• 4 Stroke Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Italy - About 1989 to 2014
    TE = 4st Enduro & TC = 4st Cross

  • Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

    When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.

    Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.

    Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.

    Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.

    Thanks for your patience and support!

2011 te 449

I cant speek about the new husky as I have never ridden it. I have spent some time on the bmw and I thought the motor was fantastic. I liked the ergos as well.
 
I'm thinking of getting my second husky, a 2011 Te449. I've heard nothing but great reviews but I'm definately looking for a deal. I've called around a bit and the best I can find is at a dealership in PA, Schulz Cycle and ATV. They were willing to give me a 2011 TE449 with their "5HR prep period included" with includes taking the bike apart, lubing it all up, etc. They said theyd even set the SAG to my height, weight, and riding style for me all for $ 8499. I'm pretty new at buying bikes is this a good deal?
 
Had my TE449 for 3 weeks now, and it is great. My buddy, now also on 449, tried the BMW before, and as he says: NO COMPARISON WHAT SO EVER! This year, the EWC team was BMW-husqvarna, not like before, only BMW. Even the motor has been twinkled and in many ways changed by husqvarna. It is still "hard" in the mechanics, but nothing compared to the BMW sound. One huge difference is the frame, where BMW included the engine, and where Husqvarna (famous for their frames) made the 449 "old fashion", with the frame outside the engine. Once a stiff frame was the way to go, but practice know is, that a certain amount of flex (controlled!) is the way to go. Even Japanese MX bikes are doing that, with al-frames. So they are actually making the already to stiff frame, a little more flexible!

Will it last? Time will tell, but BMW has been running several Desert Rallies with their version, thousands of K´s, even the Dakar.

The 449 feels light, nimble and handy, from the moment you roll it in the shop, before pushing start for the first time. And riding just makes me laugh. I still have the TE250, and I have said before, that 450's in general, are no good for narrow trials, but maybe I will change on this one. The feeling of control is amazing, super mapping. My old 2004 TE450, just killed my arms, so unlike the 449. And suspension, is just great. Same fork as my 250, but it feels like it has been tuned. I had my 250 fork revalved for narrow nordic enduro tracks in the woods, but now I want it like the std. 450! Same forks!

All the other KTM, Honda etc. guys who tried, have a strange smile after testing, though they will not give in. But thats religion. Thumbs up from Denmark

Minor changes needs to be done, some personal, others just std. if you want to get a competition bike. So mousse, new tires, minus 1 teeth in front, increase handlebar height, the usual stuff. For less complicated terrain and fun on gravel roads with more speed, standard is very close to perfect.

P.S. Our little team here will enter the 449 for the national enduro championship 2011, with our best rider. We just need the bloody rekluse now:banghead:, and it will be a crawling goat, that can do really slow, and also be a beast when needed. We did minor design changes for this bike. The front light mask is... well we cut off the ears on the side (narrow look), painted the bottom black, and the top (numberplate) same red as the sidepanel. Also the white part that strecthes from the back was partly painted red, the part next tothe red sidepanel = complete numberplate panel in red. Personally I dislike the graphics, which looks like a last minute solution. They will be changed on my bike as well.
 
Nissen;131277 said:
Had my TE449 for 3 weeks now, and it is great. My body, now also on 449, tried the BMW before, and as he says: NO COMPARISON WHAT SO EVER! This year, the team was BMW-husqvarna, not like before, only BMW. Even the motor hs been twinkled and in many ways changed by husqvarna. It is still "hard" in the mechanics, but nothing compared to the BMW sound.

Will it last? Time will tell, but BMW has been running several Desert Rallies with their version, thousands of K´s.

The 449 feels light and handy, from the moment you roll it in the shop, before pushing start for the first time. And riding just makes me laugh. I still have the TE250, and I have said before, that 450's in general, are no good for narrow trials, but maybe I will change on this one. The feeling of control is amazing, super mapping. My old 2004 TE450, just killed my arms, so unlike the 449. And suspension, great. Same fork as my 250, but it feels like it has been tuned.

All the other KTM, Honda etc guys who tried, have a strange smile after testing, though they will not give in. But thats religion. Thumbs up from Denmark

Nice :thumbsup: thanks. just sitting here waiting. :D
 
SeanMDrider;131242 said:
I'm thinking of getting my second husky, a 2011 Te449. I've heard nothing but great reviews but I'm definately looking for a deal. I've called around a bit and the best I can find is at a dealership in PA, Schulz Cycle and ATV. They were willing to give me a 2011 TE449 with their "5HR prep period included" with includes taking the bike apart, lubing it all up, etc. They said theyd even set the SAG to my height, weight, and riding style for me all for $ 8499. I'm pretty new at buying bikes is this a good deal?

I'm not sure on that cost or that lubing ... but it does sound like they are trying to sell the bike in a positive manner ... The thing with the sag settings, is that it might require different springs to be set 100% correctly ... There is the case where the stock springs actually fit UR weight and the sag can be dialed in because the bike will fit a specific rider weight range ... So 1 simple question to ask about the sag would be: "Are you going to change the springs if necessary". ...

Good luck with UR present and new Husky ;)
 
Biggest problem with the 449 to me is the gs450x marketing heritage. Some of it is fiction, some real, but in any case it's not helping the 449. Great looking bike in person, but as far as sales, I doubt very much we will see starting lines and trails full of 449's. Maybe the dual sport crowd may have more show up?

