07 Bergs?

AJSB said:

Lets face it, the Bergs are allready very good and complete bikes as for weight, center of gravity, power (i.e. 550/650), handling, stability , air filter location (simply PERFECT, i hope that they NEVER change that) and
acessories (thermostat, optional el.fan,etc. and now pre-load adjusters...) goes and with better suspensions than KTM. There isnt much that Hsb can/could improve..you must undersand that its simply hard to improve something that its allready (near) perfect....

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I have had long conversations today with three Husaberg dealers, and the consensus is:

"What could the factory really do to make the bikes better ?"

DOHC ? No - would not help rideability, would add cost and maintenance complexity. Maybe if we sold MX bikes, but we don't.

EFI ? Maybe - it might make the bike run smoother, but it would also make it difficult for the layman to tune, and it would also add cost and complexity. So it's a mixed blessing. Do keep in mind that just about all motorcycles will have to be fuel injected soon, in order to meet emissions standards.

Closed cartridge fork ? We (the three dealers and I) don't know enough about it to make that call.

The bikes are very, very good, and what is the point of change for change sake ?

That being said, what would I personally like to see changed ?

Lighten the bike. Yeah, I know that it's already light But in 2006, we were two pounds lighter than our closest competitor. I'd like to be ten pounds lighter. That would really mean something.

Dual exhaust option. Yeah, I know it's just a trend, but I think it looks cool

Tubeless tires for Supermoto - very do-able and cheap, and revolutionary.

Larger diameter swingarm pivot - KTM has already done it, and it supposedly adds a significant amount of rigidity.

And now....drum roll.....for my most ambitious and unrealistic suggestion:

turn the motor around

Left side kick keeps a lot of people from buying our motorcycles. Maybe not people who are reading this (that's called preaching to the choir), but people who are not reading this. I know that there's that little red button on the handlebar, but the left side kick tends to turn people off regardless.

Oh, and one more thing - the orange letters on the wheels simply look ridiculous. Can you say "red headed step-child" ? How about no letters at all ?

Thank you all for your support, and best regards,

Brett Saunders

here need some improvements to consider:

1.) grease nipples on the bearings like Husqvarna has, add them to the steering bearing - or how about this permanent greased or sealed bearings -no need for service

2.) a large capacity tank option from 4 stroke force parts - Duh.

3.) adjusitible peg positions

4.) pipe guard so you don't burn your pant leg - at least an option part for this

5.) steet legal option

6.) Marks on the damn engine somewhere some how to make finding TDC easier so adjusting valves is easier.

7.) larger more easier readable true enduro computer and display unit - acessory, plug n play unit. Call it an enduro? well then offer an enduro computer and roll chart option with mounts for the bars.

8.) husaberg radiator guards - accessory

How about a lighter beer bottle opener in the tool kit. The heavy one can stay in the shop! :roll:

Log

I think it is sweet

Hi guys
Supermototeam wrote
quote Closed cartridge fork ? We (the three dealers and I) don't know enough about it to make that call.

I dont understand this one ? a closed cartridge fork is better because
the two oils dont mix the current fork gets inconsistant with use because
the oil gets dirty (shim stacks dont like dirty oil)other manufactures has
closed cartridge forks or will have them by 07 why not keep up with other
manufactures, personaly I like to have a closed cartridge fork

quote "red headed step-child"

maybe thats the reason why Husaberg is not having a closed cartridge fork ?
quote turn the motor around

Left side kick keeps a lot of people from buying our motorcycles. Maybe not people who are reading this (that's called preaching to the choir), but people who are not reading this. I know that there's that little red button on the handlebar, but the left side kick tends to turn people off regardless.

thats is not the biggest problem actually it more versitale than a right hand
kick start bike what needs to be fixed is the E starting it is not as good as
other E start bikes it does not spin the motor fast enough and it uses more
battery power

quote EFI ? Maybe - it might make the bike run smoother, but it would also make it difficult for the layman to tune, and it would also add cost and complexity. So it's a mixed blessing. Do keep in mind that just about all motorcycles will have to be fuel injected soon, in order to meet emissions standards.

I couldnt agree more I have heard horror stories about Gas gas 450
not starting at 11000 feet that is not the kind of challange I want

Bigbob wrote

quote 6.) Marks on the darn engine somewhere some how to make finding TDC easier so adjusting valves is easier.

there is such a thing in front of engine there is 8mm bolt remove bolt
replace with a 40mm M8 there is notch on the crank where bolt locks crank at TDC

so long VIKING (PS could not get that quote thing going sometimes
you have to admit defeat )

VIKING:
I dont understand this one ? a closed cartridge fork is better because
the two oils dont mix the current fork gets inconsistant with use because
the oil gets dirty (shim stacks dont like dirty oil)other manufactures has
closed cartridge forks or will have them by 07 why not keep up with other
manufactures, personaly I like to have a closed cartridge fork

What i heard i other forums of other bike brnds that allready hve that
type of forks is:

1. In practice, only MX/SX riders will notice a difeence in fork work.
2. Double Cartdrige forks are a PITA to service because it gives much more work to replace the oil.

