Ktm guy is looking to make a switch to Husaberg

I will give advise based on my personal opinions as I find it quite interesting you are looking for gobs and gobs of power and you noted that you are not a good rider.

First of all, it is not power that takes you to the trophy. It is the ability to handle, control and be the least fatigued rider to help you win that race even if it is a nice ride for the day with friends. It is always better to be able to be relaxed and not always having to handle the machine during everything your doing.

A big powered bike will always be heavy no matter how you look at it. The SXF450 is a great supercross machine but that's about all it is good for no matter what you do or how you gear it. It has gobs of power, is light and rigid and handles great but one problem. It is set up for one purpose only and that's motocross/supercross. All the mods you posted are great but I could almost guarantee a xcw out of the box even in a 250 would take a experienced rider further, faster and at the end of the day still have the ability to do another run

All the guys I ride with went through a bigger is better era a few years back and all on the big Husa's. They have all downsized as the pain from crashing, fatigue from the rides were killing them. I dropped down from a 450 to 350 over the last few years and am even thinking of a 250 in the near future.

When riding a smaller 250/350 that is nice and light, handles well and is in top running condition will leave the big machines behind as the rides will be struggling and working themselves to death while you work the machine with little or no effort.

If you look at the top riders you will find them on 300 2t's and 350 4t's. You can only use so much power until it becomes unmanageable.

Might want to look into a older 500's KTM RFS exc, xc something like that if you really need the power, light and great suspension. Also something to think about is technology if looking for power in a light machine. 08 machine vs 15 machine will be no comparison. My 14 350 has tons more juice than my 06 400 did.

your 08 650 is gonna have about 55/60hp
2015 ktm 350 is about 50hp with exhaust and some tuning and only 215pounds or so. Chances are that your 450 had more hp than the 650 does and is way lighter.

Just some food for thought Bigger always isn't better, I ride with a guy on a small little trials bike and I can not even think about keeping up to him in the tight single track, only place I got a hope is on the open

I like my Husaberg 650 just fine. I've ridden the 450s the 570s and own a Ktm 500.
Its all about who you are and what you like. Don't tell Bushmechanic he doesn't need all that power or his bikes feel heavy.
The guy is interested in an 08 650. Let him be.

pollo

I never even rode a dirtbike other than friends pit bikes at the empty lot when I was a kid.
"Drove" a KZ650 to work and school for 4 years from age 16-20 then nothing for decades.

At 46 in 2011 bought my first dirtbike, a 2005 FS650.
While most supermotos never make it off the pavement, mine sure did.

I spent many many hours just learning how to ride it in nearly every condition possible.

While I've crashed it over 40 times, it's not because of its power. Mostly due to mud or difficult terrain, and 17" street tires.

Really learned throttle control because of the lack of traction.
Also learned difficult terrain is much easier the faster you go.

Later on, had no problems on difficult trails running 21/18 knobs.
Never over my head, never intimidated by it.

I'm 6'4 200 pounds, and it never felt heavy for me, but I've never ridden a light two stroke or the like.

I'm sure you will be fine.

polska said:

In our group there was Huskavarna 450, Husaberg 390 & 450, Huskavarna 250 4 stroke and Drz 400 jetted with full Akrapovich. Husaberg 450 was my second choice but my bike was by far my favourite. Was most powerful, ran perfect from idle to max rpm,never missed a beat and put biggest smile on my face. Thats priceless. Sure you had to respect the power sooo.....I did I am not a teenager. My cousins were afraid to ride it, but for me that dragon was a friend. With all the mods it had I think 650 won't be that much more if any at the speed and terrain that we do. First gear will be slower and suspension probably softer and that's what I want. I will get one sooner or later and I mey have to get 07 525 exc to plug the void in the meantime.

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I was just giving some food for thought, I would never want to steer anyone away from a Husa, Just wanted to ensure you had the most fun with what you are doing. If it is a beast you are looking for than that will be the machine for sure. I have seen them on craigslist now and then and I will be sure to forward any link I find. Since you are in BC Canada, I will be pleased to look at any machine in my area should you find one and forward the info and help with transport if you find one out here

I had a 2000 KTM 520, the first year was the fastest of the rfs KTM's I loved the explosive power of it. I replaced it with a 2007 and was disappointed with the smooth linear power delivery. Yes it was better as a trail bike, but lacked the fun factor. I decided to buy a FE650 because more is better. I was surprised it didn't have the hit of the old 520 and I wondered what all the fuss was about. But I fell in love with it anyway, the power delivery is beautiful, it destroys hills and It's tractable in mud.

