HUSABERG FE450 (2003 - on) Review

The Husaberg FE650 is a real beast off-road; and realistically it’s for experienced enduro riders only. It comes with an electric start as well as a kicker, which is a huge bonus. It’s light, quick-steering, rugged and flexible.

The Husaberg FE650's forks and shock come courtesy of Dutch suspension specialists WP and offer a great range of adjustment and cope well with off-road punishment. It’s extremely light – 5kg lighter than Honda’s popular CRF450X – and very agile, thanks to a steep, 26-degree steering head angle. Though, unlike some of its KTM counterparts you never feel the need for a steering damper. The Brembo brakes are excellent, positive and packed with feel.

The Husaberg FE650's liquid-cooled, short-stroke SOHC motor isn’t just a revvy lightweight, there’s excellent torque there, too. It punches hard when given its head, but its still flexible enough for threading through trees, though it lacks the wallop of KTM’s 450EXC. The six-speed gearbox seems like a gear or two too many for off-road use, but on tarmac it definitely counts in its favour.

Reliability at Husaberg has jumped since 2004, when Austrian off-road giant KTM bought into it. However, you will need to stay on top of basic maintenance – oil and air filters and valve clearances. This isn’t a bike to simply wash and put away.

The FS 400 is cheap. But buying one can be an expensive gamble – a broken motor can cost as much as £1000. There are better supermotos than this. Find a Husaberg FE450 for sale.

With the Husaberg FE650 you get Brembo brakes, WP suspension that includes high and low speed compression damping at the rear and Magura bars and clutch master cylinder. The dash is a comprehensive digital item with hours of use, speed and trips information