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R

rod-d

Joined
Nov 10, 2011
Messages
7
Hi all,

I have been doing a lot of research on different manufacturers 450-ish Enduros, and have mostly decided on a Husaberg. They generally seem to be very reliable when compared to others I have read about (Honda CRF450X) and have better suspension than just about everything. Anyway, I have been reading about maintenance and even downloaded the manual to look at intervals for regular maintenance, and it seems that there is a fair amount to be done, and often. I realize they are high performance, and that is okay with me. I wonder mostly about the more advanced things like checking the valve clearance, since it is supposed to be done every 3 hours and seems kind of excessive to me. Is this normal, and is it something that someone fairly mechanical can do on his own? I have a Berg dealer close to me, but I do like to do maintenance on my vehicles myself if possible. It also looks to me like the engine needs to be torn down at 90 hour intervals for "hobby use" and this is kind of alarming to me, but again maybe normal. This will be my first dirt bike since my xr75 when I was a kid :) and I expect to keep it a long time, so I just want to understand what I am getting into. Thanks.
 
rod-d said:
Hi all,

I have been doing a lot of research on different manufacturers 450-ish Enduros, and have mostly decided on a Husaberg. They generally seem to be very reliable when compared to others I have read about (Honda CRF450X) and have better suspension than just about everything. Anyway, I have been reading about maintenance and even downloaded the manual to look at intervals for regular maintenance, and it seems that there is a fair amount to be done, and often. I realize they are high performance, and that is okay with me. I wonder mostly about the more advanced things like checking the valve clearance, since it is supposed to be done every 3 hours and seems kind of excessive to me. Is this normal, and is it something that someone fairly mechanical can do on his own? I have a Berg dealer close to me, but I do like to do maintenance on my vehicles myself if possible. It also looks to me like the engine needs to be torn down at 90 hour intervals for "hobby use" and this is kind of alarming to me, but again maybe normal. This will be my first dirt bike since my xr75 when I was a kid :) and I expect to keep it a long time, so I just want to understand what I am getting into. Thanks.
Click to expand...

What year berg are we talking about I would assume you are looking at a new bike?

I have checked the valves on me 2010 2 times and they have never moved I pretty much quit checking them as did most other people. And as far as a complete tear down it depends on what type of riding you do if you mostly trail ride i wouldn't worry about it if you compete then yes the intervals are shorter. I know a guy who we rode with got 170 hours before replacing the top end and even then he only changed the rings everything else was fine, if you look on here you also find others with 100's of hours with out issue
 
nice.. that is what I like to hear. Yes it will be a new bike. Trying to decide on an FE 390 or 450. Local dealer has a demo 450 and a new '11 390. I definitely won't be racing and will be mostly woods/trails with the kids. If anything I would expect high carbon buildup :mrgreen: . I want to ease into it and get something that I can be comfortable riding, and then be able to do moderate jumps and general enduro-style riding. Nothing fancy. I am 6'3" 180 pounds, I figure either of them would be enough? Of course the 450 will have more torque, I am not so concerned about top speed in either case. I definitely don't want to get something that I will outgrow because they are expensive and I have learned the hard way on so many things to buy right the first time. I guess those are more off topic thoughts, so back to maintenance. It sounds like there is nothing to worry about. I am just now reading through the wiki on this site with some good information, any more thoughts on things to watch out and be careful with would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Hi rod-d,

My 2009 570 has 139 hrs on the clock, the valve clearences have never been done and are still in spec. :D

Steve
 
rod-d said:
nice.. that is what I like to hear. Yes it will be a new bike. Trying to decide on an FE 390 or 450. Local dealer has a demo 450 and a new '11 390. I definitely won't be racing and will be mostly woods/trails with the kids. If anything I would expect high carbon buildup :mrgreen: . I want to ease into it and get something that I can be comfortable riding, and then be able to do moderate jumps and general enduro-style riding. Nothing fancy. I am 6'3" 180 pounds, I figure either of them would be enough? Of course the 450 will have more torque, I am not so concerned about top speed in either case. I definitely don't want to get something that I will outgrow because they are expensive and I have learned the hard way on so many things to buy right the first time. I guess those are more off topic thoughts, so back to maintenance. It sounds like there is nothing to worry about. I am just now reading through the wiki on this site with some good information, any more thoughts on things to watch out and be careful with would be appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...


