Saturday, November 14, 2015
2015 Husqvarna FE 350 S And FE 501 S Preview
2015 Husqvarna FE 350 S And FE 501 S Preview
In the dirtbike world, Husqvarna is appreciating a resurgent buzz that opponents Indian, the main distinction being that, dissimilar to the American notable cruiser brand, Husqvarna has never gone bankrupt in its 110-year presence as a bike producer. Their stories are comparable in that both brands bring out energetic memories of eminent years at the highest point of their particular types. What's more both brands pissed off a great deal of their no-nonsense fans by bungling the ball.
In the late 1960s and '70s, Husqvarna was the pioneer in rough terrain cruiser deals, procuring various motocross and rough terrain titles both in America and far and wide. That all changed after a deal to Cagiva prompted tough times. The Italians woefully blundered the Husqvarna mark in the late 1980s, which prompted a wholesale surrender of the brand by an army of colored in-the-fleece Husky aficionados. Husqvarna was thrown from its throne as lord of the rough terrain world, apparently never to recoup.
Be that as it may additionally dissimilar to Indian, Husky never kicked the bucket. Rather, the brand grieved in excess of 20 years, a sad remnant of its previous self. Cruiser creation never stopped, and Husky persevered through its impart of harsh times, with production line dashing endeavors showing incidental snippets of brightness, just to be tempered by steady detachment to its U.s. merchants by the guardian organization, serving as a terrible update to Husky fans who "recollected when."
At that point, in 2007, Husqvarna got a gigantic support when it was acquired by BMW, and Husky's resulting buy by KTM seems to have put it on a sound single-track to recuperation. Husqvarna's little group of North American officials all impart an association with the brand's brilliance years, and they are committed to recapturing a portion of the ground lost amid the previous two decades by pushing forward with an all-new line of KTM/Husaberg-built motocross, rough terrain and double game machines. The 2015 Husqvarna FE 350 S and FE 501 S are the most recent to rise up out of Husky's new Austrian burrows.
Imposing welcomed us to its North American central station, spotted right adjacent to KTM in Murrietta, California, to specimen the FE 350 S and the FE 501 S, and in the wake of putting 100 miles on them, we're glad to report that both machines more than maintain the honor of the brand's celebrated Swedish crown logo.
The Gene Pool
The FE 350 S and FE 501 are more than simply focused around the adaptable FE 350 and FE 500 rough terrain machines that Husqvarna appeared in 2014, they essentially are those exceptionally models, enhanced with the fundamental lighting and outflows gear to guarantee them for street utilization. Husqvarna says that the FE 350 S and FE 501 S models are intended to essentially be completely competent rough terrain machines with turn signals, which ought to fulfill requests by experienced and in-your-face rough terrain riders looking for uncompromised rough terrain thrills with the accommodation of road going capacity.
The FE 350 S emphasizes the same KTM-outlined DOHC, four-valve, four-stroke, single-barrel motor building design used by industrial facility KTM riders, for example, Antonio Cairoli and Kailub Russell on their separate World Championship Motocross and AMSOIL GNCC title-winning bikes. Premium parts possess large amounts of the manifestation of titanium admission and steel deplete valves, DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) rocker arms, F1-style crossed over box cylinder and Pankl uniting pole and crankshaft, the last somewhat heavier than the unit found in the race machines for enhanced tractability. The Pankl crankshaft additionally utilizes a plain enormous end holding on for two energy fitted shells that run specifically on the crankpin, which is weight greased up. Husqvarna says that this style of bearing considers expanded solidness and more administration interims.
The 350's 349.7cc motor transmits its energy through a creative DDS (Damped Diaphragm Steel) grasp that uses a solitary steel stomach spring rather than customary curl springs. There's additionally a coordinated damping framework in the grip to help guarantee smooth control and a light lever force to help the rider keep up ideal footing when the landscape gets truly gnarly. Its wide-degree six-pace transmission utilizes degrees intended to take advantage of the 350's high-revving force character, which Husqvarna expected to speak to the best of both planets: the torque feel of a 450cc machine consolidated with the light weight of a 250 to support taking care of.