No one I know is considering the 449. But all would like a TXC310 that husky does not build for some reason.
 
gestion01;131416 said:
Biggest problem with the 449 to me is the gs450x marketing heritage. Some of it is fiction, some real, but in any case it's not helping the 449. Great looking bike in person, but as far as sales, I doubt very much we will see starting lines and trails full of 449's. Maybe the dual sport crowd may have more show up?

No one I know is considering the 449. But all would like a TXC310 that husky does not build for some reason.

Me and two of my friends are wanting / waiting for the 449/511. One buddy was looking at the 310 but now wants the 449 because it is super sexy and he thinks it will be a better DS bike. All of us own other bike like 250 2 strokes so these will be second bikes for other uses. I think once it gets out there and people ride it it will sell well. Time will tell. As for riding it off road I loved my 08 TXC450 and don't see why this would not be as good or most likely much better. KTM 450's sell in huge numbers. If this bike is real good, which i think it will be (like the new Bergs) I think it will do well. The economy will drive this as much as the bike IMHO. The last year or two has been really hard on dealers.
 
good info

sounds good guys thats the info i was after,supposed to be going to a test day on the 449 on friday but dont think i will be able to make it daaam,but i think i will leave it say six months and then have a look around for a good deal and see if any major issues crop up and hopefully they will be rectified before i purchase.:applause:
 
:thumbsup:
SeanMDrider;131242 said:
They said theyd even set the SAG to my height, weight, and riding style for me all for $ 8499. I'm pretty new at buying bikes is this a good deal?

This is about 25 % below list price in Europe:doh:! Don't know how it's done, but good for you guys. My dealer here, would love to get this price!
 
yep

the price you guys are paying is £1000 cheaper than i can buy in uk,£6700 on the road in uk why? crazy:banghead:
 
Hi Patgas,
The engine cases look like BMW but it is very different inside.
The bikes feels a whole lot different too. It feels like a TE250 or the 125 once you get on it with great power. It is 2kg lighter than the old TE450 and it is much lighter over the front end allowing it to turn on a sixpence.

The forks are fine for the likes of mere mortals and can be revalved without any problem for improvement. They have upped the spring rate since the launch in Italy

Wynn Hughes has been riding one and thinks it is awesome, he's put faster times in than on his 2 stroke!
In fact everyone that has rode it has loved it.
I want one but the 510 keeps calling out to me so until I can afford two bikes...
:thumbsup:
 
What do you all think is better? Waiting for the 449 which the lowest price I could find is at Schulz Cycle and ATV for $8499 or grabbing a 2010 TE510 now. That same dealer has a couple leftovers and the 510 is selling for 7595 with the same prep period and everything? Both bikes are awesome but I really like the look of the 449. Thoughts?
 
Go for the expensive one :thumbsup:

Not that the other is bad, but there is a world of difference. I would clearly recommend all the new stuff, it simply handles much better (etc etc.), as several already experienced.

The 510 is a beast either way (as I see it), but at the end of the day, it alle comes down to the usage of the bike. Seek high & low, in order to get to try both. i'm certain someone near you, will be willing to give you the opportunity. I may be to far away though :excuseme:
 
Nissen;131804 said:
Go for the expensive one :thumbsup:

Not that the other is bad, but there is a world of difference. I would clearly recommend all the new stuff, it simply handles much better (etc etc.), as several already experienced.

The 510 is a beast either way (as I see it), but at the end of the day, it alle comes down to the usage of the bike. Seek high & low, in order to get to try both. i'm certain someone near you, will be willing to give you the opportunity. I may be to far away though :excuseme:

Pix and more info please, we are staving for info in the USA on the new bike. :thumbsup:
 
They are supposed to arrive in Canada around Christmas time. We probably wont see them til the New Year.
 
SeanMDrider, I have a 510 and love the power and delivery. I have not ridden a Husky 450 but it is generally said the 450 has more of a power hit then the longer stroked (yet more powerful) 510. I am guessing the 449 will be more similar to the 450 in power delivery then the 510. If you like the stump pulling power of a big bore the I say get the tried and true '10 510, if you can get it for at least $1K less otd then the 449. Either bike you choose be prepared for some permagrin. :D
 
Here it is, with the small modifications mentioned. Off with the strange "wings" on the side of the headlamp, black bottom, red top. A little more red on the sides, and black instead of white handguards. I just happen to find this link today:


http://www.youtube.com/user/speedbrainde

And the black prototype has a similar lamp. Looking at this, I think I will go for the all mean black colour code version this winter:busted:

Last race of the year this sunday (on the 250), and after that, I can focus on the 449. But I has to take it for a spin sunday, and it's just a laugh, even compared to the 250 on the motocross track saturday.
But with more actually hardcore driving, I can report on the more long term experiences.
 

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Saw a couple guys on these new Husky 449's at the Mexico ISDE....They sure sounded great....Who would've thought these BMW...I mean Huskies would be good. Oh....and Mexico was a true test of rider and machines.

#32: Juha Salminen, giving Cafe Husky a thumbs up!!! 2nd in E2...

#33, Another Fin, Tarkala?

#93, Mexican rider, "Pajaro"...

All three were hauling.

Mitch
 

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