HUSQVARNA - a nightmare?
Discussion
I have been thinking of getting back into biking - I sold my Honda XR600 a couple of years back because I was finding cycling to work more appealing. Now though I would like the option of an engine on those drizzly days that cycling is just a pain. I was looking at 4-stroke plodders like XT660, or Honda FMX600 ( now discontinued - Honda don't seem to make a 600 supermoto anymore, can you believe that? ) .
Then this morning a saw it - or rather heard it..... A Husqvarna blatting through the rush-hour traffic, sounding like rapid cannonfire. I want one! BUT - are they still a nightmare in terms of reliability / cost to run? They certainly had a reputation a few years back.
I would be doing a 10 mile commute through London ( the XR600 was fantastic for this when I had it ) and the bike living outside in the front garden ( locked down! ) .
Any thoughts?
Then this morning a saw it - or rather heard it..... A Husqvarna blatting through the rush-hour traffic, sounding like rapid cannonfire. I want one! BUT - are they still a nightmare in terms of reliability / cost to run? They certainly had a reputation a few years back.
I would be doing a 10 mile commute through London ( the XR600 was fantastic for this when I had it ) and the bike living outside in the front garden ( locked down! ) .
Any thoughts?
steven182 said:
nogginthenog said:
I sold my Honda XR600 a couple of years back because I was finding cycling to work more appealing.
If Mayor Bozo allows bus-lane access for m/c's, that will make my mind up for me....
nogginthenog said:
steven182 said:
nogginthenog said:
I sold my Honda XR600 a couple of years back because I was finding cycling to work more appealing.
If Mayor Bozo allows bus-lane access for m/c's, that will make my mind up for me....
I remember seeing a guy on a trackday on a Husky
I spoke to him about the bike - I seem to recall he had to drop the oil every 20 hrs of use.
Now that may have been tuned up, but I also remember him saying maintenance was extremely costly.
You don't see many on the road - maybe there is some truth in it
I spoke to him about the bike - I seem to recall he had to drop the oil every 20 hrs of use.
Now that may have been tuned up, but I also remember him saying maintenance was extremely costly.
You don't see many on the road - maybe there is some truth in it
hi
i have a husky sm610 - which i have been riding for the last couple of weeks as first bike since passing DAS.
It was a 2002 1500 quid purchase from ebay - with a single pipe system and cut down airbox. bike had just had an engine rebuild
and although tatty cosmetically was a hoot to ride - when the power comes in and the taps fully open - don't bother leaning forward at your peril...
in addition the bike came with spare factory standard exhaust + enclosed airbox + pirelli supercorsa tyres - which i fitted for it's MOT the other week - much quieter but quite a bit more docile - it's like a ****ing machine gun with the single pipe/cut down airbox!!
the bike was bought as a cheap hack around the lanes toy - to see whether i was going to get the bike bug - which unfortunately i have now - hence desk covered with bike magazines - fantasies of more bikes/riding trips now an everyday occurrence
i'd ridden a few crossers in my youth a thousand years ago - and i thought it would be ideal for hacking round the surrey hills and a comfortable riding position
Good points:
ridiculous grin factor - soooo light - even with a modest 60 bhp it only weighs approx 140kg which makes it so flickable and fun on corners - also on the rubbish country lanes it's quite comfortable
friendly riding position in traffic to ride
good bike to learn to wheelie
strong low speed acceleration and v.accessible powerband - in traffic - just awesome and v.easy to slow speed manuovere
country lane point to point speed - you would be surpised how on the lanes you can safely keep up with much more exotic machinery
it's not a fully faired race rep - and if it gets dropped probably won't cost a kings ransom to repair
great parts support from huskysport - who i have ordered a few bits off and arrive in the post next day
Bad points:
dual carriage way/motorway cruising - went for a ride with mates with bigger bikes - (triumph tiger 955 + aprilia tuono factory R) - on the dual carriage way stuff at 95ish (km/h of course) - you end up leaning over the tank in a style remininiscent of me riding a FS1E 23 years ago....otherwise you feel the front goes a little light - and also at that speed it will probably only do 110 anyway so acceleration curve next to blokes torquey v twin 140 horse tuono is probably gonna be a little sedate
gearbox - bit notchy - occasional false neutral and not the easiest to get into neutral after a long hot run
refinement - lack of - it's a big single - i am not sure refinement was part of the brief...