The FE 501 S is controlled by the same 510.4cc SOHC 4-stroke Single found in KTM's standard shattering 500 EXC double game, and it as well, peculiarities the same-style internals as the FE 350 S– titanium admission valves, DLC-covered rocker arms, spanned box cylinder and Pankl pole and plain-bearing wrench. Contrasted with the flame breathing FE 501 rough terrain machine, the S model's execution has been marginally detuned for street use by means of a thicker, three-layer head gasket, yet like the 350, its furnished with a DDS grasp and wide-degree six-velocity gearbox intended to makes its extensive torque as usable as would be prudent. Both motors additionally profit from electronic fuel-infusion, sourced from Keihin and having the same 42mm throttle body size.
While the motors are gotten from KTM, the Husqvarna line contrasts generously in the case division from its Austrian sisters. Changed from the now-outdated Husaberg brand, the FE 350 S and FE 501 S primary edges are built of laser-cut chromoly steel and are fitted with imaginative, cross-connected polyamide subframes. Polyamide is a cutting edge, carbon fiber-impregnated material that is intended to offer amazing unbending nature while offering more flex than aluminum or steel. The extraordinary subframes house the airboxes and hardware while additionally giving a perfect snatch handle. Husqvarna says that, while it has just ever seen one subframe part endure sufficient harm to warrant substitution (one of Husky's processing plant riders went down while running completely open in a rapid desert race), the excellence of the subframe's multi-piece development implied that stand out segment expected to be supplanted so as to make it comparable to new. Have a go at doing that with an one-piece aluminum subframe – it ain't gonna happen.
The KTM association has yielded more than recently solid motors and skeleton for Husqvarna. It has additionally encouraged the fitting of the most recent and most prominent from KTM's premium in-house suspension firm WP. In like manner, the FE 350 S and FE 501 S are fitted with CNC-machined triple braces, 48mm WP 4cs four-chamber forks and DCC (Dual Compression Control) WP monoshocks. The Husqvarna's contrast from the Ktms in that their back suspension is mounted to Husky's one-piece cast aluminum swingarms by means of a dynamic linkage as opposed to being straightforwardly mounted to the swingarm sans linkage like the Ktms.
Husqvarna says that the 4cs four-chamber fork speaks to the zenith of WP's buyer suspension innovation by offering the refined capacities of a shut cartridge fork with the profits of an open-cartridge outline. Its clicker settings are effectively flexible by means of dials on top of the fork tubes – bounce back (red) is on the right, while clamping (white) is on the left. The WP DCC stun is completely movable, offering simple layering and bouncing back damping legitimacy and in addition preload flexibility. Both the front and back are situated up with spring and valving rates upgraded for double game riding.
Husqvarna has likewise fitted both S models with other swanky parts to boost their utility on and off the trail. Trailtech's decently named enduro machine comes standard on both, permitting riders to track speed, time and separation. Both machines likewise don temperature-controlled cooling fans to keep air coursing through the radiators at moderate paces. The radiator design is coordinated with the body, and the radiator hoses course through the casings for better crash insurance and a more productive cooling framework. Brembo water driven brakes, D.i.d Dirtstar edges and CNC-machined center points are standard toll, as are overwhelming obligation slide plates and handguards – two sections that are additional expense adornments on the KTM EXC double game models.
We should Ride
To show the capacities of the FE 350 S and FE 501 S, Husqvarna Media Relations Manager Andy Jefferson headed us on a 120-mile circle to and from Husky's Murrietta central station through the tall pines of the San Jacinto Mountains to Idyllwild, California. Jefferson brought along a few rough terrain legends to help him, and both are guaranteed Husky eminence – none other than nine-time AMA National Enduro Champion Dick Burleson and four-time AMA National Enduro Champion Terry Cunningham! Husqvarna is legitimately pleased with its Swedish history, and reviewing Burleson and Cunningham to serve as diplomats to the brand is just barely the start of what we expect will be an enormous homecoming call to its previous dashing saints. Having Burleson and TC with us along made for an exceptionally noteworthy day in the soil.
