I already have a Husky TE610e (thats the electric start version with twin pipes) Can anyone give any advice whether this is suitable for a round the world trip??

An excellent bike to be sure. I was unable to locate a larger gas tank for this model, other than the one from Husky, and that one went for $700.00 (U.S.).

The fuel tank is quite small, but other than that it is a sweet heart of a motorbike. Good luck with it, and ask your local dealer what the cost of the larger gas tank is. I believe it held around 4.0 U.S. gallons versus the standard tanks 2.3 (?).

The Toad

Thanks for the confidence booster - my friends are telling me that I need a Yamaha XT600, but the Husky seemed just as good to me.

Have ridden (and v. nearly bought) a TE610, and I currently own an XT6 (3AJ model). The major problems you will have on the Husky are similar to those of KTMs:

How to carry lots of fuel
Ultra-light but very weak rear subframe
Rider comfort for long distance
Race-tuned motor (less reliable?)

However, you get:

Much faster bike
Much more enjoyable off-road
Crashes very well

HTH - post your eventual decision.

__________________
=-=-= ON THE EDGE! =-=-=
My XR650L Pan-Med Expedition Site!

Besides the uncomfortable seat its great.Traveled to Akabe and Petersburg with a TE610-E ,a total of 13400 km.Had some problems which would leave other bikes at the spot.Had a XT 600 before it and its beyond comparison.They dont call it Husky for nothing.

It sounds like the Husky is a fairly safe bet for a long trip. I did have my doubts, but I have more confidence now, so many thanks for the replies. Some serious planning needs to be done now.

I drive a SM610S around town, basicly same engine as TE610 maybe a bit more tuned (55bhp on rearwheel) but no way I would take this out to Africa. Dont get me wrong they are excellent fun bikes but they are sort of high maintenance, fine in Europe with dealers nearby... To Africa, take something like an AT, TA, XT, NX, XR etc etc

__________________
Amsterdam-Australia 2007-201x Amsterdam-Capetown 2002-2003

Hi Stu, I put about 10,000km on a 610sm a couple of years back and have taken a 610te to France and back from Belfast. Here is the list of problems encountered: Broken top engine mount (above rocker cover), CDI unit packed in (expensive even when replaced with used spares), rear sprocket bolts sheared off and loose sprocket gouged into swinging arm,big end bearings on the TE packed in at 6000km even with 1000km oil changes with Mobil 1. To top it all can't get piston rings to repair after 4 month wait, and this is Western Europe! I know which bike I wouldn't take. Good fun though when they're working.

Thanks for the replys, but I am not convinced we are all talking about the same thing. What I have is the TE 610 E. This is the de-tuned version. You can teel it apart as it has conventional forks, twin pipes (with cat) electric start, large battery, and the kick start is on the other side. When the bike runs, the engine has vurtually no vibration, and sounds very sweet. It burns no oil, and is extremely fuel efficient.

I like the wet sump design as well. XT's are dry sump, and as I understand have a problem with their 4th gear.

I have checked the rear sub-frame is steel.

I plan to have a boat builder make me some fibre glass boxes to go over the back half of the seat, and down the sides of the bike. These will brace to the rear foot rest points, and onto the frront 2 bolts on the standard rear rack. The remainder of the rear rack will then be used to carry my tent.

An extended range fuel tank is available from Husky Sport in the UK.

Maintenance is very easy, with the oil uptake strainer being easy to get at, as is the main oil filter.

On balance, the bike seems like a decent choice to me.

I guess what I really need, is someone who has experience of an 'E' model. I would expect the reduced power to reduce the stresses in the engine, and therefore increase its life.

Well ,i have a '00 model TE610E. Its a light ,balanced and powerful bike. I would have been happier if the carburator was more easy to clean and had a place for a gas filter . I dont put too much weight to the rear( appr. 50kg ) to feel comfortable ,since rear frames are always the slim point of bikes. But interestingly, i dont have a place to install kickstart.

