Discussion
Hi,
I've been reading all I can about the Husaberg 650E. I'm in the market for a crazy supermoto, a bike for a 60 minute blast round some imperfect b roads. I'm sure a Husky 701 or KTM 690 would be more reliable but reading the specs of these bikes - 109kg and 63hp, I'm very tempted! Very regular oil changes and valvle clearance checks don't bother me to much.
All the posts I find on these are pretty old. IS anyone still running one. Is a 14 year old bike that was temperamental when it was new a crazy idea?
I've been reading all I can about the Husaberg 650E. I'm in the market for a crazy supermoto, a bike for a 60 minute blast round some imperfect b roads. I'm sure a Husky 701 or KTM 690 would be more reliable but reading the specs of these bikes - 109kg and 63hp, I'm very tempted! Very regular oil changes and valvle clearance checks don't bother me to much.
All the posts I find on these are pretty old. IS anyone still running one. Is a 14 year old bike that was temperamental when it was new a crazy idea?
A pal of mine in Ireland bought one. It's meant to be a great bike but a bit hit and miss in terms of reliability.
If you buy one, speak to Taffmeisters http://www.taffmeisters.co.uk/ They are the UK specialist and will be full of good info.
I'd have one if I could afford it, they were essentially a competition bike with lights, allegedly even having a sticker saying something along the lines of "this machine is mainly for competitive use"
I think oil changes are something like every 2 tanks of fuel... at least that's what the manual says for a friends 501.
If you buy one, speak to Taffmeisters http://www.taffmeisters.co.uk/ They are the UK specialist and will be full of good info.
I'd have one if I could afford it, they were essentially a competition bike with lights, allegedly even having a sticker saying something along the lines of "this machine is mainly for competitive use"
I think oil changes are something like every 2 tanks of fuel... at least that's what the manual says for a friends 501.
MotorsportTom said:
A pal of mine in Ireland bought one. It's meant to be a great bike but a bit hit and miss in terms of reliability.
If you buy one, speak to Taffmeisters http://www.taffmeisters.co.uk/ They are the UK specialist and will be full of good info.
I'd have one if I could afford it, they were essentially a competition bike with lights, allegedly even having a sticker saying something along the lines of "this machine is mainly for competitive use"
I think oil changes are something like every 2 tanks of fuel... at least that's what the manual says for a friends 501.
Every 2 tanks of fuel? Jesus, that would be too much. If you buy one, speak to Taffmeisters http://www.taffmeisters.co.uk/ They are the UK specialist and will be full of good info.
I'd have one if I could afford it, they were essentially a competition bike with lights, allegedly even having a sticker saying something along the lines of "this machine is mainly for competitive use"
I think oil changes are something like every 2 tanks of fuel... at least that's what the manual says for a friends 501.
They do look like a lot of fun. I was wrestling my Superduke GT though heavy traffic the other day and though - "hang on, I should be on a supermoto here".
yellowstreak said:
MotorsportTom said:
A pal of mine in Ireland bought one. It's meant to be a great bike but a bit hit and miss in terms of reliability.
If you buy one, speak to Taffmeisters http://www.taffmeisters.co.uk/ They are the UK specialist and will be full of good info.
I'd have one if I could afford it, they were essentially a competition bike with lights, allegedly even having a sticker saying something along the lines of "this machine is mainly for competitive use"
I think oil changes are something like every 2 tanks of fuel... at least that's what the manual says for a friends 501.
Every 2 tanks of fuel? Jesus, that would be too much. If you buy one, speak to Taffmeisters http://www.taffmeisters.co.uk/ They are the UK specialist and will be full of good info.
I'd have one if I could afford it, they were essentially a competition bike with lights, allegedly even having a sticker saying something along the lines of "this machine is mainly for competitive use"
I think oil changes are something like every 2 tanks of fuel... at least that's what the manual says for a friends 501.
