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Opinions going from pre 08 to the new post 09s

Blunny

Blunny

Joined Aug 2006
68 Posts | 3+
Melbourne, Australia
Just wondering who has made the jump from pre 09 (2004-2008) to the new latest & greatest 70 degree jobbie?

I like my old girl but am getting itchy for a change. I have even been fantasising about 2 stroke but after riding a 300TE, after getting off my 06 450, I was left wondering (light & nimble, great power etc but didnt feel as precise as my oldie).
Maybe another flavour of 2st is req'd?

Any opinions of someone who has been on 'Bergs long term? My short ride on a 390 (all pretty open going though) left me wondering and the a ride on a 450 on a ride day still left me with question marks floating in my head. They just didnt feel that much better, in fact they felt more top heavy and maybe not as great in the steering....I was hoping for wow but instead felt that my old girl is pretty dam good. Any opinions?
 
I swapped from an '08 FE450 to a '11 FE570 and think your assessment of the ride is about right. The main driver for me making the swap was the improved reliability of the later bikes. That said, I found and sorted the main problem with my 450 in the weeks before I sold it.

Greg
 
going to a 09 onwards is a no brainer if you can afford it.
2t wise your only real other options are gasgas, possibly tm or husky if you want to be different.
what was the issue with the te300?
 
Maybe I have to get used to a 2 stroke. It deflected easily and also seemed to not be as precise in the steering compared to my 06 450. The TE had just had it's suspension set up so was on the momey for my weight. Maybe it's me....

A gasser 2 stroke would be nice...? Something different.

I can't make up my bloody mind!
 
I personally own a '06 KTM 200XC-W and a '05 FE550 and my 550 turns much quicker and more precisely than the 200 on tight single track trails. When I ride the 200 after riding the 550 for a day I find myself almost running off the trail when cornering and to make it respond like my 550 i have to ride it more aggressively - lean more over the bars, etc. The 550 seems to be wired to my brain and turns almost by itself. The Husaberg 2-strokes are merely re-badged KTMs and all the KTMs I've owned seemed a bit vague in the steering department even with the suspension correctly set up for me.
 
Perfect summary of the differences that i feel as well. I thought it may because I am a bit rusty....

I will keep looking....
 
I bought and built a wicked YZ250 2st. It's VERY good....
 
only Fergus preferred the old models for their character, ease of maintenance etc and it was the 501 which was the best IMHO.

a 2004/5 FE501e is still a great bike and Iwhat with doing your own work I think it has many advantages.

regards

Taffy
 
If you are thinking about a 2t, I think you should test ride a husky cr125. I went from my husky 250 to a 125 and the bike is nothing but fun. Very light, nimble and makes you ride it. I think I'm way faster on the 125 (I'll find out on Sunday's XC) The 250 is great too but heavier and I tend to be lazy on it. The 250 vs my 650 in the tight stuff was about the same, the 650 wears me out though. The 125 is like riding a mountain bike....amazing what 40lbs less can do.
 
Loved my 06 550, liked my 08 450, hated my 12 570 until I got the suspension sorted, turns very well now and the power delivery is sweet, yes does feel top heavy but everything else makes up for this 10 fold, it totally depends on you, your riding style, how and what you ride, the way you have it setup etc etc, some of my mates hate the way I have my bike and some love it, unfortunately you need to make the call on what suits you best
 
I haven't done a proper post yet, but I am a 'new' rider and my first ever moto was a lightly used 08 fe450. I rode that bike for around 2.5 years and logged 4-5,000 km and put about 100 hours on it. I had a set of 17" supermoto wheels and a beringer 6 pot front setup I would swap in and out for street/dirt duty.

I had to move countries and was forced to sell it due to silly import laws.

I now have a '12 FE390 with around 20 hours and 600 km's.

I'm not sure if i feel much of a difference between the 2 bikes to be honest, but some of that I attribute to me being 'new' still and not really having the experience.

Maybe the 390 feels less 'brutal' compared to my 08 450, but im not really sure.

But I think the big thing for me is that the bike doesn't feel any worse at all. It has all the power I need, feels great and i'm sure even more once i get it setup more, etc...

As a note, i did not sell my supermoto setup and i'm about to swap it on the bike, REALLY looking forward to that... Perhaps i'll notice the lack of power once i'm on the street more, but time will tell.
 

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