Verdict:
I love it - the bloody thing has got me completely hooked on bikes again. I find myself making excuses to go and get the sunday papers and inevitably take a less than direct route.
I planned to ride this over the winter and get a sports bike next spring - however I now think i am going to keep it - when the inevitable discussion with girlfriend takes place in the spring that i ought to get a safe "touring bike" like a 748/916 lol
The new models are gorgeous and probably faster/more refined/sexier to look at - if you are gonna invest a few ££££'s - i bought mine as a cheapy to get the bug - and worked on the premise that if i did want to sell it i'd get my money back etc
Video below - of SM610's being ridden enthusiastically/dangerously etc somewhere in Europe - don't watch the video if:
a) you are going to be offended by silly/death wish/dangerous riding and get judgemental on what the clowns below are doing - whilst grudgingly admit despite their awful judgement - he has a degree of control
b) you watch people hooning/wheelying/backing it in and think it will turn you off
b) you have any red blood in your veins - and feel an adrenaline charge coming on followed by an inevitable trawl of online classifieds etc instead of doing work today
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ViwaepHyPxY
Now i must get on with some work
i have a husky sm610 - which i have been riding for the last couple of weeks as first bike since passing DAS.
It was a 2002 1500 quid purchase from ebay - with a single pipe system and cut down airbox. bike had just had an engine rebuild
and although tatty cosmetically was a hoot to ride - when the power comes in and the taps fully open - don't bother leaning forward at your peril...
in addition the bike came with spare factory standard exhaust + enclosed airbox + pirelli supercorsa tyres - which i fitted for it's MOT the other week - much quieter but quite a bit more docile - it's like a ****ing machine gun with the single pipe/cut down airbox!!
the bike was bought as a cheap hack around the lanes toy - to see whether i was going to get the bike bug - which unfortunately i have now - hence desk covered with bike magazines - fantasies of more bikes/riding trips now an everyday occurrence
i'd ridden a few crossers in my youth a thousand years ago - and i thought it would be ideal for hacking round the surrey hills and a comfortable riding position
Good points:
ridiculous grin factor - soooo light - even with a modest 60 bhp it only weighs approx 140kg which makes it so flickable and fun on corners - also on the rubbish country lanes it's quite comfortable
friendly riding position in traffic to ride
good bike to learn to wheelie
strong low speed acceleration and v.accessible powerband - in traffic - just awesome and v.easy to slow speed manuovere
country lane point to point speed - you would be surpised how on the lanes you can safely keep up with much more exotic machinery
it's not a fully faired race rep - and if it gets dropped probably won't cost a kings ransom to repair
great parts support from huskysport - who i have ordered a few bits off and arrive in the post next day
Bad points:
dual carriage way/motorway cruising - went for a ride with mates with bigger bikes - (triumph tiger 955 + aprilia tuono factory R) - on the dual carriage way stuff at 95ish (km/h of course) - you end up leaning over the tank in a style remininiscent of me riding a FS1E 23 years ago....otherwise you feel the front goes a little light - and also at that speed it will probably only do 110 anyway so acceleration curve next to blokes torquey v twin 140 horse tuono is probably gonna be a little sedate
gearbox - bit notchy - occasional false neutral and not the easiest to get into neutral after a long hot run
refinement - lack of - it's a big single - i am not sure refinement was part of the brief...
Verdict:
I love it - the bloody thing has got me completely hooked on bikes again. I find myself making excuses to go and get the sunday papers and inevitably take a less than direct route.
