SWM RS300R review: decent budget enduro bike?︱Cross Training Enduro

www.crosstraini... The SWM RS300R. Is it a decent budget enduor bike? An Italian built enduro bike at only two thirds the price of other European enduro bikes? I was interested. Very interested. There's a lot of fake news flying around about the SWM RS300R and the RS500R too. No they aren't manufactured in China, they are manufacturered in Italy but with Chinese funding. This SWM RS300R test review features a rebadged and slightly tweaked Husqvarna model from around 2010. They are built in the same Husqvarna factory that passed to BMW and now finally to SWM.
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In this test review it looks as though in 2017 SWM still have the same quality control as Husky did back in 2010 and the finish is excellent. The SWM RS300R comes with the well known Kayaba suspension and Brembo brakes, and in Australia you also get an Arrow exhaust to replace the twin muffler setup.
SWM have also tweaked the 2016 SWM RS300R engine to provide a bit more grunt and a fraction less top end. This makes sense. Being an older design, SWM are better off taming these bikes a little to bridge the gap between enduro and dual sport bikes, instead of trying to compete with more modern full fledged enduro bikes. This SWM 300 test review used a demo bike that was derestricted with remapping of the ECU and the Arrow exhaust which apparently is what most SWM riders are doing.
So what's the SWM RS300R like? She's definitely an enduro engine. It lugs well for a small four stroke, nice mid range and then really starts to sing in the upper revs. If you like to rev this 300 will be plenty fast enough.
Suspension? We started on the softer settings and it was beautifully plush and great for dual sport riding. Then we played with the clickers and upped the speed on the SWM RS300R. It was still plush but handled the big hits a lot better. A very aggressive rider will find the limits of this setup quickly, but then that's not what this SWM is set up for.
The SWM RS300R 2016 handles very well. Stable at speed, and still feels nimble at lower speeds. We even threw it into some of our gnarlier tracks and you only start to notice the weight in the rough stuff. As with many manufacturers I suspect the claimed weight of 111 kg without fuel may not be accurate. We some weight lifting comparisons with other bikes and it felt more around the 118kg mark to me. A bit porky by modern enduro standards but the SWM 300 is far lighter than dual sport bikes.
At this price, the SWM 300 is a fantastic alternative to your usual dual sport bikes such as the DRZ400, WR250R, CRF250 and XT250. It's in the same price bracket but you get far better suspension, brakes and engine, and it's a much lighter bike too. It does bridge the gap between dual sport and enduro extremely well, and in stock form would suit the beginner rider and yet still be very capable for the vast majority of dirt riders unless you are doing gnarly terrain or developing a lot of speed. A healthy 1.8 litre oil capacity for the SWM RS300R should see a good run between oil changes and if the reliability is the same as the 2010 Huskies then you have a long way to go before needing any engine work.
So what didn't we like about the 2016 SWM RS300R?
The six speed gearbox is a bit close ratio - perfect in the dirt if you want to keep that engine singing. But for a bike that covers dual sport and enduro riding so well I thought first gear was a bit high for dirt riding, but then in sixth gear it was revving very high at highway speeds.
Personally I found the Arrow aftermarket exhaust on the SWM RS300R too loud and would be looking for an insert to reduce that bark. I assume the stock twin mufflers would be quiet but probably add a fair bit of weight to the bike.
The cable clutch was a tad heavy and a bit mushy. But the SWM is so cheap I would just buy a Clake One Light Clutch and still have plenty of spare change.
Does the SWM 300 have any known issues? I checked on the 2010 Huskies and the only common issue was an occasional leak of oil through a seal in the starter motor. Easily fixed and I suspect SWM have corrected it in any case.
So there you have it guys. No the SWM RS300R is not a serious enduro bike by today's standards. But I think it would be exceptional value for anyone who finds dual sport bikes too boring, or who is getting into dirt riding and wants a bike that they won't outgrow in the first year. SWM also do a 500 and a 650 and have supermoto and adventure versions. Given this 300 was such a pleasant surprise we might check those out soon too.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

IS IT A CHINESE BIKE? All SWM models are manufactured in Italy. However, in 2014 SWM was bought by a huge Chinese company called Shineray. As of 2015, the sales manager, Ennio Marchesin, said 20 to 25% of non-critical parts are sourced from China to keep prices down. Other parts are manufactured, assembled and produced internally. Components also come from Brembo, Akropovic, Kayaba, Marzocchi, and Sachs. This info is five years old now and may have changed though! DETAILED OWNER FEEDBACK @andymacey4673 I've converted both an swm rs500r and a rs300r [for adv riding]. Yes, both very capable, especially for the price.... the negatives, the hot start issue is persistent even after map and pipe and is an absolute PITA if you get stuck on a hill. They run real hot under the safari tank, it doesn't take much to boil them in slow stuff, the plastics are absolute trash they rack if you look at them wrong, definitely cactus if you strap luggage on. The gearing is terrible for ADV as you point out. So far, I've sourced the old 510 seat and gone back to husky te plastics, it looks better and they are more robust, bigger capacity radiator and higher capacity fan, you have to go to a bigger front sprocket or several teeth smaller on the back if you intend to do any road work at all. The oil capacity is good though. Does it do its job, yes could I have bought a second hand low k something else that does a better job for about the same money after the mods..... possibly. Would I buy another one, nope you can't sell them on unless you give them away, the money you save in purchase over say a kato/husky you lose when you sell...may as well just buy the husky and be able to get aftermarket gear like racks, towels etc. Which are sorely lacking for SWM GOOGLE FOR LONG-TERM COMMENTS You don't really get the full picture on a bike until plenty of owners have been riding them over time and you can google for things like "SWM known issues", "RS300R long term review" and "SWM problems". I've just done this three years after making this video and generally everyone seems to be very happy with their bikes. The only consistent criticism is a hard seat if you sit down for long periods... same as any dirt bike. If you own an SWM please let us know your impressions of the bike here. ANOTHER LONG TERM REPORT An SWM owner who also ran an SWM Facebook owners page for years gave us this info... "On early models, the oil screen filters fell apart in the engine causing lots of problems for some owners. And rear subframe bolts were snapping, just like the old Husky TE 630 days. These were both fixed in recalls and thankfully have been the only two major issues. Smaller stuff? The bolts strip on the airbox when over tightening-also a carry over problem from the TE630. ABS from 2018 onwards on the rear ( on dirt was over sensitive) if you didn’t switch it off - rear only front stayed on , some owners made a toggle switch on the bars to switch front off as well . Unfortunately SWM May not be making the Superdual anymore due to euro 5 and the engine not being able to meet this."

