Hi there all,
not logged in for a bit, yes, I had stepped off the old xr600 hondas for quite a few years back in the day. Heavy tractors they were, but capable if you could ride them.
Was at work one day back in 2001, a guy had a husaberg and invited me out to test ride it in the forest on one weekend.
I remember reading about husabergs many years ago in magazines, only for the skilled competent racer, aggressive race bike was about all I remember.
Anyway, I threw the leg over this husaberg for the first time , started it , rode it, played on it and could not believe this thing had power like I could of only dreamed of, and light as well, it would stand up on the back wheel in deep loose sand ruts, rev and just keep making power going up through the gears, the hair stood up on the back of my neck, heart rate up , unbelievable...
Upon returning the bike, I was so excited, never seen power like that out of a 4 stroke before, the guy said that was nothing, and switched a control on the bars(ignition timing switch) and said try it now...my god! , it then made heaps more of endless power, and right up till it sounded like it was going to blow. That my friends was a FC 600 2000 model.
Now highly addicted, that following week, I purchased the first 2000 FE600 that came up for sale....... And that my friends was, the start of my husaberg union, back in early 2001. Now that bike was something else, it would accelerate next to 2 stroke bangers at 3000 rpm just short shifting, bliss at last. On single trail on open sections, when that thing hit hard pack clay ground where it could get traction, which was from 4 gear upwards, it was frightening, the acceleration and speed it would produce in and out of trees, you always had a healthy respect for it. There was one time banging through gears up a climb on forestry tracks the bike just started leaving the ground over rises, and just kept making power, a little daunting and I backed off it, it was a racehorse wanting to go... But in the early days of owning these racetrack ready bikes came a learning curve in the high level of Maintenace of frequent oil changes, and other items that needed attention, expensive learning curve for me, after the maintenance free honda.
Next on the plate, in 2004 I inspected the new 550FE, all my buddies said to keep away from those bikes, they are unreliable, well, on inspection I could see many improvements over the 2000 FE600, all the bits n bobs were updated and fixed. I was willing to take the risk and purchased the FE550 2004.
While the 550 was a bit gutless power wise compared to the old FE 600 , it steered better, electric start, and after many many hours of tweaking the bike and my riding style, that 550 was awesome for me, setting the suspension right with the correct weight springs, I was able to get that bike to turn exceptionally well for a big bike, appeared so balanced and sure footed in its sweet spot, short shifted it and it was fast in the tight stuff, with heaps for open fire trails.
In fact, on one a country enduro meeting I entered, I turned up and let it rip on the first opening lap on a track, that was marked out but not cut in, or sighted, to my surprise I was awarded the fastest opening lap on the uncut in track on the 550 out of all the riders.
After a year of having a go at racing a bit of enduro, I decided to offload the bike, everyone was paranoid about the engine's life expectancy back then.
After selling I looked about and could not see anything that was suitable for me to ride, and I dearly missed the 550. That was when I seen another low hour 550 come up for sale. I jumped at it right away.
After about 700+ hours on the second bike, 2004FE550, it was still running the original valves, piston ,etc, it proved to be one of the most reliable bikes I had owned, so long as you kept up with some of the key items for engine maintenance like cam and cam follower bearings and so forth. I t just kept on giving. The carbi set up was outstanding, never faulted, always kept the bike idling very easy to start if tuned right. In fact, I never run a kick starter, I removed it, was always in the way when trying to turn on the choke.
I have ridden a 2009 450FE, I must say it didn't do it for me, no grunt down low, different characteristics, and handling, however on tight muddy ground over Slippy tree roots and rough ground, I would say that would be at home there.
Rode the 2008 650FE , found it didn't turn as nice as my old 550, had very tractable smooth but fast acceleration and went well, I must say the 550 had a nice hard hitting mid-range compared to the 650, the 550 would not be far behind in acceleration compared to the 650 I would say at a guess, but last top end the 650 would win I would say.
Last one!! Purchased a 2014 FE501, took 20 hours of riding to just get used to it, 60 hours of riding before I was at home with it, after the 800+ hours riding the 550. This damn thing used to flame out all the time on me, I had to change my riding style, no more big bottom end bang like the 550 and fuel injection now. This bike handled the best so far, less grunt made it easier to ride, everything was just right, it would throw into corners, change direction fast, next level riding, the suspension was outstanding in its standard form for me also. In fact, I still have it!
There was this one Husaberg once, I had a go on, think it was a 2008, well it was to start with. This bike was highly modified in all aspects, it was by far the most powerful husaberg I have ridden and privileged to take for a quick run. It was incredibly light and narrow, turned very well, and the suspension was all modified as well.
Winding the throttle on from idol, in any gear, it would just tear the ground to bits, you had to click up a few gears and it would continue on tearing the ground to bits searching for traction leaving a deep trench on any ground, it was a monster of a bike !!! That one was- Bushmechanics 700 Husaberg...... A true tyre shredder, with power to spare, ha ha.
Regards,
Enginenumber
Could you please elaborate? What makes it so good?