They do look like a lot of fun. I was wrestling my Superduke GT though heavy traffic the other day and though - "hang on, I should be on a supermoto here".
realistically would you notice the extra power and slightly less weight that the husaberg offers? A KTM 525 or something of that ilk would offer similar feeling most of the time but with less worry IMO
MotorsportTom said:
Yep! I think it's because the oil capacity is something stupid like 0.8l hence the frequency to change, plus they want you to use the 10w50 motorex which means you need to have a hefty disposable income just to service the fecking thing!
realistically would you notice the extra power and slightly less weight that the husaberg offers? A KTM 525 or something of that ilk would offer similar feeling most of the time but with less worry IMO
The internet was telling me oil every 10 hrs. I'll give that place a call. They are not so far from me so could be a good place to have the big services done. realistically would you notice the extra power and slightly less weight that the husaberg offers? A KTM 525 or something of that ilk would offer similar feeling most of the time but with less worry IMO
Yes, any other bike would be more sensible. I started looking at XR650 conversions but a decent one of those is similar money to a Husaberg.
I nearly bought an FS650e quite a few years back, I was offered one of the last new ones in the country for £5k!
They have the kickstart on the left and iirc the elecric start is only recommended once the engine is warm and judging by the reviews I read at the time they were slightly less sane than Roger Irrelevant...
Have you tried a Husqvarna 701? They're also a bit 'Hatstand' service intervals are a lot longer but the bike itself is like riding a 70 bhp unicycle
They have the kickstart on the left and iirc the elecric start is only recommended once the engine is warm and judging by the reviews I read at the time they were slightly less sane than Roger Irrelevant...
Have you tried a Husqvarna 701? They're also a bit 'Hatstand' service intervals are a lot longer but the bike itself is like riding a 70 bhp unicycle
obscene said:
Went from an XR650R sumo'd to a KTM 690SMCR. Night and day difference and I don't regret it for a second. If you can find a decent KTM, snap it up as they're quite sort after since KTM discontinued them and the 701 took over.
Yup, the 690 SMCR would be the first choice, but I can't justify the money at the moment. Tango13 said:
I nearly bought an FS650e quite a few years back, I was offered one of the last new ones in the country for £5k!
They have the kickstart on the left and iirc the elecric start is only recommended once the engine is warm and judging by the reviews I read at the time they were slightly less sane than Roger Irrelevant...
Have you tried a Husqvarna 701? They're also a bit 'Hatstand' service intervals are a lot longer but the bike itself is like riding a 70 bhp unicycle
The 701 is on the list to test! Amazing that its listed dry weight is still 36kg more than the Husaberg, but that reliability has to come from somewhere I guess. They have the kickstart on the left and iirc the elecric start is only recommended once the engine is warm and judging by the reviews I read at the time they were slightly less sane than Roger Irrelevant...
Have you tried a Husqvarna 701? They're also a bit 'Hatstand' service intervals are a lot longer but the bike itself is like riding a 70 bhp unicycle
I used to have a Husaberg FS650e. It was probably the most focused bike I have ever owned, a race machine with a number plate. On a good day I can't think of much that you'd have more fun on, and in an average group of inters, on a short circuit without long straights it would run rings around just about everything.
However......the reliability was utterly dire. Complete hit & miss as to whether it would start at the beginning of a journey, after petrol, after a tea break, or at any other time it chose. I used to have to find petrol stations at the top of a big hill so that I had half a chance of getting it to go again with constant bump starts. I loved riding it but I sold it because of that. In fact I think I sold it as a non-runner simply because in the weeks before it went I was never able to start it.
I genuinely can't remember what year mine was. I've heard it said that the later ones were better (in terms of reliability) but they may not have been the "same bike" as a result?
There are people on the web who will tell you that they'll get one running like a swiss watch but as an (ex) owner, I can't imagine how.
Better to have something which is 90% (or even 80%) as good and which starts and runs when you want it to rather than when it feels like it (which isn't often).
ETA: a mate had a KTM SM at the same time, a 625SMC, and whilst that was a very good bike in it's own right, for comparison it was like riding a baggy old sofa in comparison to the Husa, simply because the Husa was so poised and sharp.
ETA ETA: bugger, now I'm wanting one again!!
However......the reliability was utterly dire. Complete hit & miss as to whether it would start at the beginning of a journey, after petrol, after a tea break, or at any other time it chose. I used to have to find petrol stations at the top of a big hill so that I had half a chance of getting it to go again with constant bump starts. I loved riding it but I sold it because of that. In fact I think I sold it as a non-runner simply because in the weeks before it went I was never able to start it.
I genuinely can't remember what year mine was. I've heard it said that the later ones were better (in terms of reliability) but they may not have been the "same bike" as a result?
