FE/FC FE 350 : short/ light rider bike set up

Hi All,

Ive just joined the forum, looking for some help and advice.

Ive just bought a 2015 Husqvarna FE 350 and love it, but I only weigh 65 kg / 10.5 stone 5'7" and have very short legs!

I went on an all day ride out last Monday and the majority of the routes were fine, but as soon as we got to the tight, slow technical bits, I really struggled with the height of the bike.

I would welcome the advice of anyone else who has been in this situation or a rider the same dap as me and what they have done to the suspension to make it more suitable for a rider of my weight/ height.

I have read the manual but thought it would be better to speak to others who have set the bike up for a rider like me before I start turning nuts and bolts!

Obviously my first step will be the lower seat (if anyone has one in good nick and no longer need it i will happily purchase)

Many thanks in advance.

Matt

Cut seat, kouba link or dropped via. internal suspension changes. The last one is the best but ground clearance becomes an issue so a good skid plate is needed. All in all don't expect much over 2" without loosing comfort.

http://www.koubalink.com/Husqvarna 2014 Install. (KTM Style).html

Try the free options first.
1. Measure the sag and see where you're at now. Adjust the sag accordingly and check how much difference it made. (Your sag numbers will tell if the springs are ok for you)
2. Cut the seat foam.

Taking it to a suspension tuner is probably the best option but it will cost you, although it's money well spent. A tuner will lower the fork/shock internally and not with a link.

Thanks for the advice.

Ive spoken to my dealer who suggested that I change the springs front and rear for the lower weight rated ones (he had some second hand ones for £100 for all three)

And I've also ordered the lower seat.

The springs have turned up today so going to make a start tomorrow.

If anyone is looking to buy a full ht seat and springs in excellent condition let me know

with correct springs for your weight and the sag set correctly (maybe to the lower end of the scale to get the most benefit) you're well on your way to getting some height off it, the cut seat works too but i found the bump at the back was a pain when i needed to slide back while negotiating obstacles. on my 07 TE450 i tried a link on the rear and sliding the forks through and it was horrible! twitchy front end, washed out a lot, bottomed out the rear of the bike a lot. I put lowering spacers in the front and rear which was better but to be fair it still didn't handle as well as a std height/set up bike did, especially on fast fire roads which was quite unnerving.
In the end i went with correct springs f&r and set my sag at the lowest point of the acceptable range, if i was doing single track and technical climbs i used the cut seat so i could use my feet, if i was just exploring back roads, fire trails and fast stuff i used the std seat.
I was happy with that set up and i'm 5'3", and i really really want an FE350!

Thanks all. I've done the spring change over and i'm waiting for the lower seat to arrive but Im taking it out this Saturday to try out the spring/ sag changes.

So, standard springs and standard height seat up for sale if anyone wants them (next to new condition)

One day a bike manufacturer will make a bike that people under 6 foot can ride and actually touch the ground. Take a KTM or Husky, drop it 2+ inches, add a lower seat and they will sell like hotcakes.

They do it's called a Beta. However don't complain about snagging everything you go over on with your Husky!

Thinking of getting my wife a FE350s or a KTM 350EXCf.....wouldnt the KTM be easier to lower because of the lack of a linkage rear suspension?

Don't know if anyone makes different length linkages yet for the huskies as that would be the easiest option.
Matter of fact the Husky will always be the easier option as changing the bottom of the shock is easier with the link than on a PDS.

I thought the Huskies were a tad shorter straight out of the box than the KTM cousins.

It would be easier for a linkage bike since you can get a different link/linkage guard dropping the bike about an inch. However if done via internally there are the same. Our FE250 was about 1/2" shorter then an XCF-W.