Where do you start, It's no secret that the Swedish Engineers have been working on their revolutionary concepts for Husabergs the last 20 years since their original radical 4 stroke concept bike was unvieled to the world in 1988. Now after 2 years intensive R&D they have done it again.
Suffice to say that the new FE450 (449.3cc) Husaberg, (pronounced Hoo-Sa- Berg for us Aussies) is not just different for the sake of being different, the revolutionary 70 degree engine design with the centrifigal mass sitting higher and the weighted force of the stroke moving along the horizontal more so than the vertical as you find in conventional 4 bangers makes for some intersting calculations in physics and has been the source of much speculation. Add to that the Keihin downdraft electronic fuel injection and the old school 4 valve single overhead cam with titanium intake valves and rocker levers and it's quite an interesting mix. But if your like me and most of us Enduro Riders keep the slide rules in the pocket protectors and tuck away the coke bottle glasses just tell us if it works....
Husaberg FE450 - Compact Engine - A Unique Suction System returns oil from the inverted head to the crank case
Well, work it does and it in a symphony of symmetry !. From the unusual look of the bike and the noticeable absence of an exhaust pipe sitting in front of the motor and subframe and the also noticeable exclusion of of a kick starter. The Magura Clutch on the 450 Husaberg looks as light and clutter free as it feels with a flex lever that is reportedly unbreakable and a Brembo front brake with a smaller floating caliper piston provides maximum braking power with minimal effort that adopts the same compact but funtional look and feel as the clutch but no flex lever here.
Uncluttered Cockpit - Small be Efficient Brembo Brakes
Other bits you won't find on the fuel injected beast unlike it's carburated cousins include no hot start/decompression levers and no choke and unlike the euro models the Aussie beasts have don't come with the ignition mapping switches. Automatically handled by the state of the art engine mangement system are choke, temperature and altitude compensation, no fiddly jetting for Alpine rides.
Electric Starter Tucked away from Harm - Electronic Engine Management System
The electronic ignition and the 210 watt generator make for ample juice and quick start capability so as not to need a kick starter, I wheeled a brand new bike out of the KTM/Husaberg race team garage cold and punched the start button without touching the throttlle and if fired up immediately. With the additonal benefit of weight saving (1kg for the loss of the manual leg start) the 450 Husaberg weighs in at a dry reported weight of 114kg but in the saddle it feels a lot lighter. The 210 watt electrics support a 7 amp/hour 12 volt battery are ample enough to run a set of twin 100w driving lights for those who have their sights set on safari adventures without need for aftermarket beef ups.
More good news for Enduro riders is the high mouned and generous area twin air air filter, not only has it sufficient mass to give good breathability and servicability but the mounting position under the tank means you need to be waist deep in water before the filter gets a drink. The induction noise when you crack the throttle is also a sweet note. Add to that a 8.5 Litre tank capacity that goes against the current trend for smaller tanks, thanks Mr Berger. We didn't get to have a good read at what a full tanks kilometer capacity was due to the sudden lightning storm and hail that pelted us into shortcutting it home, but from first impressions your going to be good for at least 130+ klms. and we'll update you as we get feedback. The tank itself is also a feat of engineering excellence due to the unique design the bulk of the fuel sits around the centre mass of the bike and not upstairs like traditional enduro bikes.
Clean lines of the 450's Uncluttered Design
Ergo's: An uncluttered cockpit, with no uneccessary cables switches or levers and a KTM style Multifunction Speedo makes for what has to be the cleanest, leanest looking enduro spec bikes we've seen to date. No Handguards from the factory so add a pair pair of Barkbusters and your done. The Magura, Aluminium Ø 28/22 mm handle bars work well with a little adjustement and at just under 6', I would like to have them a little higher. B&B have a produced Bashplates, Case Savers and Radiator Guards to suit the blue beast check them out here.
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Tank and Spoilers sit very comfortably and work well when on the bike
The tank and spoilers work well and this is the first of the new generation 4 strokes that my knees felt comfortable standing or sitting and not having the spoiler trying to push me back on the bike but a plush comfortable and confidence inspiring grip on a soft surface of the seet meets spoiler. The seat is typical of this type of bike and if your looking for lounge chair comfort then go elsewhere, having said that It's not at all unconfortable to ride and standing up is easy and a reasonably fatigue free excercise. A new chrome-molybdenum frame maximizes the torsion track and secures stability. The exhaust pipe loops from the side of the engine and the engine itself is is extremely slim. This brings minimum width and more ground clearance, a huge advantage in heavy terrain.
Ride: The seat height felt a little tippy toeish at first but once your moving the confidence inspring responsiveness of the subframe and steerability of the 450 soon wash away any doubts about putting you feet on the ground. It's an unusual feeling, a couple of times I had the Berg cranked right over in a speedway type slide and the more I twisted the throttle the more stable it felt, much to Popgun from Trailzone's relief because if it didn't stand up at one stage he was going to be part of the carnage (yeh, it was all deliberate and controlled -;). The Chasis delivers favorable weight distribution and ergonomics read on under bounce....
Bounce: The fully adjustable 48 mm Upside-Down-Fork from WP Suspension and the stability of the CNC machined - fork bridge provided a good feel and feedback and soaked up the hits well. "Steerability" in the front end is definitely superior to most Enduro bikes on the market today and coupled with the unique balance provided by the 70 degree engine the WP-PDS shock absorber which also has a progressive compression without a big kick on the rebound of previous setups augers well for the overall feel of the suspension components resulting in a confidence inspiring ride that gives the pilot that little extra edge.
The PDS shock works pregressively without harsh rebound - Pull the wire to release the seat
Serviceability: It certainly doesn't come in a flatpack with a single allen key but again some inroads here, what I thought was a stray part of the wiring loom actually turned out to be the quick release loop for the seat, reach into the grab handle at the back of the seat and pull the black wire and the seat pops off revealing the air filter and tank. A quick release on the filter and the the tank makes for easy removal. The fuel injection means there are no issues with jetting and the euro crew report that at seal level of 2000ft above the electronics handle the fuel air mixture with ease. As for the competition or aftermarket pipe mappings it's all handled via a computer interface, if you fit the factory components then the ignition mappings are provided by the factory and can be set up at your dealer, you'll need to get the competition mapping set at pre-delivery as well. There is a little bit of flexibility availble for custom pipes etc your dealers can help you with that.
We werent kidding when we said downdraft - Rob Tyerwold, Remapping the ingition on the fly for Oliver
Looks: Anyone who has watched the world tennis recently would unmistakenly recognise the Blue and Yellow as the colours of the Swedish Flag so makes the the colour scheme for the new Berg. New plastic parts and modern in-mould technology for the spoilers underline the modern appearance of the whole bike. It's Slim and no unneccessary components make it a no fuss clean piece of machinery.
Conclusion: With the KTM's now being clearly in the mainstream with the Japanese Bikes the Husabergs are ready to take the Mantle as the new breed of Boutique European Bike for the Serious Enduro Rider, with all the ergonomic and handling improvements afforded by the unniqe design this bike makes you a better rider and inspires confidence. So you don't have to be a top conteneder enduro rider to enjoy the benefits any trail rider will get the same experiience. So Husaberg Dealers around Australia have demo models on the floors now. So don't take my word for it, get out and ride one for yourself, you'll be pleasantly surpised.
Check out the U-Tube footage from the dealer ride here
See you on the Trails.
Phelpsy.