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

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    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.

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Husky TE449 vs Husy FE450

Norman Foley

Husqvarna
Pro Class
I got to ride a '10 FE450 today and was very impressed. I rode it on MX track and some more open trail. I did boondock through the woods with no trail, but didn't push it too much The owner is a good half foot taller than me, so it had a tall Guts seat and wasn't lowered. I was on more than tip toes with the tall seat. It "carburated" very well and suspension seemed very good. I was hoping to get to ride the TC449 that Fred Hoess had at the NE Husky Gathering, but it didn't work out. I still need a 2 stroke for the most technical riding I do, but wonder if anyone can directly compare the two for more Dual Sport type riding?
 
IMHO they are very similar. They don't really function exactly the same but the weight, handling, suspension etc are neck and neck. the FE390 was one of my all time favorite over 250CC 4st bikes made. The TE511 fills it's spot well. Basically if you like the FE you will probably like / love the 449/511. IMHO.
 
TE 570 is hard to push when the FI fails, has happened twice this year to a riding buddy.
GP
Husaberg, Husky, KTM and any brand of EFI bike can fail. My friend's '09 TE610 fuel pump just crapped out.
IMHO they are very similar. They don't really function exactly the same but the weight, handling, suspension etc are neck and neck. the FE390 was one of my all time favorite over 250CC 4st bikes made. The TE511 fills it's spot well. Basically if you like the FE you will probably like / love the 449/511. IMHO.
Thanks Kelly.... I don't really use the street potential of the TE610E anymore and the WXC350 is cool, but shows it's age. I need a minimum road use DS bike. The FE450 really reminded me of the good feelings I got from my '01 TE400. It had lots of low gear grunt and the long legs of the single cam Huskys. The FE390 is on my short list for sure. It really have to get a ride on TE449, but I'm afraid 4 stroke Huskys have become a gearing compromise.

..
 
Yep! 05 TE250/310 [yellow & blue fever****************************************************************************************************************************************************************!]
 
I would probably be a pretty good person to ask. I bought a 2011 TE 449 this past April when they first came out, and my brother bought a 2011 FE 450 around the same time. We ride together all the time. I've ridden his bike, and vice versa. There definetely seem to be some pros/cons to both, but they really are similar bikes.

IMO,

Husaberg Pros: Compared to the 449 (stock) the Husabergs power is superior, it sits lower than a 449, better ground clearance, and the seat release mechanism is genious. The FE is a really nice bike; feels like a 450F but with electric start and street legal.

Husaberg Cons: Reliability. It's too early to say, but so far the Husaberg seems like it's going to have some reliability issues. In 6 or 7 months of hard riding the Husaberg has had 2 incidents. Both have had to do with starting system where the bike would'nt start again after shutting it off. With no kicker as back up its left him stranded once where he had to push the bike out of the woods to the nearest road. Also, no rear linkage on the FEs makes the rear end "chop" while braking hard, and do not come with any type of key.

Husqvarna Pros: Compared to the Husaberg the 449s geometry/suspension/traction control seems superior. With linkage the bike just seems much more stable, and the starting system appears bulletproof. Also, the Husqvarna comes with a much better computer display and a key for ignition.

Husqvarna Cons: The 449 is underpowered from the factory. The fuel settings are way too lean. It causes low RPM stalling, and dead spots throughout the power curve. The 449s stock silencer is a joke. Its heavy and super restrictive. Looks like a car muffler.

Overall, both bikes seem really solid and the perfect bike if you want that motocross/dirtbike feel but still want to be able to ride on the road. We ride to the local trails on backroads (45 mph max), do some hard virgin woods riding, single track, etc., and ride the bikes home. Sure beats constantly loading the bikes up in a pickup. I must mention that I've added a full FMF exhaust (megabomb header, powercore4 silencer), and JD jettings EFI tuner. With those combined the bikes power is much better, and it has cured the low RPM stalling. Hope this helps...
 
I would probably be a pretty good person to ask. I bought a 2011 TE 449 this past April when they first came out, and my brother bought a 2011 FE 450 around the same time. We ride together all the time. I've ridden his bike, and vice versa. There definetely seem to be some pros/cons to both, but they really are similar bikes.

IMO,

Husaberg Pros: Compared to the 449 (stock) the Husabergs power is superior, it sits lower than a 449, better ground clearance, and the seat release mechanism is genious. The FE is a really nice bike; feels like a 450F but with electric start and street legal.

Husaberg Cons: Reliability. It's too early to say, but so far the Husaberg seems like it's going to have some reliability issues. In 6 or 7 months of hard riding the Husaberg has had 2 incidents. Both have had to do with starting system where the bike would'nt start again after shutting it off. With no kicker as back up its left him stranded once where he had to push the bike out of the woods to the nearest road. Also, no rear linkage on the FEs makes the rear end "chop" while braking hard, and do not come with any type of key.

Husqvarna Pros: Compared to the Husaberg the 449s geometry/suspension/traction control seems superior. With linkage the bike just seems much more stable, and the starting system appears bulletproof. Also, the Husqvarna comes with a much better computer display and a key for ignition.

Husqvarna Cons: The 449 is underpowered from the factory. The fuel settings are way too lean. It causes low RPM stalling, and dead spots throughout the power curve. The 449s stock silencer is a joke. Its heavy and super restrictive. Looks like a car muffler.

Overall, both bikes seem really solid and the perfect bike if you want that motocross/dirtbike feel but still want to be able to ride on the road. We ride to the local trails on backroads (45 mph max), do some hard virgin woods riding, single track, etc., and ride the bikes home. Sure beats constantly loading the bikes up in a pickup. I must mention that I've added a full FMF exhaust (megabomb header, powercore4 silencer), and JD jettings EFI tuner. With those combined the bikes power is much better, and it has cured the low RPM stalling. Hope this helps...

Thanks for the great comparison!
 
Curious about the mention of low rpm stalling on the 449. Did that happen on map I or mapII?

I read a few gripes about the stalling issue, but most blamed the clutch. Then again folks also had problems with weird shifts and false neutrals. Ive had my 449 for just over a month and have yet to experience any of these issues. I ride everything from street, dirt roads, single track, nasty hills. Is it just luck, or did the factory make improvments along the way? Agreed the stock muffler looks like it fell of a Fiat, that sucker's gotta weigh 10lbs.!
 
Sounds like luck that you have'nt experienced the low RPM stalling. I have'nt heard anything about the factory making any adjustments. The stalling happened on both maps; it did'nt seem to matter. By turning the idle adjustment screw it really helped with the stalling thallough...

For the record I really love my 449, but the stalling can really frustrate you!!
 
If we were able to check the running of our bikes for faults using Huskys diagnostic tools wouldn't it be great. Well, i've just had a look and apologises if this has already been covered on this website. Hanve a look for this kit its parts number is: 8000.H3898 (service kit). Its comes supplied with the module and two leads. I don't know if this would be sold to a non-trade customer?
 
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