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2<br />
MO<br />
There have been some mixed reviews on the<br />
WP suspensions but it is the most workable<br />
and adjustable suspension on the market<br />
today. I think with a little bit of adjustment and<br />
testing every rider can find that perfect sweet<br />
spot for them.<br />
Straight out of the box I was well impressed<br />
with the FC250 and love the new look and<br />
especially the much more responsive power<br />
delivery and significant differences between<br />
map 1 and map 2.<br />
The traction control is really awesome and<br />
that quick shift… Pinned flat out on the throttle<br />
and just clicking up, you don’t have to worry<br />
about the clutch, that is such a cool feature…<br />
especially in the mud.<br />
I am really, really happy with the new Husky’s –<br />
Go get yourself one… No Really, just go do it!”<br />
Husqvarna FC 350<br />
Of the Huskys, the FC 350 may be the most<br />
changed, especially in the motor which is<br />
essentially a complete redo - starting with its<br />
internal dimensions of 88.0 x 57.5mm for a<br />
displacement of 350cc. Unlike the 450, the 350<br />
utilizes a DOHC head for its four lightweight<br />
valves with low-friction finger followers.<br />
Also unlike the 450, the 350 comes with a<br />
Diaphragm Steel (DS) clutch; it still uses a<br />
single diaphragm pressure plate instead of<br />
coil springs but is an undamped unit. It does<br />
feature the same five-speed Pankl gearbox as<br />
the 450, but final gearing is 14/52 versus the<br />
13/51 on the 450.<br />
The FC 350 frame also rotates the engine<br />
backward two degrees for improved handling,<br />
Kyle says:<br />
“I had an orange 350 enduro bike so I was very<br />
interested to see the power delivery bearing in<br />
mind that it is a motocrosser and a lot more<br />
punchy.<br />
In map 1 it is so user friendly you don’t realise<br />
you are on a 350 until you open it up, however,<br />
when you put it in map 2… hold on, you could<br />
swear you are on a 450. The frame is nice and<br />
tight, even though it is a bigger bore bike it is<br />
narrow, it is compact and it is just so rideable,<br />
so easy and manageable under your ass….<br />
Mike Says:<br />
“The 350 is a great bike and my personal<br />
favourite out of the range. It’s a bit more<br />
‘de-tuned’ compared to the 450 which, let’s<br />
be realistic, is a bit of a handful. So if you are<br />
not riding the 450 to its full potential this is<br />
the bike for you. If you are veteran rider and<br />
still want to go fast and still be competitive in<br />
the 450 class just with a bit more manageable<br />
and controllable power the 350 is the right<br />
bike for you. I am really impressed with the<br />
bikes power, again a big difference between<br />
map 1 and map 2. As with all the bikes I would<br />
like to experiment a bit more with suspension<br />
settings to get the most out of the 350.<br />
Other than that it has a similar, familiar feel<br />
to me to the older bike, we are told that is<br />
marginally heavier but I did not notice that.<br />
Even though the new 350 feels very similar on<br />
geometry to me as the old bike, it does however<br />
feel a lot more ‘grippy’ on your body, so<br />
when you are riding you can grip it a lot easier<br />
with your legs… if that makes sense.<br />
The power is there, the handling is top notch,<br />
definitely my favourite of the bunch and as I<br />
said earlier, if you are a weekend warrior or<br />
just don’t want to hang onto a 450 anymore,<br />
the 350 is the perfect bike for you.”<br />
Husqvarna FC 450<br />
Husqvarna also redesigned the 450cc engine<br />
(the result of its 95.0 x 63.4mm bore and<br />
stroke) to place both the updated camshaft<br />
plus the crankshaft closer to the ideal center<br />
of gravity—another nod to improving handling.<br />
That cam, by the way, activates the four valves<br />
via rocker levers.<br />
Inside the cases of the most powerful engine<br />
in the line is a Pankl five-speed gearbox as<br />
well as a Dampened Diaphragm Clutch (DDC),<br />
which employs a single diaphragm pressure<br />
plate instead of the usual coil springs. That’s<br />
claimed to improve both traction and durability.<br />
Externally, you’ll find service markers on the<br />
cases to ease normal servicing.<br />
The exhaust includes a two-piece header with<br />
flow-designed resonance chamber for robust<br />
power while allowing removal without needing<br />
to move the shock. It terminates in a compact<br />
muffler that not only tones down the roar, but<br />
moves weight closer to the center of gravity.<br />
Like all three FCs, the 450 comes with EFI<br />
via a Keihin 44mm throttle body, though the<br />
electronic wizardry doesn’t stop there. The<br />
rider can choose either of two engine maps<br />
and take advantage of launch control, traction<br />
control (TC), and QS, while a combination<br />
hourmeter/fuel level indicator/FI status is also<br />
standard.
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