How good was the 501?

steve · Sep 25, 2008

My 98 501 is a raw and characterful 'bucket o bolts' that now has over 600 hours under its treads, say 30,000 + km of largely untroubled use. Raced, and trailed its a hoot that still has about the same power as most modern 450s and out grunts them all. I love it. Just routine servicing with arguably the only non routine stuff limited to 3 stators, a rebuild at 187 hrs after inlet valve seats disintegrated, new cam and roller followers after I let the rollers go a bit far at 334 hrs and thats it. Original clutch and bottom end other than crank at 187 hrs. Since the valve seats were done at 187 its virtually never needed the valves adjusting. I know of heaps of other bikes that haven't done a fraction of the work this has done with major failures, including legends such as XR Hondas. Delo 400 is good stuff.

However, as good, and as much fun as it is, its my 650 that gets the adrenaline flowing!!!!!!! The 650 is stalled at 122 hrs, as is the rest of the fleet, while I wait for my knee to get reconstructed, now due in 3 weeks, so still 5-6 months before I'll get a proper hit again. Can't wait!

Pics in my gallery, http://www.husaberg.org/index.php?set_a ... _album.php

Cheers
Steve

tm-enduro · Sep 25, 2008

The 501 was a truly great engine, really the pride of the swedes that engineer the bikes. I liked it so much that when hbg quit selling them, I made sure my next bike was a kitted 496.

tim507 · Sep 29, 2008

Rorys dad here...I had a 2001 501 FC and absulutley loved the beast.........it was an awesome bike. I only rode MX and played on it........another great berg was the 97 FC, wish I still had that one. I do still have a 98 FC with a Fletcher motor I got from the Boss

Rory's 496 is a great bike.....he rode the crap out it at several Western National Hare Scrambles and WORCS races....amongst other event, Rory cleaned it up, serviced it and we put in the crate and then in the container for Greece.....we unloaded, Rory looked it over.......was then 2nd place E3 rider and 65th or so overall for the ISDE and 6th or 7th American overall and we put it back in the crate and in the container.........that bike will be with us for a time more.

By the way Rory was winning the Idaho round of the Nat Hare Scram in Idaho by 40 seconds over Garrahan and Kamo.....he came in for gas on his 2nd Berg (thanks US Berg.....The Boss and Robbie Jenks) (450) and there was a dead engine refuel rule being enforsed....damn if he did not get a vapor lock and Garrahan and Kamo passed him....he ended up 3rd......stilll pretty awesome.

Rory got to ride a prototype and a production 09 450 in Greece after the ISDE and was very impressed in his usual quiet way.....he wants to race one in 2009

jampe · Sep 30, 2008

How good is the 501?

Had to change the "was" to is.
My bike has now 97,3 h on the Sendec after a total overhaul and it`s still going strong without any problems.
And the Rekluse makes it even more easy to drive in tricky tracks.

With a lot of power, perhaps to much for my Swedish "wrestling" enduro but it`s so smooth and quiet with the low rev power so ill keep it for some hundred hour`s more.
I guess that i open the engine around 250-300 h next time to see how it looks inside.

If i by a newer bike i`ll keep the old 501 and change all the plastics to new ones and take it inside to my bedroom, if my wife dont mind ;-)

Regards
Jampe

Diesel · Oct 1, 2008

RE: How good is the 501?

Hi, I've got a 1995 FC501 and it isn't for the faint harted, its all or nothing. It loves the big open spaces to stretch its legs (and its got long legs too) Probably not the best bike for a learner

GregM · Oct 20, 2008

I owned a 2002 FE501 and really liked the bike. I sold it because the e-start never worked all that well and kicking it got to be a pain. I can't remember that bike ever overheating which is more than I can say about every 450 I have ever ridden or seen ridden by others. My 501 handled and shifted so well and was just plain fun to ride. Great memories.

I currently have a Husky TE250 with the 300 athena kit and really like the bike for tight woods. But for the desert or real dual sport rides, the Husky's gear box is not ideal. I may add a 2nd bike to the stable for 2009 and the new 450 is at the top of my list. If the seat height is reasonable, the fuel range is better than the ridiculous Husky (why did Husky put a 1.9 gallon tank on an Enduro bike!?) and dealers aren't gouging on prices it might happen.

Greg

Coffin · Oct 21, 2008

I've been pretty quiet on here for a long time but I am always lurking and I can't resist taking the bait on this one.

As some of you know, I was lucky enough to help run the riding portion of the Husaberg dealer rides in Canada and the US for a few years and I have had the opportunity to pound the tar out of just about every Berg configuration.

A few years ago (maybe the 04 or 05 model release), I was pestering the distributor (BMG) to provide as many bikes as possible for the demo rides because we were expecting a large group. So, in addition to the new 450s, 550s and 650s, they gave me some older bikes which included a 400, a 470 and a 501.

To make sure the dealers could ride the new bikes, we made the workers who were leading the groups and riding sweep run the older bikes. I jumped on the 501 not really expecting anything special. Boy was I wrong!

I immediately fell in love with that bike and I don't think I got off it for 3 days. It is simply a great motor configuration. If I can get the fantasy out of my head of buying a new 2009 and decide to keep my 550 a little longer, I will definitely turn it into a 496.

Bobzilla · Oct 21, 2008

Coffin
good to see your still around and kickin

Husa98 · Oct 21, 2008

I loved my 2001 FE 501.
With the Keihin FCR carb.it runs much better than with the dellorto.
But I have to spend a lot of time and money in the bike.
Now IÃ‚Â´m mostly happy with the FE550.
The spontaneity has pros and cons...
Sometimes I wish a smaller engine for the woods, roots.

I have a short trial with a 04 TE 310, and at the drive up I missed the torque of my 550.

The 380 was probably interesting for me, but no way to buy another bike.

I heard now the first time from the 496.

Is it the old 95 mm boring?
Is the barrel still available?
( I remember it was higher in price then the 100 mm barrels.)
I have a replaced barrel and piston at home.

What must be changed for a rebuilding from 550 to 496?

Taffy · Oct 22, 2008

1,000 bob!

congrats mate!

regards

Taffy

How good was the 501?

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