TIO ÅR SEDAN IDAG! 2014 HUSQVARNA FC450 FYRTAKT
Looking all the world like a white knight, the 2014 Husqvarna FC450 was very atttractive in its first model year in the USA. MXA tested this bike in the March 2014 issue.
Q: IS THE 2014 HUSQVARNA FC450 BETTER THAN THE 2013 FC450?
A: Yes, but mainly because there wasn’t an FC450 in 2013. Since it’s glory days, Husqvarna has change ownership several times. The Swedes sold it to Cagiva in 1987, then BMW took it over in 2007 and finally KTM bought it in 2013. Thus, the 2014 Husqvarna shares no genes with any previous Husky—which is a good thing given that the last Husqvarna 450cc motocross bike was a Rube Goldberg-device conceived by a group of BMW engineers that had obviously never ridden a dirt bike. If you are asking if the 2014 Husqvarna FC450 is better than the BMW version—a kid’s tricycle would be better than the 2011 TX449.
F: Är HUSQVARNA FC450 EN HELT UNIK DESIGN?
A: No. It is a KTM 450SXF clone.˙
F: VARFÖR ANVÄNDA KTM INTE DE befintliga HUSQVARNA-RAMMARNA OCH MOTORER?
A: The kindest way to say this is that KTM’s engineering department was not enamored with the Italian designs. Plus, KTM’s management didn’t like the idea of dealing with Italian unions, nor did CEO Stefan Peirer buy Husqvarna in order to sell the same old thing. So, to produce bikes in time for the 2014 selling season—although just barely, KTM elected to engage in the time honored tradition of platform sharing.
F: VAD ÄR PLATFORM DELNING?
A: Platform sharing is when a manufacturer uses major components from one brand as the basis for another. This can include engines, frames, suspension components, wheels and brakes. Platform sharing saves money because the manufacturer gets the benefits of economy of scale. Instead of having to build new frames and engines for each of his vehicles—and make separate and expensive production runs of each, it can enjoy the benefits of sharing the same parts across several different models or brands.
The automotive industry is rife with platform sharing. The 2014 Cadillac XTS and the Chevrolet Impala are the same under the sheet metal. At Volkswagen, the Audi A4, Volkswagen Passat, Seat Exeo and Skoda Superb share the same underpinnings. Additionally, the Volkswagen Tiguan, Toureg, Scirocco, Jetta, Eos and Golf are all built on the same modular platform. And you might be shocked to discover that Ford platforms have been used by Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Lincoln, Volvo and Mercury at one time or another.
In Husqvarna’s case, platform sharing allowed them to have products available in 2014 that consumers could buy, dealers could stock and KTM could support. Without platform sharing there would probably not have been any new Husqvarnas until the 2016 model year—at the soonest.
The Husqvarna FC450’s Brembo brakes come with a 260mm front rotor and beaucoup pucker power
F: VAD ÄR SKILLNADEN MELLAN EN HUSKY FC450 OCH KTM 450SXF?
A: Although the Husky FC450 is built on the KTM 450SXF platform, there are a 10 major differences.
(1) Plast. The plastic parts are unique to the brand. The Austrians went with white plastic adorned with blue and yellow graphics (and yellow fork guards).¬ Even the gas tank has a different shape.
(2) Underram. Husqvarnas formsprutade polyamidkompositunderram (det är okej att kalla det "plast" eller "nylon") är helt annorlunda från KTMs aluminiumunderram eller Husabergs polyamidversion.
(3) Sidopaneler. Because of the plastic subframe, the airbox cover on the FC450 had to be reconfigured to fit. Instead of a separate airbox cover , the left side panel incorporates both the airbox cover and number plate in one slab.
(4) Fälgar. The 2014 Husqvarna FC450 is equipped with black-anodized D.I.D. Dirt Star rims instead of the fake Excels that come on the KTM 450SXF. Additionally, the Husky uses silver spokes where the KTM has black spokes.
(5) Bakaxel. The 2014 Husqvarna FC450 has a 20mm axle, where the KTM uses a 25mm axle. This means that the swingarm and axle blocks are also configured to accept the smaller rear axle.
(6) ljuddämpare. Husqvarna FC2014 450 är utrustad med Euro-spec ljuddämpare. Den är något längre och har två perfekta bafflar inuti för att hålla ljudnivån nere.
(7) Bakaxel. The 2014 Husqvarna FC450 has a 20mm axle, where the KTM uses a 25mm axle. This means that the swingarm and axle blocks are also configured to accept the smaller rear axle.
(8) Handskydd. Varje 2014 kommer Husky med handskydd.