As for dirty fork oil, maybe people are not servicing their forks with
the frequence needed ? If you notice a decrease in performance,
replace the oil and then, start to use a shorter fork maintnance schedule.
The forks of my bikes never had dirt related problems because i service them more frequently than usual (many riders do it only once per year ...and some not even that !!!).
Servicig a fork is actually a very easy task....
I usually do it right after winter ends and right before the winter starts at least.

maybe thats the reason why Husaberg is not having a closed cartridge fork ?
Nope...KTM 07 EXC range, GG 07 FSE/EC,etc. ALSO
dont have them...actually i dont know of any ENDURO bike with them.

I also never had a problem with left sided kickstarters...i actually prefer
them for cold start the bikes...notice that i kick standing on foot at the left side of th bike using my right leg to kick it.

I couldnt agree more I have heard horror stories about Gas gas 450
not starting at 11000 feet that is not the kind of challange I want

To me, the problem with current EFI designs is that the OEMs only try to comply with Euro2...as a result, they skipped some sensors (exhaust sensor) and that is possibly limiting the capacity of the EFI to correctly
self adjust...Personally, i also feel mixed feelings about EFI (we gonna
need to use PCs and possible to buy connecting hardware and software and riders need to know what they are doing), but like it or not, its the way of future.

From an engineering standpoint, I don't know why a TC fork wouldn't be better for everyone. Seems like enduro riders would see the most improvement, especially when riding thru constant hack, such as roots / rocks, or stream beds. I have a TC (Zoke 50mm) on my Husky and like the performance.
FYI, Yamaha has a tc fork on their '07 wr's. TM's will also have a tc fork if ordered with the Zoke 50 (same as I have).
BTW, I didn't notice the orange tags on the rims. That kind of sucks, so Hbg gets the '06 leftover parts rather than at least getting the same black rims as the '07 KTMS? Also, I thought that historically Hbg got a fork that was a spec higher than the KTM's?

Hi AJSB
this is my point in a closed cartridge fork the oil is contained within the
cartridge and not mixed with the oil that surrounds the cartridge that oil
gets dirtier faster since there is a small amount dirt coming into the by
the fork seal the two forks maybe even in performance right after
service put 20-30 hour of use and the result would be different
so long VIKING

Viking,
I finally got your point...i ride 60 hours per year,
45 in the 9 "dry" months and 15 in the 3 "wet" months here.
Even changing oil at only 15 hours, in the winter, i allready feel, right before the oil change, that the fork is starting working a bit harsher...not dramatic and not really bad only not as good as it is/should...guess that i need reduce fork maintnance intervals a bit more in a non-TC fork :wink:

Big Bob makes a couple of excellent points-an optional larger fuel cell- at least one that doesn't require the owner to improvise a new place for the ignition module. AT THE VERY LEAST, OFFER A BOLT ON BRACKET FOR THE IGNITION MODULE AND INSTRUCTIONS SO THAT THE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE UNDER SEAT TANK WOULD TRULY BE A BOLT ON ITEM FOR THE OLDER BIKES, AND PERHAPS ALTER THE CURRENT MOUNT ENOUGH ON THE NEW MODEL LINE TO ALLOW THE UNDER SEAT TANK TO BE BOLTED ON. The bracket set up could not be that expensive to make, at least way less expensive than commissioning a new tank mold. In fact someone on this site had modified the stock bracket that holds the later model solenoids to hold the ignition module in the area of the solenoid.

The pipe guard is also an exceptional idea, for the headers, as well as back by the muffler. I tend to burn my pants on the headers when I'm in a difficult situation and having to bulldog the bike. Offer them as an accessory to keep the advertised weight to a minimum.


How about a jetting guide as part of the manual? I have seen in other bike manuals, altitude adjustment guides for proper jetting. This would include extrapolations for altitude and temperature otherwise known as density altitude.

Also, for weight redution, how about an AIR suspensions ? (i.e. w/o springs just like in MTB)...

I know that Sherco is developing them for their bikes and i know that they
reduce ALOT of weight.

tm-enduro said:

Also, I thought that historically Hbg got a fork that was a spec higher than the KTM's?

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Well, they did, I guess, if you compare them to the KTM exc line. The Husaberg's have adjustable pre load caps standard, KTM does not.