I planned to ride this over the winter and get a sports bike next spring - however I now think i am going to keep it - when the inevitable discussion with girlfriend takes place in the spring that i ought to get a safe "touring bike" like a 748/916 lol
The new models are gorgeous and probably faster/more refined/sexier to look at - if you are gonna invest a few ££££'s - i bought mine as a cheapy to get the bug - and worked on the premise that if i did want to sell it i'd get my money back etc
Video below - of SM610's being ridden enthusiastically/dangerously etc somewhere in Europe - don't watch the video if:
a) you are going to be offended by silly/death wish/dangerous riding and get judgemental on what the clowns below are doing - whilst grudgingly admit despite their awful judgement - he has a degree of control
b) you watch people hooning/wheelying/backing it in and think it will turn you off
b) you have any red blood in your veins - and feel an adrenaline charge coming on followed by an inevitable trawl of online classifieds etc instead of doing work today
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ViwaepHyPxY
Now i must get on with some work
Fats25 said:
What about CCM? Is that their name?!
When I lived in london I always wanted one. Sound great, and the guys I used to see riding them were quick as anything.
I have considered that option, but I went on a CCM rideout a few years back. They supply the bikes and clothes and guide you for a day of off-road fun. Great fun, and designed to make you want to buy a CCM, but nearly all of the bikes suffered some failure or other! Admittedly it was off-road & quite tough terrain, so commuting on a CCM might not necessarily mean pushing it everywhere.When I lived in london I always wanted one. Sound great, and the guys I used to see riding them were quick as anything.
Probably a KTM is the best option, but that Husky this morning really caught my eye.
Have you thought about one of these http://www.southerncrossmotorcycles.co.uk/newBike....
Tank range seems to be a bit pants but Southern Cross are offering 0% interest free finance plus first service free. Date for deal on website has expired but I do believe is still available.
Tank range seems to be a bit pants but Southern Cross are offering 0% interest free finance plus first service free. Date for deal on website has expired but I do believe is still available.
StevRS said:
That site is picked up as a virus!Back to the point - I very nearly bought a KTM 990SM and that is a hell of a bike!
old CCM used Rotax engine, nuf said, and later ones use Suzuki. Nice looking bike and easy to ride but poor take up means parts and servicing costs are high. But the engine was form a DR I think so no worries with that. It's electrics let it down, assembled in the same factory as TVRs 
The new Duke III is awesome, and the wife has given me the green light to get one, just got to save the pennies.
The new Duke III is awesome, and the wife has given me the green light to get one, just got to save the pennies.
Fats25 said:
StevRS said:
That site is picked up as a virus!Back to the point - I very nearly bought a KTM 990SM and that is a hell of a bike!
And here for an MCN Video review along with the KTM 990SM and the Hypermotard http://revver.com/video/995335/mcn-roadtest-aprili...
steven182 said:
nogginthenog said:
more research took me to Husqvarna's website, and here is the opening image for the website ....
Haha lawnmower to work!!! awesome.saw an old bugger on a NSL road with a mobility scooter the other day, apparently it is legal...
Hmmm.... these supermotos sounds like a right laugh - flickable, light...
This may sound like a really silly question but from that video they look suspiciously like a big boy's version of my old souped up Gilera 180 scooters... wheelies, stoppies, urban assault vehicles. Anyone ridden both? I used to absolutely love those scooters and a proper bike version with even more power and ground clearance would be awesome
Only downside is that if I ride a supermoto like I used to ride that scooter then I'd either get locked up or killed pretty quickly, I guess
This may sound like a really silly question but from that video they look suspiciously like a big boy's version of my old souped up Gilera 180 scooters... wheelies, stoppies, urban assault vehicles. Anyone ridden both? I used to absolutely love those scooters and a proper bike version with even more power and ground clearance would be awesome
Only downside is that if I ride a supermoto like I used to ride that scooter then I'd either get locked up or killed pretty quickly, I guess
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