(9) Sitsbultar. Husky FC2014 450 använder två sittbultar i stället för KTM: s enda bult. De två bultarna är gömda bort i handhållarna där du måste fiska ut dem när du tar bort sätet.
(10) Färgval. The Husky comes with a black 52-tooth rear sprocket instead of KTM silver. To give their version of the KTM 450SXF engine more pizzaz, Husqvarna powder-coated the valve cover yellow. The grips have “Husqvarna” embedded in them instead of “KTM.”
(11) Kartomkopplare. Husqvarna has a switch on the handlebars that allows the rider to toggle between two different ignition maps.
F: VAD FÖRÄNDRINGAR VILL MXA SKRÄCKA CREW Gillar HUSKY ATT GÖRA?
A: One of the inherent problems of believing in the “power of the press” is that if you flex it and nothing happens—then you don’t have any power. The MXA test crew has cajoled, harangued and harried KTM to make specific changes. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. When we don’t get our way, we shift our attention to annoying the factory engineers with our complaints. Here is a list of things we would like them to change in the future
Förbelastning ring. Who would make a shock preload ring that deforms when you use it, seizes when the nylon threads deform under pressure and looks like hammered dog meat after a season of preload adjusting? The answer is KTM and Husqvarna.Metal rings work better.
Växelspak. In the stock position the shift lever is too low and when you move it up one notch, it is too high. MXA places Husqvarna and KTM shift levers in a bench press and bows the middle of the shift lever to raise the tip.
Luftfilter. There has to be a better way to secure an air filter cage inside an airbox. We would like a more distinctive shape to the air filter cage so that it locks into the air boot more securely. Until then we will keep double checking to make sure that the filter’s back edge is sealed against the intake tract.
Skiftaxel. Unlike a Japanese-built bike, Austrian shift levers slip onto a tapered spline with a bolt holding it at the end of the shaft. Since the tapered shift shaft gets smaller as it moves outward the shift lever can slide off if the bolt comes loose. Plus, the bolt that holds the shift lever to the tapered shaft doesn’t insert into a notch to help keep the shift lever on like a Japanese-designed shift lever.
Rear sprocket bolts: They come loose with alarming regularity. It could be that the taper on the bolt head and the taper on the sprocket hole are mismatched or that the bolts are stretching, but never ride your Husqvarna or KTM without checking the rear sprocket bolts (especially the one next to the rim lock).
F: VAD ÄR DE HUVUDSAKTIGSTE FUNKTIONERNA AV HUSQVARNA FC2014 450?
A: Let’s make a hall of fame list—electric starter, powerband, handling, brakes, hydraulic clutch, shifting, no-tools airbox, horsepower and levers.
F: VAD ÄR DE SENASTE BETYDANDE FUNKTIONERNA AV 2014 HUSQVARNA FC450?
A: Let’s make a hall of shame list—fork valving, shift lever shape, 13mm bolts (this is a European thing), Torx bolts, air filter cage shape, rear sprocket bolts and seat foam.
F: HUR KÖR 2014 FC450 PÅ DYNO?
A: At 56.95 horsepower the Husky FC450 has nothing to be ashamed of. That is more power than the Honda, Suzuki or Kawasaki, but less than the 2014 Yamaha YZ450F’s phenomenal 58.22 horsepower.
F: VAD VIL VI ÄNDRAS PÅ FC450 POWERBAND?
A: Although often hear complaints about how brutal the power is off the bottom—that isn’t true. The Husqvarna FC450 starts out mellow as a flute and builds power like a kettle drum solo. By the time it reaches the midrange the FC450 is romping. For the average rider this is a great combination of sweet vibes and powerful percussion. And you’d think that the MXA wrecking crew would be happy with that—but we aren’t.
We want more power down low. We want the FC450 to hit harder sooner. We want more oomph at low rpm. We want the low-to-mid transition to feel more alive. In short, we want brutal power off the bottom.
How low can you go? With the Husqvarna FC450 the only limit is you bravery.
F: HUR HANTERAS 2014 FC450?
A: This is one of the better handling motocross bikes made when setup right. It has an effortless flow that doesn’t oversteer at tip-in as the RM-Z and CRF sometimes do. It doesn’t stand up in the center of the corner like a KX or push on the entrance like a YZ. Instead it tracks the line the rider chooses and is very responsive to lean angles and weight shifts.
Ja, Suzuki blir skarpare, men den kan inte matcha FC450: s stabilitet i hastighet. Den viktigaste ingrediensen för att dra nytta av denna perfektion är att spela med gaffelhöjden och rasbotten för att hitta den bästa huvudvinkeln för banförhållandena.
F: VAD ÄR SANNHETEN OM WP-SUSPENSIONEN?
