Husky rider considering an 06 FE450e

Hi I'm new

I ride a 2005 TE-510 which I have dual sported and love the bike. I'm older C rider but ride every weekend. I ride woods and some desert. I'm a pretty ok rider, slower but experienced as I ride so much. I do ok in family enduros, and have rode the nastier regular enduro trails many times but at 50 years old dont have the endurance for those 90 mile enduros. what I'm trying to say is I'm a dedicated weekend warrior type NOT a Racer, not a harescramble guy at all, more woods and some desrt stuff.

I started riding again just 3 years ago on a DRZ -S, moved up to the husky last year. This year I want to expand my quiver, I'm hoping to buy a second bike for my garage. I'm keeping the husky. I'm either looking at a KTM400exc.. ( the 510 is a bit big feeling in tight stuff.)........or the husaberg line. I have learned my power limits with the 510.. but love it too, if I didnt have the husky 510 then a 550e would be in order. But for my second bike I'm really more focused on the 450 size.

I have just started to learn about husabergs, like what I see. Sat on a new 06 Fe550e at MotoXotica the other day and really liked it. My main question at this time is the 450e has a compression ratio of 13:1 while the 550e has a 11.8:1 compression ratio. I like the short stroke engines as my husky is short stroke too, but that 13;1 compression ratio made me think gee I know husabergs are race bikes, but maybe the 450e is too much a race bike for a guy who is a beginner mechanic and needs reliability. whats the deal with that 13:1 compression ratio? and the bigger question - should a non racer weekend warrior consider buying a 06 Fe45e? good idea?

go easy on me I'm a beginning motorcyclist so if my question is naive well let me know.

thanks

Big Bob
I think I know you from TT. I am also somewhat BIG BOB and I found the 501 to be just about THE BEST riding and handling bike ever. The power is so linier that I personally think it would be a mistake to go for the 4fiddy and not the 5fiddy. I ride alot as do you both in the fast desert and the tight stuff at Georgetown,Strawberry Forrest hills, Downieville, Idaho, etc. Put the 5fiddy one gear up and have fun in the tight stuff and never shift but you always have the ability to do 3rd,4th,5th gear power wheelies and after all thats what it is all about.
One big problem though:
I remember when you dumped the drz for the WOLF
well if you go berg put the wolf out to rest as the berg is as big an improvement over the Husky as the husky was over the DRZ. :twisted:
Welcome to the fold

I am 45 and purchased the 450 for trail riding with my wife and kid. The power is very smooth and torquey but will snap to life if you rev it. And I really like the ultra light weight feeling. For me its a perfect trailbike.

If I rode with friends mostly instead of family I would go for the 550 just to be able to smoke them all down wide open sand washes.

Theoretically the 450 should be more reliable as it shares just about all the components with its bigger brothers.

Like Bob said though the 501 would probably be the best size motor for all occasions. Too bad they stopped making it.

Bigbob,
Welcome.....If you can get Dan to let you ride the 550, the wolf will be relagated to a backup/spare bike. I have an 05 TE450, which I do enjoy. The Husky is great as a bike to toodle around on. It fits the purpose I bought it for which is primarily large slow moving group rides. I am not trying to bash the Husky, but it in no way compares with the Bergs for handelling, suspension or out and out performance. The Berg motors pull from off the very bottom all the way to the top. I being roughly the same class and age rider think you would enjoy the 550 more than the 450. In anything but the real tight singletrack the 550 is much easier to ride in my opinion.

You have been warned....ride it and you will buy it!! May the Force be with you.

ok what about suspension. I'm 6'5" 255 lbs. I needed springs on my DRZ - racetech had em, I needed a rear shock spring on my husky and revalve for trail work on the forks - Dicks Racing did the revalve work on forks and shock and the new shock spring installed. all for only $650 - good deal.

I figure I'll need at least a new stiffer shock spring for the berg, but ya know........I'm easy too, not in a hurry to spend more money. I've asked Dan for the springs rates........ at my weight, I assume I need to respring it. Dan says the forks have stiffer springs then the 03 version.

sorry to ramble and I can do the springs reasearch myself don't mean to ask that question here, but what about springs for a big guy on a berg? needed?

UHE I apollogise for sending BibBoober over to the great HUSABERG.ORG
This wonderful site will never be the same BigBooper is a thread hog!!!

