Husqvarna TE510

I've been critical of the Husky TEs in the past. I don't think they're as good as the WRFs, EXC-Fs or FEs. Yet the brand is currently achieving amazing sales figures. How is this so?

Consider this snippet from an official press release by the Australian importer: "The Paul Feeney Group (PFG) is pleased to announce an all time record retail sales month for Husqvarna in January, 2010. Husqvarna achieved a growth of 80.6 per cent compared with the same period in 2009 and is highlighted by the fact that the Husqvarna brand was the only manufacturer in the Australian motorcycle market to post positive gains on last year's result in the off-road segment."

So Husqvarna is makin' hay despite the fact that the sun ain't shining, with the dirt bike sector down 28.3 per cent compared to the same month (January) in 2009 (Ed: at the end of April, the off-road sector was down 14.4 per cent).

The answer is down to good old fashioned hard work and dedication. PFG has pushed the Husky brand like it's never been pushed before in this country - strong advertising campaigns, product incentives and aggressive pricing. And it's obviously working.

UPS AND DOWNS
The TE range is good but not great. It's mostly small things that annoy and they all have to do with build and overall quality control, something the company admits it needs to address.

Moving from Marzocchi to Kayaba suspension was a positive step. The Marzocchis were unpredictable and inconsistent, while the Kayabas have shown to be robust and reliable. So Husky saw a problem and fixed it.

The first models of the great 'EFI overhaul' had all sorts of stupid things going on and our long-term TE450 at the time proved to be something of a frustration. If only because when it was all working in sync it was a wicked ride. But that was err… infrequent. But things are getting better.

WHAT ABOUT THE BIKE?
Although the TE250 and 450 are the marquee models, the $12,395 TE510 is the better bike in the four-stroke range. In fact, alongside the WR250 two-stroke, I reckon it's in the best two bikes that Husqvarna produces, but it doesn't always get the kudos it deserves.

The bike has a fairly thin feel to it and it's not all that dissimilar to the Husaberg FE570 in a straight ergo comparo. If anything, it feels roomier than the 'Berg. The pegs feel lower and the bars further forward. It's a pretty comfy bike to sit on and a great fit for bigger blokes.

On the trails the 510 suffers from the same bottom end-sapping high gearing that plagues the 450, but has the grunt to pull you through that and then into a small thermonuclear blast of a mid-range. It likes to rev and to get the best from it you have to ride it like that, but I'd still gear it down to get back some of that bottom-end and make the snotty stuff easier to ride.

The suspension as delivered felt like the forks were filled with concrete and the shock had been replaced by a steel strut. Whoever rode the bike last was either testing on a supercross track or weighed in at 230kg.

I centered the clickers and made only a couple of small adjustment thereafter and life was much better. The Kayaba fork works pretty well with the Sachs shock. It was comfortable and forgiving and responded well to being pushed or putted about.

The TE510 isn't exactly a nimble machine. You can't throw it around like you can the 'Berg 570. The next thing Husky needs to work on is weight distribution and getting those spinning masses centralised so the bike doesn't fight being tipped in or laid over. But, as an open track bike it's a brilliant machine.

With some room to move, anyone can have fun at some serious speeds on the 510. It's a big-bore that would suit the bigger bloke who likes to open the throttle and rip big power slides.

The brakes are pretty impressive and the clutch feel is light. All the switchblocks are the standard sort of fair and the TE comes with a set of handguards and a bashplate of sorts. The sidestand should be removed, then melted down and made into a tyre lever. That way it'd be useful because it certainly isn't any good at holding the bike upright.

Other gripes? The airfilter access is diabolical, unless you have hands the size of a GI Joe doll.

The shroud 'decals' are injection moulded, and other than some errant wiring zip-tied here and there the TE510 is a good looking bike and a neat build. There's plenty of space around the engine so it's easy to clean, which is quite unlike most other thumpers these days.

Check out the TE510 in Bike Showroom.

THE VERDICT
I really enjoyed the TE510. As mentioned before, I reckon it's the best of the TE range. It'll suit a host of riders and tackle a variety of terrain. It's a perfect fit for taller or the more portly gentlemen and once the TE spins up it gets a pretty exciting gallop going. It's got its flaws (what bike hasn't?), but it's backed by a long warranty and some very aggressive pricing, so the scales tend to even out.  

Gear it down a little to stave off any stalling or heavy clutch work in tight tracks and you'll have yourself a very good big-bore trailbike.   

THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Husqvarna's pricing is helping to win plenty of converts. Check out the following recommended Manufacturer List Price and compare to other manufacturers.

Enduro
TE250: $11,495
TE310: $11,595
TE450: $11,995
TE510: $12,395
WR250: $10,495
WR300: $10,995
Motocross
CR125: $9795
TC250: $10,995
TC450: $11,495

PRICE CHECK
Retail prices for genuine Husky replacement items.

Frame protection set LH: $37.10/$26.25
Front fender: $85.45
Headlight shroud: $95.05
Fork protectors: $28.10 each
Radiator shroud: $62.70 each
Radiator L/S: $355
Radiator R/S: $385
Stock pipe: $1116

HISTORY LESSON
Husqvarna, the Swedish manufacturer born in 1903 as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm, was on its knees not so long ago.

After being purchased by the Italian Cagiva marque in 1986, Husqvarna suffered some monumental lows. The sometimes questionable financial management of brothers Gianfranco and Claudio Castiglioni led to bankruptcy proceedings in 2002, which was staved off by an injection of 70m Euro from Malaysian car company Proton.

However, these stock holdings were sold for just one Euro a year later so the Malaysian company could expediently disembark the sinking ship.

The brand itself had already sunk from view under a wave of superior Japanese machines. Husqvarna had to start again from scratch.

In 2007 BMW acquired Husqvarna from Claudio Castiglioni and immediately set about giving back the once mighty marque some personal space to grow. BMW is thoughtful, deliberate and dogged - and the rest, as they say, is history.