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/414054
2015 HUSQVARNA FE 350 S AND FE 501 S DUAL SPORTS FIRST RIDE P76 lightweight feel when the trail gets tight and you're forced into using more creative line selections. The 350's suspension is also very well balanced and has a plusher feel than the 501. Of the two, the 350 has noticeably less vibration, and, in the suspension department, had a more settled feel. I did, however, add a few clicks of compression up front. I did this to keep the fork from sagging; I wanted it to stay up more in the stroke when speed picked up. That gave the bike a more stable and confidence-inspiring feel. Overall, though, the 350's suspension is very impressive right out of the crate. The 350's engine requires a little more attention on the trail than its bigger brother, as it needs to be kept higher in the rpm range in order to get the most out of its dual overhead-cam powerplant. It's definitely more of a revver than the 501, but that is to be expected. Still, it makes good power down low and is simple to manage as a whole. On the street the 350 feels right at home. Down low, power delivery from its Keihin FI system is instant and precise, and there is plenty of power on the opposite side of the spectrum to keep me happy while flowing with traffic. However, it's not a street bike, but it can get you from one off-road section to an- other comfortably enough. In other words, it really is a barely street-legal dirt bike. There are plenty of things to like about the 350, like its light-pull clutch that offers excel- lent engagement, and the brakes that are strong and predictable. There isn't much I would be quick to change with the 350, but I would consider gearing it down a bit. It comes off the showroom floor geared on the tall side; a smaller countershaft sprocket would do wonders for the 350 by giving it a little more snap at slower speeds on the trail. This would reduce the top speed on the street, of course, but the benefit on the trail would be well worth the trade off. On to the big bike. The 501 is an amazing machine. The extra power made it my favor- ite ride of the two. The single overhead-cam engine has both tons of torque and power across the board. But the 501 isn't a monster. Power delivery is smooth and predictable off the bottom, making it easy and comfortable to ride, but for those times when you want to really wick it up, the Husky 501 truly deliv- ers. More times than not I found myself riding down the fireroads with the front end up in the air, or the back end controllably sliding out to the side with the throttle rolled on! It's a third- gear bike, too. On the trail, you can pretty much leave it there and just ride. If the R's suddenly drop, heck, just tap the clutch and let the motor chug its way through; gearing is Pretty!