As a proud owner of a 09 570fe i was wondering why the 450 fx has not made an appearance in the supercross series. Or have they?
Husaberg and Supercross
- Thread starter 09berg
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Joined Jun 2007
4K Posts | 1K+
south east WA Australia
general consensus with MX and SX is the new 450 berg is heavy, top heavy and underpowered, thats the excuse perhaps though the real reason is probably something to do with money.
I just wondered why KTM and the Berg don't have more of a presence at the Supercross races. It seems to be dominated by the big four Japanese rides. Are they just targeting a different style of riding?
I seem to recall back in 1996 or so a KTM four stroke racing against the 2 strokers at the Seattle Supercross. Nailed the holeshot every moto but slowed throughout the rest of the track.
Joined Oct 2005
935 Posts | 21+
Texas
09berg said:
It's not a motocross bike, much less a supercrosser. It's easily 30 pounds heavier than a dedicated motocrosser for starters. Second, it has a single cam enduro motor. Like bushmechanic says, money is a huge issue. KTM finally ponied up and hired Decoster to run their program, but it is still going to be a struggle going against the established Japanese teams in SX.
I cant dig up the memory of who was riding that KTM. I think it was a 400. It seemed that they were the first out of the gate with racing a 4 stroke in the 250 class back then. I wondered why they dropped out of the running with the technology of the four strokes emerging.
Joined Jun 2008
1K Posts | 98+
Simi Valley Ca.
Is the fx 450 really 30 pounds heavier than the mx bikes?
Because the KTM and Honda are about 236lbs or so and Kawi and Suzuki are about 250lbs. Yamaha somewhere in there also. The mx bikes have suspension and gearing set up for track conditions which differs from off road set up. And although the new husaberg may be very tractable off road, how is it as a high flier?
Just asking , because that's somethng important in MX. Balance and quality air time .
For those who don't know. The KTM sx bikes are right up there with the japanese bikes in all aspects of MX and SX.
Pollo
Because the KTM and Honda are about 236lbs or so and Kawi and Suzuki are about 250lbs. Yamaha somewhere in there also. The mx bikes have suspension and gearing set up for track conditions which differs from off road set up. And although the new husaberg may be very tractable off road, how is it as a high flier?
Just asking , because that's somethng important in MX. Balance and quality air time .
For those who don't know. The KTM sx bikes are right up there with the japanese bikes in all aspects of MX and SX.
Pollo
The way I see it, SX is such a specialised sport, Husaberg is right to stay away and rather use their limited cash resources to play to a wider audience. The outdoor tracks and the great outdoors is where 99.9% of Husaberg customers spend their time, so why waste effort on winning SX?
Dont get me wrong, SX is a great spectacle and works well for the promoters, TV and general crowd appeal, but we are talking about actually riding the equipment here. Most of us are in this sport for recreation.
This whole discussion on bike weight really irritates me. Can someone weigh all the bikes, consistently, once and for all? The FX is max 8lbs heavier than a KTM 450 SX - mainly due to EFi. Frankly this is not weight that any average rider will notice.
If the administrators of the sport - back to AMA and SX here - had not intervened and forced the 4-stroke rules into the sport, we'd have the choice of riding super light 500cc 2-strokes today. :cuss:
Dont get me wrong, SX is a great spectacle and works well for the promoters, TV and general crowd appeal, but we are talking about actually riding the equipment here. Most of us are in this sport for recreation.
This whole discussion on bike weight really irritates me. Can someone weigh all the bikes, consistently, once and for all? The FX is max 8lbs heavier than a KTM 450 SX - mainly due to EFi. Frankly this is not weight that any average rider will notice.
If the administrators of the sport - back to AMA and SX here - had not intervened and forced the 4-stroke rules into the sport, we'd have the choice of riding super light 500cc 2-strokes today. :cuss:
09berg said:
I saw Shawn Highland ride a berg once at Seattle...and also the guy that you are thinking of but I cannot remember the guys name. He is from Wash state, and rode all sorts of series, not a full factory guy, but he had a very successful pro career...and this is killn me...I ... just ..... cannot..... remember.....
