Davo,
Likewise on the disinterest in KTM 400. Rode one on a test ride before making the decision on the berg.
It (KTM), in my view, has a better top-part of the mid range- upper range. It has the same forks and shock. It feels plush and well balanced The bore and stroke is identical.. It is 0.5 of a kg (claimed un-fueled) lighter than the 390. It won the Australasian Dirt Bike mag’s shoot out between the husa 390, KTM 400, and husky 310, they all liked the berg a lot, but the top tester was a motocross rider. He liked the top end on the 400 better.
To be quite honest, there was no contest for me. I liked the weighted fly-wheel feel, in the low torque areas of the berg.
The proof is in the pudding they say .You put your money on the machine that excites you. The Husaberg 390 cost $ 15,399.00 NZD, the KTM 400 2010 cost $ 13,500 NZD or close. At that price you have to be sure of what you want. I jumped onto the 450/390 test bikes and didn't feel the urge, at all, to return to the KTM 400, it felt slightly old worldly after the Husaberg. My riding partner rides the 2009 KTM 400.He is a really good rider, but I got the strange feeling I am going to be going places he won't want to go, in future. That’s already happening. Not due to riding skill, due to the way this bike makes its power. Example:
Was on a big day ride 400 riders all hills with bogs in the shaded, valleys. There was a big, big, valley that held up about 150 riders on the down track. All of us shuffling down this steep slope 3 abreast, slipping and sliding, bikes all overheating , riders getting anxious, knowing that what-ever is holding up this much traffic had to be technical. Here’s a chance to fall and hold up the largest number of riders ever.
There was small drop off into a river crossing with all big rocks in it ,at the very bottom of the valley, then almost immediately , a slippery bank to get out of the water, then the hard part started with a steep twisting hill climb that was full-on mud .There was no run up. The hold up was because of the lack of traction. The up hill track that could have had 3 riders abreast on it on a dry day, was reduced to single track. There were riders and bikes falling back down the hill .So one rider had to go at a time. But you couldn’t view the up hill section to look for good lines because it was obscured from view by bush. This climb was re-routed latter in the day because of the amount of carnage.
On the down hill I was thinking, this is the first-time-test for this bikes traction that I would rather have experienced as a solo rider. The river crossing went fine, the first part of the climb out was heaps slippery than expected, with big ruts that ran right up the hill, found a good line on the verge of the mud, gained momentum, hit the next section and caught 2 of the previous riders, the next section went steeper. I went right up behind the 2 riders in the steepest part, one on a 2 teng ,the other on a 450/ 4 stroke . The top rider on the 2 teng lost traction and then gained it but wheelied over backwards and down on both of us, but he luckily left a gap. The 4 stoke rider fell on the wet corner. The berg rode through. I was well stoked. Helped by the Michelin XC S12’s I guess. Test passed A++
