Another Dirt Scalpel

 I have been looking for another registered dirt bike so that we can get out in the state forests and national parks for some trail riding in the safety of numbers. A couple of weeks back I finally found another low kilometre SWM, similar to the RS300R that we bought in July 2022. I really wanted another 300 so that they would be interchangeable - and honestly as beginners, the kids and I would be well served by a pair of 300s rather than a bigger bike. 

However, there were no decent, low kilometre 300s to be had and nothing new either. Apparently dealers are waiting for a container to land from Italy. So, when an immaculate, super low kilometre RS500 came up I jumped on it.

Pick up time!

Why the SWM? These SWM appeal to me because they are based on the 2010 Husqvarna TE510 and 310 models. Both were cutting edge in 2010 so are still very well specced bikes today that retail for under $10 and $9K respectively. There is simply nothing in that price range that packs the performance of these bikes. KYB suspension. Brembo brakes. Whats not to like?

The 500 looks sexy in black and yellow.

What else is in the price range? A DRZ400? Not even close performance wise and anything from the Blue factory or Team Orange will set you back $6-8K more and be too hard edged for general trail riding. The only “risk” with the SWMs is that they are a tiny manufacturer with a very limited dealer network. I am taking a gamble with two of them but hope to be able to keep them running sweetly through the power of the internet and international shopping. 😉

Will took a day off work to come with me to pick up the 500 so we could go for a ride in the pine forests of the Glasshouse Mountains, just a 20 minute drive south of the bike shop.

He was pretty excited and a bit nervous. It was his first real trail ride….. and my first since we used to ride these trails way back in about 2006! (Funnily enough, on my 2006 Husky TE510)

This 500, based, as I said on the 2010 TE510 seems less tall than what I recall my 2006 being and the power feels tamer. Not weak, but tamer and more useable.

By the time we got to the Glasshouse lookout Will’s nervousness was gone and he was loving the ride! So was I just quietly. 😎

I have ordered a bash plate and some radiator guards for the 500 to help make it trail worthy and I have just stumbled across the O2 sensor delete plug via the SWM owners FaceBook page so will be ordering one for each bike. The Euro 4/5 rules make the bikes run very lean and consequently fluffy on small throttle openings/sharp openings and the O2 delete apparently fixes this.

Now to just find time to ride these things between work, ADV riding and mountain biking! I think I like having too many hobbies.🤔

Cheers.