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Newbie looking at a 97 FE501

T

toyotajeep

Joined Nov 2018
12 Posts | 1+
Oregon
Hello,

I have this strange desire for one of the older Husabergs. It may be my heritage speaking, or something! Lots of experience with open-class 2-strokes so I think I can do the power alright. Think I am large enough to start it.

My concern is parts availability. It is basically going to be a rip around after work bike here and there. Not a big group rider kinda guy. I don't mind some hassle, but I don't want to search for unobtainium parts either or part it out after a part breaks cause I can't find one.

I have read about the ignition issues, he says he replaced the stator. Not sure on the rocker arm thing yet. If that is an issue with these. He says it runs great.

He says the bike is great, and he'll throw in a pumper carb 39MM I think, for around $900. Seems fair. The seller is pretty straight forward and I think it has some mild carb issues or if it did he would tell me.

Two questions:

Are the carbs on these, the stock ones, poorly designed and finicky?

How does the power feel compared to your typical 500 CC 2-stroke? I basically want to relieve stress by ripping through the forest at obscene speeds a few times a week for an hour here and there. Not a big time rider really. Everyone says they are just awesome for power, are they really that memorable?
 
well i definately wouldn't take that carb for $900. just run the original. I now do a jetting kit for the 501 for like 1/10th of that so it worth a try.

I can cross reference or find most parts to keep one going.

cheers

Taffy
 
The needle valve and seat are prone to wear (easy to replace).
100_8472.JPG

Other than that they work very well and I would not replace it.

In 1997 Dirt Bike Magazine did an open bike shootout and the 600 Husaberg was the fastest of the bunch. A 500 cannot be far behind.
 
OK. The bike was actually quite a bit cheaper than $900 without the carb. I am not the kind of a guy who blows his bike up every week at all. In fact, I ride so little that I rarely have issues due to lack of use. I check things out, have a discerning ear and just ride.

Assuming that the bike is sound, it has had the stator redone very recently, and there are no other apparent issues what small parts should I have on hand that I could pre-order?

Also, assuming you bought a currently useable bike as it sat, what would you do to it before enjoying it? I get the check the oil and filters thing, but what else? Rollers on the cam followers?

It isn't the end of the world if I have to work on it or wait for a part, I just don't want a yard ornament is all.

I don't think I can get the performance for twice the money he is asking.

The intended use is an hour here and there and maybe a weekend trip to the dunes perhaps but that would be about it.
 
valve clearances
clean the carb
coolant, oil change, check filter
check the igniiton timing using the old strobe method (I ahve a video on the Taffmeisters FB page under 'videos').
set the idle on the PS.

parts; you'll probably have the waterpump seal go straight away up on the head requiring two new seals and a gasket. I'd stop at that. maybe a left cover gasket and have a plug ready for when the bitch doesn't want to start!

Taffy
 
Ok. I think I have asked enough questions other than one more. Taffy answered enough to help out. Thank you.

Last question: I know these have some rocker arm issues. If the bike is running well, but not currently having a problem, should I worry?

The seller knows the bike pretty good and seems to have pretty good knowledge of it. I can ask him if or when he replaced them. But if he doesn't know......what do you do? Replace or ride and hope?
 
the 97 was the last year of the soft valve springs (or 98 was?) and so you shouldn't have much trouble.

Taffy
 
Thank you. Like I said, I am not a "new top end" every other week kind of rider. Plus I pay attention.

I am going to look at the bike more seriously.

I will post up one way or the other with the outcome.

Thank you for your help.
 
The rocker issue referred to is likely the roller followers. Not an issue if replaced as per the manual @ 150 hrs IIRC. If not, they can fail. The 98 was the last with the dual valve springs, 99 went conical, once again IIRC.

I had issues with my 98 FE501's original Dellorto carb. I could never get a consistent float level, which I finally resolved with an FCR39.

My 98, which is pretty much the same bike as the 97, has done over 800 hrs and is still solid. I don't think they will run away from a 500 2t, but they have a nice 4t powerband that works well in an enduro/trail environment and is still competitive with current 450 enduro bikes IMHO.
 
Im scheduling to pick it up in the next day or two. I don't think for a second it is going to walk away from a CR500. Honestly, I like power but those things are enough. I've had a couple of 84's, a 490, kx 500 etc. The early Honda's were the nastiest.

I basically want to go as fast as possible for as cheaply as possible. If I ride a fair amount, I may get a newer bike or just keep this one. I just want to ride.

My biggest fear, which you fine folks have helped me to overcome, is that it will be unreliable or extremely difficult to get parts for. I am convinced it is a good roll of the dice. It isn't an xr200, but then it does not perform like one either.
 
Well I bought it. 12 hours round trip but it is home. I think mechanically it is pretty clean for the most part. Needs some clean up on plastics etc. That and it backfires a bit etc. It turns out the PO is a tech and just redid the valves and springs etc. The engine is very quiet. New stator etc.

As far as power goes, some person put a low tread trials bike tire on the back so it is really hard to get traction. But....once it hooks it is a screamer. Lots of power.

I don't know if 6th is an OD gear or whatever, but I think it would really move if left in 6th and pegged. I like the weight of it and the ergos fit me pretty well.

Happy overall. More questions will come. I appreciate your help.
 
