Almost bought my first Husaberg today!!

Hey all,
Am new to this site , seriously considering Husaberg and am really enjoying all the great imput and info available to help make the big decision. Been orange before orange was cool (gettin'old I guess) and am ready for new trail bike after 2 years without one. Love the very nasty single track and avoid fire roads at all cost, must be all the years of trials which by the way have been super enjoying my Montesa 4rt.
My closest Berg dealer has an '05 450 about a grand under '06 and almost came home with it but thought I'd ponder the 400 ecx vs. FE 450 debate in my melon till I go nuts. Never having ridin the 450 I am just going on feedback from this sight and a little showroom riding which impressed me. Everything about the bike seems to way make sense but am stricken with fellow 400 exc riders telling me I am blowing it and the obvious newbie concerns (needs to excel at slow technical without stalling tendencies etc. etc etc.). Also may just go for the '06 but am not rolling in dough unless it's worth it. I guess I just need a major go for it roost from the believers out there so let it rip!! Nice meeting you all. Appreciate all comments and am looking so forward to being "experienced".

Brad
Butte and Plumas County , Northern, Ca

I have riden an 05 ktm 400 EXC and it is a nice bike. it is no way the Husaberg Fe450e .......you won't notice it till about 15-20 hours on your new berg but the Fe450e has much more bottom end torque then the 400 EXC does.

with it's wide ratio six speed tranny, the berg is very fast with lots of top end speed potential, for tight stuff you'll want to drop a tooth up front or aadd two in the back like I did. i ride it in all stuff tight nasty and open The Husaberg is the lightest E start 450 bike on the planet lighter then the KTM's by 2 lbs according to dirt rider's 24 hr review last march.

the berg is the Short stroke king with a bore/stroke ratio of 1.79. that 400 exc is known as the KTM short stroke bike but Berg has it beat in that department. the berg power is very linear.. wide powerband electric sewing machine smooth....only hit it has is that first 1/8 throttle bottom end torque you don't find till after the bike breaks in.

I didnt have enough time on the 400 exc to compare the two bikes more. the berg suspension and handling is superb.......the ride is smooth and excellent. what is amazing to me is although its a good E starter, I like to knwo I can kick start my bike. This husbaberg has some auto decompression thing going and the dealer told me it was easy to start . I'm telling you left side kick and all Its a Firts kick everytime starting bike. I love kick starting it cold or hot and seeing my friends faces when it starts firts kick every time.

the seat is soft and good and the gripper is awesome, the bars and clutch are magura with the lightest clutch pull made in heaven.

go for the Fe450E feel the 4 stroke Force of Husaberg!

Thanks BigBob,
Just what I wanted to hear, Just felt right and seems to fit perfect with just having only a chance to sit on it. Seat height perfect and not top heavy at all. Decided against TE 450 due to tall seight height and more weight. Any thoughts '05-'06 other than cost? Hey by the way--your'e not that far away, you must ride Foresthill. I ride Plumas and Lassen county stuff above Oroville and Paradise.
Thanks again.

I was in the same boat trying to decide between an '05 and an '06 (FE 550), with the '05 being about a grand cheaper.

I went with the '05 as they are basically the same bike save the '06 cosmetic updates, which are nice but not 1000 nice. Both have the 12 month warranty. I couldn't be happier. My bike sat at my dealer on the floor for the whole year before I bought it last month. If I had known it was so good, I'd have bought it sooner.

Cota,

There you have it, enough said!

Go out and by the bike that meets your desire and we will look forward to your first ride report sometime after next sunday..... Merry Christmas!

Regards,

Yup you hadn't mentioned that you like sitting on the bike. The Husabergs have their famous ride feel to them. Something about the ergos and that seat and the pegs. It just draws you into the bike so you are part of the bike. That is a true difference between husberg and any other bike like the KTM 400, the berg is a great feel good riding bike.

It rips at Foresthill, though they have had many trails shut down due to logging for two more years, I bought the bike for FH because I found my 510 was not lots of fun on those red dirt bermy twisty turny trails. The Te-510 was great fun at other woods places but something about many Fh trails that the 510 was too powerful on.

The Fe450e is 9 lbs lighter then my TE-510 and it dances thru the bermy trails at Foresthill like an MX bike so flickable and easy light fun.

