ScottyR
Husqvarna
AA Class
I have had my TE449 for a while now but for one reason or another havent spent much, if any real time on the bike to make a fair assessment. I finally got out for a "real" ride on it on Sunday.
I can honestly say that the 449 is a really good bike. I was very impressed with the bike.
The suspension on the bike is too soft for my 210lbs carcass but other than some stiffer springs, the forks are staying stock. The rear is too soft for me but again I think a stiffer spring will fix it. I need to add some rebound damping and may play with the valving a little bit on the shock. The bike is definitely rideable for me but I have gotten myself used to running stiffer suspension the last couple of years and just find this bike squishy. 3yrs ago, I would have LOVED this suspension. The bike has really good rock suspension out of the crate.
I dont know what all the talk is about this bike not turning and the CTS wanting the bike to stand up in corners? The bike corners WAY better than an old TE450 and is as good as my 2010 Husaberg FE450. I dont know if it was just in my head but the CTS does seem to make this bike climb hills with ease. It seems to go up rocky hills without any fuss. Whether this is CTS related or not has yet to be determined... I am not sure but the bike doesnt seem to wheelie as easy as my Berg but it will wheely. You just need to think about it a bit more. Not a deal breaker for me.
The engine is excellent. It is very, very smooth. So smooth it feels slow, but it is anything but slow. This is an excellent WOODS motor. The shifter is too high but that is an easy adjustment. I hit neutral a few times that annoyed me. The stock 15/51 gearing is great for the bikes intended purpose as a dual sport but it is too tall IMO for real off road useage. I think that 14/50 might be a good combo for woods use. I do not care about top speed. As long as the bike will run 90km/h in 6th without revving the guts out of it, I am happy. I am kind of concerned with the EFI mapping. I have the power up kit with the Akrapovic muffler and the bike is a bit lean. The bike flamed out a few times on me.
The clutch has a nice feel and never thought about fading.
The fuel mileage seems really good. We rode 60kms of fast single track and I had lots of fuel left. My buddy with his CRF450X needed gas and couldnt go much further.
The chassis is really good. The seat is one of the most comfortable seats to come on a Euro bike. It still isnt a Honda seat, but it is way better than any Husky, Berg or KTM I have ridden before. The rear brake petal location was a huge issue on the BMW for me, but it is perfect on the Husky even with the bulge from the hyd clutch. I dont have any problems with the rear filling gas hole. The handlebars are in a perfect position for me. The pre-11 Huskys bars are way too high for me.
What really bugs me is how beat the bike looks after 1 ride. This bike desperately needs graphics to protect the plastic. The huge rad shrouds are scratched to sh-t after 1 ride. PG is making graphics for me already. This will fix this problem and give a bit of pizazz to the bike.
All and all, I am very impressed with this bike. My report may sound negative but it is anything but. I dont want to sound like I have been drinking the cool-aid. I am trying to be a realistic as possible and call a spade a spade. The bike is way better than a 1st year effort. It is a better bike than a 2011 KTM 450EXC no question. I have ridden both and the Husky is better.
The best review came from my buddy who was with me on Sunday. He owns a big Honda shop and hates euro bikes with a passion. He rode the 449 for quite a while and when we traded back his response was, "this isnt a big of a POS as I thought it would be....I kind of like it". Coming from my buddy, this response was a huge compliment as he normally goes off the deep end hating my bike.
I can honestly say that the 449 is a really good bike. I was very impressed with the bike.
The suspension on the bike is too soft for my 210lbs carcass but other than some stiffer springs, the forks are staying stock. The rear is too soft for me but again I think a stiffer spring will fix it. I need to add some rebound damping and may play with the valving a little bit on the shock. The bike is definitely rideable for me but I have gotten myself used to running stiffer suspension the last couple of years and just find this bike squishy. 3yrs ago, I would have LOVED this suspension. The bike has really good rock suspension out of the crate.
I dont know what all the talk is about this bike not turning and the CTS wanting the bike to stand up in corners? The bike corners WAY better than an old TE450 and is as good as my 2010 Husaberg FE450. I dont know if it was just in my head but the CTS does seem to make this bike climb hills with ease. It seems to go up rocky hills without any fuss. Whether this is CTS related or not has yet to be determined... I am not sure but the bike doesnt seem to wheelie as easy as my Berg but it will wheely. You just need to think about it a bit more. Not a deal breaker for me.
The engine is excellent. It is very, very smooth. So smooth it feels slow, but it is anything but slow. This is an excellent WOODS motor. The shifter is too high but that is an easy adjustment. I hit neutral a few times that annoyed me. The stock 15/51 gearing is great for the bikes intended purpose as a dual sport but it is too tall IMO for real off road useage. I think that 14/50 might be a good combo for woods use. I do not care about top speed. As long as the bike will run 90km/h in 6th without revving the guts out of it, I am happy. I am kind of concerned with the EFI mapping. I have the power up kit with the Akrapovic muffler and the bike is a bit lean. The bike flamed out a few times on me.
The clutch has a nice feel and never thought about fading.
The fuel mileage seems really good. We rode 60kms of fast single track and I had lots of fuel left. My buddy with his CRF450X needed gas and couldnt go much further.
The chassis is really good. The seat is one of the most comfortable seats to come on a Euro bike. It still isnt a Honda seat, but it is way better than any Husky, Berg or KTM I have ridden before. The rear brake petal location was a huge issue on the BMW for me, but it is perfect on the Husky even with the bulge from the hyd clutch. I dont have any problems with the rear filling gas hole. The handlebars are in a perfect position for me. The pre-11 Huskys bars are way too high for me.
What really bugs me is how beat the bike looks after 1 ride. This bike desperately needs graphics to protect the plastic. The huge rad shrouds are scratched to sh-t after 1 ride. PG is making graphics for me already. This will fix this problem and give a bit of pizazz to the bike.
All and all, I am very impressed with this bike. My report may sound negative but it is anything but. I dont want to sound like I have been drinking the cool-aid. I am trying to be a realistic as possible and call a spade a spade. The bike is way better than a 1st year effort. It is a better bike than a 2011 KTM 450EXC no question. I have ridden both and the Husky is better.
The best review came from my buddy who was with me on Sunday. He owns a big Honda shop and hates euro bikes with a passion. He rode the 449 for quite a while and when we traded back his response was, "this isnt a big of a POS as I thought it would be....I kind of like it". Coming from my buddy, this response was a huge compliment as he normally goes off the deep end hating my bike.
