2020 HUSQVARNA FC 450 ROCKSTAR EDITION
R I D E R E V I E W
P90
Helen does not lack for rough-
ness and braking bumps, making
for the perfect conditions for
suspension testing. We could
charge the downhills with ease,
eat up chop and slice through
ruts with the best of them. The
front end also feels noticeably
light on the Husky. It was not
something we noted on the first
lap, but, during longer motos, we
credited this light weight to our
noticeably reduced fatigue. Go-
ing fast for an extended period
just felt easy. The fork did not get
harsh or bind up as the laps wore
on either. We did play with air
pressure, adding a few PSI to the
fork to make it even stiffer in the
mid to bottom, and we eventually
went back to stock settings as
the track got rougher. The track-
side clicker adjustments are also
really cool, as the fork can be
fine-tuned without tools. Simply
pull off, twist the plastic adjust-
ers and you're good to go. We
still haven't perfected the midair
clicker change though; we'll save
that one for Jason Anderson.
Even when hard on the
front brake at the bottom
of Glen Helen's steep
downhills, you can see
how the updated WP Xact
fork holds up nicely under
the heavy load. It can
still soak up the bumps
and do so without feeling
overly stiff.
All in all, this is the best air fork
we've ever experienced.
As usual, the Husqvarna has
other strong points like the over-
all handling, brakes and clutch.
Its light weight makes the bike
feel ultra-flickable and allows you
to go anywhere on the track with
minimal rider input. It corners
well, tracks straight so you can
focus on getting the power to
the ground and continue driving
forward. The Magura hydraulic
clutch and Brembo brakes are
some of the best in the business.
The clutch performs as demand-
ed and does not feel like a chore
to feather over the course of a
moto. Butter-smooth clutch pull
definitely delayed the arm pump
for a few more laps than usual.