Hey Bob welcome to the best site on the planet, when you get a chance tell Schwin (Jason) thanks for keeping this site going. Berger is purtting on ride in AZ next feb. I hope to make it it not around presidents weekend. Give Boomer a nice treat for me.

Kraig Traum
D36 Committeeman
CERA President
cera.org

Hey Bob,
I am 5'11'' 250. I have never so much as touched a clicker on my 04 650. The suspension works well for me where as the Husky could probably use a little help. Since I dont ride the Husky as fast as the Berg it's not a real big issue.

thanks........and kraig has no berg no more.

I am not a post hog in my Husky forum. and if I'm lucky and can see my way to afford the payment for a fe450e I will be nice in here too.

By the way guys as nice as that 550 e is........ I am only interested in the 450. I dont need a 550 going up rocky tight goat trails I allready have a 510 for that thrill and in tight stuff......I would like something smaller for an option not the Big Bad 550 e although it is tempting. as I would love to ride that 550 e up some hills at Clear Creek

I want a smaller bike as my companion for the wolf.

Bob, you will love the 450. Two more days of being a UHE member and you'll be frothing at the mouth and standing at motoxotica waiting for Dan to finish prepping you new steed. :twisted: :lol: Once you get Husey fever, there is no cure, you can only maintain the addiction with regular doses of "the bike". I am a two time former Husey owner ('92 fe501 and '02 fx470), I'll be back!

BigBob, I am fairly new to Bergs too but I have a new 04 fe550. I know you are thinking the 450 but suspension wise they should be the same. I am 6'2 230 and the suspension was great for me. I ride as hard as I can and I know that if I were to try to heighten my level of ride and try to compete I would have to do some extra work for it. But as it is I would not think of suspension upgrades. It may not be the same for everyone but for me it was something I did not have to think about while riding so that makes me happy. A new seat though, that is something that I have thought of, especially during that fist sit down in the camping chair after a long ride.

well I just got an e mail from mom after I sent her that picture of the blue 06 Fe450e...she sent back a whole paragraph how I got to slow down and "think, don't be rash" that I'm "always looking to stir the pot to make my life exciting..."

yeah keep talking mom., that's the way, you're driving me right to the bank and right into Dan MotoXotica's hands. ::lol:

you guys have bunches of funky emoticons on this site. some of you been here three years and only have like 600 posts???? are you sure you want ME to get a husaberg ? :flower: arty: opcorn:

Well the outcome sounds pretty obvious to me Bob. You take the wolf to the pound and buy a 450 and 550 Berg. The parts are all interchangable and your down to one website.
Stop the procrastination and be the first on your block to own 2 Bergs. Later on we can work on getting you off the minibikes and have you add a 650 to the stable.

Come on Bob, this is a no brainer :idea:

P.S.
If you ever need any help spending your money, I'm always available :wink:

Oh...and did we fail to mention the 1 year warranty. :cheers:

yeah I knew of the warrenty. I'm going to the bank I just posted a week long ride post T week in Thumpertalk and I got enduros coming up and more rides. I NEED TWO bikes. I just do.

Hey Mr. BigBob do I get to take your new bike for a ride!! what are you going to call it since the Husky 510 is the BIG BAD WOLF

Kraig

Be nice to me or I'll DQ you from the enduro

Just ordered "The Berg" 06 FE450e from Dan at MotoXotica. Ride the Wolf & the BERG! is my new motto. Thanks guys for the info and encouragement to spend my money. YOU're gonna see a lot of me. There goes the Berg neighborhood.

Ok what handguards? Blue pro bend Cycras or? what skid plate? Radiator guards? other mods issues to be aware of. Break in advice? etc etc clue me in boys. I OWN A HUSABERG I'm stoked.

How about Fastway handguards, Utah Sports skidplate, BOSS radiator guards and perhaps a Scotts rear disc guard for starters 8)

Fastway I like, hmm what color? Black maybe goes with blue and the Black seat

Also pick up an Optimate III battery charger and always keep it plugged in when not in use. Those YTZ batteries are a bit pricey and the Optimate will keep it in good shape.

husabutt said:

Also pick up an Optimate III battery charger and always keep it plugged in when not in use. Those YTZ batteries are a bit pricey and the Optimate will keep it in good shape.

Click to expand...

Dan tells me even though it's left side kick, the bike is easy to kick start.

yes I have a battery tender for my husky.......... just as good as optimate I presume.