[@buckenduro1211]

Looking to purchase the 300 if anyone has one, before I go a new one. I live near Coffs. Had plenty of trail bikes, yamaha's, gasgas's, honda's and Husky's, the SWM seems to have a nice power curve, which reminds me I also had a Sherco 300 4S which was way to powerful for me, I had to sell it. The SWM seems to have a linear power curve not a hard hit off the bottom end like the Sherco was. Edit > Put a deposit on a new one, arrives in November, there black and yellow now and they could have revamped the seat possibly. I'll keep you posted...

[@tomcooper4051]

I bought this bike as a complete beginner basically because of this review..... I've only had it a few weeks and I know nothing about motobikes really... First impressions I found it really forgiving of my kackhandedness .... Clutch blew within a few hours riding which I think is a known problem. The foot pegs and gear shifter are made of cheese and I've broken them too..I've also bent the rear brake.. lost the spring on it and the backstop thingy...but it still works so fuggit...I'm too heavy for the springs it came with... So I need too swap them out. I'm 6 3' and 110kgs so kinda obvious... I did an enduro course with a bunch of KTM guys and they did log jumps and hill climbs in second... I couldn't get out of first... Probably cos I'm crap though.. my mate managed everything on his 701 so I just need to practice.. overall I'm having so much fun on this bike...it will be a few years before I need to look at anything else... It's great for getting to spots and tight forest single-track... nothing is legal to ride here around Munich so it's a case of diving into bits of wasteland or forest which are clear of the usual forestry, hunters and police... And getting the fugg out before they show up... I wouldn't want to sit on the bike for more than an hour mostly cos of the gearing.... But that's a minor thing for me at the moment. I need to learn how to ride first.

[@markkus1134]

CROSS TRAINING ENDURO I guess I’ll keep my XR400 for now

[@ckgxxjacka1303]

I rode my brother's TE250r and I'm in love with the TE and SWM dirtbikes now XD

[@nomdeguerre13]

these bikes will be more than capable for 80% of the people out there if they are honest, but how many of us really are???

[@thenobleandmightybeaver4411]

The first SWM's have made their way to Canada to a dealership North of Montreal. I was getting ready to take a road trip, and my cheque book, to look at an RS300R but luckily the dealer was an honest/up front guy and let me know that Canada hasn't certified them for road use and he couldn't really estimate when they would be accredited as that was the job of the US importer (the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly here). This dealer also sells AJP and those bikes took some time to get fully accredited. I was disappointed at first because I really thought the RS300R would be an ideal bike for me. I ended up buying a 2010 Husqvarna TE250 this week with 3500km on it, the power up kit and ECU injector, plus all the off road protection kit you would need on a trail bike. I paid $4500 for it which is about half what I would have paid for a naked RS300R. The bike is in impeccable shape, the previous owner was a licensed mechanic, so it came safetied with a full tune up and all specs verified. I haven't taken it out on the trails yet because I can't plate it until next week, but I've mucked around on it in an old quarry near my house and so far so awesome. It is probably a good thing I can't ride it anywhere right now because I am limited to working on basic balance, clutch/gas and cornering skills which I have already seen decent progress in my technique (lot of room for improvement here).

[@TepcoCycleRepair]

I rode a 2008 Husky 510 for a while, it was a beast! I'd buy the SWM 500SM in a heartbeat if I ever saw one on the east coast US.

[@juiceboxleal6254]

Tepco Cycle Repair just found a dealer in NJ. Seriously considering buying it.

[@joshuabarahona7391]

@@juiceboxleal6254 what's the name of the dealer in NJ im located in NJ

[@juiceboxleal6254]

Joshua Barahona cycle house in forked river. Im not sure what they got left now because i heard the 2020’s shipments to USA are delayed or something.

[@markkus1134]

Sweet bike I’d buy one! I have a beautiful XR 400 street legal I’d sell and buy this!

[@gasparleite90]

@@markkus1134 The AJP 510 SM is also coming to the us if you want to buy this type of motorbike

[@Spoonersoutings]

From a Welsh man to a wicked Ozzy love all your videos and you have taught me a lot keep the videos coming 😉

[@JonColley]

Great review. I think that these bikes really have a place in the current market. While they may not compete with the current crop of small bore enduro weapons, they are priced right as a perfect entrance level bike, and may even suit some second hand buyers too. More power than a WR250 and Lighter than a DRZ400, and priced to sell. While the design is a little dated now, the 2017 model is a huge improvement in appearance over the 2016! Looking forward to your review of the 500!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

it is great to see, jon! i think the chinese will transform the market if and when they can get the quality control right, but in the mean time we've got AJP and SWM leading the charge.

[@EachAdventure]

Really cool! Hopefully they are able to get them over to the USA... it would be really nice to have a cheaper alternative to KTM, Husky and Beta.

[@eveRideRAW]

Man the drone shots REALLY add a lot to the vids! Great work Barry!

[@eveRideRAW]

Awe man I really wish they'd get the gear ratio right. Not many bikes have that "sweet spot" where you could technically tour on it, and then still rock technical trails.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

it is a shame, it's a good meaty engine that could pull a wider ratio of gears. it could just be geared up for dual sport riding but the moment you were offroad that steep first gear would become a problem. :(

[@maddude9650]

Great review mate ! I was Looking into this bike to re enter the world of riding after about 10 years off , and the Main reasons I'm leaning toward a wr250r instead was the gearbox ratios for dual sport adventure riding, Have also found No confirmation that the Larger safari or IMS tanks from the Huski 310's fit (I've read the plastics and mounting's are slightly different on the SWM? ) If SWM fix the gearbox aiming for the lowest first and tallest 6th and add a realistic tank then it'd be in my garage, ( that being said when asking SWM Australia directly about the bike all I got was typical marketing responses to real questions (dodge em)) , So we'll see how they go in the future hopefully they're small enough to fix the downsides now and actually take on the other way overpriced Euros, PS: do you have DRZ400 and WR250R reviews? Regards Mad

[@ABH313]

I'd love to see you guys test out the other bikes in the SWM line up. Even if its on your other channels. keep up the great work!

