Help me which one 450 or 550

bigdamo · Oct 9, 2008

Sorry I did do a search but only found a couple of treads about this topic.

I am wanting to get back into trail riding after a break of 8 years.

I have been riding trials competitions the last 2 years.

Been riding and racing MX , Enduro and trail riding off and on for the last 37 years not the best at it not the worst either.

I am looking at getting either a FE450 or Fe 550(05/06) or maybe even a WR250F (cheaper rego costs) Have to sell the maico to do this though

I have all ways liked the look of the Husaberg since when I saw my first one 10 years ago

I want to use it mainly for trail riding a bit of dirt track and maybe a club enduro or two.

I am tending to the FE450 but I have seen a good FE550 for sale.

My Question

" Is the 550 a hell of alot more powerful than the 450 can I get the 550 through the tight technical stuff with out too many problems or will I be hanging off the back of the 550 for grim death? "

The last two trail bikes I had where the KTM 300( I tended to ride this a gear higher and torque it around) then I got a Honda XR400. Tended to like the XR400 better.

Any advice appreciated.

jockular · Oct 10, 2008

Hi Bigdamo, if as the name suggests like me, your not of wee stature i would think the 550 would be fine. i find mine to have a very usefull spread of power, all the tork lets you bumble along and it will pull the tall gears from low down as well, because of this you get amazing traction. if you want to go fast you dont need to thrash it , my own theory is that a bigger engine should last longer aswell as its doing less work.
all in all i would say its a real usable bike, you wont be hanging of the back, hanging on by your finger nails, and at a claimed 114kg's (i think) its less than the WR. sorry dont know anything about the 450.
Nice to have the choice though, have fun choosing,
Cheers,,
Jockular.

steve · Oct 11, 2008

When too much grunt is nearly enough, go for a 650. The 550 is the orphan in the middle.

When setup properly they are all a hoot and even the 650s can be punted through the tight stuff quickly, just a bit more work to turn, but more forgiving of what gear you are in.

However, if you preferred an XR400 to a 300EXC then go for a 450.

Steve

bigdamo · Oct 11, 2008

steve said:
When too much grunt is nearly enough, go for a 650. The 550 is the orphan in the middle.

When setup properly they are all a hoot and even the 650s can be punted through the tight stuff quickly, just a bit more work to turn, but more forgiving of what gear you are in.

However, if you preferred an XR400 to a 300EXC then go for a 450.

Steve

thanks for the reply.

When you say the 550 is the orphan did you mean that in a bad way.

I'm starting to think that for long haul trail riding and dirt track that the 550 might be better???

steve · Oct 11, 2008

For long distance work you can't beat cubes! The 550 is often considered the choice, best of 450 and 650 combined.

For dirt track, it depends on how tight the track is. I set grass track MXs to remind me of Phillip Island, 4th and 5th gear on the 650 is a hoot, but in the end its the rider who makes the difference, if you're good enough, the bike probably is too. For me the 650 puts a smile on my dial that nothing else yet has. 63 hp at the knobs does that!! Just wish I was good enough, because the bike certainly is.

Best though is to ride one in the terrain you like and then decide, horses for courses as they say.

Steve

bigdamo · Oct 11, 2008

The dirt track is Nepean out near Penrith.Reasonably tight round the back of the track.

My mate who has a 650 husaberg motard who races their sometimes has problems up against the CR500's but I feel that is because of his tyre choice(road tyres)

I just worry that the 550 will be too much in the tight stuff. every thing else I think it would suit???

steve · Oct 11, 2008

Well I like my 650 in the tight stuff, works for me. 550s are easier, and 450s easier again, and 250s even more so. PM cafey18 and/or MeDogRocket as they have done a same day 450/550/650 Berg test ride.

A basic rule is that to go fast you only need as much power as will get you up the steepest hill you ride, any more is a liability, but can nevertheless be more fun. What do you want, fun, or race wins? And get the suspension dialled for best results too, it is the biggest improvement you can make.

Steve

pollo · Oct 11, 2008

If you've been riding and racing on and off for so long you probably shouldn't be worried about hanging off the back with too much power on the 550. When the road opens up you might like that extra power also. Just my thoughts, but it not a bad thing to grow into the bike some.
I get my 650 in them tights and it sharpens my skill I tell ya.
Pollo

bushmechanic · Oct 12, 2008

650

more fun

can go as fast or as slow as you want just dial the horses in on the throttle 650 is fine in the tight stuff with good suspension probably nicer than a 450 with not so nice suspension.

its the uncomplaining delivery of oodles and oodles of low rpm tourque and smooth acceleration/traction that makes it easy to ride through tight stuff IMHO OK you won't be able to throw it around between trees or do whips and loops as easy as on a lil bike but the lil bike won't break into a controlled slide at 120 or go up a monster hill in the wrong gear or chug through tight bits without stalling.

the 650s with the forged cranks apparently have less mains failure in OZ

after the 650 I can't imagine wanting to own less than a 750 even for tight stuff.

that hayabusa hillclimb bike in my gallery with 160Hp and a paddle even outpaces a few intermediate jap 450 riders on a tight sandy circuit becasue the boingers are dialed in really nice but jeebus the skills and the arms need a lot of work

if its about fun bigger is better, if its about winning races its complicated ............

regards
Bushie

bigdamo · Oct 12, 2008

steve said:
Well I like my 650 in the tight stuff, works for me. 550s are easier, and 450s easier again, and 250s even more so. PM cafey18 and/or MeDogRocket as they have done a same day 450/550/650 Berg test ride.

A basic rule is that to go fast you only need as much power as will get you up the steepest hill you ride, any more is a liability, but can nevertheless be more fun. What do you want, fun, or race wins? And get the suspension dialled for best results too, it is the biggest improvement you can make.

Steve

Its about fun.

But I've been competing off and on for for a fair while now and Know its more about the rider than the the bike(obviously the bike helps).

that being said I know most people can go the fastest through the the tight stuff on a smaller capacity bike rather than a larger one and a big bore can tier you out.

I'm getting older now and can not spend the time on the bike to get the fitness that I would like but I still like to be up the pointier end.

I guess that doing Trials for two years now has really taught me where to find grip and how to put it down and pick a line so that should help riding a big bore bike???.

enginenumber · Oct 12, 2008

G'day,
the 550 has a great predictable bottom end, the mid range seems to produce ample power,the throttle is very responsive and the bike will react well to small imputs of throttle off the bottom.will hold gears well from off the bottom, means less gear changes for the lazy or un fit like me.Havent tried a 450 off road yet.
Rode the 650 off road and found it to be very well mannered ,smooth and not huge amounts of difference to the 550, seemed to lay over and turn easily also.The 04 550 has a nice hit through the mid range, the 650 which was a later model, seemed to pull straight from the bottom but smooth all the way through, still very a ridable bike.Gear up the bikes a bit and also get great fuel ecconomy as well.
Then again I have only riden big 4 strokes.Hope the input helps with your selection..

Help me which one 450 or 550

Help Support Husaberg:

bigdamo

jockular

steve

bigdamo

steve

bigdamo

steve

pollo

bushmechanic

bigdamo

enginenumber

Similar threads

Register CTA

Recent Discussions

Recent Discussions