I wanted the 390 originally cause I just came off my FE400 but I ended up getting the 450 cause it was a better deal at the time Im glad I did though the power is supper smooth and not violent like a MX bike I actually wished I would have gotten the 570 just cause nothing pulls like a big 4 stroke but the 450 does a nice all around job I have heard no complaints about the 390 either but the berg 450 I think is pry best for all around
 
yeah it is a hard decision because while the 390 is spankin' new, the 450 is $1k cheaper. Seems like a no-brainer, but the 390 is so shiny :mrgreen:
 
I replace oil & filter every 10rs & check valves every 30 hrs which is probably ott, mate uses car oil his & hardly changes it & got over 200 hrs on & all is fine sofar
The first time i checked valves i took the tank off which is pain in the arse, now i just drop/hang the rads, its a bit tigt but can be done in under an hr
 
i had this a week agom today at the dirtbike show. a pair of brothers sat with me for coffeee and we got talking. they want to get back into dirt bikes for the first time for years and they's been recommended the 390 as the starter or the 250T.

but the dealer obviously didn't compute: a 450 on the soft setting can be like a ***** and 'just like a 390'. but at least when you're ready you can have a 450!

so to me, after a life time of 'you need this or that' people need to adjust their brains!

buy a 450 and have a 390, a 450 or 570 all in one afternoon!

Phil at HTM was telling me they now have customers with 500 hours on them and they haven't even set the tappets. I MEAN, JEEEZZZ! :D :D :D

the joke now is that they are more reliable than the KTMs coz we don't even have the injector problems.

regards

Taffy
 
Thanks a lot guys, this really puts my mind at ease about the maintenance. When it comes to hobby stuff I would rather be doing the hobby than working on it. I certainly don't mind wrenching on stuff, and that is a hobby in itself, but when it is a beautiful day and I can't ride because I have to turn wrenches that would not make me happy. Sounds like the 450 is the way to go, I hadn't considered the map settings. Thanks again.
 
you need to live where you get more "beautiful days" than you can use, then wrenching isn't so bad.
 
ned37 said:
you need to live where you get more "beautiful days" than you can use, then wrenching isn't so bad.
Click to expand...

Don't I know it. I live in Columbus, Ohio and aside from the lousy weather we don't have a lot of great spots to ride that I can tell. There are a couple small places that I think I can ride close to where I live, but otherwise will probably be trekking off to Wayne National Forest. I need to get my son more acclimated to riding before we do that though. Oh, and most importantly I need to convince my wife to let me get the 'Berg :).
 
Chief Lee Visceral said:
Rod,

Install radiator guards before you ride. Maybe disc guards to but radiator guards for sure.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I was thinking about the disc guard, I like that the Honda 450X comes with that. I wish the 'Berg version also covered the caliper, maybe that is not necessary.

Are you talking about the rails that surround the radiator (below), or something else? I was also thinking of a radiator fan, I can see myself getting into trouble without it.

780.35.936.000-2T.jpg
 
I just checked my FX450 at 68 hrs and valve clearances were perfect. No adjustment necessary. :cheers:

Also I recommend the Enduro Engineering rad cages. And yes, you can mount the cooling fan using these cages (at least on the FX450). I tried to upload my pics, but being my second post at this site, it wouldn't let me. :(

Have fun with the new bike!
 
Well I had to go out of town this week for work, and of course when I got back the FE 450 was gone. So now it is between a 2011 KTM 450 XC-W ISDE and a 2011 FE 390. I am kind of bummed but at the same time there wasn't anything I could do about it. I am thinking the 390 will be enough for me, but I wonder if the nagging in the back of my mind of "shoulda got the 450" will get the best of me. Of course the 390 is EFI, but the 450 has the fan and some other nice components that I like. They are the same price.

One thing I keep reading is that the 450 is sometimes too strong on the low end, but it also has the ignition switch like the Berg. I also wonder about the weight distribution of the KTM versus Berg, I kind of like the idea of the higher COG on the Berg, but I haven't ridden either one so I can't really make an informed decision. I hate reading the magazine reviews, but they are the best I have right now. Thoughts?
 
Performance between the ktm and bergs would be simular, unless you get the 570 which is in its own league due to no other enduro bike having the same amount of grunt, the rest of the ktm v berg range are very simular, ppl get bergs I believe to have something special and differant to the crowd. Ktms are much like other brands in design, bergs as far as design are in a league of their own and that is enough to make me and anyone that comes in my shed sit down with a beer and look at the bike for hrs on end, which as well as being a great bike to ride gives you an all round great experience. Go the berg.
I own a 570 btw
 
If you'd like to read a really good review of the FE570, go to www.dirtrider.com and read the review by Jimmy Lewis in the March 2011 edition. I think it'll help you decide.
 
I do beleive a 390 would beat a 450 or 570 in an enduro race.. just my opinion .. smaller displacement, higher reving, more control etc.

Just my opinion
 
Well, there's certainly no weight advantage between them. Husaberg lists the weight of the 390 and 450 as 114 kg, and the weight of the 570 as 114.5 kg. I don't know when LESS horsepower and less torque is a racing advantage, but I can sure think of a lot of instances where MORE horsepower and more torque is a racing advantage.

But I don't race. I bought my 570 for use in the Colorado Rockies where most of the riding is above 6,000 feet in altitude and quite a bit of it is above 10,000 feet. I think that if you're at altitude you'll end up with more power if you start with more power. I'm not a big guy - only weigh 155 lbs - but if I was a big guy, I sure wouldn't buy the 390.
 

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