[@lolxd7150]

Very nice that you test a SWM! Great Video.

[@gab223334]

Sound good to me :) i have been following swm, ajp stuffs and they look like magic unicorns to me. Just what majority of people need!

[@dantodd1095]

Had a 2910 husky 510. Fantastic bike, only problem I had was a fuel pump which was my fault for running it dry. Was difficult to get another that didn’t cost an arm and leg but tracked some down eventually for a tenth of the price of what husky wasted and changed out myself. Only problem I ever had, was an awesome machine and would buy one of these in a heartbeat.

[@davidudy7863]

Bring the 02 wr 360 back to life .

[@rusty6314]

Imagine a 360 with electric start and a Smart Carb!

[@MarkMarti]

I own a SWM 650 Superdual since 2019. I do dual-sport. Awesome & reliable bike at a very attractive price. No issues at all. A no-nonsense, do it all bike. I would recommend AJP PR7, if off-road use is very intense (suspension:300 mm vs 220mm)

[@tequilamatze]

thanks for that impression! whatever may be the reason, but there's far too few attention on these swms. I ride the 2010 husky te 310 - this bikes ancestor. It's reliable, durable and has carried me through some tough extreme enduro shit incl. rumania. awesome bike, so if swm has kept that quality, these bikes should suit every average enduro rider

[@maershkinschrabs7597]

marcel ziemen do you find it to sit alot higher and be heavier than most other bikes?

[@petergriffin4629]

I think they aren't that known since they don't advertise them. There are no official Tests in the big magazines and they don't have a racing team

[@BeijingOffRoadAdventures]

I'm riding one of these at the moment, it's my first dirtbike and it's been a nice bundle of joy so far, although I have been having stalling issues with it at lower speed technical riding... I am yet to get the ECU remapped at the dealership.

[@Bush_Tucker]

Beijing Off Road Adventures no it is a swm issue they all run pretty rough down low on stock settings

[@osimnod]

If that isn't gnarly single-track, I don't want to know what is! Sounds like this bike hits a lot of sweet spots for the category it's designed for - modest off-road and some highway, too. Great review, Barry.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

thanks osimnod! we do have some gnarlier tracks but i didn't want to scratch their demo bike. :) it was a bit heavy for some of those bits but i just wanted to show it's still a very capable bike even if not quite a match for the most modern enduro bikes. :)

[@osimnod]

I appreciate your reviews, as they are tempered with real-life expectations and experience. Your transition from trials to enduro and adventure touring brings a wide level of practical uses to each bike. I'd like to think a majority of off-roaders wouldn't come close to what you put these bikes through. It would be helpful to see a comparo between the various 650s on the market - performance, reliability, ease of maintenance, manufacturer support, aftermarket accessories, etc.

[@EachAdventure]

I was thinking the same thing, LOL! Looked pretty gnarly to me...

[@andyblack5687]

I just heard of SWM the other day when Marc Reiner Schmidt put his on the podium of the first S2 supermoto race of this year. Thanks for reviewing the 300. I had a Kawasaki KLX300 many years ago and the engine lacked bottom end power but was great in more open 2nd and 3rd gear situations. The suspension had no adjustment for the rebound dampening and was terrible though. I think I'd like to try one of these SWM bikes if they ever become common here in the USA.

[@High94Rider]

True, he also finished first in the last two races.

[@thomasmusleh4049]

Did I ever tell you that I love your vids? Because I do. They are great.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

cheers thomas!

[@wooblebloc]

I’m considering getting the 500. I’ve had ktms yammys and Hondas and husky’s and as fun as they where they where more then what I need. I do ride hard but I’m no racer or out there to prove a point. I think the 500 will be perfect for me. I can still ride the guts out of it and not worry so much about service intervals or worry about rebuilds etc as much.

[@Jack2000xxx]

Did you end up buying one? How is it holding up? Maintenance is almost the same as a ktm husky etc, did you botice any difference?

[@wooblebloc]

@@Jack2000xxx yeah I bought one. Now getting rid of it. They go alright. But I have put 117km on it. Total of 310 and I have replaced a starter because the one on it stuffed up. Blown an intake manifold. Plastics changed to the husky plastics because the standard ones cracked after o dropped it. Changed the bars because the original bars kept moving. No matter how tight you do the clamp.

[@mikelyons7511]

3:15 I definitely would have been in that wash! Nice bike.

[@Danger_mouse]

Great effort on the review Barry. One small note to make re the clutch, while it is a little heavy, it is actually a Magura hydraulic unit rather than a cable.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

doh, i just remember looking at the bars and didn't see a master cylinder. i checked the usa specs and it mentioned the magura but the aussie specs didn't. i better put an annotation in the vid!

[@Danger_mouse]

CROSS TRAINING ENDURO SKILLS Certainly not the end of the world, it's not a life and death situation 😁 There is a cable there but for the decomp lever. 👍

[@bongodave13]

You are an outstanding rider, and a witty ambassador for our obsession. I ride a DR because I love doing it all. I consider it a real 50/50 bike. Street bikes bore me. I don't care if they can go 200 mph. I prefer challenging terrain to race track ass fault.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

same here dave, i've tried to get into road riding a few times but find it pales compared to offroad....

[@wayward03]

you really need some good twistie roads and a fun bike to make Street riding close. 100hp would be the minimum hahaha

[@justgjt]

Awesome unbiased review. Always look forward to your work. Only minus would be the size of the fuel tank. It would be bettor if it was closer to 10-12ltrs.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

the same for most enduro bikes hey? they make them for the racer when in reality i think 90% of riders aren't racing and would prefer 10L tanks!

