Husqvarna SMS 630

SMS 630 The Gentlemans Motard – First NEW motorcyle I have owned in 36 years of riding.3000 kms so far. Build quality is good ,to very good.Plastics are good grade, fit well. Maintenance is easy ,and design is well thought out. I.E. I got a rear wheel puncture. Removal of the wheel is about as simple as it could be, with few parts to lose or drop.If you have ever seen how many pieces fall on the floor from a Norton Comando rear wheel assembly... Well it's lots !

Handling is massively good. Puts a smile on your face within the speed limit. The bike tips into corners very easy. I havent managed to scrap the pegs...Yet.. It goes over a long way. The back wheel will slide if you provoke it. But is responsive to throttle control. I have lost the front a coulple of times. But have been able to save it. By dabbing my foot and flicking the bike back into line.Rear brake is useful for controlling the exit from corners.A slipper clutch is available, to help with corner entry, should you decide to make the bike a bit more focused. Braking from the 4 piston Brembo Radial Caliper is ... Plenty.. Endo's easy as pie.The bike is a bit overweight.At around 150kg....For a motard.... But it has to carry pillion accommodation,and other bits and pieces, that a competition motard doesn't, such as (decent) road lighting etc. The mainbeam is a bit diffused .But it is a proper projector jobbie. Not a cheapo enduro setup.

Power is not as much as I hoped for. But the engine wont need the top end rebuilding after 10000 km's like a competition motard. These motors are supposed to be good for at least 60000km's before needing any real cash spent on them. Hence it makes a bit less power, hence it revs to 8500rpm,... instead of 10500rpm,like a competition motard does.

The engine is strangled by emission regs, and the need to map it to run on just enough petrol to keep it going.Sometimes it just plain cuts out on the overrun, not enough fuel to keep it ticking over properly. Changing the exhaust and remapping the motor should see a useful increase in fun !!

I have seen 176kph on the speedo. I little more to come. But I was flat on the tank... given it....everything.Yes, of course I was on a track day. Not public roads...

In normal use the engine is smooth up to around 110kmh. Vibes start after that. But its not as bad as the KLR650 I used to own and heaps better than a KTM .It doesn't send my hands completely number in a few Km,s(I have carpel tunnel problems) It will cruze happily at 130 kmh two up.Conditions allowing.

Wheelies are pretty easy on this bike. But you need skill . You cant just relie on a big hump of horsepower, like I used to on a Fireblade (for instance).You got to use the low range torque to hook it up in first (second if you have the knack) . Then get up through the gearbox to keep it there. I'm not too great shakes at this particular type of mischeif. But a wheelie person could ride this bike on the back wheel till it ran out of petrol !!

If you like circle work you will be pleased to know that can it spin up the back wheel no problem. I haven't taken it further than that yet. I got to wait until the tyres up for replacement. Then I will give it a proper test. I am good at that type of mischief!! Feet up, nice and smooth !!

The gearbox is one of the best I have ever used. Up or down, clutchless changes are absolutely seemless, if you get them right. If you get them wrong, well it's a bit clunky, like a normal road bike. But you can get it right most of the time.

The clutch is light and progressive. But selecting neutral can be very hard at the lights. It's hydraulic, and I can't get any more adjustment out of it. It hasn't improved in 3000km's .The Neutral light was a bit unreliable to start with. But has become a compulsive liar as time goes by ! Once the bike clicked itself into gear while on it's sidestand , while I was next to it. Luckily it stalled the motor before it drove the bike off the stand.

Bike came with Pirelli Diablo Corsa tyres. Back one is 2/3rds gone in 3000 km,s front shows little wear. They are O.K. I will be looking for something with better edge grip... if I can find it.

One thing i'm not impressed with is the chain run, and tensioners that Husky use. The problem that I see with it is this.

The lower roller guide, mounted on the swingarm, holds the chain over an angle as the suspension compresses. I know this because I removed the rear linkage, and manually raised the rear wheel through its range of movement. As the sprokets pass alignment with each other, and the swingarm pivot, should be the tightest point for the chain tension.

However, as you continue to raise the wheel,the bottom chain run fouls the top of the lower tensioner and is held with an apex angle formed between the rear sprocket ,the tensioner, and the front sproket. If you tension the chain like Husky tell to. You will put a big strain on your gearbox output shaft and bearing if you heavily compress the rear suspension.Like from a jump landing Or if you are grossly overweight, or just big and tall, and haven't adjusted the suspension I run some extra slack in the chain to avoid this. But I really should reposition the lower tensioner to properly fix the problem.

I get 200km to 220 km on 10 liters of fuel. My wife is happy to go pilloin on this bike. But I am small, 80 kg,and she is tiny ,50 kg. Its no Goldwing but you can go a tankful before you really start to feel uncomfortable.

I recommend that you buy one of these bikes if ...

You want a well made, good quality product.

That has a lot of what a motard is supposed to be about. I.E. big smile factor . A 630SMS can wipe up a lot of big sports bikes (if well ridden, on an appropriate road, with lots of tight twists and turns etc)

But can carry two(smallish)people, in reasonable comfort. Doesn't vibrate your fillings out. Wont need a high level of maintainance.

But is a little overweight (for a motard) and not as barking mad to ride as a motard is supposed to be.

Thats why I christen it.... The Gentelmans Motard.....

I hope you found this useful. I have had a lot of bikes in my time. I have raced them here and there,with some success. I know how to push a bike hard. I also have been a mechanical engineer for many years. Everything that I mention in this review I fell well qualified to pass on to you. Well made. Good Quality Parts.. Brembo, Marrazoochi ,Saches etc(sorry about the spelling! ) Reliable so far, Good at more than being a Motard. Neutral light is unreliable. Clutch Drags. Chain tensioners are not quite right. (see article) Fuel injection is set to lean from factory ,to compile with emissions regs I think.. Not as single minded or focused as a Motard is meant to be.