Husqvarna TR650

[Harpguy]

I am new here so.
First: I,m in my mid 50's and have been riding on and off for 45 years. ( I think I was 11 when I got a mini bike) I was a Flat Tracker and MXer in the 70's then went street bike-- dirt bike-- street bike and finally Street bike and a Dual-sport ( DRZ).

I was at the dealer and saw the new Terra 650, I liked the looks and was a wondering if this is a bike for me. I ride the DRZ400 in southern Mo and have taken it to the mountins. I love this little bike. I'm too old (and out of shape) to get down and dirty on the trails. My riding buddy is the same age and we ride gravel, fire roads and trails in the National Forest south of 60 highway.

I do not want to get rid of the 400 but thought the Terra would be an in-between from the DRZ to my BMW.

Any thoughts on this Dual- Purpose bike? and yes I know it's a G 650 GS from Husky, it is cheaper.

Thanks
That Harpguy

[Bob Morgan]

This will get you started........... and welcome!

http://rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1611

[troy]

Thanks, Bob! I was just looking for that post to link it here. You beat me to the punch.

I think the DRZ400 and the TR650 would be too close in the niche they fill. The TR650 might stretch her legs a little easier on longer roads, but I'm not sure about that.

If you got the money and storage space, go get it. Otherwise, I don't think the TR650 is going to open up new riding opportunities that you wouldn't do on your DRZ400.

[stimmer6253472]

Who sells Huskys in the KC area? Engles? I wouldn't mind taking a look at one as the wife is wanting a dual sport bike. The bigdog dude on Advrider like the Husky enough to sell his KLR and 950 KTM.
Jim

[Bob Morgan]

Thanks, Bob! I was just looking for that post to link it here. You beat me to the punch.

I think the DRZ400 and the TR650 would be too close in the niche they fill. The TR650 might stretch her legs a little easier on longer roads, but I'm not sure about that.

If you got the money and storage space, go get it. Otherwise, I don't think the TR650 is going to open up new riding opportunities that you wouldn't do on your DRZ400.

I came off a DRZ when I bought my 250s and the 650 GS. There is no comparison between the DRZ and the GS on the road, and likewise when you get off the into the rougher stuff, although it looks like the Husky has better suspension than the GS. Each bike does better in the categories you would think they would. The husky will still be much heavier and harder to pick back up, not to mention very expensive to repair when things start getting knocked off. I've ridden the DRZ places in Arkansas and Colorado I would never take the GS. For just bombing down gravel roads and even some rougher minimum maintenance my 650 is Great! IMO you would love the Husky for the kind of riding you are talking about. If owning 3 similar bikes isn't an issue, I would say Go For It!

[kendall_smith]

Donnell's in Independence is the nearest Husky dealer. We went in there to check out the 250 dual sport for my wife before we decided that she might rather have her own DRZ 400 instead. They were nice guys and seemed like a pretty cool dealer.

[troy]

Who sells Huskys in the KC area? Engles? I wouldn't mind taking a look at one as the wife is wanting a dual sport bike. The bigdog dude on Advrider like the Husky enough to sell his KLR and 950 KTM.
Jim

According to Husqvarna, nobody sells in the KC metro. Letko did a few years ago, but no longer. I drove to Springfield, IL to buy my 2008 TE450 (May she rest in peace.)
http://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/en/find-dealer

Hall's Cycle in Springfield is a very respected Husqvarna dealer and does a ton to support the brand.

To be clear...I'm not suggesting the TR650 is not a great machine. I, too, highly respect Big Dog's opinion. That man has owned more motorcycles than I ever will and ridden more miles than I could in multiple lifetimes. ..and his opinion of what the TR650 can do is very positive.

I'm simply stating that in my opinion, I don't see the TR650 as fitting a niche that your DRZ can't cover. However, if you want to upgrade to the TR650 to replace the DRZ, that could be fun. Or perhaps get the TR650 then strip your DRZ down, lower the gearing, and turn it into a rugged trail machine.

