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J

johny

Joined Mar 2009
236 Posts | 1+
manchester england
I'm sitting here typing with one hand, after having the worst crash ever, feeling very very sore i cant lift my left arm, but nothing feels broken apart from my pride .....perhaps lol and some bruising to my face, my 09 fe 450 felt awesome,everywhere except for when i was in ruts, the front was constantly searching, left right left right, which left me struggling with the handling, which in turn, had me over compensating, which led to a high side left then right, before i hit the ground hard, with the bars in my side,the foot peg somehow caught my foot, and has left me, very determined to cure this problem

front forks 4.4 standard in the left leg, 4.6 in the right
compression 15 out, rebound 18

preload 4 turns

shock 72 spring 100 sag high speed 1.5 turns out
compression 16 out rebound 18

all standard and it feels fine apart from this problem, under acceleration its not noticeable, under de- acceleration i try to fix the throttle to ease it
please please please help i just love this bike its a joy to ride apart from this little problem
johny
 
Hi Johnny,

How much do you weigh?

And when you say you have a 4.6 in the right leg, is that spring in NM or KG?

Dale
 
thanks for replying dale'o, i was hoping for your input, i weight 83kgs I'm not sure about the 4.6 spring other than it's out of an 08 exc 530
I know they should search a little but this feels extreme, Ive got 22mm clamps on the bike, and haven't strayed too far away from the settings you gave me over a year ago, i can really hang off the bike, apart from hard slippy ruts, my friends couldn't believe where i went down, it really wasn't very technical, that's why I'm so frustrated, and would relish your input
kindest regards johny
 
I've notice this a bit as well.
I was wondering if it has any thing to do with the higher COG?
I find myself having to really line myself up for long rutted sections.
 
I'm sure that might have something to do with it, but I'm also sure that some of the suspension guru's on here can really help, its a shame for a great bike to possibly have an achilles heel
 
Hi Johnny,

I often get a similar feeling with my fe390 '10' model, and the issue was found to be with the triple clamps constantly twisting and un-aligning the front end. After much research, it turns out the 09 and 10 model FE's all have a slight clamp design flaw which allows the clamps to twist in relation to the top and bottom halves on the fork. That’s why in the 2011 models they have improved the design, and even advertise that they now twist less. So far Husaberg Australia haven’t supplied any solutions to the issue from my emails, as my front end will twist even after a big hit without dropping the bike. ( like after landing heavy in ruts!) So i actually carry on rides a mini torque wrench.. I would loosen up every thing, and realign and go out and test.
 
Johny

my 570 has 18/20 offset clamps. are you sure you have 22 offset?

it sounds to me like you have too much offset. I've said it here before but I think the 570s probably need the 18s but for the rest 20s will do. 22s aren't symptomatic of this though? I hear that the factory riders experiment/ride with 23s and 24s.

just confirm what you have please fella?

regards

Taffy
 
well the clamps are off an 2010 fx 450, so I'm presuming there set at the 22 as standard, if i could just cure this problem, the bike would be all I'd ever need, it truly is a fantastic machine it just doesn't like ruts especially if they're greasy.
yes the factory lads run 24's so it has to be fixable
cheers johny
 
its written across the top of your top clamp. it's part of the parts number!!!!!!!

regards

Taffy
 
OK so the last two numbers were '22' right?

odd? I'd have thought you defo would have been given the variables?

well that explains to me why people look at 24s.

with the exception of some suspension quirk I would say that you need to take weight off the front and make it run higher.

less rebound
more compression
raise the clamps
more preload

one of the above 4 would be the sweet number. the problem could be on the rear (you need...)

it has too stiff a spring -be it preload or spring rate
it needs less LSCD
more rebound

regards

Taffy
 
thanks for your input taffy, it seems that this is the achilles heel for this bike, somebody out there, has the cure to this problem, for what is a fantastic bike, pretty much everywhere else that i ride, its just soooo bad its very insecure, hence why I'm feeling so beat up and sore this morning, so I'd like as much input i can get especially from someone who rides long deep ruts that can go from a few yards to miles
many thanks for all your replies
johny
 
I thought searching was why you recommended I change from a 22s to 20s yet you say the factory boys are playing with 24. Surely this makes the "boat rudder" situation even worse ?
 
Vee rubber fim enduro tyre with 16 psi and to be fair is a little worn, but my friend was riding a 10 fe 450 with the same tyre which looked a little worse to me but wasn't struggling as much
The high tyre pressure is because of the rocks at speed
Hope this helps us both
 
arkley123 said:
I thought searching was why you recommended I change from a 22s to 20s yet you say the factory boys are playing with 24. Surely this makes the "boat rudder" situation even worse ?
Click to expand...


talking to me?

yours gets more offset coz it's the old model. IMHO johny may want less for his LDC.

regards

Taffy
 
Front tire tread design seems to enhance the problem, like Michelin S12's. Great tires, they just suck in ruts, the side knobs will pull you right out. I always though a steering stabilizer would help the situation. So far I'm just to cheap to find out.
 
well its official, my shoulders got a break in it, i find out Thursday, if i need surgery :(
and I'm sure tire choice has an impact, but Ive never had a bike, that seems to try and fight its way out off long straight ruts, and judging by the response, has been plaguing, lots of other husaberg enthusiasts, there's something definitely amiss somewhere be it suspension settings rake, or tires.
I'm a firm believer in 2 heads are better than 1 and 3 are better than 2, so I'm really hoping someone hits the jackpot on here with their recommendation, because it has to be fixable
cheers Johny
 
jon,

sorry to hear about the shoulder but in relation to the bike cant say i ever found my 09 450 having a problem with 'searching' in ruts other than when the rider - me - wasn't as forward as i should have been.

before you go changing this and that and spending cash i'm sure it can only be a small issue otherwise there would be loads of threads shouting about how crap they are in ruts and whilst there are a few people having issues there arent alot.

i ran the same spring rates in the forks but a much stiffer spring in the rear due to my lard arse, plus my shock had extensive revalving having been tom sagars world championship shock which i found way to stiff.

my sag on the rear was what ever dale suggested which i think was about 95mm

front tyre wise i was using mich comps.

so apart from the rear spring rate and a bit of tinkering with the shock we had similar set ups on the front.
 

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