Husaberg Thumpers Return

One year after winning Cycle World’s Best Enduro Bike honors in 2011 with its FE570S, Husaberg did not import any four-stroke models in 2012. But there is better news for ‘13, as three new four-stroke ‘Bergs are in the U.S. lineup: the FE 250, FE 350 and FE 501. The TE 250 and TE 300 competition two-strokes return with new chassis and minor engine updates.

All three FEs are brand-new from the ground up. The radical “upside-down” engine is gone, replaced by conventionally oriented units that Husaberg claims outperform the previous motor due to advancements in technology and reduction in weight and reciprocating mass. They all 
are four-valve, counterbalanced Singles that share die-cast crankcases, fuel injection with 42mm throttle bodies, Keihin engine-management systems and electric starting. A key difference between the 250/350 and the 501 is the cylinder head: The latter has a single overhead cam with rocker-arm actuation, whereas the 250 and 350 use double overhead cams with finger followers and titanium valves.

Chassis highlights for the FEs include chrome-moly steel mainframes and re-inforced-polyamide fiberglass subframes. Brembo brakes and WP suspension are standard on all three FE models. Pricing for the ’13 Husabergs should be announced by the end of October.