A: Platform sharing lowers manufacturing costs, reduces R&D time and decreases part numbers. All of this is well and good if you are sharing good parts, but what about the bad stuff?
Husqvarna ägs av KTM. WP ägs av KTM. Resultatet är ett hagelgevärsbröllop. MXA-prognostikatorerna förväntar sig inte att den nuvarande generationen av WP-gafflar ska specificeras på 2015 KTM 450SXF eller Husqvarna FC450. Det är de goda nyheterna. De dåliga nyheterna är att de är med på Husqvarna FC2014 450. Så vi måste leva med dem.
The WP forks aren’t the worst forks sold in 2014—that dubious honor goes to any bike with SFF forks. However, if your greatest accolade is that you’re not the worst—we don’t see an effective company slogan coming from that factoid.
F: VAD HATSTE VI?
A: Hatlistan:
(1) Chock förbelastningsring. We hate it, but for riders who never adjust their race sag it’s perfect.
(2) Vikt. Although not the heaviest 450 on the showroom floors it would be so much better after Jenny Craig knocked ten pounds off.
(3) Växelspaken. Det är antingen för lågt eller för högt.
(4) Upphängning. The WP forks are the biggest negative to the Husqvarna and KTM package.
F: VAD HANDLADE VI?
A: Liknande lista:
(1) Electric starting. Yes we know that it adds five pounds to the overall weight of the bike, but never having to kick your bike ever again is worth five pounds.
(2) Vanliga lager. Much like the old school bronze bushing used on 1970 road racers, Husqvarna’s plain bearing are good engineering.
(3) Hydraulisk koppling. This the longest lasting clutch in motocross.
(4) Bromsar. KTM and Husqvarna should be rightfully proud of their brakes. Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki should be ashamed.
F: VAD Tänker vi verkligen?
S: Det finns fyra typer av köpare för Husqvarna FC450:
(1) Loyal Husky customers. You may think that there aren’t that many, but Husqvarna sold 6000 motorcycles last year.
(2) Uppror. As a rule, motocross racers are sheep. They buy what everyone else buys. which in 2014 means a KTM. But, there are rebels who want to be different. They are the black sheep of motocross and a white Husqvarna suits their psyche perfectly.
(3) Orange-phobes. Over the decades, the fan boys have built up a lot of venom against KTM—thus, they could never buy an orange motorcycles. However, a Husqvarna is a way to buy a KTM without having to eat their words.
(4) Motocross racers. Without the injection of KTM money, Husqvarna’s 111-year history would have come to end in 2014. So, thanks to KTM motocross racers have another brand to put on their wish list. And it’s a good bike.
MXA HUSQVARNA FC450 INSTÄLLNINGSSPECIFIKATIONER
This is how we set our Husqvarna FC450 up for racing. We offer it as a guide to help you find your own sweet spot.
Inställningar för WP-gaffel
The 2014 Husqvarna FC450 suspension works best at Vet speed—any faster than that and it is quickly over-stressed. We have lived with these forks for many years without seeing any significant improvement in their damping. We originally blamed it on the Dutch, but a few years ago the WP facility moved to Austria (and got the Dutch off the hook). It is true that WP upped the compression damping for 2014, but that was just a baby step in the direction they need to go. If it was us, we would bite the bullet and send these forks to MX-Tech, MX1 or Pro Circuit.
For hard-core racing we recommend this fork setup on the 2014 Husqvarna FC450 (stock specs are in parentheses):
Vårfrekvens... 0.50 kg / mm
Olja höjd... 390cc lager
kompression... 9 klick ut (12 klick ut)
Återhämta… 12 clicks out
Gaffelbenets höjd... 5mm upp
Anmärkningar: If you are looking for plusher forks, lower the oil height by 10cc to 380cc. If you are faster and looking for firmer forks raise the oil height by 10cc or 20cc (400cc or 410cc). The clickers cannot iron out the issues that Pro riders will have with these forks.
Inställningar för WP-chock
The WP shock is considerably better than the forks, but when one end of a bike doesn’t work it transfers the bulk of the load to the other end. Until you get forks to absorb everything thrown at them, the shock will continue to suffer.
For hard-core racing we recommend this shock setup for the 2014 Husqvarna FC450 (stock specs are in parentheses):
Vårfrekvens: 5.7 kg / mm
Race saga: 100mm (105mm lager)
Hi-komprimering: 1-1 / 2 vänder ut (2 vänder ut)
Lo-kompression: 12 klick
Studsa tillbaka: 15 klickar ut
Anmärkningar: We don’t think that the average FC450 rider will need a stiffer shock spring (unless he is over 200 pounds). Smaller riders can live with the stock spring by turning the compression clicker out.
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