[@papivale7775]

I have the SWM RS 500 R and Im soo happy with her, she has soo much power and a really good top speed (arround 140km/h) but for real enduro she feels a bit too heavy, you need to have balls to do hard Enduro because she smash your muscles, I find that her place is for trail or long distances soft enduro. Btw stickers were soo bad, come out at the second clean, thats the only bad thing I have to say of my loved bike 😍. Regards from Spain! Love ur videos and content.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

i would like to test that 500 too! it's a pity about the weight but then we have plenty of serious enduro models already, and very few bikes that sit between dual sport and enduro like this. and at this low price... :)

[@csbalazs01]

papivale hi mate, I’m planning to get a 500 vesion too in Spain (Andalucia)

[@Dontortellini3]

Do you still won it? How is the reliability, did you have to make an engine rebuild?

[@papivale7775]

@@Dontortellini3 I sold her two weeks ago, I even did Supermotard with her, really reliable engine and bike, no problems. She only overheated when I was doing really “extrem” stuff just like slipping the clutch all the time doing hard enduro at 40°. Not even the electro could safe her from that, besides that a great bike, but who wants to do that kind of riding with a 500 anyway🤷🏽‍♂️. I would recommend her definitely, but if you just like to ride really technical things and hard enduro, go for a300 2t. For all the other stuff the SWM is a great choice. Cheers.🤙🏾

[@Peccs91]

Or you could find a very lightly used Husky te310 like I did for $2,900 :)

[@Jackomightyb0y]

yes please do a review on the swm superdual! they're an unknown for me.

[@michele1342000]

I've seen a lot of serious dirt bike riders in Italy doing really well in races with these bikes I have not tried one yet but I've heard Very good things about them and I've heard that they are very similar to the great old Husqvarna te 310

[@High94Rider]

I got my self the 500 Supermoto: It''s a fuckin beast! Every single mile is a blast and especially the brakes are phenomenal! The gearbox is a little short ration indeed and the standart hydraulic clutch is a little mushy as well. Keep in mind overall these are really little downsides and you've got to be a bit picky to really be anoyed by them. The quality is good, the handling great and the engine incredibly powerful. If you're considering buying one of those at least try them! You won't be disappointed and buy it anyways! Ask me any questions you'd like Great review as well as the riding!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

i'd like to try the supermoto too. can't agree more, at this price who cares if the clutch isn't brilliant and the gear ratios are a bit narrow?

[@amotoguiomar]

before you buy the 500 did you try the 300? what can you say about the difference between power and weight? what kind of speed can you cruise comfortably? thanks!

[@trevornugent9680]

Great review mate. It's good that swm took on the husky models and are still selling them. I'd love to test ride one

[@crosstrainingenduro]

i like the look of their 650 adventure model too :)

[@csbalazs01]

Just waiting for my new RS500R in Andalusia, Spain

[@Hansengineering]

Those trails look *F-ing GNARLY* and the bike appeared to be handling them just fine.

[@StarbreakerGenX]

I so miss my Italian Husky!!

[@Lighted93]

that looks like murphy's creek tmcc land, that takes me back 10 years....

[@justgjt]

The Arrow does come with a Db killer insert. They must not have installed it when they lent it to you.

[@srrtbb]

Yup, I think I found my next dual sport! Ps. Wow, nice riding. I have a long way to go before I can ride like that! Not too many dealer near my area. But I found one!

[@andrejskamla9736]

I had a 2010 husky wr 125 2stroke. That was a horrible bike. I would never even think about buying anything somehow related to those old italian huskys... I was so happy when I sold that 2stroke husky. I had that husky since it was almost new, but it kept breaking down. I was maintaing the bike very well,but one day my clutch basket cracked and yet there weren't even any marks from clutch plates... Then ai was waiting about 2.5months for spare parts... Within few months my CDI unit failed... Swm? No thanks... Now I am riding a beta rr300 2015 and I love that bike. Such a sweet bike. That 300 2stroke feels amazing. I love that low end grunt power...

[@fleshpie2129]

how often does it needs oil change and oil filter changed? thank you

[@smithy356]

I've owned a RS300R (2016) from new and the quality of the bike is as good as anything out there. The only thing I would be critical of is the factory fuel map is a little lean and there is the occasional hesitation from idle... Nothing a remap wouldn't fix.

[@benpatt432]

I reckon if you buy this bike then put the oem husqvarna plastics on because the swm plastics don't look too good.

[@Danger_mouse]

Benpatt43 The earlier 2010 plastics should fit. Personally, I like the SWM ones with the new decals for 2017

[@glennalderton1313]

Geez I wish my mate had gone for one of these instead of a FE450. At 45 years and just getting into dirt riding there was no way I could talk him out of the 450 - the result, several injuries and he is now petrified of it (and no Baz, it was not as a result of my training techniques.....). I reckon it put him back at least 2 years in riding development. If only he had got over the "tiny penis" compensation and gone smart with a smaller, gentler, lighter bike......

[@crosstrainingenduro]

yep those big bore bikes can be killers for beginners glenn. if he insists on keeping it i wonder if he could remap it for a gentle response... and fit a G2 throttle tamer?

[@dirtmonkee13]

Glenn Alderton I'd agree that a 450 isn't a great choice for a beginner and it's too bad your friend couldn't get over not having a big bike but the 450cc engine still has a place for a lot of riders, especially in the western states of the US where desert riding/racing is the predominant form. I'd imagine it's similar in parts of Australia as well. Some races we have here have sections of the course that are across miles of wide open dried lake beds and every time you'll see 5-10 guys on 250/300/500cc 2 strokes pushing their bikes back to the truck with a seized or blown motor, some guys hit the kill switch every few seconds to lube the cylinder and this only slows them down even more compared to a modern 450 that can be held wide open for extended amounts of time without a failure. I personally have gone away from the 450s but I still appreciate what they can do. Also most people can only afford 1 bike and it is a good all around choice as they can handle a wide range of roles and terrain especially in the west.

[@nestserau]

Glenn Alderton You need to show him Graham Jarvis winning races on a 250 cc four stroke.

