like marrying a supermodel...

nevada_dirtbiker · Feb 18, 2006

I posted a help question in the tech forum, turns out all the guys were right. I had lost the bearing in my roller rocker, which took out the tappets, which took out the valves....you get the idea. I had just 11 hours of ride time on a new set of valves, valve seats, piston, and just 37 on the crank and rod bearings, cam chain, etc. The amount of time and money spent on this bike has been substantial. But I cant justify spending any more on it. No more throwing good money after bad. It's been like being married to a supermodel...she is lots of fun to "ride" and great to look at, but she turns out to be a really nasty... well you know. I need to say thank you to all of the berg enthusiasts on this forum, You guys are an awesome bunch. I love the passion thats always shown for the mark. Having now owned a 'berg, I understand that passion. I have never loved a dirt bike so much as I have loved my 99 fe400. I have also never hated a bike as much. The thing is, it seems all the painstaking maintanance and care (not to mention copius amounts of cash) have seemed to make no difference on this bike. I am heartbroken to say this, because for a time, I thought I was a 'berg rider for life. But I am done with Husaberg. my next bike will be a Service Honda CR500AFX. I told my husaberg dealer this, and he said "thats a $10000 dollar dirt bike! I simply replied "so is my broken Husaberg". Again, thanks to all of you guys who have been so willing to help.

whosahberg · Feb 18, 2006

did you replace the rockers as well as the rest of parts you mentioned ?. yes it's true bergs do need a lot of effort and $ spent , but what you put in you get back . it is not the machines fault, you have a 99 model . have you seen the 06 bergs , reliable , quick , handling .and look good give me the 06 650E over a supermodel anyday.
[er i think ] :eep:

nevada_dirtbiker · Feb 18, 2006

whosahberg said:
did you replace the rockers as well as the rest of parts you mentioned ?. yes it's true bergs do need a lot of effort and $ spent , but what you put in you get back . it is not the machines fault, you have a 99 model . have you seen the 06 bergs , reliable , quick , handling .and look good give me the 06 650E over a supermodel anyday.
[er i think ] :eep:

I didnt replace the rockers, but I sure wish I had now. Dang that 20/20 hindsight. OH but if only I had known. My berg, in the two years I have owned it, has been ridden a total of 37 hours. 37 hours. I have spent nearly $9000 on this bike. For 37 hours of ride time. It first broke 7 days after I purchased it, and that was memorial day weekend 2004. This was a bottom-end failure.The parts didnt arrive until after labor day weekend. I missed the entire summer. It sat all winter, waiting for the spring. I was able to ride it in the spring of 05 until it broke again. This was a catastrophic top-end failure. The bike was repaired in September, missing yet ANOTHER summer. It was then ridden 11 hours when it broke AGAIN. Had to haul it it home, and there it sat until I brought the bike to california two weeks ago. I took it to the dealer and the bad news was explained to me in detail. Currently, I own a total of 14 dirt bikes. The berg is (was) my favorite. Over the past 29 years (I am 41) I have owned more dirt bikes than I can count. In those 29 years, I have never owned a single bike that was as expensive, unreliable, or as hard to get parts for as my berg. Please dont take offense If I find some fault in the bike. As for now, I am planning on a proper viking funeral for the bike. Just kidding

Johnf3 · Feb 19, 2006

You really owe it to yourself to throw a leg over one of the new Husaberg's before you do the Service Honda CR 500 thing. If you want open class power like that, why not a FE 650? I bet peak HP numbers are close between the two, and in real world usable power, the Husaberg would dominate.

The CR 500 engine really hasn't changed since the late 80's. For your 10,000, you are getting an engine with no power valve, and not even a hard-plated cylinder. That is so early 80's, I hope you can grow a nice mullet.

And, you are buying a bike with an engine that is no longer even in production! I guess parts will continue to be available, but something I'd think about.

Yes, it's in a new chassis, but Honda's aluminum frame was designed for motocross. Husaberg's latest chassis handles better than any bike I've ever ridden. Depreciation on a 10,000 bike is going to be ugly. I have seen late model Service Honda bikes going cheap.

Everyone knows that the older 'Bergs had issues. The new ones are trouble free as a real race bike can be, and parts are not even an issue. The marque is gaining momentum like no other, presently.

I rode an open class two stroke for many years. My Husaberg is my second big bore four stroke. I would never, ever consider going back to a 500 class two stroke. I don't care how fancy the chassis is around the motor; in my book they are dinosaurs. Good luck with your new bike.

nevada_dirtbiker · Feb 19, 2006

Okay, that mullet thing was hilarious! Reminds me of a guy I worked with last year....he is 40-something, and is STILL sportin' a mullet, albiet with considerable grey. Grey mullets....something ironic about that. Anyways, one day I told him "the eighties called, they want thier hair style back". He wasnt amused. I thought it was hilarious. Oh well. Seriously though, what I want from a bike is mechanical simplicity, which two strokes simply have in spades. I considered a KTM 300xc-w, but they arent green sticker. The new '06 Service Honda cr500afX is green sticker, and its built on the crf250x chassis, not the motocross chassis. Lights, kickstand, 18" rear wheel, plush valving, the works. And big bore two strokes simply LAST. I have 4 seasons on my yamaha IT465's current top end, and it still runs like its fresh. I have no idea how recent the top end is in my YZ490, but it runs killer as well. Power valves on big bore two strokes I dont like. They take the fun out of the open-class two stroke experience. I found my power-valve equipped 97 kx500 so boring, I sold it. Truth is, now that my anger has subsided, I can consider owning a new berg, IF they are as much improved as everyone says they are. The 99 fe400 is getting parted out, cuz I am not putting another dime into that bike. So if anyone needs 99 fe400 parts....

Johnf3 · Feb 19, 2006

Glad you have a sense of humor! Yes, for sure big bore two strokes last and run forever, the Honda even more so, I'm sure. I can imagine your frustration over pouring that much money into your bike to no avail.

I have never owned an older Husaberg, so I can't say how good the new ones are over the older ones. BUT, I have owned many different brands of motorcycles, Japanese and Euro, and just previously came off a KTM 520exc. The new Husabergs are better!

like marrying a supermodel...

Help Support Husaberg:

nevada_dirtbiker

whosahberg

nevada_dirtbiker

Johnf3

nevada_dirtbiker

Johnf3

Similar threads

Register CTA

Recent Discussions

Recent Discussions