I was thinking about making my dealer's day and writing a check for a 550 V twin but after finding out these bikes seemingly are built for failure—more so than my Husky 510 that makes the same power anyway—I'm wondering what is the best street tard?
Now before everybody starts babbling Suzuki 400, Husky 610 and KTM 625, let me first define the term "street tard."
Street tard: biggest grin factor bike with the least amount of maintenance. For example: my modified 510 picks wheelies up off the clutch in 5th gear at 70 mph but I loath to drone down the highway at any speed because in 4-7 hours the thing should get an oil change and maybe a valve check. In thirty hours, the way I ride my 510, I'm feeding the thing a new clutch pack (16 hours if only track time). My bike is hyper-giggles to ride on the street but brings no joy in my garage.
Last Saturday I rode Dave's 610 again (and this time on the street) and since I rode his 610 at DCTC last year, Dave bolted up a aftermarket can that really woke up the low to midrange of the bike in that now the thing can bounce a wheelie up in third off of the throttle alone and a guy can grab a clutch wheelie in fourth if they try (and maybe fifth if they stand up, bounce and use the clutch but it wasn't that kind of a day to try).
Dave claims that his 610 is way smoother than the LC4s KTM is offering and, without any doubt in my mind, the 610 is way, way more comfortable than my 510.
So my question is this: are Husky 610s like Yamaha SRXs in that you can modify then to the gills (high compression piston, ported, mess with the cams/cam-timing to shovel some of the low-end power towards the top, modify the ignition timing and so on) and still get reasonable maintenance intervals out of them or should I look at Berg 650s or something else for street tard nirvana?
I was thinking about making my dealer's day and writing a check for a 550 V twin but after finding out these bikes seemingly are built for failure—more so than my Husky 510 that makes the same power anyway—I'm wondering what is the best street tard?
Now before everybody starts babbling Suzuki 400, Husky 610 and KTM 625, let me first define the term "street tard."
Street tard: biggest grin factor bike with the least amount of maintenance. For example: my modified 510 picks wheelies up off the clutch in 5th gear at 70 mph but I loath to drone down the highway at any speed because in 4-7 hours the thing should get an oil change and maybe a valve check. In thirty hours, the way I ride my 510, I'm feeding the thing a new clutch pack (16 hours if only track time). My bike is hyper-giggles to ride on the street but brings no joy in my garage.
Last Saturday I rode Dave's 610 again (and this time on the street) and since I rode his 610 at DCTC last year, Dave bolted up a aftermarket can that really woke up the low to midrange of the bike in that now the thing can bounce a wheelie up in third off of the throttle alone and a guy can grab a clutch wheelie in fourth if they try (and maybe fifth if they stand up, bounce and use the clutch but it wasn't that kind of a day to try).
Dave claims that his 610 is way smoother than the LC4s KTM is offering and, without any doubt in my mind, the 610 is way, way more comfortable than my 510.
So my question is this: are Husky 610s like Yamaha SRXs in that you can modify then to the gills (high compression piston, ported, mess with the cams/cam-timing to shovel some of the low-end power towards the top, modify the ignition timing and so on) and still get reasonable maintenance intervals out of them or should I look at Berg 650s or something else for street tard nirvana?
Unsolicited opinions welcome.
Interesting question I'm sure will be debated endlessly. I have a 610 from the first lot into the states with the full Leo system and lots of time jetting.
I now have about 6000 mi on it and it runs great. No issues from new except tuning the stutter out. I just bought the SXV 550 and have 1000 mi on it.
It's a great bike too. MUCH stronger, head and shoulder over my 610 and my buddies 510. The problem with the SXV is keeping the front end on the ground when you want it there.