The course comprised of around 4000 feet of height change with a lot of quick fire street and rock-strewn two-track areas with residue bunks reminiscent of the Baja 1000. Quickly, we discovered that regardless of their imparted building, the FE 350 S and the FE 501 S are two altogether different creatures.
Generally as the distinction in their relative motor removal would propose, the FE 350 S is even more a revver, while the FE 501 S profits by its more extensive and more generous torque bend. While the FE 350 S does make tolerable low-end torque, its 88mm drag and short 57.5mm stroke still stress 250cc-style push, so riding it adequately means keeping its engine turning in the upper revs, with strict consideration paid to fanning its light and direct grip and paddling its six-pace gearbox.
By complexity, the FE 501 S's bigger motor, with its squarer 95 x 72mm drag and stroke, offers a considerable measure of snort, and it is simpler to carry along in a taller apparatus, obliging less moves and just an incidental flick of the grasp lever to keep it agitating. Both machines display smooth and exact moving execution, and both transmissions appear to be generally matched to the individual force bends of the FE 350 S and FE 501 S.
The genuine contrast lies in their taking care of. What the FE 350 S yields in force to the FE 501 S, is more than compensated for in its light and exact guiding. While both machines have the same 58.3-inch wheelbase and 26.5-degree rake, the 350's 242.7-pound asserted weight is a little more than 8 pounds short of what the FE 501 S's, however it feels like 20 when the going gets tight or the territory gets elusive. Some piece of this distinction is because of the FE 501 S's heavier flywheel, which makes a bit additional energy that must be adjusted for when crashing into a detached corner. We observed that it was best to hack the throttle a bit right on time to help keep the front end from washing out in level and dangerous corners, though the FE 350 S could simply be full into the same corner and it would stick like paste. The FE 501 S likewise obliges somewhat more directing with the throttle to passageway corners. On the other side, the heavier FE 501 S is a tad more steady in a straight line over rough or wild trails areas.
The 350's lighter weight additionally makes its suspension less demanding to deal with. We had no protests with the execution of the 4cs fork or the DCC stun on the FE 350 S. Both finishes were greatly supple, offering superb knock retention and helping footing. The stock settings on our test bicycle appeared to be pretty much
It was an alternate story on the FE 501 S, which obliged some fiddling with fork agents to help plant the front end in detached corners. While we would have jumped at the chance to attempt a bit less stun preload to help adjust the front and the back, our short test ride didn't bear the cost of us the time to investigation. Still, we can't generally whine about the general suspension execution of the FE 501 S. We're persuaded that the enchantment suspension settings are in there. All it would take is a bit of fiddling to discover them.
Top notch Brembo brakes are mounted to the CNC-machined centers of both machines, a 260mm rotor and two-cylinder caliper in advance and a 220mm rotor and single-cylinder caliper out back. Both offer amazingly solid braking, yet some rough terrain riders may discover them to be excessively grabby in rough terrain conditions. We say that is essentially a Brembo trademark. The brakes are to a great degree receptive to snatchy fingers and toes at the outset, yet they are not difficult to get used to, and you'll just admire them all the more once you do.
We certainly incline toward the FE 501 to the FE 350 in the city. There, the FE 501's more extensive torque and abundant strength make moving along at 70 mph a breeze, there's still a lot of store power on tap in the event that you have to pass slower movement. The FE 350's engine is a bit of a bell at that speed, and that could be a genuine buzzkill if there are a ton of asphalt miles in the middle of you and your most loved trails. It's nothing to stress over on short drives that don't oblige a ton of supported rapid motoring, however we truly admired the smoother feel of the FE 501 S on the 55 or more mph expressway areas along our course. The huge engine's easy to understand torque and looser outfitting went far to making the FE family's actual dirtbike ergos — and especially firm seat — endurable when rambling.