The only KTM's that are getting the TC forks are the SX line of bikes.

The aluminum 12mm cartridge that all the Husabergs are getting should be a nice upgrade. It for sure is significant, and does not fall under the category of "bold new graphics". The adjustable offset clamps are very cool as well.

Overall, I think the Husabergs for 2007 got updated very nicely, and a couple notches higher than their KTM exc cousin.

The motard bikes look cool, the FEs look fugly. I thought flames went out like four years ago. Oh well, at least it's easy to change graphics.

all this talk about twin chamber forks.
didn't suzuki run them for a couple of years about 1996 then binned them as they were over complicated to service?

Johnf3 said:

Well, they did, I guess, if you compare them to the KTM exc line. The Husaberg's have adjustable pre load caps standard, KTM does not.
The only KTM's that are getting the TC forks are the SX line of bikes.
The aluminum 12mm cartridge that all the Husabergs are getting should be a nice upgrade. It for sure is significant, and does not fall under the category of "bold new graphics". The adjustable offset clamps are very cool as well.
Overall, I think the Husabergs for 2007 got updated very nicely, and a couple notches higher than their KTM exc cousin.

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Also, dont forget the crankshaft, crankcase, gearbox and counter balancer that should increase reability...
I agree wityh your conclusion...main mods in EXC are bling factor, main mods in Hsbs are for reability with both receiving suspension mods but Hsbs receive slightly more mods in suspensions than EXC range.

cypher said:

all this talk about twin chamber forks.
didn't suzuki run them for a couple of years about 1996 then binned them as they were over complicated to service?

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Yeah, that was my point against them...but in 10 years things can change to be fair...what we need is to read a WP TC fork workshop manual for those forks to check if they are also over complicated to service...if so, i continue to be happy that Hsb "still" dont use them.

cypher said:

all this talk about twin chamber forks.
didn't suzuki run them for a couple of years about 1996 then binned them as they were over complicated to service?

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Correct, Sir - I had them on a 1996 RM250, and it took me about eight tries to bleed them the first time I did it. I do hope that the current generation is better engineered.

OK i made a not so deep search at KtmTalk and found this about WP TC fork:
.....
When I heard that KTM is using a bladder vs. a common spring for pressurization, I view that as a device that will virtually eliminate anyone from DIY. The simplicity of a spring cannot be ignored. You take it out, and you put another one in, hand pump the bubbles out, and call it a day.
The bladder requires a host of specific tools, measurements, gas, as well as user-defined tasks, and over use and time, a bladder will wear from contracting /expanding.
But I honestly don't think KTM will replace the bladder w/ a spring. Showa has patents to their TC forks; therefore KTM would encroach on patent infringements if they were to utilize the ICS model.
....
Yes indeed! Excited news finally cometh!!
And according to info from the 4stokers, this fork is still a Wp4860 series, but "CC MA" nomenclature.
boy, you tuners are going to rake up the $$$$$ when these babies start rolling out.
I can already see two nonstandard tools that will be necessary just to open these up for the oil. Maybe a spanner wrench can be used to unscrew the inner chamber, but a new scalloped wrench will be needed to unscrew the outer chamber to mess w/ oil heights. Fun, fun, fun!
....
etc.
....

If this info is correct, im REALLY VERY happy that Hsb is "STILL" using open cartdridge forks...just like KTM is "still" also using them in th EXC range (and it seems to have plans to do so a least in the next years ).

Jocke_D said:

cypher said:

quite like the looks of this one.
but as previouslt mentioned could do with some whole sale re-developement to re-energize the model range.

also notice that on the side of the berg shown in the pics it says "works" could it be that these are pics of a ltd edition in the mold of the ktm "factory" bikes or is this the final spec for general customer bikes?

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A slogan from the past is "A works bike for everyone" or something similar. I'm guessing they are trying to pick that up again.

I really like the looks of the new bikes, both FS and FE, maybe a bit more yellow or blue details on the FS but not far from perfect.

I cant get the FS550 out of my head. Who on earth will buy it. And what kind of signals are sent to the guys wanting to race in the 450cc classes over the world.... Sure, make an FS550 but keep the 450. How hard can it be to just put a 450cc engine in instead of a 550/650....

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Me ! I'd buy the 550....hold on, I did ! Its truly the weapon of choice, at least over here.... the 501 cc berg we have over here just plain rips as well ! If you ever get a chance on riding a new one or conversion try it you will have a big smile when you get off.... I agree with you on the 450...they should have spent more time on the engine to get it to run with the other 450's look at the new KTM 450 EXC, I think its the exc ?...58 hp :shock: over on this side the 450 is by far the biggest class....don't worry Jocke the 450 has got to come back !