[@bobthebuilder2922]

It sounds like a good bike but i don't like the way those plastics look.... but you don't need plastics for riding. Nice vid!

[@bigglesthwaite]

Excellent, informative review. Thank you 👍

[@mickdundee5683]

Just a little late to comment on the vid but this may help someone, I learnt the hard way about what I thought was the best bike I'd ever owned. Husky TE 310 2010 has defective fuel pump in the fuel tank, so common a fault that they had been replacing them for years past warranty for free. After walking out of bush (over 5km each time up and down hills) I sold it and vowed never to go back. In saying that the 2011 model's fuel pump was supposed to be alot better but still failed on mine. Shame as it was so much fun in race map2, screamed like a 2t and pulled like a 4 in low revs, best suspension and brakes ever.. Then walking and pushing for hours :( Just hope they didn't have a box of those sitting around when the new guys moved in to the factory

[@crosstrainingenduro]

thanks for the heads up mick, i have been checking up on long term reviews and nothing about fuel pumps. it seems SWM have tidied up some problems with the older huskies which is good to see.

[@bifish101]

Hi love you're videos where did you do the test ride looks sick

[@agoose2511]

I'll keep my TM and my Vertemati thank you.

[@alexfrankl7861]

Most bikes these days are too hard core enduro focused , SWM are at least focused on building great trail bikes , my old 08 Husky 450 was a great trail bike , a refreshing break from my 300 2t when i just wanted a casual ride , now i have the swm superdual x , awesome bang for buck .

[@mikesimon9529]

Love to see the rest of them👍✌️😁

[@franckbrunie4759]

My best was my EFI 2012 KTM 500, that had less vibes than post-2017 models. Forks lower in the triple clamps for stability, long secondary transmission, and I could gently cruise at 100km/h while the very strong torque would accomodate most situations in 1st gear. My later 2019 501 has worse road manners and more vibes, but would be ok as well. The worst issue is that the engine lasts 10.000-15.000 km until major engine maintenance is (really) required, what is not so in larger dual sports. Mods, essentially a larger tank. Longer gearing if lots of straight roads. All the rest is optional, all other adaptations would focus on local offroad conditions. I finally chose a 701, put longer legs for better offroad, and I am happy. But yes, it requires a reasonable fitness level in rough terrain.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Did you actually do a major rebuild at 15000km, Franck? Which parts had worn out? If not raced there seem to be plenty of reports of 500EXCFs going quite a bit longer?

[@franckbrunie4759]

@@crosstrainingenduro On that bike, the only thing that broke was a bearing on the clutch basket (and of course the clutch rubbers that really need to be changed every 100 hours - no big deal) But the gear box seemed to need some care, finding more false neutrals, letting a bit more of metal shavings on the magnet. My thought is that the high secondary gearing put lots of load/strain on the gear box, especially 6th (?) Upper engine seems to be good for about 300-400 hours. All to be compared with my first dual sport, a 92 DR 350 that needed upper engine at 30.000km.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Cush drive hub? There's plenty of debate about how much protection a cush drive hub might provide for the drivetrain and transmission but it certainly makes things smoother on the road.

[@Thomas-wk5ll]

Thanks great video I can't seem to find how much torque this bike has

[@spamior00]

They should made 250 2t as well. Husky had cool 2t engine;)

[@David-my2tv]

Player One emisions! 😭 That's the main problem!

[@practicaladvmoto]

I am super interested in these bikes! I'll be very curious to see this 300 in the flesh, and the 650 especially! I want to give that AJP PR7 a go too when it reaches the US, if I were to build a bike, it would look a lot like that PR7. I like what SWM is doing with that 650 motor, putting it in a bunch of bikes (SWM, AJP, CCM) will mean more parts availability :)

[@biscuit3755]

PracticalAdventureMotorcycler I think the AJP may be available. I saw 2 guys riding them at a harescramble in GA last weekend.

[@practicaladvmoto]

the pr7? I know they have several other bikes that you can get right now, the PR3, 4, and 5

[@biscuit3755]

PracticalAdventureMotorcycler Im not very familiar with them so didnt catch which model they were.

[@Danger_mouse]

Kyle Brown Those older 650 Huskys were nuclear proof. The SWM version just saves you having to buy a used one, so you get a new know quantity bike with a warranty. 👍 Almost all of the previous Husky accessories fit straight on, from bash plates to racks and panniers etc.

[@thenobleandmightybeaver4411]

PracticalAdventureMotorcycler - The SWM's are available in the USA. The importer has a facebook page titled SWM USA or something close to that. Canada has just had the first models imported into a single dealership in Quebec. I was getting ready to take a road trip to look at an RS330R but luckily the dealer was an honest/up front guy and let me know that Canada hasn't certified them for road use and expected it would take 2 or 3 years for accreditation from the various provinces. This dealer also sells AJP and that's how long it took with those bikes. Point being, just make sure the bikes are fully road accredited in your state before you take the plunge.

[@Sirskibumsalot]

Seen the 300 and 500 in the states now in southern California selling for $ 3800.00 a month ago , I was wondering about them .....thanks for the review !

[@crosstrainingenduro]

great budget options, ski bum! i really hope they put wider ratio gears in soon though.

[@IcemanSam650]

Wow, great price!

[@Thomas-wk5ll]

Thank you great review I was just to go out to buy a Drz400 I will have to have a closer look.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

There still aren't enough of these around to get a good idea about long term reliability. We are concerned that a fair chunk of the engine is made in China. Is there much price difference?

[@Thomas-wk5ll]

@@crosstrainingenduro The dealer said that they are about the same cost They have some quality components but maybe resale won't Be as good

[@crosstrainingenduro]

My personal opinion is the SWM will be better if you are mainly dirt riding. For dual sport riding, definitley the DRZ. More low down grunt, proven reliability...

[@Thomas-wk5ll]

@@crosstrainingenduro Thanks again, I know one bike can't do it all, but the drz comes very close. I think for me it's going to be the Drz. Like you said " if you are going to be doing any touring " The salesman was just doing his job pushing the Swm , there must be a higher commission / mark Thanks again for your help and information 👍

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I'm sure the SWM would have a higher profit margin while they are trying to break into the market.