Maybe it shouldn't be shocking that the cost of affirmation is near to the same between these two altogether different performing double sporties. The FE 501 S costs just somewhat more, $10,249, than the FE 350 S at $10,049, which puts them comfortable top of the top of the line, no-nonsense double game business sector. That is okay, says Husqvarna, since one of its new objectives is to be perceived as a premium brand and more restrictive than its KTM kin, despite the fact that not one or the other machine is a great deal more extravagant than its Austrian partner; The KTM 350 EXC-F retails for $9,999, and the 500 EX-C retails for $10,249. Notwithstanding, they are more costly than opponent Beta's charming new trio of RS double sporters, which retail for $9,599 (390 RS), $9,699 (430 RS) and $9,799 (500 RS). Suffice it to say that the turf fight in the in-your-face double game business sector is still all that much being pursued in Europe.
How the money adds up here is that we realized there is no "one size fits all" concerning Husqvarna's FE double game machines. The FE 350 S is an impact to ride when the going gets tight and rough or the footing gets to be non-existent. It handles like a surgical blade, and its suspension is situated up amazingly well right out of the container.
The FE 501 S will be somewhat more of modest bunch in those same conditions, however it is more proficient in the city, and its generous engine and stable suspension will charm it to less experienced rough terrain riders regardless of the weight punishment and $200 higher cost.
Be that as it may cost doesn't become an integral factor here as much as individual appraisal. Both machines perform well however are solid where the other isn't. Evaluating which one is best for you is only a question of taking a decent, hard take a gander at what sort of rough terrain riding you like to do and what number of miles of asphalt you need to pound so as to get to it. In the event that it were our decision, and asphalt stretch was more than 25 miles, we'd ride the FE 501 S, or we'd cheerfully tuck the FE 350 S in the couch of our pickup truck, realizing that it is the better dirtbike of the two in truly tight areas.
In any case whatever the course, Husqvarna has presented two wonderful double games for 2015, and we'd be stoked to claim both of them.
Specifications 2015 Husqvarna FE 350 S 2015 Husqvarna FE 501 S
MSRP $10,049
Engine Type 349.7cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke Single 510.4cc liquid-cooled, SOHC, four-stroke Single
Bore and Stroke 88.0 x 57.5mm 95.0 x 72.0mm
Compression Ratio 12.3:1 11.8:1
Fuel Delivery Keihin EFI, 42mm throttle body Keihin EFI,
Ignition Keihin EMS Keihin EMS
Transmission Constant mesh, 6-speed DDS (Dampened Diaphragm Steel) wet clutch Constant mesh, 6-speed DDS (Dampened Diaphragm Steel) wet clutch
Final Drive Chain
Front Suspension 48mm WP 4CS inverted fork; compression and rebound adjustable, 11.8-in. travel 48mm WP 4CS inverted fork; compression and rebound adjustable, 11.8-in. travel
Rear Suspension WP DCC (Dual Compression Control) fully adjustable single shock; 13.0-in. travel WP DCC (Dual Compression Control) fully adjustable single shock; 13.0-in. travel
Front Brake Brembo hydraulic single-disc brake, 260mm
Rear Brake Brembo hydraulic single-disc brake, 220mm Brembo hydraulic single-disc brake, 220mm
Front Tire 80/100-21
Rear Tire 140/80-18
Wheelbase 58.3 inches
Seat Height 38.1 inches
Ground Clearance 13.6 inches
Fuel Capacity 2.3 gallons
Color White/Blue/Yellow
Claimed Wet Weight* 242.7 pounds 251.1 pounds
* Weight includes the vehicle with empty fuel tank but with standard equipment and all fluids, including oil and coolant (as applicable).
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Dude, seriously awesome article. Than you.
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