Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127568
eRIDING IMPRESSION e won last year by Husaberg-mounted Swede Jimmie Eriksson). The test area consisted of a variety of terrain, inc1uding up- and downhills, fast wooded trails and sand whoops; about the only thing missing was super-technical single-track. . I had never ridden a Husaberg, but I have a soft spot for four-strokes. Our t--.... day of testing in mid-March proved to ~ be a mild one for the Midwest with tem• .-4 'peratures in the 50s. Things got off to an ~ auspicious beginning when it came time ,A'4 to start the bike, more often than not a ....... sore spot with four-strokes. With the Husaberg, after assuring that the kick lever is at the top of the stroke, all that's needed is a strong, smooth boot - don't touch the throttle - and the engine will fire up on the first or second kick nearly every time, hot or cold. The choke is required when cold-starting, but the manual compression release can be ignored. Shorter riders will have trouble with the lengthy lever and its high pivot, and its location on the left side of the bike is a little strange at first. Once the engine is lit, the longish silencer emits a healthy-sounding exhaust note that is not offensive. Husaberg sells the bike for "closedcourse-use only" so the note is louder than an XR with a baffle, but passing most sound tests conducted by enduro dubs shouldn't be a problem. In the past, Husaberg has received complaints about the 501 being hard to handle in gnarly terrain, so some of their changes were aimed at providing a more usable powerband. Most of the trails in Sweden are infested with endless rocks and roots, SO it is important to 1993 Husaber FE501 Husaberg that their bike maintain traction through the most gnarly conditions. They seem to have hit on what must be close to the perfect compromise for a four-stroke enduro bike. While not quite as tractable as a 3SO or as arm-wrenching as a race-built 600, the 501 strikes a sensible balance between the other two schools of thought. The engine's forte is its low end, and it will chug right through the roughest terrain. However, the light flywheel and piston mean that the motor is fairly easy to stall, so the rider's left hand must be kept at the ready for a stab at the clutch. First gear is low, too low for many situations, but second is perfect for tight going. The six-speed tranny means there are no awkward gaps between gears, and shifting is surprisingly smooth for a big four-stroke. With or without the aid of the clutch, changing gears requires less effort than many 250cc motocrossers. Unlike with many four-strokes, throttie response is immediate when the Dellorto carb is cracked open; there is no bothersome bottom-end bog, and acceleration is respectable. Though it likes to lug, the FE doesn't mind being revved, and things get clicking along fairly quickly when the terrain opens up. Sixth gear is fine for all but the most heroic desert racers. I found the layout of the Husaberg extremely comfortable, especially for a thumper. The chassis and engine feel as narrow as a motocrosser, with no bothersome bulges to hinder moving around on the bike. I did, however, continually snag the top of my boot on the left side panel. The slim fuel tank holds 2.2 gal- Both the Ohlins shock and the front WP fork are set up on the stiff side. I'll probably never get to come screaming out of retirement to win in the year's toughest, most prestigious road race. But I still enjoy riding hard, and as well as I can. So even if I can't handle a bike quite like Eddie Lawson, I can get his brand of tires - Dunlop· tires. With wins in six of Daytona'S seven Speed Week events, and the largest contingency payments of any tire manufacturer, Dunlop is doing more than winning races-Dunlop's developing better tires. And that's great for guys like me, because I can use every advantange I can get." Daytona winners Eddie Lawson in Superbike, Britt Turkington in 750cc Supersport, Miguel DuHamel in 600cc Supersport, Jim Filice in 250cc Grand Prix, Mike Hale in Harley-Davidson Twin Sports, and Team Suzuki in GTO 90 Minute Endurance, helped Dunlop lead the way with 18 of 21 possible podium positions. For a closer look at the winningest brand of tires in the world, visit your nearest Dunlop Performance center. 18