This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Help please before I buy a 2004 Husaberg 550E

S

Swampfrog

Joined Apr 2014
8 Posts | 1+
South Africa
Hi all.

My name is Ray and I hail from South Africa.

I have the opportunity to buy a 2004 Husaberg 550E for ZAR25000 or about $2500. I know very little about Husabergs other than that I love what they offer as standard and as I am 194cm(6foot 4 inches) tall and weigh 128kgs(about 250 pounds) I think this would suit me well.

My concerns are that I don't know if this is a true 2004 model, as I've read that pre-2004 models had issues. What do I look out for to tell if its a proper 04 model? In SA bike parts are crazy expensive and anything other than Jap bikes are even worse to maintain! So reliability is an issue. Bear in mind that I was once a qualified Honda motorcycle tech, so will maintain meticulously going forward, but I don't know its past.

From what I can tell by the pics, the bike looks amazing for a 2004 model though.

Also, is there specific things I should look and listen out for that may indicate imminent issues?

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
 
Hi mate, ive just picked up the same bike in the uk exept its an FE , the crank bearings have already gone on this one but from what ive been reading so far this is the week spot on the 550 engine , the rest of the bikes quality im impressed

There is a thread on here somewhere on how to read the engine and frame numbers to confirm the year of both, i found it helpfull
 
Last edited:
Hi there, Swampfrog!

Look on the side of the casing, somewhere just under the cylinder head,I can't remember now if its left or right side, but I think its on the left side. There is a machined surface, with a number stamped.

zaga said:
The number should be

X-XXX-XXXXX (year)-(engine CC)-(serial number)

Search for one post about engine numbers, I have there a file

ZAGA
Click to expand...


'810' indicates 450cc
'800' is 550
'820' is 650

The easiest way to tel if you have '04 or later, is to look at the stator cover. If it is round its pre '04, if it has a little corner near the sprocket, it is the later model with newer stator. Also the newer model, the wires for the pickup come out separately from the wires for the stator.

Hope this helps
WD

Hope this helps.
 
He says he's the third owner and he thinks it still has original types. Gotta admit it looks neat as a pin. Can only go view on Sunday though. Can't wait. SWAMBO not too happy.
 
Not so clear on the pic but looks like the later stator cover on the bike, on my 04 I found the engine number stamped into the side of the barrel casing hidden behind the exhaust hedder.
 
Thanks Erb. Will look on Sunday. Are the black plastics on the bike standard? I've only ever seen the yellow ones. Does look pretty hey?

So if the first digit on engine nr is a 4 then it's an04?
 
Little clearer images for the sleuths. I also brightened up the rightside pic.

C929447E-126B-4C62-85FC-958FAAF5EE9E-112-0000003D750D1EDA_zps378c2b79.jpg



$_19.JPG
 
Thanks Idle. The more i see it the more i want it! This is to me one of those bikes that make you smile when you walk up to it. Imagine what it's gonna do for me when i ride it!
 
Off to bed now. Almost 23:00 here in SA. Will keep checking in for feedback in the morning and definately keep you guys posted after Sunday. Thanks a mill for feedback so far.
 
I'm not sure if it will be a 4 designating it's an 04 engine there is a topicon here somewhere I had to do some digging, you stator cover does look like the newer one though with the 2 seperate pic ups coming out of it

Iv not seen a black one .. looks smart

I'm still in the process of fixing mine yet but do have the engine in bits and can say its a kind of quality you could only dream about on a jap engine

I'm already on eBay looking to by another lol :D
 
It's definately '04 or newer.
Not sure about the black plastics, it's possible it is a FORCE edition, other than FORCE ed, as far as I know, only the '07 and '08 motards came out in black.

Or maybe one of the previous owners changed the plastics to all black...
 
Well, it doesn't matter which model it is, it's an awesome bike!

Hope all goes well for you, Swampfrog, and you get your 550!

Maybe if you ask the owner if he bought the bike from the gauteng area, as I recall seeing a 550 FORCE edition a couple months ago in the classifieds, and it also had the FULL Akra exhaust system, not just a slip on tail piece.

I'ts possible it is the same bike, only then it still had the original FORCE graphics...

Cheers
 
Open the stator cover an see if there is an SEM stator, if not its an -04 or newer.
There are al lot of hybrids out here ;-)
Regards
Jampe
 

Similar threads

T
Restoration Husaberg 501 / 1991
Replies
7
Views
270
Tobias427
T
Goggen
Buying a FS650E 2007 model.
Replies
4
Views
1K
steve
S
F
FE570 low idle issue, outside of the usual suspects! (I think)
Replies
1
Views
418
rikschipp
R
K
AM fuel pump parts sourcing problems
Replies
1
Views
1K
o6550
o6550
DentDogg
Help! I had a major engine failure on my 08 FE 550e
Replies
4
Views
919
Taffy
Taffy

Register CTA

Register on Husaberg Forum! This sidebar will go away, and you will see fewer ads.

Recent Discussions