Quick Ride: Husaberg FE450E
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Everyman’s exotic?
Ryan Dudek
Photos by Jeff Allen
February 2007


I have always considered Husaberg motorcycles to be on the "exotic" bike list. After all, the blue-and-yellow bikes fit that description so well with their unusual appearance, not to mention the infrequency of spotting one on the trail or track. Their exotic aura is proven even more by all the questions we get about the bikes from complete strangers. Despite all this, when it comes to riding, the new FE450E is completely ordinary. Which is a very good thing.

Sure, a 'Berg is not “main­stream” like a Japanese enduro bike, but it's not out in left field anymore, either. In fact, this 450E works on par with the rest of the 450 enduros, no matter their country of origin.

Surprisingly, my first jaunt on the 450E had me feeling more at home than on most bikes I have recently ridden. Ergonomics were excellent for my 5-foot-11 frame. The 450E also felt like a solid motorcycle, with no funny noises or weird vibrations that are sometimes found on other exotic bikes. Lending an even more polished feel was perfect carburetion, and the fact that during my entire 17 hours of saddle time I never put a wrench on the bike. Try that with a “real” exotic.

This spot-on performance has a lot to do with where the 450E is made: inside the KTM factory. Although Husaberg wants to be known as a separate company, the 'Berg shares approximately 40 percent of its parts with a KTM. Even some of the extra-cool pieces the orange bikes are known for are included, such as the powerful Brembo brakes and Magura hydraulic clutch.


Despite the parts sharing, the 450E has a lot of its own character. Engine, frame and bodywork are completely different. The kickstarter, for example, is on the left side. But with the standard electric start, we never had to worry about kicking it. The right-side chain drive and left-side exhaust are also opposite from the norm. The exhaust system also differs in another way: There are no heat shields, so your gear and boot melt into goo all over the pipe. Bad for the pipe, bad for the gear.

Otherwise, the 450E is pretty well polished. Suspension is made up of KTM-familiar WP pieces, with tuning weighted strongly toward gnarly off-road work. Handling is superb on tight trails, and the bike feels agile and well-balanced. But the price for this low-speed agility is evident on fast whoop-de-doos and big hits, where the suspension is soft and unforgiving. Headshake trouble on one fast dirt road had me begging for a steering damper.

Power delivery suits the tight-trail character, as the 449cc dohc Single is tuned on the mellow side. Bottom-end response is great, with tractable, easy-to-manage torque. This mellow character remains through the rev range and gives the bike a deceptively slow feel.

Overall, the FE450E—especially with its $7899 MSRP—is an excellent alternative to the 450 Thumper norm, particularly for a rider looking for a bike that excels in tight, Eastern-style enduro conditions. Is there such thing as a mainstream exotic?


Source Cycle World