FE/FC My new FE 350!

Finally was able to pick up my 15 yesterday, although it has been better sweet... This was my 19th new bike and in all my dealing I have never been treated so poorly from a dealership, but I'll leave it at that.


Bike loaded and ready to head

This am I got up early to do a tear down, go through everything I.e. Lock tight, torq, anti siez, etc...


But then ran into another problem??

I put my .50 fork springs in spring length was spot on at 470mm and that was all good, then I put my 6.4 shock spring on, (stock was 5.4) when I was all done I checked my sag and this is where it went wrong? With the new spring on and an appropriate amount of preload I did my first measurements, my static was 40 and race was close to 200mm ? What? How is this possible? Then with the pre load set all the way to bottom on shock my static was then at 25 mm ( a little low from 30 mm standard) and race sag was still 120mm? I do t get this?

With the stock spring on I can get better numbers of 20 static and 112 race which that makes since because I know the 5.4 is to soft for me.

Over all was pretty bummed out... Between dealer bull s#%t and getting a bum shock spring it has deflated the excitement of the new husky, but got some new springs coming in Wednesday from different shop and then hope to go ride, I'll do a ride report then,

Well, who was the dealer?

sounds like you got a problem replacement rear spring..

You could still do the first hour break in and dump the oil.

Who did you purchase the replacement springs from?

Yeah, still debating putting stock spring back on to go do a break in, even though she would be un-balanced, the after market spring was from Slavens racing, and I truly feel it is just a fluke, going to call them on Monday, but I am having Steahly Off-road, and NV2 suspension send me my new spring. :-)

As for the dealership, it was NOT Bills, I really wish I would have dealt with them, or even Bob at cycle Buy... So that leaves two others...;-0

I am friends (or so I thought) with the owner of this dealership, so before I go into to far I want to talk to him :-) if ya guys know where I'm coming from.

I

must be Hillsboro. I dont think anyone leaves that place happy!

sweet new scoot!

Try Racetech for a rear spring. I'm happy with the one I got from them. Front springs are a different story. They can't seem to get them the right length. Their answer "just drop some washers down the fork around the rods to make up the difference." My answer "Why can't you make a $110 spring the right length?"

Way back when, with the previous owners, they were pretty good.

Sweet bike in a sweet looking garage.

Over all first impression of the bike it WOW!! The new Huskys are sexy! So so much better looking in person! As I Tour her down I really got a look at the craftsmanship and attention to details all the way to the though put into the wheel spacers and wire fasteners. I can't wait to try out these new mx81 tires.

Clete,

thx man my dad and I did an overhaul on the shop/garage a few years ago. I love having a clean organized work space.

Mike-AK

Thats why I went with Slavens, there springs are set right at the 470, and I know the WP springs are to which Steahly Off-road has 8-)

How are the 0.50's in the forks? I'm running 0.48 in the forks and 6.4 in the rear. I'm thinking optimally I need 0.46 and 6.2, but don't feel like spending another $250 on springs.

Setting on bike they feel allot better, but will know more soon

So finally made it out yesterday for first break in ride! I love this bike, motor felt strong and peppy, after the first hour of break in I started pushing the bike more and more, and after doing allot of suspension tweaking it felt pretty dang good, I have the 50 fork springs, and ended up getting a factory connection KYB spring, that is 270mm long vs standard of 260, this allowed for a better fit and more room for pre load, had sag set at 108 and ended up taking a half a turn out mid ride to get the rear settled into the corners, I'll measure this am and see what that number is. Also forks are flush in clamps.

But over all really like this bike! I'm very happy with it! I let my buddy ride it and he said felt stronger then his 13 KTM 350 XC 8-)

Going to change the oil and give it the once over, then you g to install the FMF and hopefully head out to a test loop for more suspension set up.

Ps. Did see a little oil? Residue? Around both fork legs at the 1 hr mark? But didn't have any smell? It seemed to slow so going to check this am also and keep an I it them

Sag is now 110, seals look fine this am

Forks are not leaking just some white grease from Assembly or somthing from behind dust seal that mixed with dirt/dust and mud made a oil ring around fork tube at bottoming point.

So you are discovering what a few of us new Husky owners are privy to... Nice bikes aren't they? And real LOOKERS.

Have 2200 miles on mine so far. Nothing required but tires and sprocket changes besides oil changes and air filter cleanings.

You may give 105mm rear sag a try with the forks on the second line in the triples. Found my bike handled better with less rear sag than I normally run. Manual specs 105 mm also.

Well got 6.5 hours on bike now, and I'm really happy with the 350! The FMF helps pull a little harder out of corners and makes it seem to rev quicker. It is a little loud, going to do a sound test to see what it is.

Pretty happy with stock suspension but sure I'm going to have some valving done, I have the rear rebound slowed to make up for stiffer spring, and the forks have a un settled feel or lack of trust at this point I can't quite get adjusted out. But I am coming from a 13 honda which had a very planted front end and turned on a dime.

Here is a cool pic from yesterday

Wanted to mention on here about the SAMCO radiator hoses that eliminate thermostat ,

AWSOME product fitment was quick and easy, well removing pipe and draining radiators but other then that not bad.

And I would say worth the money, went riding in some slow going first gear stuff, was a warmer day too, and finally got fan to come on, and it only came on and ran for May e 30 seconds. My friends KTM still had the thermostat and his fan would run all the time and when my fan would th. And turn off his would just keep running and running...

I think it is a good buy

Did it still get so hot that you could not grip with your right leg ? Mine does and it had the ecu reflash.
Did the exhaust make much difference ?

It has not gotten hot? Or seemed any warmer then any Another bike I have owned, I'm not sure if the mapping is different in 15' or the lean setting seem a little closer riding over here at 5k feet. ??

I wanted the dealer to install the Euro map I.e competition map so I could run the Trail Tech switch, but they didn't/wouldn't pretty much said I was an idiot and wrong for wanting a map and that ignition is not locked, which we all kow they r...

The pipe made a pretty noticeable difference, think it pulls with more Authority and revs up a little quicker.