Dirt Rider Test Bike

Just recieved the Oct. Dirt Rider Mag with their Long Haul FE650 test bike. Another positive story by Jimmy Lewis and for the BOSS.

Very nice. I got my issue today and hadn't looked at it yet.

Nice ad on page 139 too.

Good press, although short on substance.

All they had to whine about were spare parts availability, KTM part number cross references and a little vibration loosening some nuts.

supertireguy said:

Good press, although short on substance.

All they had to whine about were spare parts availability, KTM part number cross references and a little vibration loosening some nuts.

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Regarding the parts, it sure is not a Honda, but there are a lot of after market parts available out there, especially when it comes to sprockets.

JT, Talon, Ironman, to cite a few, plus of course they X-ref with KTM.

Same thing with skid plates. There are a lot there too. And a Google search for "Husaberg skid plate" returns the best brand (Utah Sport).

Chains can be found a plenty. DID for instance.

As for brake pads, all you need to do is notice they are Brembo brakes and either X-ref or just hit Google.

And someone should send them a reusable oil filter.

Even Dennis Kirk lists some parts for the Husabergs.

did you see that rear sprocket replacement? 44T

now wouldn't it look good if you went to town for two hours froggy and listed a huge amount of references for them and then told them about UHE? tell them we have jetting and suspension tips. honest advice, and a warm freindly welcome to all foriegners.... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

sorry i forgot - you're french and that's too much effort!

good to see that the boss can do the job expected of him.

parts aren't READILY available would be their point and they are of course RIGHT.

it sounds as though it was a balanced and fair report. all i've ever heard you septics on about is how you have to "buy" your write-ups, a situation that hasn't happened here for 40 years since BSA bantams did 150MPH from the crate.

seems to me that it's great exposure. anyone who can repair a puncture and still come third is flying...

so to recap froggy, you are going to e-mail the mag and tell them

what cross references over (wheels, brakes, pads, sprockets etc etc)
sump guards
waterpump guards
handguards
re-usable filter


you will be a hero.

you can even tell them how to set up their suspension...!

regards

Taffy

Since they mentioned KTM it would have been nice when the mentioned that loose primary nut was also a KTM problem as well. At least in the masses. And on that theme, in their other articles about KTM's, they also mention KTM Talk, and I do believe there was a KTMTAlk bike in the 24 hour no? Please correct if I am mistaken. And as such, the UHE has not been mentioned, perhaps they could in the future.

And as far as the loose nuts go, why aren't they checking the nuts and bolts?? At least for the first few rides since that when things come loose. Especially since you are supposed to loc tite the bar clamp bolts. And I wonder, were the bar clamp mounts that came loose on the flex bar they installed or the stock bars?? Did they loc tite the bolts with at least blue loc tite?? I don't know what to say about the fuel screw moving, but, it sounds like a bit of a fluke.

IHMO the bike that should be in the long haul test should have been a 450, or a 550. But, I think the from a marketing standpoint the 450 would have been my pick, since that is the main competion size. And the displacement where they could sell the most bikes. It would be interesting to know how many of what size bikes have been sold recently. It does seem that most all of the surplus bikes available are of the 550 flavor.

One more nit pick here, being that these guys are experienced, I have to wonder why they would replace a 14/44 set with the same instead of going to a 15/48. Bigger chain wheels are always better.

Jedi, or Brett, any input on that figure???

I'm glad to see that the bikes are still getting some press, and although there was a few problems, they are relatively mild.

Why is this in the Supermoto section ?

Regarding displacement - 650 is what they asked for.

Jimmy reads this website.

They are not talking about aftermarket replacement parts, they are talking about bling.

Re: Gearing - Jimmy knows what he's doing.

And on buying writeups - it's not like that, you just have to be in the right place at the right time

Cheers,

Brett Saunders

Taffy: I already emailed them your Word doc and they said it's good but asked me for an English version.

Supermototeam said:

Why is this in the Supermoto section ?

I don't know, but, we can get it moved.

Regarding displacement - 650 is what they asked for.

Thanks for the info, now we know why they have the 650.

Jimmy reads this website.

Excellent!! Hi Jimmy!! Stop by anytime!!!

They are not talking about aftermarket replacement parts, they are talking about bling.

Cool.

Re: Gearing - Jimmy knows what he's doing.

I'm sure he does, that's just my opinion. I've been running large chain wheels for a few years now, and, one thing is for sure, your chain and sprokets last noticably longer. And, there is an argument to be made that keeping the chain as far away from the swingarm as possible has benefits in regards to suspension action.

And on buying writeups - it's not like that, you just have to be in the right place at the right time

I'm glad to see at least one magazine here in the states does write ups on Husabergs as well as all the other bikes, but, mostly glad about Husabergs.

