Husaberg FE 390
By TMX Archives on 23rd Jul 09
Husaberg has added three new bikes to its model range for 2010 as it offers its first ever cross-country specific 450cc machine, returns to the supermoto arena with a 570cc bike, and mixes things up a little with the arrival of its Clubman friendly FE 390
When this winter's Indoor Enduro World Championship kicks off in Sheffield on October 31, Husaberg factory riders Joakim Ljunggren and Oriol Mena will almost certainly be riding the new Austro-Swedish FE 390, and not their usual FE 450 machines.
So what you might be thinking? Well, considering that both riders have successfully raced their factory prepped FE 450 machines for the past 12-months, around numerous extreme tests, switching to 'berg's new, smaller capacity, bike for indoor competition says much about where the bike's strengths lie.
Husaberg's new for 2010 FE 390 is a model that is aimed at riders looking for 'the perfect free-ride enduro motorcycle' - endurance racers, leisure riders and those planning on contesting extreme events. It goes without saying that not too many 'leisure riders' compete in extreme events, which shows that the bike is two different machines to two very different types of riders.
The FE 390 is a bike that will bring a new group of riders to Husaberg. Historically a mid to large sized four-stroke bike manufacturer, under KTM's direction the FE 390 reaches out to riders who previously wouldn't have considered Husaberg because they didn't want a 450 - previously the marque's smallest capacity bike.
The FE 390 is a bike which Husaberg claim offers ultimate rideability. Wishing to create a machine that mixed 250cc four-stroke style manoeuvrability and ease of use with the addition of bigger bike style torque, the end product is a kind of meeting in the middle - a little bit 250F, a little bit 450F like.
While the bike is brand new to the Husaberg line-up, along with the FX 450 cross-country model and the FS 570 supermoto machine, it relies on the tried and tested, and now 12-months old, technologies Husaberg introduced to its 'new generation' 2009-model offerings.
The new 390 uses an engine layout that is identical to both the FE 450 and FE 570. The 'looked a bit weird, but now doesn't seem all that radical' engine design of the 390, with the crank sited on top of the gearbox and the cylinder head tilted forward so as to keep the important moving engine parts as close together as possible and in the centre of the bike, simply features a shorter stroke in comparison to it's bigger brothers. In addition the bike does have slightly less compression.
The idea of offering a bike that 'anyone can ride' isn't a new one. Husqvarna has a 310cc four-stroke, KTM has a 400cc four-stroke and now Husaberg is offering a bike for those not worried about fitting into either the Enduro 1 or Enduro 2 class.
While Husaberg suggests that the bike will be used for extreme competitions, for most it won't. Far from it in fact! But what will allow Husaberg's top riders to perform at their best when faced with all matter of demanding indoor obstacles is the very same thing that will allow a large number of 'not in it to win it' Sportsman, Clubman, and even Expert class riders, to perform at their best as well.
In many ways by simply reducing the capacity and compression of the FE 450 Husaberg have created exactly what they wished for - a bike that supports riders, rather than demanding all of their concentration and effort.
While the external dimensions of the bike are the same as the FE 450 and FE 570 the 390 feels smaller - notably smaller. It feels lower to the ground, shorter, and because of the character of the power delivery it feels in almost every way easier to move around on. That's not to say that the 450 is in any way a difficult bike to feel comfortable on.
The feeling of being a little smaller instantly gives a feeling of more control. Bigger riders might feel a little cramped but most riders will feel that they are very much boss of the bike - and not the other way around. Everyone knows that even the most mild-mannered 450 can be a little too much after a few hours of hard going.
The FE 390 is a gentle, efficient, and easy to ride bike. It's not for everyone, I'll get to that later, but for a lot of riders it will be exactly what they're looking for, especially those not overly bothered about class specific competition.
What makes the bike incredibly easy to ride is the motor's docile yet purposeful characteristics. Put simply the bike performs on technical tracks like a reduced sized tractor engine has some how been fitted as it has the ability to deal with all manor of challenging terrain with amazing ease.
At the model launch the Spanish terrain had been baked rock hard. In places it was covered in loose stones. In others the test loop included climbs that wouldn't have been out of place in any of Europe's hardest extreme events. The FE 390 made light work of all of it.
What will impress a lot of riders is the motor's 'John Deere'-like ability to haul the bike up pretty much anything. Obviously, it's not going to turn each and every regular Joe into an extreme enduro specialist, but the way the bike behaves will make life a lot easier for anyone who rides one.
The power isn't hard hitting and isn't as strong as that of a 450. Yet the 390 can be pointed at pretty much any climb and it will simply work its way to the top. The torque is amazing. From the instant the throttle is opened the bike doesn't struggle like a 250F might, or leap out of your hand like a 450 might. It simply starts to put its power to the ground and in a seemingly un-hurried way moves forward, no matter how snotty the climb.