[@masterbeta343]

I feel like the husky 350 is a great dualsport one of my friends got it and made it street legal and it is super torky and he said he got it up to 100 mph

[@megapet777]

I got street legal beta rr 400 and it is really torque. Don't know the max speed, but I have gone like 125 km/h :p

[@deanthomas7839]

I'm in the market for an SM300R. Just wondering if you’ve ridden this model prior to exhaust upgrade and remap. I know you mention it in the vid as tamer but just wondering how the standard bike feels side by side compared to the upgrade

[@crosstrainingenduro]

haven't ridden one yet dean

[@reinisgailitis]

Hello! Wanted to ask - have you had a chance to test the RS500R? How would you compare the RS300R vs. RS500R in terms of abilities in enduro riding and on-road riding. The main question - can you ride the RS500R as good in the trails as you rode the RS300R? Is the weight of the RS500R really just a little bit more or does it really feel much more heavy? I'm interested in this because these bikes cost quite similar. Maybe you don't have your own experience on this subject, but maybe you know from your mates, or some other review you've seen. Thanks a lot. I'm considering these bikes for my first off-road bike here in Europe. I cannot seem to find any other alternatives that can also serve as road legal bike to ride to trails and sometimes to work (short distances). From new bikes only the Honda CRF300L and Fantic XEF 250 Trail come to mind in somewhat (actually quite cheaper) category. All the other more serious bikes will cost a lot more. Also, have you heard of any problems with reliability with these SWM bikes? Thanks, keep up the good work! I am using and will be using information on your channels to learn to ride trails and some trials techniques exclusively.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I never got to ride the 500, Reinis. I'm not aware of any serious long term issues, but then I haven't gone looking for them since making this vid. I think SWM were crazy keeping the same narrow range gear ratios on the 500.

[@reinisgailitis]

@@crosstrainingenduro Yes, from what understand the transmission gear ratios are exactly the same, the only difference is primary and secondary gear ratio, which are lower on the 500, meaning, it has a higher top speed, and, probably, due to the higher engine torque somewhat similar acceleration performance (I assume).

[@CaptainLicorice]

I looks like you were Barry interested at 0:13 HAHA GET IT IM SO FUNNY OMG

[@JoeJoeMoto]

Seems pretty cool, but as a personal thing, I would buy one of the Euro bikes that is just a year or two old for the same price.

[@1969cmp]

JoeJoe Moto It is a European bike. Made in Italia.

[@tylernicholson5319]

It's Chinese-German-Swedish-Italian! Chinese funding, rebadged Husqvarna (Sweden), built in Italy in a shop that was formerly owned by BMW (Germany). What a pedigree.

[@1969cmp]

I reckon this could be good for Finke, if you just want to get there and back in one piece.

[@slavomir8045]

The Husqvarna in SWM colors 🙂

[@lzn1996]

In my country they are twice the price of exc 300 ,srs

[@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953]

I suspect a large portion of the added purchase price of the top shelf bikes will be recouped upon resale. So how much are you really saving with these cheaper bikes?

[@Harvieowen]

WANT! I could not afford it when it was a new Husky but now..........if I can find one here in the U.S. doable it is.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

looks like they'll be there soon harvie!

[@tezzanewton]

Ha, Two months ago I bought a 2017 Husky 350. It's a incredible bike and really makes me a better rider, I'm just an old plonker. I really love my bike but if I'd heard of SWM before I purchased my bike then maybe I would have made a different decision.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

the husky is much lighter but of course if you are just doing flowing open tracks then weight doesn't matter much, terry :)

[@issaacxxx6202]

I didn't know they still made swm's!

[@silvertopenduro2703]

Ive been riding a TTR 250, and loved it ecxept was wishing for just a" little more torque" I did own a CRF 450x and Hated the snappy onset of power, prefer a tractor bike, Is the 300r good at low revs?. Liking what I am seeing in the SWMrs300r, May be just what I was wanting. Barry when are you looking at reviewing the SWM 500? as that would be my next choice or a DRZ400! only cause I would like something that I don't have to flog to ride around the 100 - 110 klm mark!! Thanks for the review, great job. Silver Top - Dougie

[@CaptainLicorice]

I've been very interested In SWM and AJP. It seems they are chasing light/middleweight ADV bike style. In your vid about lightweight Adv bikes you talk about the husky 610/630 and I believe the SWM Superdual is the husky engine in a beefed up frame but still semi light. I thinks it is everything you wanted, I know Im going to keep my eye on it

[@crosstrainingenduro]

it does look like a great option, keen to ride one!

[@DueQuattroRuote]

Very good bike and test

[@kaynehoran4144]

love your bids man could you make some trials technique video's

[@crosstrainingenduro]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJeafaaVor92qZY

[@Bush_Tucker]

All the parts and machining is all done in china to keep the price low but it is assembled in italy, these bikes are great for beginners riders but are often not reliable long term

[@crosstrainingenduro]

do we know that for a fact yet though? they haven't been out long term yet.... i think it's a question of quality control. most of our high end electronics are made in china now and it depends on who is monitoring the quality. same with ktm getting some bikes made in india, if the quality control is there everything will be fine.

[@wayward03]

That Aussie Bloke what I read was that the plastics and seats and such are made in China, while the engine and other non brand name parts ( brembo,kyb, exel) are made in Italy and all assembled in Italy. like Barry said it's all about the QC as it's all machine built so country of origin doesn't matter all that much anymore. good quality Western Civilization stuff is crazy expensive if it's not done by a robot.

[@Bush_Tucker]

Matthew Way im not sure i work at a dealer for them and we've had so much trouble with the reliability side of things such as bikes coming in with problems such as faulty regilator rectifiers leaky fuel tanks just small stuff but so much weve decided to stop dealing them in time though they could be a great brand

[@crosstrainingenduro]

thanks for the heads up, aussie bloke. before posting the review i did a search to see if anyone was reporting consistent faults and i'll keep an ear out if things like this are widely reported.

[@nomad_lad]

Been riding road bikes for years and big heavy advs on trails... considering getting one of these to improve my skills on the bigger bikes... good idea? Or 500?

