Yesterday I had the most excellent opportunity to extensively ride the new 450 and 570 berg, back to back and at a cool private test track. This was made possible by Jeff Tasky, owner of Taskys metric cycle / Husqvarna NW. Great guy who is ridiculously generous and runs a great shop full of Husky, Berg, TM and GG.
Let me just jump to the end, those new Bergs are FANTASTIC.
Handling - Phenomenal. Allows you to carve the inside line on a slick track like no body business. front end sticks and does not wash ever. amazing.
Motor - Excellent. The EFI on these bikes is spotless, as in perfect. You could come out of tight walking speed corners in 3rd and just roll it on, smooth acceleration everywhere. No hit on ether bike. Vibration is very low. The whole motor package feels VERY refined and smooth flowing. Super controllable and ultra smooth. I wonder if the piston traveling front to back instead of up and down makes it feel smoother as well.
Suspension - I figured it would be good at best as i have never cared for WP or link-less. This suspension was VERY impressive. like the motor, liquid smooth, semi soft and comfortable but still resisted bottoming well and enabled you to charge comfortably through anything. I really like the stock suspension on these bikes.
Brakes - worked fine
Ergonomics and stuff - the bike was very comfortable. A little wide in the tank for my likes but this is nitpicking. The clutch lever had excellent feel and modulation while being light and EZ to use. Bar / peg / seat relationship was very good for me.
I loved the 570, as in i want one BAD. at the end of the day everyone was calling it the elk. meaning this thing leaps through the woods. I rode a 08 KTM200 (which was real nice) back to back with the 570 and half the track disappeared on the 570 as it just lept over obstacles i had to hit on the 200. With the ultra smooth EFI and huge perfectly metered amounts I just loved how i could control everything with a flick of the wrist.
The 450 was excellent as well and very similar to the 570. It did feel lighter and had a more responsive motor. Many people preferred the 450 noting that both bikes were amazing regardless of size.
These bikes do not feel super light when mounting or moving side to side when not in motion but once you get in the saddle and take a rip they feel very light. I think berg might be on to something with this configuration. I was amazed at how these would carve the inside. Seems nearly impossible to get the front end to wash when every other bike I rode, including my own much loved 08 TXC450 was sliding around.
Cons - really none. I loved both the 450 and 570. Ergonomics could be slightly narrower for me. I think the bikes are kinda ugly. The front end is a little twitchy. The sucking sound from the air filter right under your crotch is weird and at time even loud. This is extreme nitpicking, i found almost nothing to dislike about these fantastic bikes.
Conclusion - Absolutely fantastic bikes. I have to say the 570 is for me one of the best bikes i have ever tried with the 450 right on it's ass.
Me and the berg (like the husky shirt :>)
There was also a Christini there we got to test...
berg / christini
berg loves the inside line
flying berg
Me on my TXC450 at the end of a great day...
Big thanks to Jeff Tasky and crew for a most excellent day on some brilliant bike.
Let me just jump to the end, those new Bergs are FANTASTIC.
Handling - Phenomenal. Allows you to carve the inside line on a slick track like no body business. front end sticks and does not wash ever. amazing.
Motor - Excellent. The EFI on these bikes is spotless, as in perfect. You could come out of tight walking speed corners in 3rd and just roll it on, smooth acceleration everywhere. No hit on ether bike. Vibration is very low. The whole motor package feels VERY refined and smooth flowing. Super controllable and ultra smooth. I wonder if the piston traveling front to back instead of up and down makes it feel smoother as well.
Suspension - I figured it would be good at best as i have never cared for WP or link-less. This suspension was VERY impressive. like the motor, liquid smooth, semi soft and comfortable but still resisted bottoming well and enabled you to charge comfortably through anything. I really like the stock suspension on these bikes.
Brakes - worked fine
Ergonomics and stuff - the bike was very comfortable. A little wide in the tank for my likes but this is nitpicking. The clutch lever had excellent feel and modulation while being light and EZ to use. Bar / peg / seat relationship was very good for me.
I loved the 570, as in i want one BAD. at the end of the day everyone was calling it the elk. meaning this thing leaps through the woods. I rode a 08 KTM200 (which was real nice) back to back with the 570 and half the track disappeared on the 570 as it just lept over obstacles i had to hit on the 200. With the ultra smooth EFI and huge perfectly metered amounts I just loved how i could control everything with a flick of the wrist.
The 450 was excellent as well and very similar to the 570. It did feel lighter and had a more responsive motor. Many people preferred the 450 noting that both bikes were amazing regardless of size.
These bikes do not feel super light when mounting or moving side to side when not in motion but once you get in the saddle and take a rip they feel very light. I think berg might be on to something with this configuration. I was amazed at how these would carve the inside. Seems nearly impossible to get the front end to wash when every other bike I rode, including my own much loved 08 TXC450 was sliding around.
Cons - really none. I loved both the 450 and 570. Ergonomics could be slightly narrower for me. I think the bikes are kinda ugly. The front end is a little twitchy. The sucking sound from the air filter right under your crotch is weird and at time even loud. This is extreme nitpicking, i found almost nothing to dislike about these fantastic bikes.
Conclusion - Absolutely fantastic bikes. I have to say the 570 is for me one of the best bikes i have ever tried with the 450 right on it's ass.
Me and the berg (like the husky shirt :>)
There was also a Christini there we got to test...
berg / christini
berg loves the inside line
flying berg
Me on my TXC450 at the end of a great day...
Big thanks to Jeff Tasky and crew for a most excellent day on some brilliant bike.
Hopefully I'll get a chance before winter really sets in.
BUT, you can meter that 1/8 so accurately and EZ the bike hooks up and will do anything asked of it. 