SuperMoto Junkie banner

sm510 or drz400sm

2474 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  R6Tony
Thinkin about tradin in the 450sx on a new bike. The KTM is still in dirt trim and this will be my first motard. Can anybody make any suggestions on what would be the better choice. I love ridin the KTM so I would want something with comparable power. I would be commuting to work and back every night a wopping 10 miles round trip and playing on the very curvy back roads of Oregon's north coast. Maintanence wise how does the husky compare to the ktm. What's parts availability like I have a local dealer in town with a 510 in stock and the closest suzuki dealer is an hour away. But I am in the military and I am moving to alaska next so what about parts online for the husky? Kinda long winded I know but thanks for any input.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Go Husky more power.
I'm no expert, but the 510 seems to me like a race bike and I thought I read that the oil change intervals were 300-500 miles?

The DRZ would be pretty low on power i think compared to your 450, but requires much less maint. than the race bike 510, i think....lol.

Nate
I'm no expert, but the 510 seems to me like a race bike and I thought I read that the oil change intervals were 300-500 miles?

The DRZ would be pretty low on power i think compared to your 450, but requires much less maint. than the race bike 510, i think....lol.

Nate

You have that all wrong. The Huskys would be the next step up from a DRZ. The Husky's especially the 450/510 and 610SMR are road orientated. There service intervals are more in line with real road bikes. If i was starting on SM i would go straight onto a Husky 450SMR and give the DRZ a miss. Depends how much more a SMR is.

Husky make a race bike that you can buy for racing, they don't need to make the SMR's race bikes.

See less See more
Husky 610 would be my choice given your parameters. While the 510 would be more fun, its maintenance schedule is more much intensive than the 610, and hundreds times that of the DRZ. Take a look at the "What makes the best street tard" super thread stickied at the top of this section for specifics.
As the owner of a 450smr I agree with WRX. The 450/510's are great bikes but in no way can they be considered a daily driver, that is what the 610 is for.
You have that all wrong. The Huskys would be the next step up from a DRZ. The Husky's especially the 450/510 and 610SMR are road orientated. There service intervals are more in line with real road bikes. If i was starting on SM i would go straight onto a Husky 450SMR and give the DRZ a miss. Depends how much more a SMR is.

Husky make a race bike that you can buy for racing, they don't need to make the SMR's race bikes.
Are you high? The 610 yeah is meant as a road bike, but the 450/510 are race bikes with lights and mirrors, and the maintanence schedule to go with it.
Are you high? The 610 yeah is meant as a road bike, but the 450/510 are race bikes with lights and mirrors, and the maintanence schedule to go with it.
I thought I researched some, and didn't think I had it all wrong. I was considering the 510 until I found about the maint. schedule. Not that it's not a nice bike, but just seemed a bit too hardcore for daily driving. The 610 seemed much more forgiving in that respect.

Nate
I know all about maintanence I own a KTM remember. Plus It happens to be my personal OPINION is the 610 is ugly. But the funny thing is when I looked at insurance between the Husky and the ZUK the DRZ was almost $25.00 more a month than the Husky.
well i am very interested in this topic. im in the market for a bike to cruise around town and have some fun on rather than driving my truck(gas). i have a friend who had a DRZ and he said to go for a KTM. what are all of your opinions between KTM vs HUSKY. i do want a reliable somewhat low maintenance bike, i also used to race motocross so want something that can keep up as well.... thanks for any thoughts!
Are you high? The 610 yeah is meant as a road bike, but the 450/510 are race bikes with lights and mirrors, and the maintanence schedule to go with it.
Mate you're the one on crack. Do your research. Like i said, Husqvarna make a race ready SM why would you buy a 450SMR to take the lights off it and deck it out for racing when you can buy this>>>

http://www.husqvarnamotorcycles.com.au/model.php?my=2008&model=sm_450rr

The SMR450 and 510 are not race bikes with lights.

Service intervals are in KMs or mile on the SMRs not in hours. It's not that bad. It is the first 1000 the every 5000 after that. that was from the 07 onwards. I looked into it before deciding on a Berg instead.

If you want a road orientated tard get a big bore bike like the 610.
I know all about maintanence I own a KTM remember. Plus It happens to be my personal OPINION is the 610 is ugly. But the funny thing is when I looked at insurance between the Husky and the ZUK the DRZ was almost $25.00 more a month than the Husky.

There you go. That would sell me. I wouldn't pay more a month for a DRZ. Go Husky.

My opinion you don't buy an SM from Japan. SM's are second thought for the Japs. Europe is where it is at.
does anybody know if there is a place you can order general maintanence/repair parts online I know KTM has ktmcyclehutt and numerous others but is there any Husky specific parts sites?
I've ordered from several Husky dealers over the phone with no problems. You can get a parts pdf file for your bike at the Husky site.
While I agree that the 450/510 are far better looking than the stock 610, it does not take much to swap out the headlight and fender from the 450/510 to vastly improve the looks.

Take a look at Ungarisch's 610:
See less See more
I know all about maintanence I own a KTM remember. Plus It happens to be my personal OPINION is the 610 is ugly. But the funny thing is when I looked at insurance between the Husky and the ZUK the DRZ was almost $25.00 more a month than the Husky.
That is funny cuz I only pay $25 a month total for my DRZ, full coverage.

Your insurance company must be retarded though, as the Husky costs more new, and would cost way more to fix in crash, and it's a larger displacement... all things that drive premiums up, not down. So I would say take advantage of them while you can, but it sounds like maybe you are the one being taken advantage of?
my insurance was about $5 more a year for the husky, than the drz quote i got. i think the husky was $149/year and the drz $144/year. you can call it bfe, i call it low cost of living.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top