2019 HUSQVARNA FC 250, FC 350 & FC 450
FIRST IMPRESSION
P96
Sharing group updates across the
board, the Husqvarna FC line fea-
tures three displacements for racing
and rider preference. The FC 250
and FC 450 have been front-run-
ners in our 250 and 450 shootouts
for a few years now. In fact, some
riders (me, in particular) prefer
them over most in those classes,
even the KTM. The combination
of a quieter, more muffling muf-
fler and an airflow-affecting airbox
delivers a power that my riding style
prefers over the always-trending
snappy power pulse. I, personally,
don't believe sound equals power,
never have. And I prefer a torque
pull that's manageable and linear
over a tire spinning sideways and a
flat overrev. Husqvarna has fit this
bill for me perfectly. The bigger the
displacement, the more I appreci-
ate the Husqvarna platform. But the
whole package works in the smaller
CC department, as well.
The entire Husqvarna MX lineup
gets new, more rigid frames, lighter
two-piece airboxes and updated
suspension settings and compo-
nents (shock piston, primarily)
as well as new bodywork
and graphics. If you
don't like white motor-
cycles, you're going to want
to hit the aftermarket for some stick-
ers. But the new blue frame does
add some nice color.
The new bikes receive swingarm
updates, a new stiffer triple clamp
and every four-stroke receives more
compact silencers and updated
header pipes with "flow-designed
resonance chambers." Best of all,
the new mufflers can be removed
without taking out the shock—bril-
liant! These bikes receive the same
updated cooling system the two-
strokes have but the four-bangers
get the latest software updates to
the Traction and Launch controls.
New batteries fire the bikes to life.
All of these are sort of the bits
and pieces that add up to a great
update. But the biggest changes
to the sum of the parts comes
with an all-new Pankl transmission
GREATER
THAN
THE
SUM
There isn't
much not to
like about the
Husqvarna
FC 250.