Cheers,

Brett Saunders

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Thanks for your continued support Brett!!

Supermototeam said:

They are not talking about aftermarket replacement parts, they are talking about bling.

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Well, Brett, I did not really read it this way.

I give him credit for writing and supporting the Bergs, but in his article he seems to notice the absence of aftermarket parts when there are actually quite a bit. I think I've read that before, same magazine, same editor.

He does notice though that, when a part is compatible with the Bergs, it often does not appear this way. That is actually the vendors fault. When a Web guy is asked to create a site to sell dirt bike products, often he is asked to only mention the 5 main guys. I know it first hand. It's just too small a market.

So, yes, I guess we could propose a good database of aftermarket parts. I started to do that as a side project once but I just have too many projects, not enough time.

There are parts a plenty for these bikes although they are not that easy to find.

Try these

BRP now makes Rubber Mounted Triple Clamps and sub-mount kits for a Scotts Damper...www.brpit.com...see your local Husaberg/BRP dealer

Scotts make a beautiful Shark Fin for the Rear Disc Guard (see your local Husaberg/Scotts Dealer)

DeCal Works makes custom background Graphics

Moose (parts Unlmtd) make Skid Plates but the Husaberg one is much prettier (see your local Husaberg/Parts Unlmtd dealer)...Your Husaberg should have the gorgeous Husaberg Skid Plates in stock.

Stainless Oil Filter if your into those...see Scotts again.

Need some Black Excels with Stainless SPokes...see your Local Husaberg Dealer that can lace wheels

Race Tech...suspension Mods Galore...see your local or not so local Race Tech Service Center...I know of 1 Husaberg Dealer that is Race Tech Certified.

anything else...Cycra Pro Bend Handguards work nice on Magura Bars...Moose / E-line generic 6" pipe guards / heat shield works awesome to keep your pants from burning and it looks good.

Computer....already there...Fat Bars...already there....Hydraulic Clutch lever....already has it....Brembo Brakes....already there....quiet pipe that works...Akra is Awesome...Stock Pipe Works...and Apparently Big Gun has something in the works with BOSS...

BOSS also has Rad Gaurds, Skid Plates, and coolant line gaurds....Big Tank Coming

Whatelse does anyone need...Banners....call your local Husaberg Dealer, Gear...same thing.

Husaberg also has a nice line of Miscellaneous Husaberg Bling...check your local HusaDealer.

Thanks...

So everyone who has back issues of dirt rider should go and read the long haul test updates, or at least look at the stats posted on hours on bike, dollars spent on mods, dollars spent on maintenance etc etc. I think i may make for an interesting statement about our beloved brand.

The husaberg blows them all away, nearly fifty hours on the bike and under 1000 smackers for the up keep, and they are using $15/quart oil changes after every ride. compare that to the other cannon fodder in the magazine, all of them are in the same general hour category and have spent THOUSANDS on mods and much more than the berg on maintenance, is this typical? I think so. You do not NEED the mods on the berg! Unlike the other brands who need theM, or at least people feel they bikes need them.

can anyone confirm that this trend is accurate based on the past few months of long haul test updates?

In the September 2006 Dirt rider mag, in the Dr. Dirt section they are showing the rebuild of a CRF 450 head. Quoted in the article they claim to have 150 to 200 of offroad time on it and already doing their 4th valve replacement on it.

Now I know that Husabergs get hammered in the mags all the time about their reliability, but it's OK that a Honda needs to have it's top end rebuilt every 50 hours of trail riding! What would that cost in the long run?

Talk about being bias to the Ride Red Crowd.

bikebarnbeckman said:

...

BOSS also has ....Big Tank Coming

...

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STOP the presses! I must have missed this somewhere. I know about the Omerto aluminum tank from Italy, the underseat tank that adds a couple of ounces, and the rear fender strap-on aux tanks from Australia, but is there actually hope that we'll have a bona-fide larger replacement tank???

Satex said:

bikebarnbeckman said:

...

BOSS also has ....Big Tank Coming

...

Click to expand...

STOP the presses! I must have missed this somewhere. I know about the Omerto aluminum tank from Italy, the underseat tank that adds a couple of ounces, and the rear fender strap-on aux tanks from Australia, but is there actually hope that we'll have a bona-fide larger replacement tank???

Click to expand...

BOSS wrote:

Posted: 2006-07-11, 12:55:50 Post subject: Re: Hey Brett do you hear us?

I'v been spending time with some very bright mind's the last few week's
talking about our need's
I & many others feel that range of the bike needs to improve,so it will!
When i learn about avalibility,cost,size & color I wil be sure to pass it on!!

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8O 8O

So where is this large tank.

I would like one for my 05 650 say a 12 or 13 litre would be great.