No, it was this thread.... http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/te630-teeth-off-3rd-gear.32544/ One guy reports the problem, multiple others pipe in... But your link adds to the trepidation...:eek1 This bike looks great on paper, but I don't want a unicorn that has no parts support.
12,000 miles on mine. 3rd gear still works fine. :) You've got 4 people in that thread with gear problems. How many 630 owners are on that forum? One of them admits to lots of wheelies and clutchless shifting while wheelieing. Not really surprised he's having problems!
very few have that issue.. many more (close to 99.9%) have never had any 3rd gear issues. I'd bet most are caused by bent shift forks from shifting without the clutch. I'd be more worried about the clutch spring cups wearing which a much larger percentage of owners experience at higher mileage but there is a relatively cheap fix with replacements.
I'm well aware that I won't likely encounter a 3rd gear implosion. What of the lack of parts support? Guys with bikes sidelined for months waiting for parts? THAT is what has me nervous, not the dang 3rd gear!!! Plus, it's straight cut dog box right? Clutchless shifts should be fine really. Are they making these gears out of pot metal? Then, there's the clutch washer thread... Jeez. I really want to pull the trigger on this bike, but at this point I'm leaning toward just plonking down the moolah for the KTM...
Which KTM? The comparable model is the 690. You're not going to get one of those for the price of a 630. And frankly, I think the 630 is a better bike, having owned mine for two years now and 6K miles. Some pretty hard miles too, carrying a lot of gear. I know of at least a couple of dozen owners have used my subframe templates to reinforce theirs for hauling gear. There are probably more worldwide. The bike has been absolutely flawless. However I have not had to buy any parts for it. Well, except I just installed a new lower steering stem bearing - Malcolm Smiths had one in stock - $20. KTM now owns Husqvarna, they just moved the parts depot. I can't say there might not be delays in parts right now, even some things could be hard to get. But there will always be parts support going forward, the husky brand isn't going anywhere. The 690 is a little higher performance machine, a bump in HP and more capable suspension. But the owners bitch about the close ratio gearbox, the motor hangs down without a frame, it's even taller than the TE, and they have been plagued with EFI and electrical problems - way more issues than anything with the 630. I guess you just have to pick yer poison.
I made myself some of browneye's subframe brackets and installed Indy Unlimited's clutch spring cups. The longest I have had to wait for parts from Hall's was about a week. That was a pretty substantial order; consisting of everything needed to replace my cam chain, gear, sliders, etc. I have never had more problems in so few miles on any bike, until I got the 630. I didn't have any major failures, but I did have several nagging issues that required warranty parts. I love my 630 and I'm glad I have it. But, to be totally honest, sometimes I wish I had a bike that I could just ride and not worry about (like a WR250R). However, that's less of a concern now that I have a second bike for street duty. The 630, for the riding I do, was not the best choice for me as an only bike. I'd be replacing the cam chain every year. Who knows how often I'd have to rebuild the top end. Now that I have another bike, I probably won't get that far for quite a long time. That said, it sure makes me feel like a kid every time I get on it. I'm not sure a WR250R would.
3200 miles on mine in the last year, have done nothing but oil changes. It has taken me to some beautiful places, effortlessly carrying all my stuff. I use it like an ultra lightweight GS so don't ride as hard as some. I'd offer them $5000-5500 for a clean 630 w/ 3K miles. .
Sure you can do clutchless shifts but if done wrong you will bend or wear the shift forks and from that point on your shifts will be flawed regardless if you use the clutch or not. This issue is not just related to Husky bikes and I've done it myself while racing other brands during the heat of the moment. Not much different than if I did continual second gear starts over and over.. I'm sure I'd fry the clutch plates in no time, regardless of the brand of bike. As for parts, just give Halls a call and you will never wait more than a week, that is if you even need any parts. Two of us in Minneapolis have over 5000 miles each and our bikes have performed very well for off road rigs. No third gear issues either. If a go with the 690 make sure to include a tow rope in your tool kit. I can afford either the KTM or Husky and made my decision on reliability, maintenance and appropriate gearing
I just got a factory demo with 3100 miles and full one year warranty for 4995. It was the bike Cycle World had for their long term test.
You aren't going to get Japanese reliability (yawn) with any euro bike. Gotta make a choice. Like others here, my bike has had a couple of wrinkles, but it does run and handle great.
The Husky will put a grin on your face unlike any Japanese bike. It is worth the extra bit of work. It all depends on how you will use it. If long miles on pavement is your goal, go Japanese; if you want dirt miles and handles get the Husky.
Great info and opinions all around guys. Thanks! I love the Husky. I haven't had the chance to go look at it yet, but Tuesday should be the day! I'm glad I found this great resource, and I'm sure I'll be asking tons more questions if I take it home with me! Thanks in advance!
That certainly makes sense fast1 - I was criticizing your style; just thinking thru the process. Having my wife mix with traffic is the scariest for me. Oh and she's doing dirt on a 220lb KLX150 with about a 33"? seat height - and dressed like a gladiator/hocky goalie .
YES!!! Listen to this man above, he has a WR250R, TR650 and a TE630!!! There are not too many bad bikes but plenty of bad riders and complainers. You can drive yourself nuts if you listen to everyone and take in every reviewers opinion but at the end of the day it's not about how many oil changes, how big your tank is or what kind of tires are on it.......it's about how YOU like your bike!! If you hold yourself to that then you'll find a great bike. My Thoughts about the 630: My 630 has been great. Except for not re-enforcing my subframe despite my own stupidity and ignorance and having a bad seal for the hydraulic clutch (covered under warranty), the bike has performed beyond what my skill level could put it thru. You will be hard pressed to find ANYTHING that's under 330lbs-350lbs, has about 40-50hp at the wheel, F.I., 6speed, with 3 gallon fuel tank......that doesn't require an oil change every second, third or fourth time you ride it. The 630 seems like a bike everybody would be building because truth be told it's about the ideal ADV bike that people want but it seems as through only Husky was smart enough to build the 610 then the 630. I was very lucky to have purchased my 630 during the fire sale, I would have probably ended up with a WR250R or DRZ400.....both great bikes. The KTM 690 is the closet bike if your looking for that big bore sound but to me, $11,000....NO WAY!!! :huh I'd take a used "Dark Horse" TE630 ANY DAY!
+1 on general points and attitude. The KTM is amazing. Better HP, mileage and . . . better suspension components. BUT - the steering lock ? You gotta be kidding me. Not exactly a Ducati but . . . pretty silly in the woods. The narrow-range transmission gearing ? The inability to lower the suspension via a (Kouba, eg) link. The Husky is a fine machine and I bleed orange.
I've been in the Ozarks with mine the past few days. My only wish is for more fuel capacity. I'm getting by with a Rotopax. Yes, I gusseted the subframe. Prior to this trip, I was getting mid thirties MPG. This last tank seemed better, though. Maybe it's breaking in. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
I was riding my TE630 in the Ozarks this past weekend and one of my fellow riders had a nicely farkled 2013 KTM 690 enduro. It was quite the machine and I enjoyed every minute that he let me ride it. But I actually preferred my TE630. Definitely lighter and just as powerful (at least the 690 couldn't walk away from me in a drag race until we got over 80mph). We both had Seat Concepts seats, so they were both very comfortable mounts. The KTM had a Wings exhaust and I had the full Leo Vince Ti exhaust. Both had a nice bark to them. Never compared fuel mileage. The real difference was that I had roughly $4,000 less into my bike than he did in his (I bought mine for $5,999 new).
Check out Nomad Tanks for a pretty nice aux tank design. You can get them from here: http://www.motosportz.com/