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/314586
VOL. 51 ISSUE 20 MAY 20, 2014 P57 Husky features a two-way switch on the handlebar that allows you to change mapping on the fly, and the Husky has a different muffler – it's slightly longer and has two baffles instead of one. The FC's rear axle is slightly smaller in diameter, too. It's 20mm instead of 25mm, and the one-piece cast-aluminum swing- arm it runs through is different than the KTM's. All of the Husqvarnas come with white plastic hand guards, including the motocross (FC and TC) models, and are mounted to tapered 827 Renthal Fatbar han- dlebars. Airing It Out If you've ever ridden the KTM 450 SX-F, then you have ridden the Husqvarna FC 450. Well, sort of. They're not exactly the same, but pretty darn close. The Husky does have a slightly different feel than the KTM but it's hard to pin- point exactly what it is. Even some factory Husky racers we've talked to aren't sure why. The tank/seat junction does seem a little wider than the KTM and it vibrates about the same, which is to say a bit more than the Japanese 450s and the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition model. Otherwise, the Husky rides and feels a lot like a KTM, but not exactly. Could it be because of the plastic subframe and airbox? Probably. Like the 450 SX-F, the Hus- ky's SOHC four-valve motor has a broad power delivery that also provides plenty of torque and horsepower (60 peak hp. at 11,500 rpm according to Husky's specs) across the board. Bottom end is mellow and rider friendly, top-end is decent but midrange is where you want to be. That's where the meat of the Husky's power lives and it's very use- able. The Husky's quick-change mapping switch is a nice touch. Flip the switch from the standard mapping setting to the other and you get one that is a little less ag- gressive for drier terrain or when you start losing your mojo after a long ride. You can, however, cus- tomize the two settings, but you can only toggle between the two. SPECIFICATIONS 2014 HUSQVARNA FC 450 MOTOR: ... Liquid-cooled, SOHC, 4-valve, 4-stroke, single DISPLACEMENT: .......................... 449.3cc BORE X STROKE: ......... 95mm x 63.4mm COMPRESSION RATIO: .....................12.6:1 FUELING SYSTEM: ..... Keihin EFI, throttle body 44mm STARTING: .................... Kick and electric TRANSMISSION: ...........................5-speed CLUTCH: .... Wet multi-disc DDS/Brembo hydraulics IGNITION SYSTEM: .... Fully electronic w/ digital ignition timing adjustment FRAME: ...................Central tube, chrome molybdenum steel tubing FRONT SUSPENSION: ............. WP, 48mm closed-cartridge, full adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: ............................ WP, Dual Compression Control (DCC) single shock FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ..................11.8 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ................... 12.5 in. TIRES: .................................. Dunlop MX51 FRONT BRAKE:...Brembo, single 260mm disc, w/4-piston caliper REAR BRAKE: .... Brembo, single 220mm disc, w/1-piston caliper RAKE: ......................................63.5-dgrees WHEELBASE: ................................. 58.9 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: ................... 14.6 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ................................ 39.1 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ..........................1.98 gal. CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT: .............237.2 lbs. MSRP: ..............................................$9049