There are people on the web who will tell you that they'll get one running like a swiss watch but as an (ex) owner, I can't imagine how.
Better to have something which is 90% (or even 80%) as good and which starts and runs when you want it to rather than when it feels like it (which isn't often).
ETA: a mate had a KTM SM at the same time, a 625SMC, and whilst that was a very good bike in it's own right, for comparison it was like riding a baggy old sofa in comparison to the Husa, simply because the Husa was so poised and sharp.
ETA ETA: bugger, now I'm wanting one again!!
Edited by CAPP0 on Tuesday 10th July 16:07
CAPP0 said:
I used to have a Husaberg FS650e. It was probably the most focused bike I have ever owned, a race machine with a number plate. On a good day I can't think of much that you'd have more fun on, and in an average group of inters, on a short circuit without long straights it would run rings around just about everything.
However......the reliability was utterly dire. Complete hit & miss as to whether it would start at the beginning of a journey, after petrol, after a tea break, or at any other time it chose. I used to have to find petrol stations at the top of a big hill so that I had half a chance of getting it to go again with constant bump starts. I loved riding it but I sold it because of that. In fact I think I sold it as a non-runner simply because in the weeks before it went I was never able to start it.
I genuinely can't remember what year mine was. I've heard it said that the later ones were better (in terms of reliability) but they may not have been the "same bike" as a result?
There are people on the web who will tell you that they'll get one running like a swiss watch but as an (ex) owner, I can't imagine how.
Better to have something which is 90% (or even 80%) as good and which starts and runs when you want it to rather than when it feels like it (which isn't often).
ETA: a mate had a KTM SM at the same time, a 625SMC, and whilst that was a very good bike in it's own right, for comparison it was like riding a baggy old sofa in comparison to the Husa, simply because the Husa was so poised and sharp.
ETA ETA: bugger, now I'm wanting one again!!
Ha ha I think you were warning me against one but making me want one even more! However......the reliability was utterly dire. Complete hit & miss as to whether it would start at the beginning of a journey, after petrol, after a tea break, or at any other time it chose. I used to have to find petrol stations at the top of a big hill so that I had half a chance of getting it to go again with constant bump starts. I loved riding it but I sold it because of that. In fact I think I sold it as a non-runner simply because in the weeks before it went I was never able to start it.
I genuinely can't remember what year mine was. I've heard it said that the later ones were better (in terms of reliability) but they may not have been the "same bike" as a result?
There are people on the web who will tell you that they'll get one running like a swiss watch but as an (ex) owner, I can't imagine how.
Better to have something which is 90% (or even 80%) as good and which starts and runs when you want it to rather than when it feels like it (which isn't often).
ETA: a mate had a KTM SM at the same time, a 625SMC, and whilst that was a very good bike in it's own right, for comparison it was like riding a baggy old sofa in comparison to the Husa, simply because the Husa was so poised and sharp.
ETA ETA: bugger, now I'm wanting one again!!
Edited by CAPP0 on Tuesday 10th July 16:07
CAPP0 said:
yellowstreak said:
I had a look at an EXC 500 yesterday. Probably of similar craziness to the Husaberg, 116kg fuelled with 64bhp at the crank. Unfortunately its lack of a key makes it a non starter!
That's principally an enduro bike though. They're 525 afaik, mate's got one.Also, if you really want one just wire in a generic ignition key?
yellowstreak said:
Tango13 said:
I nearly bought an FS650e quite a few years back, I was offered one of the last new ones in the country for £5k!
They have the kickstart on the left and iirc the elecric start is only recommended once the engine is warm and judging by the reviews I read at the time they were slightly less sane than Roger Irrelevant...
Have you tried a Husqvarna 701? They're also a bit 'Hatstand' service intervals are a lot longer but the bike itself is like riding a 70 bhp unicycle
The 701 is on the list to test! Amazing that its listed dry weight is still 36kg more than the Husaberg, but that reliability has to come from somewhere I guess. They have the kickstart on the left and iirc the elecric start is only recommended once the engine is warm and judging by the reviews I read at the time they were slightly less sane than Roger Irrelevant...
Have you tried a Husqvarna 701? They're also a bit 'Hatstand' service intervals are a lot longer but the bike itself is like riding a 70 bhp unicycle
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