Maintenance: I THINK the SXV will fall in between the 510 and the 610. Yes the SXV will need pistons more often and the engine needs to be removed for maintenance but I think this will end up being a once a season procedure with about 5000mi of street riding. The 610 has longer intervals for valve checks but is much more difficult than the 510 to work on. So to sum up: 610 good power, not much maintenance, a little heavy. 510 good power about the same as the 610 but feels stronger, frequent maintenance but a dream to work on, light. SXV 550 great power and best handling, major maintenance once a season but just oil changes during the riding season, feels lighter than the 510.
In the end I plan to keep both the 610 and the SXV. Two totally different bikes.
Eric, you should buy a 610 ($6000 at Heinen's), spend huge money and countless hours trying new things to make it go faster, then when you've figured it all out.....tell me.
KTM LC4 has more parts to make it fast but.. vibrate like a freaking dildo
610 can get more power but you should know what you do (and i think you do!)
Are you looking only for European bikes? XR650R with HRC shit and many other avaiable goodies can be powerful bike So does the XTX660 from yamaha (cause of the US ATV Raptor) but the last isnt available in US.
I thought they were claiming 70+ for the 550 in unrestricted stock form. Is your 510 making that much? If so, bravo!
I'm a little put off by Aprilia's supposed lack of reliability too. It's too bad, their street bikes are great. My friend has a Futura with 25,000 miles and never a hiccup.
I did see a 450/550 Prilia on the streets in Maui a few weeks ago. It was gorgeous! I hope they work out the bugs.
I have no experieince with other street motards to compare to, but my 625 is pretty much bulletproof as far as maintenance goes, and I know there are a million hop-up parts available for the LC-4.
I don't know that it has the 'giggle factor' of the 510 or 610, though.
I thought they were claiming 70+ for the 550 in unrestricted stock form. Is your 510 making that much? If so, bravo!
I'm a little put off by Aprilia's supposed lack of reliability too. It's too bad, their street bikes are great. My friend has a Futura with 25,000 miles and never a hiccup.
I did see a 450/550 Prilia on the streets in Maui a few weeks ago. It was gorgeous! I hope they work out the bugs.
here in Athens i saw like 20 of those damn things... sexy bikes but sound like shit with stock pipes
Street tard: biggest grin factor bike with the least amount of maintenance. For example: my modified 510 picks wheelies up off the clutch in 5th gear at 70 mph but I loath to drone down the highway at any speed because in 4-7 hours the thing should get an oil change and maybe a valve check. In thirty hours, the way I ride my 510, I'm feeding the thing a new clutch pack (16 hours if only track time). My bike is hyper-giggles to ride on the street but brings no joy in my garage.
Sounds to me like even the Husabergs are WAY better street bikes thatn the Husky 510...
Quote:
Originally Posted by backdrifter
I thought they were claiming 70+ for the 550 in unrestricted stock form.
The "newer" 'Bergs (post '03) have had major internal changes (cams/cam chains/bearings/oil galleys/balancers etc.) They do have an extreamly small oil capacity, and I do a full oil and filter after every race weekend. Reliability is on par with any race bike and you really have tyo stay on top of them. I would NEVER recomend a 'Berg as a street tard turning lots of miles (even though I own a new 650 Supermoto and LOVE it!) it's not what they were designed to do. Need to choose the right tool for the job. Also don't know what state your gonna ride in but there are no "street legal" California 'Bergs. (not that mine never see's a quick blast around town, slicks an' all!...... )
-Rocky-
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Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
The "newer" 'Bergs (post '03) have had major internal changes (cams/cam chains/bearings/oil galleys/balancers etc.) They do have an extreamly small oil capacity, and I do a full oil and filter after every race weekend. Reliability is on par with any race bike and you really have tyo stay on top of them. I would NEVER recomend a 'Berg as a street tard turning lots of miles (even though I own a new 650 Supermoto and LOVE it!) it's not what they were designed to do. Need to choose the right tool for the job. Also don't know what state your gonna ride in but there are no "street legal" California 'Bergs. (not that mine never see's a quick blast around town, slicks an' all!...... )
-Rocky-
So in your experience Bergs suffer the same problems as my Husky on the street?
Best street tard for the hooligan ???
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