[allkidd]

I am new here so.
First: I,m in my mid 50's and have been riding on and off for 45 years. ( I think I was 11 when I got a mini bike) I was a Flat Tracker and MXer in the 70's then went street bike-- dirt bike-- street bike and finally Street bike and a Dual-sport ( DRZ).

I was at the dealer and saw the new Terra 650, I liked the looks and was a wondering if this is a bike for me. I ride the DRZ400 in southern Mo and have taken it to the mountins. I love this little bike. I'm too old (and out of shape) to get down and dirty on the trails. My riding buddy is the same age and we ride gravel, fire roads and trails in the National Forest south of 60 highway.

I do not want to get rid of the 400 but thought the Terra would be an in-between from the DRZ to my BMW.

Any thoughts on this Dual- Purpose bike? and yes I know it's a G 650 GS from Husky, it is cheaper.

Thanks
That Harpguy

Good to see another rider from Lees Summit! Recently, Dirt Rider magazine did a nice review of the TR 650.

http://www.dirtrider.com/features/2013- ... irst-ride/

There is a group of us who meet every month for dinner and usually, some type of presenter...you would be welcome to attend.

http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1793

[clfarren5944]

Yeah, Donnell's has a full line of Husky's on the floor once again. I bought my first Husky from Donnell back in '75 and then they didn't handle them again 'til just recently. Had to buy my next from Freedom, a '85 model.
I had a new Honda CRF250L follow me home from Donnell's last week. It's heavy, slow, and under suspended, just like me! It's a lot of fun on gravel and back roads for an old guy. Will be a good companion to my DR650 for dual sporting as that's my favorite kind of riding anymore.

Chris

[Hank Moody]

Okay, here’s the deal. There is no perfect dual sport motorcycle that will cover the range of riding we expect it to do (freeways to single track) period end of story!

The new Husky looks like an updated KLR with better suspension and brakes. You can take the Husky or a KLR on a single track or rough jeep road, but you likely won’t like it. I have seen guys take a KLR on some serious trails, but the ones that do it well are VERY good riders, the other AVERAGE riders were soon cussing saying why did I do this.

My suggestion would be go buy a trail bike like a 450 four stroke or a 250 -300 two stroke for those times you want to go do some serious trail ride. For the gravel roads, fire roads and black top buy something like a BMW 650/800 GS or even a KLR. But if you can only buy one bike I would recommend the DRZ 400, so keep the one you got, it can do handle all types of riding; not great at any of them, but not horrible either.

Good luck with your purchase!

[Savage]

Okay, here’s the deal. There is no perfect dual sport motorcycle that will cover the range of riding we expect it to do (freeways to single track) period end of story!

The new Husky looks like an updated KLR with better suspension and brakes. You can take the Husky or a KLR on a single track or rough jeep road, but you likely won’t like it. I have seen guys take a KLR on some serious trails, but the ones that do it well are VERY good riders, the other AVERAGE riders were soon cussing saying why did I do this.

My suggestion would be go buy a trail bike like a 450 four stroke or a 250 -300 two stroke for those times you want to go do some serious trail ride. For the gravel roads, fire roads and black top buy something like a BMW 650/800 GS or even a KLR. But if you can only buy one bike I would recommend the DRZ 400, so keep the one you got, it can do handle all types of riding; not great at any of them, but not horrible either.

Good luck with your purchase!

My exact thoughts.

[Harpguy]

Lust is a powerful thing. The Terra is a cool looking bike. I'm just trying to justify it to myself and my wife.
I showed my riding friend the Husky and he is thinking of looking at one instead of the KLR to go with his KLX 250. If he gets one, well you never know.

One of my riding buddys had a KLR and I looked at them before the DRZ. I've been some places that it would of been too big of a bike. I've riden enough in my life to know my limits. My last dirt bike was a KTM 250 enduero, the Suzuki is not that bike but fun.

Thanks everybody for chiming in. I know alot of you have the bigger Dual-sport bikes, and I was just a wondering. I'm headed down south the 26th for a few days so that will give me some time to think (dream ) about the big red bike.

That Harpguy