Congratulations on your purchase. I had a chance to ride a '95 Berg FE501 back to back with a '92 KTM 550 two stroke. The Berg didn't have the sheer horsepower of the KTM but I'm certain that I was faster in the woods on it - much easier to ride. I've also ridden various years of Husabergs ('95, '00, '08 - 501, 550, 600) back to back with a very well set up KX500 and can say this: The only bike I've ever ridden that made a 500cc two stroke seem "lazy" is a 600cc Husaberg. Plus, the Husabergs will out-turn a KX any day. In 2011, I teamed up with a couple of guys, both KX 500 riders, to race the Vegas to Reno BITD race. We had the choice to compete on either the well set up KX500 or a new '08 Husaberg 550. The unanimous decision, after everyone had a chance to ride both bikes, was to race the 'Berg. It was a good choice because we ended up 8th overall that year.

As for parts, I have an ebay search set up for any used husaberg parts that might come up. I keep an eye on that search as well as Craigslist and have found some real gems. I've got 2 of the Eric's Machine under-seat tanks that fit the early bikes like the one you have. I've got a 5 gallon rally tank, again, for the early 'Bergs. Various exhaust parts, engine parts, etc have frequently gotten me back on the trails. It's sad that so many of these bikes are being parted out but it's also nice for those of us who need the parts. The other nice fact is that these engines share a lot of parts with the KTM '00 to '07 400, 450, 525 engines which were wildly popular and are still easy go get parts for. I currently have a running 'Berg 600 that's using a KTM 525 rod and piston. I have another 600 that's been bored out (from 95mm to 100mm) to make a 660 and it's using a KTM 560 SMR piston. Forks from just about any model KTM can be adapted to the Berg frame. I have a '96 that is using the Triple clamps and forks/front wheel/front brake from a 2013 KTM 250 SX.

Carb and starting: These bikes are BRILLIANT with a Keihin FCR on them! I find starting them to be easier than starting a 500cc two stroke if you know the drill. Consequently, I have a growing collection of Del Ortos.

Little known fact - when Doug Henry was informed that he would be racing the YZ400, he secretly went out and bought himself the most competitive thumper available at the time (the Yamaha wasn't ready for him to ride yet), and that thumper was a Husaberg FC501.
 
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I have owned a fair amount of 2-strokes. In fact, I bought the last new 2004 KX500 in Oregon. What I noticed right away was how comfortable I felt on the Husaberg bike. It was very easy to ride. And as you said, it steers really easy. I noticed that right away. It is also lightweight. I had an xr600 last, and honestly it was a good bike for me. I am large but it was just so freakin heavy that unloading it without a ramp etc. was not an option if you were in an emergency.

I would say the power is enough for my purposes.

I am currently experiencing some backfiring and lack of idle stability. I has the OEM carb on it. I haven't adjusted it. But my guess is that it has a vacuum leak.

What specific carb and application for the FCR are you recommending? Bike and year?

What boot is a direct interchange with this engine? KTM I hope.

Also, good source for plastics? I am happy to retrofit whatever on there just so it looks a little better. I'm quite handy and willing to weld a tab on or whatever for a new fender if need be.
 
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The two carbs I have experience adapting are from a Honda quad and a KTM. The one from the Honda TRX450R is, I believe, a 40mm FCR (not sure what year TRX since I received the carb in a trade). The FCR from the KTM was from a 2008 450SX. In both cases, I had to machine an adapter ring to adapt the carb to the intake boot on the frame side. I didn't make any modifications to the engine side boot. Just stuffed it in and clamped it up.

I believe that Taffy has plastics and graphics.
 
Steve

are you aware that the endurp Husabergs that needed a diaphram pump also had to have the 350 fuel valve and NOT the 300 that all the 'normal' fuel tank bikes had?

secondly, Dell orto have only NOW realised that thery have been selling these fueklvalves with a 0.6mm fibre wasgher when the old red one you pull out is nearly 1.0mm. this changes the arm tip height by 3mm.

get that; 3mm.

if you aren't getting a straight arm to get your 18mm or whatever and you're having to bend the tangs well, you need to out the fibre washer. i'm not sure which of the two they need right now but i always supply the 0.6mm fawn colour and just ask customers to look out for it and keep the old one if they can as then there's no doubt!

Toyota - what is your real name.... put a name up mate!

I not only do a spruce up kit but i also do an easystart kit for little more and finally I now do a tuning kit for the 501 called a 'bergbooster'. OK it is the 2001-2003 but it should be virtually identical. the the easystart has all the spruce up stuff and the bergbooster has the spruce and easy as well.

I haven't got time to look at any other bikes at the moment. this 501 kit was thee best achievement in my life and took all the skills I've got over many years of testing. 120 runs, 160 changes. the whole carb was wrong.

I even tuned the choke FFS!!!

cheers

taffy
 
Last edited:
My name is Rob. I will continue to do some more research. I rode it yesterday and made an adjustment to the air screw and just about got it to idle. Still not running real good down low. Just fine once you get going. Kind of like everyone else says, once past 1/3rd throttle or so it is an animal.

I have had big bikes before, so I knew I wasn't going to get off easy with a one kick start thing. But I know it can better.

Starting it seems to take about 3-4 kicks cold and about 2 hot.

I spent about 1 hour last night reading on the adjustments and it sounds similar to most dirt bikes I have had. I will look into the kit.
 
Do you have the kit for the dellorto carb? I need to check but I believe my carb is the OEM carb. I saw the kit for the keihin carb. My bike is a 501 Husaberg from 1997.
 

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