2015 250F MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
P44
SHOOTOUT
T
he Husky is probably the
best sixth-place finisher
that we've ever ridden.
It's a very good bike that re-
ally doesn't deserve the stigma
of finishing last place in our
shootout. It does many things
well, some exceptionally well.
Both the Husky and KTM
have the best brakes in the
business, they both make big-
time top-end horsepower, have
solid suspensions and chassis,
and have hydraulically operated
clutches that offer an excep-
tionally light pull and good feel.
And they also have the easiest
starting methods of any of the
other 250Fs. We're big fans of
electric starting. Even with the
additional parts associated with
electric starting—mainly bat-
tery and starter motor—neither
the Husky nor the KTM is the
heaviest bike of the six.
Our biggest gripe with the
Husky is its motor, which pro-
duces the most peak horse-
power of the group. Unfortu-
nately, it just takes too long
getting there. From bottom to
mid, the Husky feels lazy and
by the time you get to the good
stuff near the top of its 14,000
rpm rev limit, you've already
been passed. It's hard to take
advantage of the Husky's
power. Like one of our testers
said, the Husky needs an
energy drink. Why is this? The
airbox. It's too restrictive and
doesn't let the Husky breath
like it needs to. It's not a hard
fix, but like we said earlier—we
ride 'em how we get 'em.
At 246 pounds, the Husky is
the heaviest bike of the six, and
it feels like it, too. The radia-
tor shrouds are bulky and feels
somewhat wider overall. As a re-
sult, the Husky just doesn't feel as
agile or as nimble as the others.
SUMMARY
Overall, the Husky has a lot to
offer. It has excellent suspen-
sion, it handles and turns well,
but it just needs to breathe.
COUNTDOWN
6
TH
PLACE
HUSQVARNA FC 250
