Husqvarna

HUSQVARNA

Husqvarna FE 501

$9899

Now that KTM has acquired Husqvarna, something had to give, and that was the Husaberg brand. But there is still a lot of Husaberg wrapped up in the “new” Huskies. The engine in the FE 501 (the largest four-stroke offering) is virtually identical to the sohc 510cc single that was used in the ’Berg. A steel frame is mated to a polyamide subframe and cast aluminum swingarm. The 48mm WP 4CS fork and linked shock are fully adjustable with provisions for high- and low-speed compression damping. All told, this is an excellent Open-class enduro.

Husqvarna FE 350/FE 250

$9549/$8649

The popularity of the 350cc four-stroke category is pretty easy to understand. The Husqvarna FE 305’s engine is virtually identical to its smaller 250cc sibling’s in physical size and weight but with the advantage of a claimed 45 hp. Like the 250, the 350 is a dohc design with four titanium valves actuated by finger-followers. Stuffed into a lightweight, 250-sized chassis, the 350 promises more agile handling than its big 501 brother. Also available: Husky’s FE 250 is the same basic motorcycle, but with a 250cc engine.

Husqvarna TE 300/TE 250

Although two-stroke racebikes have all but vanished from top-level motocross competition, they continue to be very popular for off-road competition. Tight and technical trails are the perfect place to ride an ultra-lightweight two-stroke enduro. A typical weight savings of 10 to 15 pounds (when compared to the TE’s four-stroke stablemates) makes negotiating obstacles that much easier. A steel frame, plastic subframe, cast aluminum swingarm, and WP suspension all contribute to make the lightweight TE a good-handling enduro. Also available: The TE 250 is virtually identical except for a smaller-displacement engine.

$8549/$8349

Husqvarna FC 450/FC 250

Husky dominated motocross early in the sport’s history, but success hasn’t come easy for the brand in the past couple of decades. All of that may now change after a complete overhaul of the range, thanks primarily to new KTM ownership and technology from Husaberg, a brand now defunct. Headlining the four-stroke range is the FC 450. A single overhead cam, four titanium valves, forged-aluminum piston, and Keihin EFI help the counterbalanced engine produce a claimed 60 hp. Also available: The FC 250 is the same basic motorcycle, but with an electric-start-only 250cc engine.

$9049/$8049

Husqvarna TC 250/TC 125

The sound of two-strokes had all but vanished from motocross tracks as most buyers opted for four-strokes. But higher maintenance costs and more complicated rebuilds have meant that two-strokes are slowly but surely making a comeback. Beyond those advantages, two-strokes are much lighter and offer a lot of performance for their size. Husky’s TC 250 engine is tuned for tractability and can be kitted to displace 300cc via a Husky Power kit. An all-new hybrid steel frame/polymer subframe and WP suspension are designed with performance in mind. Also available: The TC 125 features a similar chassis with a 125cc engine.

$7249/$6549

Husqvarna TC 85

There is no better place to hone a young motocrosser’s skills than on an 85cc two-stroke. Budding pros can learn the art of throttle control on a lightweight and powerful machine. Parents will love the fact that this two-stroke requires less maintenance than a four-stroke and can be rebuilt inexpensively and quickly. The TC, which rides on a 17-inch front and a 14-inch rear wheel, has a steel frame but uses an aluminum subframe in place of the bigger bikes’ polymer units. Also available: The TC 85 can be ordered as a big-wheel version with a 19/16 setup.

$5399