Joined Oct 2005
935 Posts | 21+
Texas
pollo said:
Pollo,
Some seem to be in a bit of denial regarding the weight of the 09 and up Bergs. They are over 270 pounds with a full tank of gas. So, compared to the lightest weight motocrosser on the market, the Honda, there really is a 30 pound difference. Not that I care or worry about it--I love my FX!
Sorry to burst your bubble guys, but the husaberg is no mx or sx bike and never will be. Infact its an absolute pig in the air and that goes for the whole range including the fx.
Its the achilles heel of the husaberg if you like, because of the way it carries its weight rearward and the gyratory mass etc etc. All makes it difficult to handle with any poise or balance .
Heres a pic of me on mx track with ktm.
To put it into perspective, that is a ktm 525 exc , which is a trail/enduro bike , not mx, yet that handles way, way better than my berg.
The other mistake husaberg made in selling was claiming their 4st was a 2st which makes buyers think of mx & sx.
Their slogan for 2011 is ' Ok, we lied, they are four strokes which is why we brought out some two strokes for you' .
If you want to see winners on Husaberg then my money is on Graham Jarvis (here in UK) who incidentally has chosen a 2st rather than 4st.
Its the achilles heel of the husaberg if you like, because of the way it carries its weight rearward and the gyratory mass etc etc. All makes it difficult to handle with any poise or balance .
Heres a pic of me on mx track with ktm.
To put it into perspective, that is a ktm 525 exc , which is a trail/enduro bike , not mx, yet that handles way, way better than my berg.
The other mistake husaberg made in selling was claiming their 4st was a 2st which makes buyers think of mx & sx.
Their slogan for 2011 is ' Ok, we lied, they are four strokes which is why we brought out some two strokes for you' .
If you want to see winners on Husaberg then my money is on Graham Jarvis (here in UK) who incidentally has chosen a 2st rather than 4st.
Joined Jun 2008
1K Posts | 98+
Simi Valley Ca.
Johnf3 said:
Just asking John,
I didn't know that the MX bikes were all weighed with a full tank of gas.
Thats probably about 12 lbs
My understanding was that dry weight was all fluids except Gas
And the Honda is 238 dry weight Maybe 250 with fuel huh?
The Husaberg website has the FX450 at 248lbs ready to race.
Lets just say thats dry weight without fuel. That would put it around 260 or so
So then its 10 lbs heavier than the Honda and the same as the Kawi and Suzuki
Unless they are lying and in denial of its true weight.
Pollo
I remember that KTM roaring out in front as the gate dropped in Seattle! Thundering noise in the old Kingdome! Crowd going wild! 2 strokers grabbing gear after gear as the 4 stroker nailed the holeshots. Technology really has changed the game. Thanks for that picture of Snail's bike. Great memories.
Johnf3 said:
Here's a picture of Lance's bike. I saw him try and qualify this thing at the Phoenix Supercross in 1997. My ears are still ringing. That thing was a beast, and the crowd loved rooting for both the bike and rider.
sweet pic, alum tank, I wonder what displacement the engine is? as well as other differences to teh std bike
Noise = sonic pulse propulsion
Joined Oct 2005
935 Posts | 21+
Texas
[/quote:3purmnhy]fryguy said:
lee,
The bike displacement was 540cc, which was the AMA limit at the time for the one off four strokes. It has body work from a 250 sx, a DellOrto carb that Tom Moen got from a Husaberg, no air box, and a custom exhaust that comes out the right side instead of the left like stock. The coolest parts are the custom Marzocchi forks, which are a true twin chamber design. Otherwise, the bike has a lot of stock pieces.
This is a historic bike. The first four stroke to qualify for a AMA Supercross.
09berg said:
It was Lance Smail, and he was on a 520 or 540, IIRC.
EDIT- Ha, I didnt read the thread far enough..
Looks like I was beaten to the punch!Similar threads
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