New to 'Bergs - FE501 - Looking for insight

screamin200 · Apr 19, 2011

Greeting from the great white north!
I am new to the forums and 'Bergs in general. I've found a '02 FE501 for sale that is a really striking bike. I've always been drawn to different bikes and this certainly fits the bill! I've been doing some research for the past couple weeks and the concenus seems to be high maintainence but you get a lot of fun out it. What sort of 'extra' maintenance is usually involved with these bikes? The guys down at my local bike shop referred to it as a 'bomb waiting to go off', and I can understand that with improper maintenance the bike will be more susceptible to blowing up, but are they really that "fragile"? I really don't want to get into a bike that is being wrenched on more than being rode. Also how are they for being used on street? More so city riding, short rides etc. I do appreciate all help and info you guys can pass along.
Cheers,
Kyle

arkley123 · Apr 19, 2011

Hi Kyle.
I bet an 02 501 is real cheap now so buy it & grin from ear to ear.
Took me 3 years to get my 02 FE501 set up right but knowing what I know now could have done straight away. Go on the forum & search arkley123 you'll see what I mean.
Mines now duel sport - just swapped the SM set up back to enduro for the FRUK in Wales at end of month. Only took 40 mins to do & I'm no mechanic.
Thing about a berg mechanics wise is you'll need to be prepared to have a go...and there's no better forum than this one for help & support.

Go for it - you wont regret it (or if you do you'll still get another!)

screamin200 · Apr 20, 2011

Appreciate the response!
You say your from wales? my father was born and raised just outside of Newport. I've always wanted to travel there as from the stories and pictures it sounds truly remarkable! How long have you owned your 501 for? Have you had any major problems with it? Also is there anything I should be looking for on the bike when I go and see it this weekend?
Cheers
Kyle

arkley123 · Apr 20, 2011

Hi Kyle,

Not from Wales - in fact the complete opposite side of the UK (East Anglia) the Wales tag is the Husaberg Force ride UK. Any Husaberg owners all meet up & trail for a few days / camp out & have a few beers as well. There is also an Americam Force ride - see "force ride 4".

Anyway had my 501 nearly 4 years. Couldn't start it for 1st year (more or less) & nearly gave up.
Did the valves
Spark plug
New jets
then Taffy set up a new type de compression lobe & an internal kick start crescent mod that helped greatly.

These are all in the owners doc on the left hand of the main page screen.

The best thing however was a recon stator. I've got through 2. Everyone will tell you the stock SEM stator is rubbish but I needed one quick so I got a second hand one - brilliant until it went about 6months later, so got a rewound one (Taffy - Sparks stator). Never looked back. I can start it with a kick wearing pumps. Fantastic.

If you really want to know what to look out for I'd PM Taffy - or similar - they'll tell you.
I'm no expert but a clean well looked after looking bike is a good sign / look at the oil level sight glass, make sure doesn't look milky (or empty).
Does it start easily - some require a bit of a technique - no big deal really.
Look in the rad, make sure water looks clean & oil free.
Do brakes work & is headstock lose.
Does it smoke / does it tick over / does it sound right.

To be honest - if you like the look of it just buy it - great fun but high maintainance. Thats 1/2 the fun too.

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New to 'Bergs - FE501 - Looking for insight

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