Kelly, do you perhaps have a picture of the WRP on the inside? I am thinking of having a mid-pipe made up and fitting a silencer from a KTM 250SX. I don't care too much for sound as the intake noise on the 300 is already plenty enough for me but I am looking at saving weight. The stock pipes weigh around 3.6Kg each and the KTM pipe I am planning on fitting only 2kg. I fear it might be too loud but a weight saving of around 5kg will be huge.
My wrp exhaust should be here friday and i was hoping to ride it with it installed pre race map installation. Were you able to ride before the map? The closest dealer is 2hrs from me. Do you know of any disc guards that would fit this bike? I have 2021, and I'm having a hard time finding them. Also, I've been looking into adding a kicker from an old husky. Do you think it is possible?
Thank you! Going to do more. Shot both these with my camera (and even missed the frame some he he he... FUN). Might try for better quality in the future. Baby steps.
Great review, I own the rs500 good value for money quality is reasonably good! Really would be great if swm fitted a wide ratio transmission to it and put some decent quality plastics on it, which I do find a little bit annoying but liveable!
@DJXentar This motor is well proven and super durable. It shares the bottom end with the very powerful 500 so is overbuilt. I have decades of experience with this engine. It's a jem. This bike has WAY more performance and potential than the CRF300L. KYB, Brembo, GET ECU, WAY more power etc.
I'm working on this now. First order of business is remove that ridiculous plug acting as a air filter cage. That uncorks 10 plus hp right there and how I have been riding it for now. Funny thing is it feels slow until I ride with other people then it feels fast, as in very zippy between corners. I believe a lot of it has to do with better traction than your typical 2 strokes gets between corners. It has the right amount of power and spread to efficiently move you along. It's part of what saves me energy too. I just got a single muffler setup and looking into ECU remapping. I know that's a sticky subject but in my case I'm using it as a dirt bike and not even going to plate it. I'll be doing an accessory and power upgrade vid soon.
I know this bike has a lot of good quality European components but I was under the impression they had put some Chinese parts on there. Is the hydraulic clutch a generic or is it an actual magura? I'm sure the plastic is probably Chinese but if that's all... who cares? Everything you said about this bike applies to my 2008 te250. Fantastic woods bikes.
Honestly I was curious about this as well. I don't see Chinese's parts. Wheels sets look and are labeled all Italian. Frame, motor, swingarm, all Italian. Forks and shock are Japanese KYB, Brakes are brembo with Euro labeled braded steel lines, throttle is domino, bars are Italian, ECU is GET/Athena (top quality) I don't see any Chinese parts. Even the battery is a quality Japanese unit. Twin Air air filter. All the nuts and bolts I have put a wrench on feel very quality, just like the 2021 TE250i I wrenched on for a year plus. Nice purpose built aluminum top hat washers for the plastic and mounting points. Even the very nice LED blinkers look quality and fronts are still kicking. I notice really nice gromets for sealing the wires into the housing... quality. Maybe wheel bearings but I'm still on the stock SWM 650 wheels bearings and that bikes been used hard and put away wet. The seat maybe but I have to tell you I have never seen a nicer stock seat. The cover is hemmed and it has the straightest and best aligned staple job I have ever seen. I'm very impressed with the quality. Except the slightly brittle plastic as you mentioned.
@@Dashriprock4 ha ha yep, we can keep going. Michelin tubes. European SPAL fan. These are the best. I worked at trail Tech / Polaris for years and we used those for our fan kits. Not cheap but they are the best. Blow 5x what the Panasonic fans on Honda blow. Tested it myself. RADIATOR, maybe that's the item. Seems very well built and have clear coat on the resi tanks which I love because if you ride in clay based mud they turn brown. Quality everywhere.
@@Motosportz I remember when the re500 was launched there was a proposed re300 which never materialized. I believe that would have been the perfect Pacific Northwest or Eastern woods bike. Basically a polished and modernized 2010 te310 .
