2007 FE 650, So Far

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Hey Steve,

you've got me sold on the Delo400. I've been using the motorex since I got my bike & at $75 for 4 litres it gets rather expensive to change oils frequently. I like to change my oil as soon as I cant see the plate at the back of the window, about 8 hrs if you're not following someone all day. I can keep the oil after I have used it in the bike & "recycle" it into the ole Landcruiser. Gotta be happy with that.

Cheers,

Wal
 
The Good Oil

Good thinking Wal, the old Landcruiser will still think it's getting a good thing!!! We are paying $90 something for 4 litres of Motorex down here ??? I think it's going to be Delo400 for my Fe650 when I have run it it. Spoke to Dale Lineaweaver and read his posts on the old Delo400 and it exceeds all requirements. When you put it in perspective, it has to be good to put up with the temperatures and demands of running a turbo charged diesel truck engine. I suspect if changed regularly it will greatly exceed the requirements of a Husaberg or any similar engine. :idea:

Garry.
 
An interesting linke here on oils with this conclusion:

Despite more than six months of research, reading all the claims and counter-claims printed by dozens of industry experts and lubrication experts, MCN cannot and does not purport to know all there is to know about the differences between automotive and motorcycle oils. However, what we do know is that we can find no substantive evidence that using a high-quality, name-brand automotive oil in an average street motorcycle is in any way harmful or less effective in providing proper lubrication and protection than using the more expensive, motorcycle-specific oils.

http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/oiltest1.htm

Steve
 
Hi guys, brand new here and also brand new to the dirt biking world. Being a committed GSXR(1000 now) fan since 1990 (riding from 1976) I'm a total stranger to the off road game. But all of my friends switched to off road lately and I'm thinking to do the same 'cause the law is getting more and more tight around here and the idiots have closed down every race track but one (QR)which is so boring and I have enough of it all.

Anyways, I'm a serious researcher before buying anything, so I do the same with this one.
I decided to get a 525 EXC, but then I came across a few tests and read some forum talks on the Bergs. Something happened in the inside of me(LOL).
Especially the FE 650 is the one (being a power freak) not just because the power, but it's so light on paper and as I hear, It IS easy to ride.

I've learned that the reliability issues have been solved, so now I have only one concern left:
- How is the availability of parts and services here in Aus.? Particularly in Brisbane? If this is ok, then the case is closed, I'll get one.

Thanks for your help.
 
Welcome Gforce. I'm a newy as well here, but not quite as new as yourself. You have found the site to get all your questions answered on all sorts of stuff (maybe leave out the marital questions though) !!!!! Then again if you come down to Louee we might be able to solve some of those over a beer as well ha ha !!!!
Husaberg should be paying some of the guys on here for service to the brand, very knowledgable and friendly. Like you, I to came from the Orange side and from the Blue side before that. And now having had a decent ride on my Berg I can confirm what you have read about the Fe650 is all true. My first impression was "faaaaaaaark", how good is this thing. It took me about ten seconds to feel comfortable with it's handling and power. In all fairness the 525 is a great bike, but roost protection on the Berg is optional !!!!
I can't comment on the parts issue but no doubt someone from Brisbane will help you. I think you will find that due to KTM owning Husaberg that service and parts would not be a problem. Some of the long term Berg owners on here like Steve will be able to steer you right on that one.
Anyway go and trade up on a Berg if you haven't already done so, you wont regret it Gforce.
Cheers
Garry.
 
Hi gforce,

I do less and less road and more and more dirt as the years go on because of the fun factor. My bitumen of joice is Phillip Island, but I haven't been down for a few years, and it does spoil you for tar anywhere else. I reckon I've done about 25,000 km around there in the 90s before I got my first Berg.

The main thing with Bergs is chaning the oil all the time. I do the Delo 400 thing +/- 5 hours. Parts for my 501 are still not a problem. Most dealers are enthusiasts and the older Berg dealers around are keen to help. Dunno about Brisbane, but Suttos in Sydney are very helpfull and will mail stuff overnight. I live in the bush so often sourcing stuff in the US via internet and locally are not much different.

As an aside, if you are new to dirt bike riding, it maybe that a FE650 is a bit much. It is controllable, but it is the Gixxer 1000 of dirt bikes, it requires a controlled right wrist. It is totally controllable, but as a mate of mine who had a play on it yesterday said, 'Its great to know that you've got another 30hp available most of the time.The rest of the time its 40hp to go" The torque grunting of a gnarly hill with a little clutch in third gear is a wonderful thing on a FE650.

