When cooler heads prevail...

Okay fellow ,berg lovers, I have finally cooled down after my recent disgust with my fe400. In retrospect, I bought a then 5-year old race bike. I thought I had covered all my bases with the repairs that had been done, but there was the problem of a now 7-year old roller rocker bearing. It finally bit the dust and took the rest of the top end with it. Make sure you check your roller rocker bearings, so what happened to me doesn't happen to you. I had fully considered going to another brand, but I just can't go back to brand 'x' after having ridden a berg. A few of the things some fellas here at the site said really got me to thinking. This time around I'll buy a new one. So I guess the choice now is 450, 550 or 650?

That brings up a interesting question. How often should you check it?
Good luck from what I have read and seen any of those bikes are sweet.

you live in Nevada, so the Fe550e is the premier bike for you. I love my fe450e it's mo better in the california woods, but any open riding I get I leave the 450 at home and take the 510. I rode an 05 Fe550 in the N. Nevada desert......great bike out there and it wood be fine in the woods too......... a FE650 is for fear factor lovers I figure......though that Dirt Rider article made me want one.

i asked dale lineaweaver that question , what is the berg to by and he said the 550 . say no more , if he says thats the one then thats the one . i bought my FE650E 04 ' 14 months ago , i have owned 40 bikes but none of them compare to the big bad berg . i asked dale that question a month ago . H-berg H-berg r 8)

Nevada,
Good to hear you had a change of heart. In your other post, you mentioned that you had owned open class two strokes before and liked the power.

I can tell you, since I own one, that the FE 550 is SMOOTH. The lack of a low end hit really suprised me compared to my KTM 520. However, the Husaberg has a nice midrange punch that builds up nice and quick to the top. It is not the traditional low-end, slow revving 4 stroke, for sure. It's easy to ride and hooks up great in low traction situations.

I actually geared the Husaberg down to 14/48 instead of 15/48 (stock). I love it now. I consider it to be the perfect bike for myself and the conditions I ride (lots of varying terrain, tight to open)

What I am saying is that if you are looking for max power and grins, you may look at the 650 if you have room to run. Did you read the test in Dirt Rider this month? Lots of good info.

Cannot go wrong with a 550. That said, I own a 450, went riding yesterday with a friend on a 550. We traded bikes for a while, I really liked his bike, enjoyed the extra bit of oomph. Other than that, they are nearly identical. I know I can go just as fast on the 450, it is not a liability in any way, in some circumstances it is easier to ride, easier to handle difficult terrain. If you are young, strong, heavier in weight, or a power junkie, get the 550. Get the 650 if you are simply a power junkie, the 650 will still go anywhere you want to go, and do it well.

Hi Nevada;

As your bike is actually seven model years old now technology has marched on. You should have enrolled in Husaberg 101 right here and done some research or at least asked. In 2003 the rocker arms and bearing were updated. Tons have been written about them and it is probably the #1 issue that needs to be addressed on pre 2003 bikes. Taffy had written and I have confirmed this with a brand new set of rockers that if:

The bearing spins freely then it is worn. It should have drag on it and not spin freely. Of course measuring the play would be the proper way of checking them.

The 04's and later are quite issue free compared to the earlier ones.

nevada-dirtbiker,
Glad to see that you backed up and reassessed the situation. Logic prevails every time.
The bottom line is that no matter how much time, effort, and maintainance is expended on it no seven or eight year old bike will perform like, or be as reliable as, a new one. It only takes one overlooked old component part to ruin your ride. I put an enormous amount of time (and $$) into my '98 Fe501 and completely rebuild it at least annually and sometimes more often than that. I have essentially kept my bike brand new, but it is still an eight year old bike. I just feel better owning an older berg than a new Asian (PC description) bike and could not justify the expense of a new berg.
Unless it is financially inappropriate, or your skills don't warrant the expense, or you just like the pain of owning old outdated stuff, get the new 550 and trade up every couple of years.

The 550 seems to have the most votes so far...I gotta say I have a thing for the 650 though. My xr650R was an absolute monster. Unbeleivable power, god awful fast, and the 5-plus feet of cockpit-adjustable ride height in the front suspension was mondo fun. I missed the low altitude power of xr650r whenever I rode it up in the mountains I used to call home. But down near sea level, it was an unbeleivable monster capable of adreniline-rushes I have never known since. I am 5'7" though, and the mighty xr was just too damn big. maybe the 650 berg is the bike I have wanted all along? I guess my question is this: is the berg 650 a monster, or does it have the capability to be docile when required? will it climb a snot-slick steep hill after the spring thaw, or will it be an uncontrolable beast in all but the most perfect traction conditions? My favorite engine of all time is in my yamaha IT465 two-stroke. Off the pipe, it has enough torque to motor up (in 3rd gear) the steepest, longest, snottiest hills under total control (pulls the bike easily, but does not spin the rear tire) but roll on the throttle and its like releasing a slingshot when it comes on the pipe. THATS what I want in a 4 stroke. Can I have that in a modern 4 stroke? My fe400 was SO damn responsive, it would overpower the rear tire with the slightest amount of throttle. That was awesome in the summer, but not so great in the muddy spring. I was going to install a cammed-throttle tube on the berg to mellow it out on the bottom end, but she died before I got to that. Well, I am in SoCal, does anybody have a favorite dealer here? I see there are dealers in anaheim, pasadena, and san diego. Have I missed any?

first opening sentence of the Dirt Rider article: "Somethings typically don't go together. Hugh horsepower and docile power delivery"

I think their answer to your question is yes. it is a manageable powerband. people ask that question of the TE510 these are 450 riders and I say if you have an interest in the big bike go 4 it..it has great manageable power. I have not rode a Fe650e, but I feel by extension it would be a treat to ride and not wild thing unless you want it to GO. 1 year warrenty on new bikes.

they also say. "It's smaller and less girth then the XR650R" they also re-jetted the bike and give thye new jetting instructions. and they say the suspension works well for lighter riders.

sounds like you'll like it but that 2.1 gal tank is limiting...for SoCal deserts, you'll have to stay with 40 mile loops near your truck be aware of that.

looks like I need to read that article. Ill have to go buy that dirt rider.

yeah corrected my post it's DIRT RIDER april 2006 issuse page 105.

Here is a linkto a scanned copy.

Nevada Dirtbiker, I can answer the question about tractable low end power, snotty mud, ice roots and such. My 2000 FE501 had an explosive hit right off the bottom, had to finesse very carefully. That is what prompted me to buy the 450. The new Bergs do not compare to the old ones. By that I mean, the new ones are so much better. To explain, I guess it is the new ignition and carb, these Bergs are the poster children for perfect four stroke performance. Smooth low end power, building linearly to a top end rush, with great manners everywhere, plenty of power everywhere. I love my 450, have come to find that a 550 is just as easy to ride almost everywhere, and the testers found that the 650 is docile when not provoked. I think that my 450 is more like a KTM300 than the KTM300 is, a fast, easy to ride bike in all conditions. Hearing what you said about liking mongo power, buy the 650. Keep Roosting!