I bought the 06 because I like spending $1000 on the blue fender and blue tank......and 06 radiator has pre drilled holes for mounting a husaberg cooling fan I like that for summer heat and tight trails. The 06 tank is different with the pour opening offset from center to reduce splash back when you fill the gas in. My 06 did have some tire rub on the pipe with the stock tire. No reports of that with the 05 models as they changed the pipe mounts some in 06. I simply shimmed my pipe off some to fix that rub.

Yup sitting on the bike at the shop is what did me in too. Wait till you ride it....so good, and different then the KTMs.. a Husaberg is a Husaberg..then wait again till after 15 hours then it wakes up down low.

bigbob said:

Yup you hadn't mentioned that you like sitting on the bike. The Husabergs have their famous ride feel to them. Something about the ergos and that seat and the pegs. It just draws you into the bike so you are part of the bike. That is a true difference between husberg and any other bike like the KTM 400, the berg is a great feel good riding bike.

It rips at Foresthill, though they have had many trails shut down due to logging for two more years, I bought the bike for FH because I found my 510 was not lots of fun on those red dirt bermy twisty turny trails. The Te-510 was great fun at other woods places but something about many Fh trails that the 510 was too powerful on.

The Fe450e is 9 lbs lighter then my TE-510 and it dances thru the bermy trails at Foresthill like an MX bike so flickable and easy light fun.


I bought the 06 because I like spending $1000 on the blue fender and blue tank......and 06 radiator has pre drilled holes for mounting a husaberg cooling fan I like that for summer heat and tight trails. The 06 tank is different with the pour opening offset from center to reduce splash back when you fill the gas in. My 06 did have some tire rub on the pipe with the stock tire. No reports of that with the 05 models as they changed the pipe mounts some in 06. I simply shimmed my pipe off some to fix that rub.

Yup sitting on the bike at the shop is what did me in too. Wait till you ride it....so good, and different then the KTMs.. a Husaberg is a Husaberg..then wait again till after 15 hours then it wakes up down low.

Click to expand...

Bob, does the new tank completely eliminate the backflow when adding gas? I do admit that I have not mastered adding gas without making a mess on my '05. Even pouring really slow, it spills over.

Yes, no splash back filling with 06 tanks. I can get the fill hose down about an inch and pointing over to the right inside of the tank and can fill it quickly without splash back till like the last spit of gas then you need to be careful

Hi Cota,

go and buy the Husaberg, I think you won´t repent it. The ´05 is a good deal.
No need to say more.
And welcome to the club. :wink:

greetings
hribman

Cota

I went through the same dilemma in july this year, people telling me i must be nuts to even think about buying a Husaberg. Went for a ride on my friends ktm 450, very nice bike but £1600 more than the berg.
I talked to a guy that done the ISDE on 450 and he won a silver medal. One thing he said that stuck in my head was that the Husaberg is different but people in general don`t like to be different so they slag it off instead.
Walking away i thought yeah every one who has tried to put me off hasn`t even owened or ridden one, so i went to the dealer and put down a deposit on a FE450 and have loved every minute of riding and working on this bike.
I have had a few trail, enduro and dual sport bikes but the Husaberg is the most fun i have had riding dirt.
So what you waiting for go buy that bike

Bill

i believe that the husey is not just lighter but is less top heavy than the KTM. and maybe COTA, like us you like to be a little different!

you join us at a time where the bikes are now 100% reeliable but alas it will take a further 8 years before we get the new message to everyone.

it takes 10 years to change a reputation.

hope you get the husey :wink:

regards

Taffy

bigbob said:

My 06 did have some tire rub on the pipe with the stock tire. No reports of that with the 05 models as they changed the pipe mounts some in 06.

Click to expand...

I am very surprised to hear this! On my ´02 there is a real problem with rubbing (read digging into) when using spiked winter front tires. I could solve this I belive by replacing the r.h. tube with a later version, and I just might do that (I am halfway through the pipe!). Has this problem now gotten even worse with the ´06? Even regular tires rub the pipe?

Taffy said:

you join us at a time where the bikes are now 100% reeliable.

Click to expand...

Sadly, You are the very first one I´ve heard saying this. I really like the sound of it. I can´t however convince anyone over here to even stay with the brand. Hope it´s not too late. Eight years is a long time if you ask the bean counters...

