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/680400
HUSQVARNA 501 S VS. BETA 500 RS COMPARISON P98 others. It doesn't affect performance. The Husqvarna FE 501 S suffers from suspen- sion/chassis setup pickiness. Compounding the problem is an under-performing fork in stock form that is severely under-sprung for the power and weight of the bike. The WP 4CS fork has a tendency to fall down in the mid-stroke, eventually resulting in a harsh feel over consecutive bumps and rough terrain. Sag settings for the rear shock are vitally important as well as clicker adjust- ments to get the bike as balanced as possible. When dialed in with proper sag (105-110mm) and some experimenting with fork height, the 501 floats through rough obstacles with a nice plushness. The 4CS fork will still load up, hang out in the mid, and dive under braking due to the softer springs but a little more sag can help the issue. The real fix is stiffer fork springs. At higher speeds the overly soft fork creates a twitchiness and unsettled feeling on the 501 S. The soft forks also dive under braking/decel, making cornering more work due to the unsettled chassis that left the bike unbalanced. The squishy front end also gives the Husky a sluggish feel in the soft and loose conditions. The 501 S handling shines in technical terrain and riding at slower speeds over rougher ground. The precise handling is welcome when swerving through tight trees and navigating switchbacks. The quick handling also makes the 501 S feel less heavy than its scale weight of 273 pounds. Last year's seat cover was as slippery as they come and was nearly unrideable. Thankfully, Husky heard the cries and the 2016 seat cover offers up good grip and great comfort. Our issues with the Husqvarna 501 S all come down to the under sprung fork. Unfortunately, something as simple as a soft front end affects the entire balance and handling of the bike. Light- er riders can enjoy the 501 S with perfect sag settings, but if you are over 175 pounds the first step to enjoying the 501 S will be addressing the soft forks. The engine package is simply amazing and the overall quality of the parts that make up the rest of the 501 S is an industry standard. WHAT WE LEARNED The Beta 500 RS and Husqvarna FE 501 S look completely different, they feel different, and they perform differently, but in the end they are very much alike and the people buying them likely want similar things. They are top performing off-road dirt bikes that happen to have a license