PLEASE NOTE I MADE AN ERROR ON ORIGINAL POST: Ran a 38 rear with a 14 front sprocket.. So, I wanted a new bike. I do a lot of ultra long distance riding and use my Road Glide for that. I had a '12 Multistrada and found it too heavy for comfortable logging road style exploring. Scared to dump it or take it down any single track.. I wanted a bike I could use on a daily basis that would be great on gas, cheap to insure yet loft the front wheel on command. I looked at a few bikes and then realized the choice was between the 350 or 501 Husky. Back and forth and then I went for the 350. My insurance on the Harley and the Duc were the same. $130 a month. The 350 would only be $30.. Decision made. Best decision I've made in years. Traded the Duc for a new '16 FE350S. That was about four months ago. I've now got just over 150 hrs and 10,000+ kms on it. 95% on pavement including an Iron Butt SS1600klm (i,000 mile) cert ride here on Vancouver island that I completed in 17 hrs. I then took off for a 3500KLM tour of BC interior, Southern Alberta and the Icefield Parkway. Mods include Warp 9 Super Moto wheels, FMF exhaust, euro flash? with switch, 44 tooth rear sprocket, 4.1 gallon Acerbis tank, Cyclops Industries LED headlight bulb and light bar, comfort seat, GL bags and lot's of blue bits lol... Just recently switched rubber to Heideneau K60 scout on rear and their Super Rain on front. Really happy for my use as I can still erase the chicken strips on road yet it is ok on the logging roads as well. After the big road trip I had the dealer pull the top end to check it out . Quote " It looks like a new motor inside, you can still see the cross hatching in the cylinder and the valves were all within spec!" . This is beyond a doubt the best motorcycle I have ever owned.
Very interesting insight IBA. I would have (apparently incorrectly) assumed the 350 was not up for highway usage over protracted periods. Thanks for sharing
Yeah I have a soft spot for Rudges. My grandpa rode one as did my dad. Very lucky to find one to restore.. I am NOT in a position to buy either of those Marques lol..
The Rudge will be a worthy possession my friend, just whetting your appetite with the others. Wish I had one of the three. Would settle for an Ariel square 4 as well (and a 750 MV and a Jota etc etc etc).
I see you have the disease as well lol... I see your in Victoria. I'm also in Greater Victoria area. In British Columbia Canada though. This is a link to the TV show i am a host on. Think that all seven episodes are on YouTube. I'm Clive. The interview I do with Bev is one of my fave segments. He has an amazing collection including numerous Gold Stars, Brough, race winning Rudges, FN, Velocettes, etc etc.. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqM-8qmAmeI We do a few features on Bev and his bikes. The story of his FN is maybe even more incredible than his Fanny B story!
I am new to the longevity of these bikes. Been seeing all kinds of threads lately where people are getting 10's of thousands of miles on thier late model Ktm / huskys. I think the old rules of longevity are thrown out with these new gen bikes. There's one guy on advrider riding his Ktm 450 across the us. This is after riding it from Maryland to panama and back. 1000's of mikes on it. Another chimed in he's in South Africa said he had 50k on his Ktm 500. He uses it mainly as op describes. Phew. That's some seriously miles for a dirt bike.
Hi all, just realized I made a serious error with the info re upgrades and changes... I had been running a 38 rear sprocket NOT a 44. Also changed front to a 14. Had that setup while running the Super Moto tires front and rear. When I changed to the K60 rear on the same 17" rim it was WAY too tall. Changed back to the factory 12 front and it's a happy thing. Starting to ride more off road and re-installed the factory 21" front rim with factory tire. Obviously feels quite different on the pavement, that said, after a few days practice seems I can still rip the corners well enough to make me grin!