Ah, almost forgot!
Cota, whether you get the ´05 or ´06 doesn´t really matter. You will either way be a part of something very cool! There is TONS of goodwill and knowledge here at UHE! Nothing short of an R&D-department.
That might very well be what eventually turnes the tide for Husaberg!

You should buy a Montesa!

Hi Cota,
As a former owner of a KTM 400 exc, and the current owner of a H-berg FE450e I say go for the BERG man. Bigbob has given you the run down in his usual concise fashion he is the # 1 H-berg salesman around here. The KTM was a great bike and served it`s purpose well, but the H-berg feels way more than that 2 pounds lighter. Also you feel like you sit in the H-berg not on it. From chug`n through the nasties in first to near 100 mph in sixth these things are awesome. See my gallery for some add-ons you might consider especially for the tight stuff, (handguards,skidplate,sharkfin).

GET THE " 05" BERG You`ll love it!!

Thank you all for the immediate warm reception and understanding support that seems to prevail freely amongst everyone here. There sure seems to be an abundance of good energy and sense of family to go along with the greatest bike on the planet.
Can't wait for mine (FE450) by years end--Meanwhile I'll soak up everything there is to know right here.

Sincerely, Cota

2005 Montesa 4rt
'91 R1050 GS BMW (maybe for sale)
Tons of past orange's

Oh, I see you already own a montesa. I guess I should of known that a name like "Cota" would not of been mere coincidence. Have you taken that 4rt apart or adjusted the valves? I was browsing the montesa manual, and I noticed their top end valve system. It looks like another Husaberg ripoff! It is using a single cam, actuating two rocker arms, with the same basic design as a Husaberg. It is funny that Honda engine is state of the art, and it is using a 20 year old design. Maybe there is a reason why you were attracted to Husaberg!

i welcome any new member who gives himself a nik that is pronounsable, you could say it to his face and even has a reason behind it!

welcome AGAIN cota!

now where is 62104 when you need him?

:twisted: :twisted:

regards

Taffy

Hey Brendan and Taffy,
Ya, I love my Cota so much I even named my dog after this wonderful machine. What a trials dog he is-I just wish I could ride as well as him.He cleans all the sections while I beat my way through with lottsa fives.
But yes, the Montesa is a marvel for all moto enthusiasts with the batteryless fuel injection and wonderful four stroke force. I may not look pretty but at least I sound pretty. No petcock, no choke, no jetting dilemas and runs perfect at any elevation and any temperature. One of the members of America's Scottish Six Day Trials Team (all Montesa 4rt's) informed me that none of the bikes were out of valve spec even after that brutal trial with lots of slow and very high speed thrashing. He claimed that any valve problems are resuting from improper adjusting of valves that don't even need it so I am leaving mine alone for now.
No mixing of higher octane fuel either--pump crap and it runs great. With proven Fuel inj. technology (Keihin) it shouldn't be long before carbs are obsolete unless cost is an issue.
Going into a wet and trail snowed in winter (and four broken ribs, 3 1/2' log got me) my future Berg would sit for a while but I just need to go get it anyway. I did locate a new '04 450 FE and have been researching if there are any important changes to '05 (reliability or performance). The only thing I found is different swing arm, bars and maybe a lighter exhaust. Is that true? Would you guys recommend an 'o4 if there was significant savings or would the changes if any to '05 be not worth it. I figured you are the guys to ask??? Also for techincal slow in hot weather should I plan on the new tank with fan accessory?
With no Berg riders around at all all these decisions are a little painstaking and it's kinda lonely around here. Thanks you guys!


Sincerely, Cota

Here are some pictures, so everyone can see what I am talking about. Are Honda XRs built this way, and that is where they got this from? I have never examined an xr. I don't think the crf250 engine top end is built this way. Maybe I am on to something. The attached pics below this one, are photos from their shop manual.

Cota,
Do you know the real world weight of the 4rt? Just curious how accurate the manufacturers claim is, being a heavier 4-stroke engine. I just bought an '02 Scorpa 250, that should be in next week some time. I don't even like 2-strokes, but there is no way I could afford a 4-stroke Montesa. How loud is the stock exhaust? The ones I heard on the trialstv dvds, sound pretty loud. I don't think I could bring myself to riding something that noisey. I have been trail riding an old fantic around, and have come to realize that trials bike make way better trail bikes than regular dirt bikes. The only downside are the tiny gas tanks.