  All we did to prepare it for the lengthy rides we took it on was lever a set of Michelin Baja tyres onto its Excel rims (there's nothing wrong with the Pirellis it comes with, but the Bajas are tougher for the bitumen miles), add a set of handguards and, for once, leave the blinkers and mirrors in place.
With the lockable 12.5-litre fuel tank filled to the brim, we knew a range of around 1 60km was achievable. The seat is more supportive than other TE models for the long distances this bike tempts you into, and the bike itself is smoother. The engine doesn't have the instant power of the endure range,
either, instead providing progressive power from go to whoa.
This power delivery might inspire yawns from the hard chargers, but on the plus side, the smooth power won't tire the rider out over a few days' riding,
yet can propel the bike along, up, over and through most situations. It does feel constrained, though, so some de-restricting would certainly benefit the
throttle response, which is sluggish.
A 110km/h cruising speed is comfortable and without excessive vibration, even on the bitumen, as the gearbox is geared tall enough for this sort of mile-munching behaviour.
Once the boring miles are done, though, the Husky can switch into a decent 'express' mode. The engine never overpowered the rear Baja rubber on the hard pack tracks we hammered over; it just drove with plenty of traction.
Adrenalin junkies would want more wheelspin and action from that engine - Husqvarna claims 54hp, but it feels tamer than that - but for those just wanting to take in the scenery and avoid any damage to person or property when in the middle of nowhere, an engine you have total control over is the ticket. This bike's motor is a far cry from that of the fearsome TE610 of old: same name, totally different character.
BIG HITTER
The TE610 is so stable and plush, it turns tricky, corrugated dirt roads into thoroughfares much more manageable than they deserve to be. Big hits from unseen rocks/potholes/discarded car parts on the trail won't upset the apple cart to the point you need to change underwear, because the bike stays on the straight and narrow.
It's also nimble enough for its size to handle tighter tracks, though true enduro single-track could become a handful because of the bike's weight. Experienced riders could handle it no worries but, really, the Husky belongs on everything from wide-open dirt roads to tight 4WD tracks.
Another area where the weight (a claimed 140kg without fuel) shows up is in braking hard over bumps, but choosing a smoother line and braking more in
line with what you're riding is the best fix. The brakes themselves do the job well.
Other clever add-ons, which point to the Husky's slot in life, include a thermo fan to help manage engine temperature, a catalytic converter included in the exhaust system (which is a monster compared to the usual dirtbike exhaust systems), pillion footpegs and a rear rack, which wasn't fitted to our test bike.
Another handy addition is the electronic dash, which runs a tripmeter as well as the full array of idiot lights (indicator, high/low beam, etc) plus an
electronic tacho.
GOING TREKKING
The Husqvarna TE610 is a true all-round dirtbike which won't spend much time silting in your shed - it can do everything. Trekking to work on the bitumen, heading across the state or wandering up remote tracks to God-knows-where is all within the Husgvama's realm.
Once we actually had the TE610 back in our possession after the whole sparkplug lead failure thing, the bike was forgiven. We don't believe the failure is a common occurence after talking to a dealer, so we have put it down to simple bad luck.
Rev-head riders would probably prefer KTM's offering, the 625SXC, if the choice came clown to pure performance, but the Husgivarna has more to its slate when it comes to added extras and it will get you to the same places, albeit a little slower.
Also, Husgvarna's 24-month warranty's a winner and nothing to he sneezed at when it comes time to lay down the moolah on a bike.
If you need a bike that can take you to the polar opposites of a dirtbiker's life-work arid trailriding - the TE610 is a bike worth looking at.
| The Husky belongs on the everything from wide open dirt roads to tight 4WD tracks |
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good to get the Husqvarna TE610 back. I last saw the thing at Hill End near Bathurst (NSW), sitting nervously on its sidestand as a rottweiler / grizzly bear paced about it, not sure whether to chew it or ignore it. That's where we left the big girl when its spark plug lead decided to go AWOL, making for one adventurous ride back to civilisation with Shannon flapping in the breeze behind me (DIRT ACTION issue #87).