Joined Oct 2005
687 Posts | 0+
Folsom, CA
I got to ride Celticdude's 05 FE550e for a few good miles in the woods this weekend. I had riden the same bike in the desert last year, loved it. This was my second FE550 ride and first in the woods. He rode my 06 FE450e.
The FE550e is a dream to hill climb with and like any 500+ CC bike ( I owned a TE510 and rode a ktm 525 exc before) the big bikes are fun fun fun in the open. I do love the throttle on smiling power.
My issue with the Big bikes is when I'm floating thru the easy bermy woods sections of trails, I find my self somewhat timid of the power and I use the clutch to coast thru between throttle bursts. While with the 450, I''m more on the throtlle and brakes thru the woods. I am more ON it with the 450 and faster, less riding it as I do with the 550 n coasting, that be in average mild rolling OHV groomed 24" wide single track. In the the tight tight stuff then it's more the same for both. Celticdude was trying to explain how he rides it in the woods single track more in tune with the power I think.
I have learned what I knew from others, The FE 550 like the other 500cc+ bikes is very manageable in the woods and tight technical sections.
I learned to accept My 450 is not a smooth all powerfull hill climber like the 550 and let it climb as it wants too.
I learned I am faster in the woods on my 450, then I was on my TE510 and I suspect would be on the FE550e.
I have learned the FE450e is not superman, it's spiderman.
The FE550e is a dream to hill climb with and like any 500+ CC bike ( I owned a TE510 and rode a ktm 525 exc before) the big bikes are fun fun fun in the open. I do love the throttle on smiling power.
My issue with the Big bikes is when I'm floating thru the easy bermy woods sections of trails, I find my self somewhat timid of the power and I use the clutch to coast thru between throttle bursts. While with the 450, I''m more on the throtlle and brakes thru the woods. I am more ON it with the 450 and faster, less riding it as I do with the 550 n coasting, that be in average mild rolling OHV groomed 24" wide single track. In the the tight tight stuff then it's more the same for both. Celticdude was trying to explain how he rides it in the woods single track more in tune with the power I think.
I have learned what I knew from others, The FE 550 like the other 500cc+ bikes is very manageable in the woods and tight technical sections.
I learned to accept My 450 is not a smooth all powerfull hill climber like the 550 and let it climb as it wants too.
I learned I am faster in the woods on my 450, then I was on my TE510 and I suspect would be on the FE550e.
I have learned the FE450e is not superman, it's spiderman.
