Looking at a Husaberg purchase - 2006, 2008, or new 2009?

Hi from a newbie to this site!

A brief history on myself:
About 1 year ago I purchased a new 2007 Kawasaki KLX-250S and I have ridden it about 6,000 miles. I do the simple wrenching on it and have done simple mods like decorking it, new front fork springs, new exhaust, and similar stuff. I have been riding on the street and off road in Arizona (USA). It's time for an upgrade to support my growing experience and demands.

I DO NOT want a Kawasaki/Suzuki/Honda 650 dual sport that weighs over 300lbs and has weak suspension. From reading a lot on ADVrider, ThumperTalk, and a few other sites, I was generally pushed towards KTM options like the 690 Enduro or the Husqvarna TE-610. I made the pilgrimage to Premier Motorsports in Phoenix, Arizona to look at the Husqvarna TE-610 and soon realized it was not for me with it's weight and my lack of being a body builder to wrestle such a heavy ride off-road. The Husaberg they had on the showroom floor really appealed to me. In addition to it's lighter weight, it appears to have superior suspension to what I see on similar rides including the various Japanese models I have looked at.

Assessing my purchase options (all new) , I can get a 2006 FE-450 in Phoenix or a 2008 FE-450 shipped on the low side of ~$6K. The main differences I have found between the 2006 and 2008 FE-450 models is the lack of accessory lights for dual sporting in the factory crate for the 2008 over the 2006 which are included and the black Excel rims and forks on the 2008 which look like a cosmetic maintenance issue when they get scratched up offroad.

I'm also trying to assess whether I should wait and save a little longer to get the new 2009 model. Currently, I think I would prefer the 2006/2008 carb over the 2009 EFI model since it is a simpler well proven fuel/air delivery system that is unlikely to cause me trouble. The EFI would probably be nice for cold weather riding and altitude changes (9000 down to 2000 feet). The new 2009 motor looks trick and probably has some handling advantage that the prior version lacks however the prior generation seems to be a really good handling ride. I'm also a little concerned the new 2009's may have some teething troubles that come with most new clean sheet designs.

What advice do you have for someone like myself with limited but growing experience? Should I avoid the extra expense and possible new model problems of the 2009's and stick with the proven prior generation? Since the Phoenix dealer really isn't local to me, should I opt for shipping in a crated 2008 FE-450 at a similar price point and building it up and plating it myself? What other issues and considerations am I missing?

TIA,
Sid

Thanks everyone. It sounds like a 2006/2008 model is the better choice for me from what I quickly read last night and in this thread.

I had sort of initially ruled out the 650 thinking it would be too harsh in the power department off road so not that much fun. Also, all the guys I see off road seem to really prefer the 400-450cc rides. Since the weight on a 450/550/650 Husaberg is essentially the same with very similar powerplants, the only thing I seem to be trading off is brute power. However, a 650 with tall gearing for street use would probably reduce the nastiness off road of brutal acceleration and power (60+ RW HP).

I rode a KTM 380 2-smoke once. That thing would run like I have never seen. It was so fast accelerating with such harsh brutal power I didn't actually enjoy riding it. However, my skill level at the time was very low so it was clearly way over my head and I really shouldn't have been in the saddle on that monster ride. Even today, I don't think I would ride that thing anywhere but a smooth open field.

I think I might start shopping for a used 650. If I can find one for a good price that isn't too beat up, it might prove a better choice for me. Is the "Owner's Doc" link a good place to read up on what to look for in a used Husaberg? I really want to make sure I don't end up buying someone else's problematic ride.

What are the average sales prices of new 2008 models? US pricing information in dollars seems to be hard to find.

That 550 in Mesa, AZ may get a visit from me in a week or two.

Thanks,
Sid

If only I where that far NorthWest ....

When I called a dealer about the 450/550/650 options, the guy on the phone said that even though they all weigh the same, the 650 would feel 30 pounds heavier when I rode it. Does the extra mass in motion really have that much affect on the ride quality? Is this part of the reason why the 450's seem to rule most places that aren't wide open and high speed? I know the extra power in a 650 can be a little tougher to use in tight twisty knarly stuff but, the sales guy indicated it was really about the extra rotational mass.

This statement also seemed to tie into the 2009 models pretty well so, it may have just been a sales pitch to sell me a 2009 model.

Thanks!
Sid