VOL. 55 ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 P89
Husqvarna's FC 450 has
always found itself towards
the top of the big-bore shoot-
out rankings. In a class as
com petitive as this, that's an
accom plishment in itself, proof
of how capable this package
has been since its inception.
Times are changing, however.
Com petitors have stepped up
for 2019, knocking the Husky
back to a fifth-place finish.
The FC 450 is nimble on
its feet, falling into the corner
and tackling quick side-to-side
transitions with little effort. This
is exactly what Husqvarna
was aiming for when it gave
the FC a more rigid chassis
for 2019, but also the result of
it being the lightest in class (a
mere 235 pounds), an ac-
com plishment that it shares
with its Austrian counterpart.
Mid-corner steering is also
im pressive, with test riders rav-
ing about the Husky's ability to
track through both tight, inside
lines and wide-open sweep-
ers without a second thought.
The FC is lively, yet confidence
inspiring, all while requiring the
least amount of exertion to ride
at full clip.
Braking performance goes a
long way in providing an effort-
less ride aboard the Husqvar-
na, too. Testers noticed that,
com pared to the com petition,
you have to pull the lever with
less determination to get the
PROS
•Lightweight
•Traction control option
•Strong brakes
•Confidence-inspiring handling
CONS
•Soft throttle response
•Soft bottom-to-mid power
•Most expensive
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Actual Weight (full fuel):
235 lbs.
MSRP: $9999
Husqvarna
FC 450
5
th
Place
