Deleted account 211025001
Registered user
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2005
- Messages
- 8
- Reaction score
- 10
I've had my DRZ for a couple of years now and absolutely loved it. It's taught me loads about riding off road (I'm still shite though and still fall off loads 
) and, fitted with 17" wheels, got me back into Hill Climbing again.
However, I've been wanting to get something with a bit more poke for the Hills but couldn't think what could replace the DRZ and still be twat (me) friendly off road. Whilst this was all going on in my head AndyT put his Huaqvarna TE610 up for sale and, on an impulse, I offered him the asking and it's now mine. The DRZ now resides in Windychuffers garage
Well, I really wasn't sure if I'd done the right thing; the DRZ is such a good bike and, if I'm honest, plenty powerful enough for my ability on the hills.
My only experience of a 'big' trailie was my old CCM which was a brute off road, a real handful (for me anyway!) but great fun on tarmac.
The TE610 I've now got was only built for 2 years - it uses the old 610 engine which is a 2 valve water cooled 600cc lump. The model was produced whilst MV Augusta owned Huqvarna, before the WBM buy out and is a bit of a parts bin special. Whilst it's a 'dual sport' bike it's leanings are much more dirt biased than road.
Today, then, was the first chance I had to take her off road. With a stonking hangover I took her for a bimble on some nice easy Derbyshire lanes.
Any worries over whether I'd done the right thing were straight out the window the moment I got out of Nottingham onto the main road. She'll easilly lollop along at 80ish, the only limiting factor being my ability to hang on - tucking down onto the tank makes thing a lot better but looks very silly!
Once onto the lanes I was really surprised how easy she is to ride. The suspension is lovely, it really soaks up the bumps and felt almost GS like in it's ability to isolate me from the bumps and shocks below
I's not a tall bike, I can get both feet flat on the ground which is good for all the dabbing I inevitably end up doing 
TBH it doesn't feel any bigger or heavier than did the DRZ (I think it's supposed to be 145kg dry) and with ergonomics that better suit me than the DRZ I actually found it easier to ride, especially when I hit a very muddy and heavilly rutted section.
The engine is quite old skool and is a real plodder but will still rev up pretty quick when you want it too
First gear is VERY low and it'll almost chug along on tickover which is great The rest of the gear ratios are very well chosen with 6th being purely for road use (which makes for very relaxed cruising at road speeds). The gear box action isn't exactly what I'd call slick though, certainly nowhere as good as the excellent Suzuki box (why are Suzuki soooo good at making gearboxes
).
So, all in all I am so far very impressed; I actually find it easier to ride than the DRZ and it is a far better tool on the roads.The only downside is the build quality, given it's only 4,000 miles and 3 years old it's got some real 'finish' issues; paint blistering off engine casings, heavy rust on fastners etc but the quality of the suspension, wheels etc is second to none - from one extreme to the other.
I now need to sort some 17" wheels and can't wait to see what she'll be like to race
Andres
) and, fitted with 17" wheels, got me back into Hill Climbing again.However, I've been wanting to get something with a bit more poke for the Hills but couldn't think what could replace the DRZ and still be twat (me) friendly off road. Whilst this was all going on in my head AndyT put his Huaqvarna TE610 up for sale and, on an impulse, I offered him the asking and it's now mine. The DRZ now resides in Windychuffers garage
Well, I really wasn't sure if I'd done the right thing; the DRZ is such a good bike and, if I'm honest, plenty powerful enough for my ability on the hills.
My only experience of a 'big' trailie was my old CCM which was a brute off road, a real handful (for me anyway!) but great fun on tarmac.
The TE610 I've now got was only built for 2 years - it uses the old 610 engine which is a 2 valve water cooled 600cc lump. The model was produced whilst MV Augusta owned Huqvarna, before the WBM buy out and is a bit of a parts bin special. Whilst it's a 'dual sport' bike it's leanings are much more dirt biased than road.
Today, then, was the first chance I had to take her off road. With a stonking hangover I took her for a bimble on some nice easy Derbyshire lanes.
Any worries over whether I'd done the right thing were straight out the window the moment I got out of Nottingham onto the main road. She'll easilly lollop along at 80ish, the only limiting factor being my ability to hang on - tucking down onto the tank makes thing a lot better but looks very silly!
Once onto the lanes I was really surprised how easy she is to ride. The suspension is lovely, it really soaks up the bumps and felt almost GS like in it's ability to isolate me from the bumps and shocks below
I's not a tall bike, I can get both feet flat on the ground which is good for all the dabbing I inevitably end up doing
TBH it doesn't feel any bigger or heavier than did the DRZ (I think it's supposed to be 145kg dry) and with ergonomics that better suit me than the DRZ I actually found it easier to ride, especially when I hit a very muddy and heavilly rutted section.
The engine is quite old skool and is a real plodder but will still rev up pretty quick when you want it too
First gear is VERY low and it'll almost chug along on tickover which is great The rest of the gear ratios are very well chosen with 6th being purely for road use (which makes for very relaxed cruising at road speeds). The gear box action isn't exactly what I'd call slick though, certainly nowhere as good as the excellent Suzuki box (why are Suzuki soooo good at making gearboxes
).
So, all in all I am so far very impressed; I actually find it easier to ride than the DRZ and it is a far better tool on the roads.The only downside is the build quality, given it's only 4,000 miles and 3 years old it's got some real 'finish' issues; paint blistering off engine casings, heavy rust on fastners etc but the quality of the suspension, wheels etc is second to none - from one extreme to the other.
I now need to sort some 17" wheels and can't wait to see what she'll be like to race
Andres
Nothing major just the wing mirrors (never ever used them, some hand gaurds I had bought but never got round to fitting and some chain lube (courtesy of Forry who left it in my car a while back).
