• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Motard advice

M

mbrdf2

New member
Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Location
Cupertino
Moto(s)
2007 DRZ400SM
Name
Matt
Hello,
I'm pretty set on selling my sv650 and getting a motard - I'm just not sure which one I would want to go with.
I've been looking at the Husky SM610 - and it seems like it would be a great bike, but can anybody tell me how maintenance is on those bikes? Are they freeway friendly?
thanks! :ride
 
I owned an '06 SM610.

Valve checks every 1K (easy, as it is a screw type adjuster assembly - no shims)

Oil about every 2K.

I would also check the CCT every 1K, as they wear quickly.

Freeway is fine, but everyone's interpretation is different. It does vibrate a bit, say compared to a DRZ, but it is not that bad at all.
 
That sounds manageable - but as far as services go, where could I go for services in the south bay?
Do they ride well at 75 mph? I've seen on the DRZ threads that they can't handle 90mph for too long, and I'm not sure if the 610 is similair - 30 mile commute on 280 every day and traffic is fairly fast.
 
I would not want a 30 mile commute every day on a motard, unless you're into self abuse. Motards 45o-65o don't like high speeds or un-conjested freeways, they like short twisties, lots of stop and go traffic, pot-holes and speed bumps.
 
mbrdf2 said:
That sounds manageable - but as far as services go, where could I go for services in the south bay?
Do they ride well at 75 mph? I've seen on the DRZ threads that they can't handle 90mph for too long, and I'm not sure if the 610 is similair - 30 mile commute on 280 every day and traffic is fairly fast.
Click to expand...

You can ride at 75mph, but not for long. I would think that if you commuted everyday for 30-miles @ 75mph, you should check the valves and change the oil more frequently. I would also question the longevity of the motor. The bike does not like to be sustained at anything over 65mph. It's just not made for it. If you were determined to do so, I would re-gear it right away. Get a -2 rear sprocket and that will bring the revs down a bit.

I used to ride my SM610 to SF, but maybe once every 2-weeks or so, and when I did, I would just keep in the slow lane at 65mph.

I know someone here that bought a DRZ to commute on the freeway everyday - even when we told him it would not be the best, he thought the could do it. I believe he sold the bike after several weeks.

As for service, go see Tom Dillenbeck at Moore and Son's in Santa Cruz - yes, it's a bit far, but well worth it. I also believe they are the closest Husky shop around.
 
Well, I mostly play in the hills with my SV - I usually just drive to work, but my car is a pile of garbage and I like to ride here and there, so freeway friendly would be great, but it wouldn't be an everyday thing. Speed isn't a necessity, as long as it would be ok doing 70-75MPH or so for some distance here and there, but it would be mostly for riding twisties :ride
I've also been looking at the DRZ, I'm not sure which to go with.
 
mbrdf2 said:
Hello,
I'm pretty set on selling my sv650 and getting a motard - I'm just not sure which one I would want to go with.
I've been looking at the Husky SM610 - and it seems like it would be a great bike, but can anybody tell me how maintenance is on those bikes? Are they freeway friendly?
thanks! :ride
Click to expand...


Nowhere in this post are the words "Stockton", "Trackday", "Dirt", "Goat", "Wheelie", "Stoppie", or "Backing it in". Even though the 610 is more of a style tard, it's not for you. :twofinger
 
"Trackday" "stoppie" "wheelie" "dirt" and "backing it in" are all things that I have in mind :laughing
 
motostrano said:
keep the SV and get a tard
Click to expand...
If only. Unfortunately, I can only have one motorcycle - insurance costs. I'd love to keep both, but I learned how to ride on dirt, love riding on the street, and this might be a great combination of the two. I regret selling my dirtbike, but just can't afford another moto without selling the sv :(
 
mbrdf2 said:
wish I could, but I have sleeping problems and sometimes riding a moto to work is far from safe.
Click to expand...

If you're doing it right on a motard, riding to work is ALWAYS far from safe :orly
 
Get a XR they are easy to maintain. And they have plenty of power for the freeway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top