Steve
 
Thanks for that cafey18 and Steve.
What do you think about the current issue of the Australasian DB mag? They compared the 500+ enduros.(not the FE650).

Well, having a loooooong experience on the bitumen basher world, I've learned the art to read between the lines and filter the crap from the truth.
I wonder if this would be the case with the dirt bike mags to?
I'm doing my research on dirt stuff only for a few months, but already have read a few contradictions. I guess, different testers, different tastes.

Also I have a few friends in Europe and they complain a lot about overheating of their Bergs(they call them teapots, for their amazing ability of boiling the water :). But I hearing this about other brands too.
How do we deal with this issue here in oz where the heat can be more severe?
 
G'day Gforce,

welcome to the site. I get ADB mag delivered & have read the comparison article you are talking about. What I find is that they favour the "gumby" bikes as they dont have any time to spend actually seeing what the bikes can do after some initial setting changes. The crap about being hard to start when hot got me ? I'm looking to install a fan on mine, not because it overheats but because I am doing alot of recon riding finding new tracks & dont always have air flowing through the bike. If you read the article carefully they state that if you spend the time getting used to the bike, it's great !

I honestly think that a 650 is too powerful for the trails, but thats my opinion. I have a hard enough time getting the rear wheel to hook up now without spinning on my 550 :lol:

We are having a ride at Louee in May. Check the "Aussie version of Moab" topic for the details & let us know if you're interested. You could have a ride on a couple of different bikes to see for yourself.

:)

Cheers,

Wal
 
Like most, I read mags for entertainment and information. I know from my road days that I can lap a circuit faster than many journos, I've been at press launches and ridden with a few. I then read their articles and find them largely meaninglesss as I know thay are parrotting stuff from others because the bike is so much better than they are, but they can still entertain me, so I still get the mags. ADB tests usually involve a some very good riders, but they rarely get to set up the bikes properly and largely test them as delivered. Press bikes must be setup properly before being delivered to journos. Old computer term applies, GIGO They have a deadline, and setup time intrudes on that.

Get info form mags, but don't decide until you ride them yourself, in similar terrain and conditions to what you normally ride.

With dirt bikes in particular, suspension and ergonmics are fully adjustable, so focus on mechanicals.

Two Wheels and Dirt Action have recently tested FE650s as well with positive reviews. My 501 is yet to overheat. My 650 has had a few hot days, but not much gully bashing yet. No overheating as yet. I have also fitted the fan, which does seem to run more than I'd expected. I identify overheating as coolant coming out of the overflow and into the bash plate.

Bergs are good thing, as reliable as the maintenance you put in. All dirt bikes require TLC, or being replaced every year or two.

Steve
 
Thanks for the info wildman!

Two Wheels ... yes that was the test that started all this Berg thing in me, when I was at Stradbroke Island last weekend with my colleagues and just salivated to see the trails and the beautiful beach thinking, oh what an awesome place for dirt bikes. But having non, I just picked up a few mags and then I read about the FE 650 while the rest was doing fishing. ...I'm getting in that stage where I can't think about anything else now...
 
Hi Gforce,
Im just up the road from you and as with Steve I use Suttos for spares, Ijust ring them, they are pretty friendly and helpful and usually 1 -2 days supply. Some of our local jap dealers cant do that, so you dont have to worry too much there. I ride withg a couple of blokes on 450 & 525 ktooms, they overheat regularly, whereas the 501 has never given me any problems in that area (with no fan).
I have had some other reliability issues, BUT, as I am getting more familiar with the bike I am finding i am probably more to blame than the bike for the problems I have encountered. Dont seem to be too many problems with the new ones goin on the info from the members that have them.

Mick
 
The Two Wheels article was written by Tony Kirby who can ride OK. He used to be the one man band that put out SideTrack until he burnt himself out.

Have you ever noticed how the mags hype how good the current model is and how great the improvements are and you are left with the impression that it just can't get any better? Then the next year the cycle continues, and last year's greatest ever is now flawed in so many ways? Marketing is the answer, for both mags and manufacurers.

Rider/Buyer beware, ride it for yourself and decide.

One of my favourites is the YZ/WR evolution. Every year they have had suspension problems and every year they fix it with new linkages, ratios, valving etc.