The fact that it is so manageable and that the power so user friendly means that the FE 390 can help you tackle tracks and trails you possibly wouldn't normally wish to. The bike helps you as much, if not more, than any other mid-size four-stroke to do what you want. It's never in a hurry to dump all of its power, nor does it struggle to give you the power it has.
While the 'help' you get is impressive, it's the fact that having not worked as hard as you might on a 250F, or been caught out by a 450, means that you feel like you've put less effort in to riding it.
Four-stroke machines of less than 450cc capacity normally always offer an easier ride, due to not having the punch of a full-fat 450. However you can then find that occasionally you wish the motor had a little more get-up-and-go. You have a bike that's great most of the time but lacking at times.
With the 390 what you get is both an easy ride as well as having enough go to ensure you're never wanting for more when up to the bike's axles in technical terrain.
Matching the affable nature of the engine's power delivery is suspension that is also trail friendly, and clearly not designed for high-end competition use. Supple throughout the stroke of both the forks and shocks, the suspension is well matched to the motor's characteristics, and enhances the 'ride anywhere' credentials. The motor itself does a great job of helping the bike find traction but the suspension lends a sizeable helping hand, as well.
Racing isn't what the FE 390 is all about. It will make life easier, and therefore more enjoyable, for any rider who finds himself in tough/ difficult/ hard/ extreme terrain. But riders looking to be competitive in traditional enduro events, no matter what the class, should probably stick to one of Husaberg's 450 bikes.
The FE 390 is a kind of yin and yang motorcycle, only the two 'sides' of the bike aren't quite as complimentary to each other as some would like. On the one hand the bike is brilliant. On the other it's a little frustrating. While it does what it's built to do superbly - gives a useable power delivery and isn't overly taxing to ride - trying to extract performance from it around a special test simply isn't what this bike is all about.
Easy to position on track, easy to boss around, and easy to ride up technical climbs, and generally easier to ride than many bikes, you start to think the FE 390 must do everything well. But the top-end performance doesn't match that of the bottom-end. Arguably it isn't designed to - it is after all bike aimed at ease of use, not out and out performance - on the special test two things stopped the bike being better than it is - the gearing and lack of top end power.
While the bike is 250F like in terms of its manoeuvrability and has a 450 like strength to its bottom-end the top-end performance is neither like a 250F or a 450. It's somewhere between the two in a kind of power no mans land. Like several crank heavy 300-odd capacity enduro bikes the FE 390's motor neither lights up like a high revving quarter litre four-stroke or pulls relentlessly like some 450s.
What the 390 does is run out of go at the very top-end. It doesn't have a revvy top-end that allows you to hold a gear while revving the motor to the moon. You have to rev it out and then change, not hang on to the revs. You can't hold a gear for long if you want to keep driving forward at pace. You have to keep shifting. Due in part to the final gearing that helps the motor pull so well up climbs you have to shift constantly, as if you are riding a 125.
The suspension is also a slightly limiting factor for anyone wanting to push the bike hard. While a smaller rear sprocket and an aftermarket exhaust system would likely give the motor more top-end performance, the standard suspension soon becomes too soft and too trail friendly and would need to be up-rated. On a special test, when trying to push hard, the required constant gear changing and soft forks that quickly move through their stroke when faced with rougher, choppier terrain, are both restricting factors.
But with most riders that have one eye on competition likely to opt for a 450 the FE 390 is a great bike for the many riders, many hundreds of riders, that simply want to enjoy enduro sport.
By having a great deal of torque, but not too much power, the bike simply makes riding much easier and enjoyable. Maybe not on a special test, but most everywhere else the ease of manoeuvrability and rideability combine to give a bike that a large number of riders will love.
It's hardly surprising that Husaberg's 2010 model FE 450 and FE 570 aren't really any different to what they were in last year as the bikes were new from the ground up 12-months ago.
What is new is the FX 450 Cross-country bike. Essentially an FE 450 with revised gearing ratios, closed cartridge WP front forks, 19-inch rear wheel, and no lights, the bike has been built for competition, and it's good.
The changes Husaberg has made to its 450cc enduro bike to create a 'berg that can now seriously be used for cross-country racing and motocross are simple but effective. With a much more competitive feel to it, thanks largely to the up-rated suspension, the FX 450 certainly isn't a token cross-country offering - it's the real deal.
The performance is noticeably different to the enduro model in as much as its firmer suspension and closer ratio gearbox make the bike feel more like a motocross machine, but with Husaberg's smooth power not one that struggles to deal with typically 'off-road' terrain and climbs.
For more serious enduro riders the FX 450 is in several ways better suited to high-end enduro competition thanks to the suspension and gearbox changes.
The bike certainly isn't what Clubman riders will want - the FE 450 is a much easier bike to ride. But for any riders serious about cross-country racing and enduro, the FX 450 is a bike well worth considering.
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