VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P103
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The FC 450 has the poten-
tial to take the cake, but
our taller team of riders just
wasn't eating up this recipe.
With the second-highest overall
score, the Husky finds itself in
fifth place.
Let's start with the good. The
Husqvarna FC 450's motor is
its best asset. Every one of our
riders praised it for its smooth
roll-on and crisp mapping. You
can work the Husky motor hard
without getting worn out, and the
throttle feels directly connected
to the rear wheel. It's as smooth
as it is fast, and the engine effort-
lessly ramps up to speed without
ever feeling out of control. It's a
velvety Austrian latte with a few
sneaky shots of espresso thrown
in for good measure.
The electronics package aids
in overall ease of use. Map two,
the more aggressive option, was
our go-to choice for both days of
riding, as the tracks were ripped
deep and offered some high-
speed straights. The harder-
hitting map gave the bike some
extra grunt from the bottom
while maintaining a strong mid-
to top-end range. All the Austri-
an bikes are known for their long
top-end and overrev capabili-
ties, and the Husky doesn't shy
away from being high-strung.
You can push this bike well into
the red zone without the motor
falling flat on its face.
Another strong suit for the
Husqvarna is its ability to track
smoothly through flat corners.
The combination of the malleable
steel frame and lowered suspen-
sion makes it an absolute scalpel
when changing lines on track.
Look, point, shoot. You can eas-
ily lean the bike and use every
square inch of every knob on the
HUSQVARNA FC 450
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