Joined Jul 2007
10 Posts | 0+
california
Hi there, I've been checking out the forum for a few years now excellent site by the way!! A number of times I almost bought an FE 650 but I was a bit wary of buying a Husaberg due to working as a M/C mechanic and knowing I really couldn't be bothered with all the maintenance after spending all day working on bikes! So I Kept my CR500. However recently I've had a bit of a craving for a four stroke single, I previously had a Suzuki Sp 400, then a heavy DR 650 which broke my foot! And more recently a KTM SXC 625 which remains my favourite motorcycle that I've owned (I only sold it buy a Superduke to commute). So I found an 03 Fs 650 going cheap on Ebay and took the plunge thinking I'd get some KTM enduro wheels later. This Saturday I picked up the bike armed with my list of engine number details from the excellent owners Doc. First problem there are no engine numbers where the manual says they should be (left hand crank case- cylinder height- behind the exhaust headers)! Absolutely no signs of being ground off either. The rough finish casting marks are uniform so I'm pretty sure there were never any there! So as the owner assured me that it was definitely a 650 engine from later than 2003 as the previous engine broke the mains. I bought it anyway. Well as the head doesn't have the coolant bleed bolt it's obviously pre 2003. Also it only has one bolt through each rocker shaft and I read here somewhere that those heads are pre 2001. Is there an easy way to identify if it really is the 650 and what year it is? It wheelies great without trying so I'm happy with it, just want to make sure I buy the correct parts and do the necessary upgrades in time!