- Joined
- Apr 28, 2004
- Messages
- 518
- Location
- Arizona
Read most of the posts and I see am alarming # of them dealing with the Reliability, or more specific, lack of reliability of Husabergs. Because I have been riding 25 years, worked for American Honda as a pro wrench, and have been riding Husabergs exclusively the last 10 (I am on my 6th Berg),I feel it is fair to make some contradictory comments here.
I have seen the tremendous refinement Husabergs have gone through since my first 92 499. Power is now smoother, vibration is less, cluthes don't drag, suspension is close out of the box, handling is sharper, and quality is becoming somewhat "Honda like". Yet with all the refinements, they haven't lost their original charm of having big controllable power in a tight lightweight package. All positives in my eye, but little spoken of here.
As far as reliability goes, I have yet to have a catostrophic failure! Yes they do need good oil changed frequently, a few water pump seals, a stator now and then, the valves checked frequently, and regular inspection\replacement of the rocker rollers. I don't consider anything listed as excessive. I had to replace stators in my old 2 strokes now and then, clean power valves, replace rod bearings, and replace pistons on a regular basis. Not muck difference in my eye.
Not to say every one here is wrong, I simply wonder if all the proper maintainance is always performed? Working for Honda, I found the fellow that performs his maintainance like clockwork a rare bird and sometimes even if it is done, it wasn't done correctly. I also continuously saw riders doing some rather bizare things like riding/revving a 500 like a 125, riding a race machine on the Highway continuously at a high rate of speed, or revving the machine to the rev limiter at every shift. BIG SINGLES with old fashioned rockers don't take well to being continuous revved like a small dual overhead cam KLX 300! Hondas ridden under similar conditions tended to crap out as well. I also remember these fellows being rather vocal.
In summary, I just don't see the Bergs as a P.O.S. some make them out to be, and feel other unspoken factors could be at issue here. I would also hate to see too much bad press send Husaberg down the tubes, because I plan on a 7th.
To those with real issues, I apologize in advance.
Dan
I have seen the tremendous refinement Husabergs have gone through since my first 92 499. Power is now smoother, vibration is less, cluthes don't drag, suspension is close out of the box, handling is sharper, and quality is becoming somewhat "Honda like". Yet with all the refinements, they haven't lost their original charm of having big controllable power in a tight lightweight package. All positives in my eye, but little spoken of here.
As far as reliability goes, I have yet to have a catostrophic failure! Yes they do need good oil changed frequently, a few water pump seals, a stator now and then, the valves checked frequently, and regular inspection\replacement of the rocker rollers. I don't consider anything listed as excessive. I had to replace stators in my old 2 strokes now and then, clean power valves, replace rod bearings, and replace pistons on a regular basis. Not muck difference in my eye.
Not to say every one here is wrong, I simply wonder if all the proper maintainance is always performed? Working for Honda, I found the fellow that performs his maintainance like clockwork a rare bird and sometimes even if it is done, it wasn't done correctly. I also continuously saw riders doing some rather bizare things like riding/revving a 500 like a 125, riding a race machine on the Highway continuously at a high rate of speed, or revving the machine to the rev limiter at every shift. BIG SINGLES with old fashioned rockers don't take well to being continuous revved like a small dual overhead cam KLX 300! Hondas ridden under similar conditions tended to crap out as well. I also remember these fellows being rather vocal.
In summary, I just don't see the Bergs as a P.O.S. some make them out to be, and feel other unspoken factors could be at issue here. I would also hate to see too much bad press send Husaberg down the tubes, because I plan on a 7th.
To those with real issues, I apologize in advance. Dan
