Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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other factors as well. The shortage of dealers must also be considered, as well as th.e lack of any warranty, but one thing's for sure - this four-stroke is no Swedish meatball! (:N Ions, enough for normal enduros, but the auxiliary pod would be welcome for Baja-type contests. The Magura levers are on the large side for riders with small hands, and the compression-release lever gets in the way until is rotated around backwards. Outch pull is not offensive at first but my hand began to tire in rough going, when I was forced to slip the plates to keep from stalling. Husaberg chose to go with a more progressive clutch-lever ratio this year, which makes for more feel at the cost of stiffer pull. Wnen jumping, the longer lever throw makes it difficult to completely disengage the clutch to allow locking the rear brake in the air. While I didn't find them to be a major problem, some riders will no doubt detest the narrow pegs. Though slim front to rear, the pegs are long, which aids in foot support. The rider's left toe tends to catch on the shift lever, , causing false neutrals at inopportune moments. Both brakes are fair, offering good feel but lacking the power of Honda binders. One of the SOl's strongest assets is its 249-pound claimed dry weight. For comparison, the new Kawasaki ICLX tips the scales at a claimed 276 pounds, How HUSilberg does it remains a mystery, but some of the weight savings must be attributed to their minimalist approach; there are absolutely no extraneous parts - brackets, etc. - on the FE, which also eases maintenance. Still, the Husaberg feels solid and strong. The light weight translates into a very flickable bike - and not just for a four-stroke; many twostrokes require more effort to throw While Cycle News believes tile foregoing test reliable, it is the opinion of the reviewers only and should not be relied upon in determining the performance or safety of the vehicle(s). The reader should make his or her own investigation Specification Air is drawn through the filter and down the frame's backbone before reaching the carburetor, A single, large radiator handles the cooling duties. around. Maneuvering the 501 back and forth through the trees is a joy. Stock, I wasn't completely happy with the steering geometry of the FE. While the chassis felt stable over sand whoops and fast terrain, the front end wouldn't settle in turns, and the front tire wanted to push. I raised the fork in the triple clamps until the adjuster caps nearly touched the handlebars, which helped considerably. The bike carved throug!) the turns much better, though headshake became a problem when chopping the throttle at high speeds. Both the WP fork and shock are set up quite stiff. We rode the bike on an • like E Ie MX-style track, and it didn't bottom over most of the jumps. The suspension is balanced, and soaks up whoops without packing down or rebounding wildly. Western riders will no doubt find the suspension perfect as is, while those in the East may opt for softer springs for woods racing. At the end of my day of riding, I was very impressed with theHusaberg. I would love to compete on the bike, in either the desert or the woods. But is it worth the rather hefty price? The answer to that question obviously will depend on each person's own financial situation, and a number of Husaberg FE501 List Price $5895 Displacement , 502cc Engine Type Uquid-eooled, singlecylinder four-stroke 92 X 75.5 rom Bore X Stroke Compression Ratio 102:1 (1) Dellorto flat-slide Carburetion Ignition CDI Transmission Speeds 6 Starting System Kick Fuel Capacity , 2,2 gal. Wheelbase S9.6 in. Seat Height 38 in. Front Ttre .3.00 X 21 Rear Tlre 4.50 X 18 ll.8 in. Front Wheel Travel Rear Wheel TraveL 13.1 in. Front Brake , Hydralilic Disc Rear Brake ; Hydraulic Disc Final Drive Chain . Claimed Dry Weight 239.81bs. Importe.r Husaberg America 1305 Hwy 61 Festus, MO 63028 (800) 748-8454 Lawson's. Pau/Robertson, Yamaha FZR 600 Rider :$ SCC>R.EBC> Manufacturer Paid" % Paid $13,550 90% Bridgestone $0 096 Metzeler $0 096 $1,500 1096 Dunlop Eddie Lawson, Winner 1993 Dqytona SUperbike • Sources: 1993 Official AMA and AMNCCS contingency reports for Phoenix and Daytona Superbike. 250cc Grand Prix, 600cc and 750CC Supersport and U.S. Twin Sport classes. Dunlop does not endorse speeds In excess of legal limits. Be a safe rider. 19