Master Enduro 2004

This is a quick and dirty review of Master Enduro 2004 from the Swedish magazine Bike.

The hp is lower than I remember from the test 2002. There a 501 had around 50 hp at rear wheel. However, the test is performed similar so you can compare the bikes even if the peak power isn't right.

The conclusion was that all of the bikes are good bikes. You need to find the bike that fits you best. However, the riders are very good so the result could be a lot different in hobby riders. I think WR 250 F was the class winner 2003 or 2002 but this year it finished in the bottom. Of course, the tracks aren't similar through the years so that will impact as well.

Husaberg FE 450 E
Smooth and easy to ride, revy engine and a broad power spectra, user friendly. Throttle response is good, slightly vibrations, easy clutch, firm but well-defined gearbox, good suspension.

Husaberg FE 550 E
Poor throttle response, vibrations, gearbox as above, hard to find neutral. The suspension works badly at high speed. The last bite in the brakes is missing.

Husaberg FE 650 E
Too much power. Has a tendency to loose the track, problems in the bends. The suspension doesn't work very well at small roughness.


[web]http://www.husaberg.org/uploads/mikst/Master2004.htm[/web]

Thanks for posting. The GasGas boys gotta be smiling, while the TM and Husaberg boys are probably sad.

I like that.... 3 identical suspensions and 3 different opinions :roll:
I know I personally have been disappointed in the throttle response of my 550 :wink: And oh yeah, by the way the 650 has too much power 8O

as a slight aside to the above magazine test, we've had one here in the UK again in the mag i often refer too called TBM. they did a three way test and all the bikes are related....! because the beta has the katooms engine as well.

the katoom 450exc, the new beta 450rr and the husey fe450e-all in enduro spec of course. but the berg cheated by having a 19" hoop and MX tyre on the rear.

the katoom was overall winner, the beta was best tight and nadgery bike but it had vague front forks that all three testers disliked. bar this i think it would have won overall. the beta and katoom had the strongest and best carburated bikes whilst the husey floundered a bit - especially when riding along a stream.

do i get points for saying this? but they found the engine of the husey vibey, down on power, the tank was way too wide and the ergonomics don't suit the bike in quite the same way that they suit the katoom.

they found the riding position whacko (even with the new taller bars) what with the tall pegs and the low bars.

all three bikes started first time on the button. the berg was generally as quick and due to the rear hoop was maybe even quicker at times.

is it possible that importer dave clark or gary grover thought that they wouldn't spot the MX and 19" rear hoop? :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

the bike appears to have been prepared by gary grover again who always does an excellent job, it came with handguards and the usual waterpump guard which he and i swear by (even if it was over a sump guard!).

however what is concerning is that they basically called all husaberg owners a strange and nutty brew? why? WTF? us? me even?????

the styling is called so far left of field as to be out of the stadium! finally the bike was basically ignored throughout the test. like it was didn't count.

at the end the beta got the vote due to it's softer power by one tester as he only green lanes. it produces another 1.5bhp and has softer settings- the katoom is a racer.

the beta uses 'zocchi's i believe so if they get the forks sorted it'll be some bike.

it's one thing to not like the colour of the berg but to ignore it? shish!

BTW the husey is 9bhp down on the honda as seen in the above post-that's too much isn't it? i mean nearly 10!!!!!!!!

in TBM's sister mag-supermoto magazine-they tested and dyno'd the SM450 and it produces 46rwhp and through a race tyre which is worth another 2-3bhp over the above figure. 43bhp v 36bhp? that's 7 between the FE and the FS-the FE needs those 7bhp!

my bike-a 400-dyno'd at 37.5 bhp with the MX set-up and the sm450 has 1/8th more displacement (4bhp?) and a kokusan ignition and larger 41mm carb (i think?) -worth perhaps the other 3bhp?

i think the FE needs the '53' cam, 41mm carb and as the MX pipe is no louder-fit that as well!!!!!!!!!!!

husey are a long way behind even after they fitted the FCR and ignition. bsurdly as well, i make it that a honda 450 dirtbike produces more power than a husey SM?

there's much work to be done.......

regards

Taffy

bike test

Hi taffy,
The test your referring to in my magerzine his personal preference was the husaberg As for the rear 19 it was in fact an 18, don`t know about you but it makes sense to fit motocross boots, the more grip the better


brookester

Re: bike test

Hi taffy,
The test your referring to in my magazine his personal preference was the Husaberg As for the rear 19 it was in fact an 18, don`t know about you but it makes sense to fit motocross boots, the more grip the better. Theres no mension in the test about the ease of service of the Husaberg, having had the ktm i know what a pain in the butt the things are to service. and don`t start me on the wieght issue.

brookester

Mikst:

Was the Honda 450 that was tested a 2004 450 CRE F or was it a 2005 CRF 450X ? Since the CRE is a kitted CRF it looks like it would be the only modified bike in the test hence the high horsepower numbers. Does anyone know what engine mods are done to a CRE? Does anyone speak and read fluent Italian?

husabutt said:

Was the Honda 450 that was tested a 2004 450 CRE F or was it a 2005 CRF 450X ?

Click to expand...

I copied the models from the test but I can have mixed the letters. I will check that but it will probably take a couple of days. This is the 2004 test so it was performed in the end of 2003. I haven't found the 2005 test yet. There was a discussion about test methods etc and since Husaberg doesn’t seem to attend in the 2005 test I thought this could be interesting. At least the power outputs are in figures.

If the test was at the end of 03 it was probably a CRE as the CRFX was just recently introduced. The CRE's are "kitted" enduro converted CRF's.

Yes I know but I have seen the model name CRF 450 E as well. Could it be a rebuilts CRF 450 with lightning coil but not made by HM?
Now there are CRF 250 X and CRF 250 X HM. The later with less horsepower of them both. Still none of them are close to the CRF 250 R.

I'm still curious what the 2005 results were, thanks for posting the 2004 results. Is there a similar table available?

It's written Honda CRF 450 E in the test.

These figures below are total weight and the weight distribution on the front wheel. I do not trust the %-figures for the front wheel. I guess the total weight is for a bike ready for race.

Brand [Kg] [%]

GasGas 125 107,6 49
Honda CRE 125 R 106,5 49
Honda CRF 250 F 111,5 47,1
KTM 125 EXC 106 49,5
KTM 250 EXC Racing 120,4 49
TM EN 125 106,5 47,6
TM EN 250 F 120,1 48,2
Yamaha WR 250 F 121,7 47,3




GasGas EC 250 115,7 48
GasGas FSE 450 128,1 48,1
Honda CRE 250 R 112,3 48
Honda CRF 450 E 116,6 47,5
Husaberg FE 450 E 121 49
KTM 250 EXC 110,1 49,4
KTM 450 EXC Racing 121,8 49,1
TM EN 250 113,5 48,3
TM EN 450 F 123,1 47,1
Yamaha WR 450 F 123,5 49,4




GasGas EC 300 114,8 48,1
Husaberg FE 550 E 123,2 48,8
Husaberg FE 650 E 128,9 49,1
KTM 300 EXC 110,2 49,3
KTM 525 EXC Racing 121,5 48,7
TM EN 530 F 123,3 47,9