Pro motocross is its personal little planet that has nothing to do with the true world. If you need proof, take a look at the Husqvarna FC450. In the true world, it’s all over the place. Amateurs like it for its clean nature. Local specialists like it for its outright energy. Vets, Seniors and Super Seniors like it for its cheap seat peak and tailorable suspension. In the professional world, alternatively, it was nowhere in 2023. There have been no Husqvarna 450s on the observe at any of the SMX finals. There have been no Husqvarna 450s on the rostrum in Supercross, and none within the prime 10 at any outside National. The 2023 Rockstar Husqvarna Pro Motocross staff was a washout in 2023, at the least within the 450 class. Yet, the FC450 has had wild success within the beginner world. Weird, huh?
THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE
In reality, all Pro Motocross groups are solely a few ruptured ligaments away from catastrophe on a regular basis. “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” hasn’t been an actual factor for a very long time, and everybody is aware of it. The Husqvarna FC450 maintains a regal place within the motocross world. Of the three major strains at Pierer Mobility, Husqvarna remains to be seen because the elite model and instructions the very best costs.
This is the second 12 months of manufacturing for this explicit technology of FC450. The 2024 mannequin is, in reality, fully unchanged apart from some very refined graphic components. It nonetheless has a single-overhead-cam motor in a metal body with WP suspension and Brembo hydraulics. Husqvarna race bikes preserve a key distinction that makes them stand aside from KTM or GasGas: much less seat peak. That’s as a result of the suspension journey is barely lowered on the FC450 in comparison with the opposite Austrian 450s. In most different methods, the most important elements are the identical. The motors and frames are an identical on KTM, GasGas and Husky competitors bikes. There are some variations in elements, bodywork and hydraulics.
THE STAR OF THE SHOW
Setting apart the seat peak difficulty for now, it’s essential to speak about the true star of the Husky present first. It’s the motor. The KTM-made 450 engine is the perfect powerplant within the motocross world. It’s a marvel of usable output. In our 2023 450 motocross shootout, the Husky and KTM have been the horsepower kings, even over the brand new Yamaha. The Husky, specifically, didn’t really feel like a brute in any respect. In truth, it felt type of sleepy in comparison with the KTM and Yamaha, but it surely’s deceptively quick. The map change has two choices: quick and quicker. In normal, riders just like the quicker possibility, which is a testomony to the motor’s clean character. The similar button additionally gives traction management (take it or go away it), Quickshift (take it) and launch management (take it provided that you observe with it).
When you might have a lot energy obtainable, you be taught to deal with it with respect. The key driving approach on all 450s—and on the Husky specifically—is to roll the throttle on. Riders arising from the 250 class generally tend to present all of it or nothing. That doesn’t work right here; you’ll be able to’t make sure precisely what is going to occur when nearly 60 horsepower is unleashed. That’s the perfect argument for traction management, however in fact, all of us have traction management constructed into our proper wrists. You simply should discover ways to use it.
The Husky motor isn’t good. At low rpm, it may be a bit tough, and for those who aren’t fast with the clutch, it may well stall or flame out. You can journey it in a tall gear to make the facility extra controllable, however it’s important to take precautions, like doing most of your braking with the clutch in.
FRAME GAME
The metal body used for the FC450 can be utilized in one thing like 15 completely different fashions throughout the mixed KTM/GasGas/Husky fleet. We don’t imply all these bikes have comparable frames, both; all of the competitors four-strokes use the precise similar body. The two-strokes and dual-sport bikes have frames which might be about 90 p.c the identical. It got here into being for the 2022 Husqvarna Rockstar Edition and 2022 KTM Factory Edition, and since then has turn out to be the common glue that binds the entire Austrian firm collectively. It has a lot of glorious traits; all these bikes are glorious in turns and all are light-weight. On our scale, the 2024 FC450 weighs in at 229 kilos. Last 12 months the one 450 that weighed much less was the GasGas as a result of it used the older chassis. Now that the GasGas has been up to date, it’s possible that the Husky and KTM will probably be tied because the lightest bikes within the class, except the brand new Kawasaki KX450 takes that honor.
The constant criticism that has been leveled towards all these bikes, together with the FC450, is rigidity. It’s a stiffer body than the one it changed. This is most noticeable in back-to-back comparisons, which additionally reveal that the brand new chassis is extra secure and nicely planted. As time goes by, we’ve got found that the Husky body loses a lot of that preliminary stiffness, however cautious suspension setup is extra essential than ever. The Husky works greatest with 105mm of sag. The entrance suspension is the WP Xact AER air fork, and the usual air strain within the fork is 155 psi. The knee-jerk response for all dealing with complaints is usually to scale back the air strain, however more often than not that truly makes the entrance finish extra harsh. Adjustments in damping are typically extra productive. In normal, we just like the Husky’s suspension. It works nicely throughout the board, and for those who fall outdoors the mainstream in weight or aggressiveness, you’ll be able to all the time flip to air-pressure changes. It’s cheaper than shopping for springs. It’s essential to do not forget that you continue to must bleed the Husky’s fork similar to some other bike. The undeniable fact that it makes use of air for a spring doesn’t make it proof against air strain buildup within the damping chamber.
For most riders, the decrease seat peak doesn’t look like it might be that large of a deal. It’s truly laborious to measure precisely, however once you use a degree on the lowest a part of the seat and a plumb bob going straight down, it comes out to a couple of half inch. That is a giant deal to shorter riders, and because it seems, even tall guys prefer it. Riders who’re over 6 ft tall love the truth that they’ll get each ft squarely on the bottom. It helps for begins, engenders extra confidence and appears to don’t have any draw back. In idea, you need to have much less floor clearance, which could imply that deep ruts might wipe your ft off the pegs. If somebody claims to have a difficulty with the lowered suspension journey, it’s most likely nonsense. Likewise, these riders who say they’ll nook higher due to the decrease seat peak are most likely imagining issues. Or, possibly they’re very, very delicate take a look at riders.
DETAILING
The Husqvarna FC450 just isn’t an inexpensive motorbike. Aside from particular editions, it’s one of the vital costly bikes within the 450 class with an MSRP of $11,199. For that, you do get a number of the greatest bits and items. The rims are D.I.D Dirt Stars, the handlebar is a Pro Taper, the hydraulic clutch is Brembo and so are the brakes. There’s little question that this is without doubt one of the most well-built bikes in all of motocross. If you’re nonetheless confused by its lack of visibility in Pro Motocross, simply keep tuned. The Pro Motocross world can flip the other way up in a heartbeat.