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
The right half of the slim fuel tank extends down the side of bike, keeping the bike's center of gravity quite low. A small pump is used to draw gas up to the carburetor. The compact engine delivers a smooth-but-powerful hit. The bike starts easily, but the kickstarter is mounted high on the engine, making it difficult to access. (Left) Despite the appearance of the radiator shrouds, the FE501 has a very slim profile, especially for a four-stroke. The longish silencer emits a tolerable note, though the bike is not EPA legal. Foolpegs are long, but are too narrow. Sweden approximately five years ago, though updates and revisions are made each year. For '93, Husaberg gave the bike a larger-diameter front disc rotor and a new Brembo caliper. They also altered the suspension, giving the shock a stiffer spring and increasing the shaft diameter from 14 to 16 mm. Up front, the FE received a new WP sealed-cartridge inverted fork. Other updates include a flal-slide Dellorto carburetor, stiffer seat foam and stronger radiator mounts. Husaberg also modified the engine, beefing up the connecting rod, shift forks and gears, and toning down the power for a lessexplosive hit. The 501's piston's diameter is normal, but it is only about an inch and a half in height, a feature that allows the bike to rev quickly. One of the more interesting features on the Husaberg is the air intake system, which resides on the left side of the frame backbone, hidden by the fuel tank. Air travels through the filter, into the largish top tube and through a plastic duct to the carbo The unusual air system keeps the filter high on the bike and out of the water in deep stream crossings, and frees up the traditional location below the seat. Husaberg is considering marketing an auxiliary fuel tank which mounts in the normal airbox area for longer loops. We tried a prototype auxiliary tank during the test and had no problems. The stock tank is a work of art, extending down the entire right side of the bike and nearly touching the countershaft sprocket. To draw fuel up to the carb, a tiny Mikuni pump resides on the underside of the tank, running off the pressure of the crankcase. The cooling system on the 501 is also unique, with a large, single radiator tak- ing the place of the usual pair. The design is simple, and the radiator is very easy to remove. ~aberg currently only has about 25 dealers nationwide, but Surdyke is stepping up his inventory of parts for '93. Is it thumpin' special? Surdyke's son Greg, the Husaberg sales manager and a former ISDE rider, was my host for the Festus trip. The bike he offered for testing was unfortunately not a new unit, but one that belonged to Jerry Hemman, a Surdyke-sponsored local hare scrambles ace - thus the "Oh no, not on a test bike! The editor will kill me!" Gary Surdyke Racing stickies on the front fender and the usual assortment of aftermarket company stickers elsewhere on the bike. Although I was assured it was stock, Hemann had contested one tough race on it. Greg and Jerry took me to nearby Saint Joe Stale Park, home of the infamous Flat River Grand Prix (which, incidentally, was 17