How many East Coast Berg Riders?

Hi Scott,
Fact is here on the east coast I have sold more 550-650 bergs than I have 450's.

I love the 450 on single track even the tourist 30 inch wide "singlle track" especially when it's bermy and twisty thru the woods. As soon as any trail opens up more straight then I miss the 500+ power I had with my TE510 and I have rode a FE550 too. The thing is when I ride with CelticDude and hear his FE550 in the woods.....I do not miss all that power but as soon as the trail opens up into a more double wide or a small jeep wide fire road type then I wish I had his 550 for the fun power. and in the desert I want the 550e, the FE450 sucks *** bad in the wide open desert, but no way in the trees with the twisty bermy trails I WANT MY 450 all the way. That 550 is manageable in the trees but too much power you end up using a blast of power and clutch to coast then brake while with the 450 I can zoom zoom thru the trees not power clutch brake thru the trees like you do with a 550 and like I did with my te510.

you make your choice. I chose the 450 because 70% of my riding is in the trees

Scott,
There is a misconception that west coast riding is "wide open". I think that is because most US MC rags are based in southern California where much of the terrain truly is wide open. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have many miles of true single track!
My FE550 performs beautifully in tight, nasty single track situations. I truly love this bike! That being said, the usual comments about being faster and less tired throughout a long singletrack race would still hold up with a smaller displacement motor no doubt. I don't worry about that as I don't compete with anyone other than my buds. I recently spent one week in what I would call extreme singletrack territory in central Idaho. The 550 performed like a well mannered mountain goat!

There certainly is a market for Bergs with an intent for the narrow trails!

By the way, when you refer the "East Coast" as being the "Left Coast", would that be because you are in the north looking south?

Thought I'd share some pics of our wide open western trails!

Log

A couple more western pics. 8O

Most of my woods riding is singletrack and I don't have any issues with the 550 and my last 3 were 125's.It has good power but it's over a broad range with no big hit.I find the only time I clutch it is in very tight,crappy,walking pace type of stuff and even then no more than I did anything else.If tight stuff is your thing I'd reccomend it with the added bonus of smoking the 450's at will

Nice pics log, is that Idaho?

In my own humble opinion I think most riders in the wide open spaces wouldn`t have any trouble here. Mud might pose a problem but right now its fallen leaves. I think most of it is in your head, its what you are used to. I ride a 96 FE 501 and once I get the thing running I don`t like to stop for obvious reasons . Granted I think I could ride better with a 400 or 450 but really if the frames and everything else is the same why should it matter much. You can change things to fit your needs.