Im 56 and would probably be better off on a 250, I'm also sure if I rode some of the newer bikes I would find something lighter, faster and better handling, but it wouldn't be the same. There's just something special about those 650's. Besides I've always chosen my motorcycles with my heart not my head.

I'm 62 and love my 2007 FE650. Still ride it ST, and occasionaly out in the desert, as well as fire trails in the forest around here.

Smooth, with torque and throttle response everywhere, no need to rev it to be quick on it.

And the old saying is true, "If you're good enough, the bike's good enough".

I have other options in the shed, but its the FE650 that gets me excited thinking about what's to come when I twist the throttle.

I also get much pleasure from seeing peoples reaction, their eyes especially, after test riding it..... 122 kgs wet, armoured, and blinged, 63 Dynojet hp at the knobs, and torque from 2,500 rpm does that. Not to mention a well developed set of shim stacks each end.

If I wanted to compete or be as quick or quicker then the local guys I would buy a 350. But I don't do this to be fast or to compete, I do this for fun. And a 570 is fun! I also like that I have to stay fit to wrestle with the power in gnarly terrain, the bike keeps me fit.
i prefer an experience before position, fun before ego

Smooth, as in not much vibes, as well as power delivery. I also have a couple of DR650s which are condiered to be very smooth for big singles, the Berg isn't much rougher, but its definitely noisier mechanically. Don't confuse actual vibes with engine noise.

Hopping off my FE650 onto a KTM 520/525, the 520/525 engine feels like a 250.

And if you are focussing on the vibes while riding, you're not having a go anyway.... They are not boneshakers like my old IT490 and other big 2ts in years gone by.

07s and 08s are pretty much the same bike.

OTTOMH there were some minor changes, maybe oil pump seal which can still be a problem anyway. Its really their only chronic problem, somewhat addressed with an ORANGEBERG kit.

At maybe 150 hrs they can use a cam chain and some double valve springs before the stockers break. Then there is BNG.

Keep fresh oil up to them and they are solid.

I am still having trouble with this

So most are saying that it is just out of the world to twist the throttle of the 650 with all the torque and having the ability to roll the throttle softly to get the machine to move fast.

I am having a hard time with what all the excitement is about????? 60hp??? Big deal, it is old technology, it is heavy to throw around. Why would this be fun???

Now newer technology gives hp and hp is hp no matter how you look at it. Lets take a 2015 YZ450 out of the box almost making 60hp just shy of. Lets take it and tune it. Now we have well over 60hp and a lighter machine much better suspension, faster throttle response, better curve over the roll. Just far superior all around and yes this is a 450

Just because the number 650 is higher than all the rest does not mean anything. I do appreciate having the ability of saying I own a 650, but like I noted before unless you need the number 650 to prove something, why not buy something more reliable, easier to fix in the parts department and have the same fun, You can always put a 650 decal on the side haha.

Why would it be more fun to ride a 650 than a 450 or 500?? The all are comparable and most can not handle the power and or ever really use it anyways. The whole thing here was the issue of the inexperienced rider who has the need for a 650 lol, makes no sense what so ever. Would be like buying a high end sports car without the ability to get it outta first gear??

IMHO, I believe this is about having bigger and better than what the other has and nothing more.
These are enduro/motorcross/supermoto machines made for that purpose, not dragsters lol unless designed as such

Yes to each his own but just sayin

Have you ridden a well setup 650 FE350? I've ridden a few FE350s and for me they are revvy little buzz boxes. Fast on ST? No doubt with a competent rider. If I was still racing, unless it was a grass track natural terrain mx, then there are better/faster tools than the 650. But not as fun IMHO. As you note, each to his own, and I like my FE650.

Is an FE650 a beginner bike? For most, likely not, a benign 250/300 4T likely is, like my perpetual beginner missus' KLX300. But that wasn't the question up front.

Don't have one let but You guys are forgetting about torque. Horsepower is great but torque will get up those hills and out of or into trouble.

Torque :drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:

polska said:

Hey Steve! You got five bikes?! So............

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PS,
Formula for ideal number of bikes n is n = n + 1