Steve
 
ozrider said:
Hi Gforce,
Im just up the road from you and as with Steve I use Suttos for spares, Ijust ring them, they are pretty friendly and helpful and usually 1 -2 days supply. Some of our local jap dealers cant do that, so you dont have to worry too much there. I ride withg a couple of blokes on 450 & 525 ktooms, they overheat regularly, whereas the 501 has never given me any problems in that area (with no fan).
I have had some other reliability issues, BUT, as I am getting more familiar with the bike I am finding i am probably more to blame than the bike for the problems I have encountered. Dont seem to be too many problems with the new ones goin on the info from the members that have them.

Mick
Click to expand...

Sounds good, thanks. I've also learned that a lot of parts are interchangeable with KTM's.
 
steve said:
The Two Wheels article was written by Tony Kirby who can ride OK. He used to be the one man band that put out SideTrack until he burnt himself out.

Have you ever noticed how the mags hype how good the current model is and how great the improvements are and you are left with the impression that it just can't get any better? Then the next year the cycle continues, and last year's greatest ever is now flawed in so many ways? Marketing is the answer, for both mags and manufacurers.

Rider/Buyer beware, ride it for yourself and decide.

One of my favourites is the YZ/WR evolution. Every year they have had suspension problems and every year they fix it with new linkages, ratios, valving etc.

Steve
Click to expand...

Yep. sounds like exactly the same crap as the road bike world.
It's seams to me that the British mags are not so bad though.

Some of my friends are organising a ride for me where I can try their bikes(no bergs :cry: ) so I can have a more clear idea.

One more question. I know that weight is very important in handling, and I would definitely prefer a healthy balance between power & handling. The 650 is the same weight on paper as the 550 and 450.
That's why I want the 650, thinking I'll have the same handling as a 450 but a lot more power in reserve. Am I correct or not?
In road bike language, they say the same thing, like the 600 or the 750 is the perfect balance, the 1000 is "too much" etc,etc. I respect that everybody have different preferences, but I was never been unhappy with the handling of mine while enjoying the sadistic explosive power of the 1000. Yes, when I rode the 600/750 s I noticed the slightly more nimbleness but it didn't impressed me that much. Much more however, I missed the power everywhere, it simply wasn't there. I can't live without the thrill the 1000 cc can offer.
Is it different with dirt bikes?
 
Short answer, NO, its not different. One provisio is that although smaller bikes can be faster in many situations, the rider must be good enough. If you have a background revving 125s then you'll struggle to use the torque of a big motor. As hp has gone up over the years, the torque low down has somewhat diminished by comparison. The hp of my 650 is largely irrevelant, its the linear delivery of torque that keeps it grunting up a gnarly hill that I so enjoy, a bit of clutch as necessary and its speed recovers easily. Harder work in tight terrain though.

Steve
 
Gforce, I'm with Steve on this one. I just love the torque of the 650. Being able to just "tractor" up the snotty hills while your mates are reving the ring out of their bikes to get up the same hill. That little clutch "tweek" if you think your about to bog down is a wonderful thing as the speed starts to wash off half way up the hill. I must admit I love being able to have a controlled traction accent as opposed to having to light the rear tyre up and keep it spinning all the way up the big hills. Obviously you have to light the rear up a bit to get it going again, but it does it so easily. I can understand how the power can be rather intimadating to some, but by the sounds of your demeanour you wouldn't be happy on anything but the 650 Berg!!!!
This Sunday is one of our regular DSMRA rides. Can't wait.
Cheers :D
Garry.
 
Thanks cafey18. Throttle control is my way with the gixxer thou anyway, I mean all the time. On the track (or even road) loosing grip is not a happy day on bitumen, so we always careful to push it to the sliding point and keep it there. With a 1000 you have to have a sensitive wrist (and brain) to do that. Unlike you guys who are always all over the place and wouldn't bother least up to a certain point of course.
I'm looking forward to slides, drifts, spins, jumps and all the fun stuff without always looking in the mirrors and searching for cameras etc.
Doing fun with a clear consciousness, that's what I'm looking for and seems like that's what I'm going to get.
Saturday I'll try to go dawn to Gold Coast where the dealer is to have a closer look at the FE 650.

...and oh yea, I'm planning to get a set of motard wheels too. My suspicion is that the 650 wouldn't be boring in that set up either.
 
Our dealer here has a demo 550 and 650, maybe your local dealer has one available for a test ride? He would be able to put you onto someone who has a 650, and maybe you can get a test ride that way. Good luck and hopefuly we will see you on the Force ride next year, or if your really keen at the May 5th/6th ride down this way at Louee.
Cheers
Garry.
 

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