[@albijohnson]

Thank you for this great review. I know it’s several years old now but wanted to ask if you believe changing the sprockets would be a viable option for more comfortable highway riding? Thanks again

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Hard to say, Alex. Narrow range gearbox so first gear would end up being very high...

[@garijarmany465]

Hi mate I have an RS300 I use for occasional dualsport. I run a 15 front sprocket and rear 50. The standard is is 13 50. It does 90kmh at about 8500rpm. Off-road first is a bit to high and needs a lot of clutch work. You could gear it with a smaller rear sprocket and have similar on road performance to KLX or CRFL but have better offroad performance with respect to torque, suspension and brakes.

[@nvmcrider8475]

Too bad they screwed up the gear ratio's, otherwise sounds perfect. The 6 gears on my 2015 wr250f are very well spaced, 1st is plenty low and it will still do over 80 in 6th and I weigh 210 pounds.

[@mcal9320]

Recently figured out your ADV handle...

[@crosstrainingenduro]

and trials.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJeafaaVor92qZY

[@cHaotix210]

Love you vids. Can you make a review on klx140g? Thanks 😊

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Glad you are enjoying the vids, Kylin! But we won't fit on anything under 250cc normally. kzbin.info/www/bejne/enO3hKRuhMmKf8U

[@bbmontando901]

muy buen video como siempre, pero me pregunto si ese motor no es el mismo de las husqvarnas del 2009/2013. yo tenía entendido q la patente fue comprada por gasgas, supongo q se la comprarían en 2015 cuando estuvo la empresa en concurso de acreedores....

[@crosstrainingenduro]

it is the same engine. but as mentioned in the vid, they have made slight changes.

[@bigglesthwaite]

Hi, thanks for the video. What do you think of the Swm rs300r as à base for a lightweight adventure bike? I’m thinking of buying one...

[@crosstrainingenduro]

this info pretty much sums it up. there's also the link at the end...

[@jack_petersen_2005]

I noticed you got the bike from towmooba bike and bitz I also saw you had a video at towoomba motorcycle club, I live in this area and was wondering if you ride this area a lot could you recommend any places to ride in this area?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

toowoomba motorbike club has a riding park nearby. not sure what else is out that way though.

[@KingCast65]

2:40 that's aggressive enough for me at 56, thank you. I can *PROBABLY* go further faster on it than my DT250 ya think? Still keeping the DT of course.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Well a DT250 is an unfair advantage of course, Chris.... a secret weapon!

[@KingCast65]

@@crosstrainingenduro Well, duh. And if I can just get wait for them to come around and start to lap me I'll poison them with Castrol smoke, unlap and come back FTW kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKuan5R7pcxkg8U

[@markdecalmer2252]

Thanks for the great vids & the effort you put into them. I know you don't give recommendations, but maybe you or another reader could suggest the better option for an old fart gumbie wanting the closest to a Xtrainer / Trials bike - Considering a New Honda CRF 250L or older Sherco 2014 250 SEF-R or new SWM RS300R. My thoughts are the Honda is to heavy, maybe also the SWM with the Sherco possibly the pick, but I'm clueless.

[@Zefffiros]

It is very nice motocycle, but: there is no service, no spare parts available. I have bought this motocycle in Poland and I can't fix it :(

[@koczownik]

Zbyszek Zefiros did anything change in the last year? Why did you have to fix it? What about service at the dealership? Thanks for info.

[@aaronsanchezz]

U gotta use husqvarna parts. Just search te310 should all work.

[@hadrianhaine5204]

please do check the other bikes it their range

[@rorywilliams9702]

Where was this vid shot?

[@jonathondavis170]

Love your channel and vids! Subscribed a few months ago. Watching from the ole U.S. of A. - do you know what the capabilities are for the SWM RS500R with Arrow exhaust and "racing" map? Is there any other pipes available? Is it fun enough for a 107kg man intermediate or "B level" rider to scoot around in the Pacific Northwest in Cascade mountains touching Canada? I really love torque!!!!! Lol I own a 2020 Husqvarna TE150i and 2019 TM EN300ES currently. Thanks. These look like they'd be a great 4 stroke addition to my 2 stroke dirt bike family - additionally it is extra cool to me because the original designer supposedly is with SWM, and he made the updates to the bike like the KYB Forks and Mikuni fuel injection...it' like buying a NOS vintage that's been enhanced/updated. It freaking rocks with the looks, parts...just wanted to know how much fun I could squeeze out of that big bore engine? Maybe could add a Vortex/GET/other ignition and electronic controllers?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

We haven't ridden the 500 and don't know much about it. One thing to factor in is they kept the same narrow range gearbox of the 300. 😢 We found it a bit annoying on the 300, it might be really annoying on the 500, depending on your riding style. It's a fair bit heavier than the 300 too, which wasn't that light to start with. You might love it though... probably need a test ride to be sure.

[@jonathondavis170]

@@crosstrainingenduro I was planning on using it strictly as a dirtbike if the engine had some juice, eliminating all of the extra weight from the dual sport/road accesories, installing things like a Flexx handlebar, GPR Steering damper, top of the line wheel set from dubya, Boyesen anti-fatiguing grips, arc levers for Maura clutch, Raptor footpegs etc. I really would like to make it something special to appreciate the heritage of this line of bike. I heard when it was TE510 it had a decent amount of power, and this supposed to be an increase with the correct map and fuel injection. They say on the website that it is rated at 38Kw or roughly 50 HP...I imagine that is at the crank and not rear wheel power...so I'm guessing probably 32Kw for rear wheel or more...or maybe 42-45 Rear Wheel Horsepower - which is honestly more than enough with the gobs of torque people have said the engine produces. I seen it complete in top ten as the BMW dirt bike model in like 2008 or 2009 Romaniacs behind Jarvis so it must be something decent. Just wanted to know your thoughts...did the 300 get remapped with their "racing" map in conjunction with the arrow? Was the 300 playful enough for you power wise to own? I heard they have many different maps to play with or download/flash as well as of 2020? Anywho, thanks for answering my questions. I'd love to go to Australia again! You truly live in paradise, my friend. I was only able to visit Perth and surrounding areas for 10 days, but I had a blast surfing and diving over at Rottnest Island I believe was the name and spelling of it? Surfed Radar reef, Scarborough reef, Chicken Reef, and there were a few other areas on and off the island. You are a beast of a rider too...you aussies are tough people. It was a joy to serve alongside your military, as I met some very admirable and courageous men, soldiers, and sailors of your country while serving in the middle east and in the South Pacific. 💪💪💪

[@crosstrainingenduro]

All the best with it, Jon! Can't really answer those questions as pretty much all our thoughts went into the two existing video reviews. Yeah we are proud of most of our soldiers, although like any country we get a small percentage of rotten eggs. They are investigating a few cases of summary executions of unarmed civilians by our special forces at the moment (they might be innocent of course, but we've certainly had a small number convicted over the years).