@@Dashriprock4 Are you talking about the x-light motor and platform? I loved how those handled and they were lighter but I think I like this platform better. That motor had the crappy 90 degree starter system, seemed more fragile and had a narrow powerband in comparison. I liked them both a lot.
I have the 2013 TE 310.The starter is a worm drive witch when the bike backfires the ride was over..it would sheer the woodruff key so I removed the starter and got the block out plate from a te250 now its kick only and that sucks, however the bike is perfect for the woods I ride. What starter does the SWM use ?
That's is a completely different (x-light) motor designed and built under BMW. I had several. Never had that issue but those are hard starting motors (I also had the TC version, kick start only). These motors have the starter inline like all modern bikes and is nearly flawless (Not sure I've ever heard of issues)
Kelly you may want to note that the new regime re-installed the counterbalancer shafts from the original design. This was the biggest mistake that Varese made removing the CB shaft. On my 2008 TXC450 I put in the SM model CB shaft it was/is huge difference
@@robertaccioHVA Interesting. Rode the bike today, it is Very good. The motor is very smooth and quite powerful uncorked. Buddy Jake who owned many of these bikes (Husky versions) in the past was really impressed with the bike and thought it felt lighter and more flicakable than the huskies. I don't think it is lighter but maybe they changed the geometry. I was surprised it felt lighter then the two Betta 300 RRs I rode while they were trying the SWM. I'm sure it is not lighter but sure felt that way riding them back to back. And the SWM is sooo smooth.
Great review Johnny Racer! Sold my Alta, cancelled my Stark Varg order, my very nicely setup '16 Husky FE350 is feeling a little long in the tooth. Hmm, Lol.
Hey Ed, long time no ride. I'll be in Plain WA this next week for the Touratech Rally (Helping the good people at Motoz tires). I'll be there for three weeks staying near lake Wenatchee. Come right the SWM!!
Hey Kelly great video! I am happy I came across this actually because I have some questions you may be able to help with… I have a 2021 SWM rs300 and I absolutely love it. However, the plastics are notoriously bad. With your experience, do you think I could swap husky plastics out with the SWM? To clarify, I am looking to get the 2008-2011 (?) Husky TE310 polisport plastics and a seat so it will fit flush. How do you think that’ll fit? Maybe not flush, but some dremel and sanding work? Messed up the plastics on a failed hill climb and did not hold up well lol. Thanks again!!
Yes, it's been done, not super hard. I cracked a radiator shroud but I tossed it up a big step-up and was surprised the whole radiator was not ripped off. Was actually impressed how well it held up.
18 minutes and 06 seconds and no jamming on this thing for us? What the hell man? Throw us a bone here, how about a few power chords at least, Lol. Excellent vid btw.
I knew this was coming ha ha ha. Got to leave something for the 7 hard core subscribers I have. Is the anticipation killing you? Better hit that bell LOL.
Thanks for taking us along for the ride. I think these retail for around $8000. That's around $3000+ cheaper than GasGas, KTM or Beta. I think I bought by 2020 SWM RS500R for around $7200. I only have like 1600 miles on it so far but its been as reliable as my other dual sports. TONS of power.
I will be making a review video of the bike soon with full details. Even though this bike has a six speed it is a short off road six speed. This is limiting it for DS. Gear it tall enough for highway and first becomes to tall for super technical. I just installed a Rekluse and that would let you get away with a lot taller gearing. But, int he end this bike is not going to be a good long distance DS bike. It is a great dirtbike with the capability to blast down the road a a ways. Perfect for trail riding, camping, in town riding. It is what it is.
The 500 would be a better option if you're going to do a fair bit of road riding. Taller gearing means it can sit on 60mph easily enough. (Top speed is over 100)
The dealer network is small but growing and they are eager to make headway. These are great underrated bikes. The dealers and importer are trying hard to support these bikes. As it is with many smaller brands they go out of their way to help and in the end you can actually get better service then with big brands because they can;t fall back on volume to survive. Then need to earn it. I'm had many small brand bikes and have always felt better supported not worse. The dealers and forums are WAY better and not full of people just posting crap and go out for the way to help.
