´ve got. Although CCM says that they´ll be coming out with a super moto version of their new gp-450 with the Kymco 449.

 

[2wheeler]

"One comment about the bike "90% dirt 10% street. You guys know these bikes, what exactly are they saying?"

Basically they are saying that if you intend to use this bike mainly for off-road, that's how it was designed. It's a full-on dirt bike that has had the minimum done to make it street legal.

Thanks ptkatoomer! A real dirt bike as opposed to a play toy

I was thinking, surely they don't mean the engine/gearing could not deal with varying speeds only up to 60ish for 80 miles or so.

 

[J-train]

California + off-road riding = dual-sport. Here it's definitely a BIG asset having that plate. Especially if you don't have a lot of time to plan/spend just getting to a place you can ride

I definately would not want to be on a DRZ or a KLR on some of the so called DS trails I have got caught on in CA, love my plated race bike Dual Sport. Plenty of 150+ mile rides, would not have any other bike.

 

[firecrotch]

the new husky four strokes have plastic subframes. Seems like converting them to duel sport with rear racks is out

 

[reveille]

the new husky four strokes have plastic subframes. Seems like converting them to duel sport with rear racks is out

I was thinking the same thing but then again I don't think the bike is designed for the dual sport crowd. Maybe in the future?

 

[Motosportz]

the new husky four strokes have plastic subframes. Seems like converting them to duel sport with rear racks is out

Why do you say that? A properly designed plastic subframe could be every bit as strong as aluminum.

 

[Radar]

Why do you say that? A properly designed plastic subframe could be every bit as strong as aluminum.

And they can bend a little and recover.

 

[firecrotch]

Why do you say that? A properly designed plastic subframe could be every bit as strong as aluminum.

oh ok I had no idea.