Husqvarna TE630 - Long-Term Test Update #3

We've finally hit our stride with the TE630 and have logged miles from the Sierra Nevada in Northern California all the way down to the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir in Baja California, Mexico.

Since our last update, we’ve added a few items from Husqvarna’s accessory catalog to make the TE a great overnight adventurer, including a Touratech-made luggage rack ($198) and tailbag ($133). Stuffed with clothes and supplemented by a light backpack, those add-ons provided more than enough space for personal belongings on a four-day Baja journey.

A reoccurring mystery that plagued the TE since we decided to source more-aggressive, street-legal off-road rubber was severe front-end instability (primarily on southern California’s rain-grooved concrete freeways). Catch the wrong seam and the bike would go into a tankslapper vigorous enough to make you consider taking surface streets the next time.

After Husqvarna replaced the 630’s worn-out steering-head bearings ($230), we thought our problems were behind us, but the Michelin Desert TT Rally ($238) tires’ tall and skinny front knobbies were more likely to blame. After throwing on a set of Dunlop Rally Raids ($507), the Husky behaved significantly better but still not as composed as on the stock Metzeler Karoos. The best solution was finally found in an odd mixed-brand combination of a Pirelli MT21 Rallycross ($70) front and Dunlop D606 ($89) rear. On-road grip was very good through tight, supermoto-style twisties and even better for off-road hardpack, sand and loose gravel.

Two liters of Bel-Ray EXS 10W-50 ($36) and a K&N Performance Gold Filter ($15) kept the engine happy between normal scheduled services.