I have a Husky 610 also, great bike, i love it and would have nothing else for trail riding in local area. No way would I consider trying to take it around the world, it just would not make it. Gearbox gears would be my greatest concern as i have broken several. Spares can be hard to source even with a english speaking dealer down the road.
Nick

Stu, read your message and unfortunately i think i'm talking about the same model. Kickstart on right, drive sprocket on left. Later models did away with the kickstart altogether but you can still see a plug where it used to be. Using the kickstart knocks chips of metal from the idler gear and it quickly starts to sound rough. My mechanic advised me to NEVER use the kickstart for this reason, eventually I removed it and the gear altogether and used only the electric start. It sounds like you are committed so good luck!

Sorry Stu, but i forgot to say before ;
Follow your gas cable down to the point where it enters the carburator. Right at that point there is a metal tube, in which the gas cable goes along. Replace it with a stainless steel one and carry a spare just in case.My gas cable has cut that tube through and therefore gas started spilling on the motor. Had to travel like that for almost ~ 3000 km, until i could make one and change it.

I had a TE610E for six months and my friend has had one as well.
PLEASE NOTE A TE610E is very different to a TE610. Husky chose reliability over power in the TE610E compared with the TE610. It did win bike of the year in America. http://www.cycleworld.com/xp6/CycleW...usqvarnate.xml
We live in Australia and use it for a multitude of purposes that are pretty extreme in its use.
A group on Yahoo exists for the bike
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/TE610E/
A lot of links on this site for this bike.
For a start we are both 110 and 130kg so we are not light weights.
We have used it for different trips around Australia.
No bike is ideal for around the world travel stock standard. This one is no different.
It has let me down a few times and i would advise.
1. Have a really reliable source to get spare parts no matter where you are on your voyage. (This would worry me most) (Husky is not so sure about parts and who owns it from my reading. The dealers around the world are doing it hard trying to wait for the next line up. )
2. Check the front Tappet cover bolt RHS. This has let a few of us down with the head bolt snapping and dripping oil. Replace it now to avoid a future problem.. Our most trusted mechanic says that theyare over tigtened at Husky factory and under stress snap. Just replace it and problem gone. ($5 tops)
3. If you do a lot of water crossign check your rear hub bearings.
4. The seat sucks big time if you like comfort. That is a personal thing. If you have a gearsack to support your back it would be OK. Advise new foam!
5. Let the air out of the front shocks or your seals at regular intervals or your front oil seals will leak oil and make it into a dog of a bike to handle on rocky roads. THe TE610E has a different wheel rake to the TE610E.
6. Depends who you ask about servicing.
If you read the manual 4000 k between basic service is OK. Depends on what you are doing with it. 10000k between major services makes it into a great bike.
7. If you are tall like me 190cm you need raisers on the bars and some tall bars to make it so you can ride it standing at times.
8, I would believe if you have huge feet like me some bigger pegs to stand on.
9. In Australia we have the Acerbis tank that is plastic/nylon our model is called a TE610ELT for Large Tank i think.
10. The frame is something that always needs reinforcement: if you plan to swing heavyloads off it. Get somone that has done it before to help you make a triangulated strong back rack.
11. The motor breathes better if you cut holes in the air filter box but if you go into water well you need to duct tape up the holes. h
12. If you plan a lot of highway work I love screens to stop the buffeting. (Personal preference)
13. I had heated grips on mine and at times it was a blessing. Bit annoying if the switch got left on by foul means or fair.
Anyway
These are my thoughts as one person in the world that has owned one!

Mate have a good trip whatever you do.

------------------
TE610E 00 Stolen from bike shop
XTZ750 89

[This message has been edited by philipwibaux (edited 01 December 2002).]

[This message has been edited by philipwibaux (edited 01 December 2002).]

__________________
XTZ 750 89
Brisbane Australia
Love travelling
Adventure bikes I have owned include GPZ550 1985, XT600 1983 KLR650 1986, TE610E 2000, and now the best beast the XTZ750 89.