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Possible new to me 08' FE450 owner

P

proflow

Joined Feb 2018
141 Posts | 16+
Roy, WA
Hi Folks, Ive poked into this forum digging for a few answeres on a particular bike Im pondering buying from a friend.
This seems to be the right place to dig & ask a few q's from some experts.

So what cought me off gaurd on this bike im speaking of is that the prior owner did a 390 top end, or just cyl, dunno on this particular bike. It was told by the seller (my friend) when he bought it, this is the way he wanted the power delivered.
Im calling crap as why would anyone cut displacement instead of changing gear ratio or riding technique ?
The top must have been hurt is my thoughts.
Heres the thing. I wont leave it like that no matter what. I will either transplant a bolt in 670 or ? if possible or get as many cubes outa the stock 450 bottom w/factory parts as possible.
As Ive poked around here just a bit, 538 w/104 bore ? Dont wanna split the cases quite yet.
Need to know bolt on compatability & am not afraid to reline the used cyl if need be.
Can the 390 cyl be lined out to where I wanna go ?
If this can be better than a 450 its going to happen while apart :)

Any help would be appreciated !

FYI, looks like a really clean bike thats been plated for street. 3k is the price.

Thanks in advance !

Proflow:cool:
 
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well your being unfair to the previous owner but i can tell by your determination that you won't be taking anyone's word for it.

if you have a 380 (yes 380 and not 390) you have a sweet handling bike for the woods and ravines etc. it really was a sweet machine. the reason people made them smaller is because they are so violent as a 450. the jetting is abrupt and the compression is too much making a jerky violent bike. Husaberg did this trying to compete with the DOHC Jap motors but it just makes it a harsh green lane bike.

here in Europe we would take them down to 380, go to DVSK, lower the compression, put a jetting kit in and they'd be lovely! nowadays i would change all 4 valves if I ahd the head off because they have a habit, does the old 450, of dropping valve heads....mmmm nasty!

the 92mm can be taken out to 95mm but best to sell it on as a kit again and buy a 450 liner new again. but be quick as i expect Husaberg to stop supplying it very soon!

you can't do anything with the 450. all the Husaberg engines have to stay at the max CC which is what they were made with. you could stroke it but you'd have to make a packer and nobody has done that yet. Packer, liner, crank assembly with the longer rod, camchain. black box.

Taffy
 
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Thank You

I appreciate the honest response Taffy :)
Please just know i'm used to absolute brutal horsepower such as a stroked CR500 in naturally aspirated engines. Everything I own minus just a couple are force inducted w/turbo, nitrous or both.
However Im looking for a torque monster in the dualsport world.
I was trying to get a grip on why the change on the cylinder & could only come up with already hurt, or type of riding that I dont do.
Honestly, If lowering the cube of this bike makes sense to some, I'll try and understand for traction etc.
I spose yet would possibly choose a trials bike myself. Im sure others are laughing at me talking to the master, but Im a h.p. junkie...

This particular bike is in decent if not better condition & only needs tire changes , gearing kinda thing for my type of riding minus the mouse cube.
Thats why I was asking what could be done to make it fit my riding style.

Again, thank you for the response & learning

Proflow
 
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I was talking to a friend about this less is more stuff, she rides a 570 berg

i conveyed my misunderstanding of the small engine concept .....

her reply "you have to imagine what it would be like to have a small penis; small things don't require control. with no control you can attack at the maximum without doing any damage"

so ......... ill keep my 700
 
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I have to say that after riding 550s and 650s for 10 years that the 450 doesn't have too much of anything..anywhere. It was a good handling bike but could not see lessening the power.
Maybe you could test ride it and then you will know whether you want it or look for its bigger brothers.

pollo
 
Id honestly like to have that chassie w/a larger cube in it if possible.
I understand the 450 is taxed without stroking it, but will another powerplant from Berg or KTM bolt in ? Spose that would be too easy right !
 
all the engines swop. 450-550-650

you just change the headers, black box, a jet or two.

Taffy
 
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Taffy might even have a spare 550/650 motor. But other than that complete motors are very hard to find.
 
The 380 kit was "a thing" last decade and seemed pretty cool to me. https://www.ktm-parts.com/80530012000.html I loved the power of my FE650, and had fun on it even in the technical stuff, but I also like small bikes. Different kind of fun. My GF rides an old '04 RFS 250 with a 400 top end and it's a great trail bike. A 380 Berg from the same era would be even lighter with a much better chassis IMO.
 
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Its an 08' FE450
Really dont know the value of this bike in the states as its rare.

Id like to find a newer large cube KTM street bike engine if it would bolt in.
What a fun lil bike that would be ! LOL
 
The old Husaberg dealer here on Southern Oregon had a 380 kitted bike and I rode the 450 and 380 back to back. In the tight gnarly stuff the 380 worked well and 'felt' lighter, maybe because ??????:p

Is that the bike out of Buckley that had all the spare parts?
 
Small world,
Yes it is the same bike ! lol. Is that a good or bad thing ? !
Craig is a good friend & is holding for me till I decide.
 
You should call Rick Bozarth at BOSS in Portland. He’s the Berg expert in your neck of the woods, who raced and sold these bikes. 503-255-8971
 
Thanks Huskyfatman !
I'll put his # in my phone right now.
I think I have a decent deal going on tomorrow after work on this bike.
I still want it to be a monster mill though !
 
Hmmmm, been told both ways if this bike would except a larger powerplant. (bolt in basically )
Im on the fence as this Berg stuff is new to me ! 2008 FE 450 , has a 380 cc kit in it.
If I need to fit another 450 liner in the cases & possibly bore it up, custom port the head etc... then so be it, If I can bolt in a higher cube powerplant than the 450, that will happen for sure. :)
 
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Taffy said:
all the engines swop. 450-550-650

you just change the headers, black box, a jet or two.

Taffy
Click to expand...

Cool, then a 650 it'll be then.
I can pop the head & port pollish , Do a nice set of dimple valves etc...
Certainly would like more cubes yes, but dont wanna custom odd ball stroke is all. Not something hard to get parts...

If I can put together a reliable enging making monster torque, Im good ! :)

Wish this liner would fit in my 550 cases, but know its a no go, ug.
Wait a min, if the case has to be split anyway, why not open it up for the larger than 550 liner ? How big can I go with Busa or KTM internals ??

Any chance any of the bigger bore KTM mills bolt into this chassie ?
 
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Looks like im on the hunt for the largest Berg mill I can get :) Sweet !

Sounds lile a 650 is in order :) Let the hunt begin !
 
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K, its official, Im in the ownership club now ! Love this bike & will take it to new levels & into Gods country !
 

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