2020 HUSQVARNA FC450
FIRST REVIEW
P78
Husqvarna's unique
airbox/subframe assembly
and muffler specs suppress
power delivery and sound
compared to its orange
Austrian brothers, and the
KTM is lower in the decibel
and snap department than
the Japanese makers. This
makes the delivery smooth-
er overall and easier to
control. It feels less punchy,
and some say it's slower than the
competition, but I'd beg to differ on
lap times (but that's just argument
ammo for another day).
With this subdued (by compari-
son) power punch, the Husqvarna
FC450 is a more balanced bike when
my throttle control is sub-par. It just
doesn't get out of shape as easily.
And any dyno chart on the planet will
show you that it has plenty of
horsepower. If you're se-
cure enough in your abilities
to know the bike's subtle
bottom-end hit probably isn't
what's holding you back, the
Husqvarna FC450 was ready
for you before the 2020 came
to town.
The rare complaints I've had
with this bike center on want-
ing more suspension comfort
on initial contact with track bumps and
a seat cover that leaves your cheeks
begging for mercy. Give me more
compliance in the suspension, and
ditch the cheese-grater seat and it's
close to perfection, at least for me.
For 2020, Husqvarna is addressing
some of the concerns faster riders
have brought up. Some guys and
gals want more punch. They want
(Top to bottom)
Subtle changes make
noticeable difference
on the track with
the 2020 Husqvarna
FC450. The FC450's
engine makes plenty
of manageable power.