[@bradb9146]

Great video ! Thanks 4 sharing . Wonder if I can get an swm in the states ? = )

[@crosstrainingenduro]

check their website brad, it looks like it will be soon. :)

[@lesterma1608]

Nice review

[@markmtbrider]

little info here in the usa. 2018 maybe.

[@endurolarm4662]

this bike looking good

[@fishermanofthesouth4112]

I just started riding dirtbikes and woods riding last year. I have a crf150f and was wanting to know if anyone could tell me a good brand of chains and sprockets I have had trouble with mine in the past stretching. a lot if anyone could tell me it would be much appreciated.

[@fishermanofthesouth4112]

Thanks and yea I had the chain adjusted correctly it just stretched a lot. My dad road a lot back in the day and he said he never saw one that did that

[@justinf6758]

fisherman of the south steel sprockets really help and get an o ring or x ring chain. They cost a little more but last longer

[@jonnoMoto]

fisherman of the south chains don't stretch, they wear out, especially at the rollers. an o or x ring chain is vastly more durable and require less maintenance

[@powdermnky007]

for those of you with bigger bikes... these are beastly. dirttricks.com/

[@mrktm068u]

Hi mate. would love to see a review on the new 2017 sherco 3002t factory if possible as one of my local moto shops deals in the smw & sherco i love the look of the sherco but cant find any good reviews on them as you would do

[@crosstrainingenduro]

we did a review two year back jimmy, i doubt we'll get a chance to do the more recent models any time soon. :(

[@CheradenineZakalwe]

They are very good bikes and being 2nd choice after ktm/husky 300exc by many local competitors.

[@mrktm068u]

well i think you's have sold me im getting a factory 300 2t as they'll be in next week as i sold my 2014 husky 300 had nothing but trouble with it & really want another bike also found out about the rush adventure tours is doing the rush rumble trail bike rally in june & sherco will be there if any one is keen to look in to it more. keep up the good work with the vids

[@crosstrainingenduro]

starter motor issues, jimmy? the huskies and katos are generally very reliable except for the 2T starter motors until redesigned for 2017.....

[@mrktm068u]

yeah the starter was rat .... subframe kept splitting apart at the air box & suspension needed respring all round just ended up saggy & to soft over time even had the shop tighten the rear spring up but didn't last & found the front a little to soft for me when i brought the bike new

[@derpechvogel126]

SWM RS 300 R, Arrow Mapping, stock exhaust. Thats enough

[@carmane2894]

Basically a husky TE310?

[@dublinbikereire]

Hi barry love you're videos👌🏻,,anyway I just got a 2004 crf 250 x for on and off road,i was just wondering how do you rate them?,,thanks

[@crosstrainingenduro]

haven't ridden one or even seen one... unlikely to as well. they can''t be registered so can't be used in our state forests. :(

[@dublinbikereire]

No way thats nuts ha I thought you'd seen it all,thanks anyway bud 👍

[@l17vi47]

can you travel on this bike? I have to travel 500 km to buy it and I would like to bring it back on foot. will it hurt the engine if I carefully go low RPM?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

You could gear it very high and cruise back at 100kmh. But it is a relatively high performance bike and it just gets you closer to the next engine rebuild. No damage, it will just be wear and tear for unpleasant riding on a highway with that hard seat. I'd be trying to transport it.

[@l17vi47]

@@crosstrainingenduro So it is a motorcycle that works by wear (hours) and not by kilometers, is that right? Likewise, my idea is to reduce the drag ratio to force the engine less

[@crosstrainingenduro]

No easy answer to that, some things will wear fast on extended highway riding, others won't.

[@l17vi47]

@@crosstrainingenduro thank you!

[@garijarmany465]

Hi mate I have a SWM RS300 and have ridden it a decent amount on road. The sweet would kill you on 500km journey but definitely doable. I used to follow a bloke in China that dual sported an RS300 and he had 9000km on it with no issues. 60% on road. Hope that helps.

[@SawyerKnight]

I ride a DR650 given that fact, Will I Be able to ride this?

[@MattPerry]

Yes, but choose the 500 or 650

[@chillvibes365]

where can I get one? or how? thanks,great vid by the way

[@crosstrainingenduro]

probably from an swm dealer, neo. if there are any in whichever country you are living in. :)

[@maershkinschrabs7597]

I am new to riding dirt bikes in my late 20s and still yet to get my first bike. Ive only ridden a few different bikes so i wouldnt know much. Someone i know well has a husqvarna 2012 te310 and it is the one i have ridden most (in my little experience) and it appears to be of a similar make to this swm . What i have noticed is that though it is only 310 the actual bike itself sits alot taller (like unneccesary) and weighs alot more and feels alot less nimble than even the 450s(wr,crf) ive come across.... what does this have to do with? Is it in a different category of dirt bike to standard enduro? Or am i just misinformed/imagining things ?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

the weight and other aspects of the SWM were all discussed in this vid, maershkin... with further comments in another vid that was linked at the end of this one.

[@maershkinschrabs7597]

CROSS TRAINING ENDURO SKILLS thank you for the response much appreciated. Glad you cleared up the weight on them because it was confusing me quite a bit those decieving buggers lol.

[@porter5877]

Anyone on these comments got one? And if so how they hold up millage wise? Anyone got over 10k miles?