2024 HUSQVARNA FC450, FULL TEST

Pro motocross is its own little planet that has nothing to do with the real world. If you want proof, look at the Husqvarna FC450. In the real world, it’s everywhere. Amateurs love it for its smooth nature. Local experts love it for its outright power. Vets, Seniors and Super Seniors love it for its reasonable seat height and tailorable suspension. In the pro world, on the other hand, it was nowhere in 2023. There were no Husqvarna 450s on the track at any of the SMX finals. There were no Husqvarna 450s on the podium in Supercross, and none in the top 10 at any outdoor National. The 2023 Rockstar Husqvarna Pro Motocross team was a washout in 2023, at least in the 450 class. Yet, the FC450 has had wild success in the amateur world. Weird, huh?

THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE

In truth, all Pro Motocross teams are only a couple of ruptured ligaments away from disaster all the time. “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” hasn’t been a real thing for a long time, and everyone knows it. The Husqvarna FC450 maintains a regal place in the motocross world. Of the three primary lines at Pierer Mobility, Husqvarna is still seen as the elite brand and commands the highest prices.

This is the second year of production for this particular generation of FC450. The 2024 model is, in fact, completely unchanged aside from some very subtle graphic elements. It still has a single-overhead-cam motor in a steel frame with WP suspension and Brembo hydraulics. Husqvarna race bikes maintain a key difference that makes them stand apart from KTM or GasGas: less seat height. That’s because the suspension travel is slightly reduced on the FC450 compared to the other Austrian 450s. In most other ways, the major parts are the same. The motors and frames are identical on KTM, GasGas and Husky competition bikes. There are some differences in components, bodywork and hydraulics.

THE STAR OF THE SHOW

Setting aside the seat height issue for now, it’s important to talk about the real star of the Husky show first. It’s the motor. The KTM-made 450 engine is the best powerplant in the motocross world. It’s a marvel of usable output. In our 2023 450 motocross shootout, the Husky and KTM were the horsepower kings, even over the new Yamaha. The Husky, in particular, didn’t feel like a brute at all. In fact, it felt kind of sleepy compared to the KTM and Yamaha, but it’s deceptively fast. The map switch has two options: fast and faster. In general, riders like the faster option, which is a testament to the motor’s smooth personality. The same button also offers traction control (take it or leave it), Quickshift (take it) and launch control (take it only if you practice with it).

When you have so much power available, you learn to treat it with respect. The key riding technique on all 450s—and on the Husky in particular—is to roll the throttle on. Riders coming up from the 250 class have a tendency to give it all or nothing. That doesn’t work here; you can’t be sure exactly what will happen when almost 60 horsepower is unleashed. That’s the best argument for traction control, but in truth, we all have traction control built into our right wrists. You just have to learn how to use it.

The Husky motor isn’t perfect. At low rpm, it can be a little rough, and if you aren’t quick with the clutch, it can stall or flame out. You can ride it in a tall gear to make the power more controllable, but you have to take precautions, like doing most of your braking with the clutch in.

FRAME GAME

The steel frame used for the FC450 is also used in something like 15 different models across the combined KTM/GasGas/Husky fleet. We don’t mean all those bikes have similar frames, either; all the competition four-strokes use the exact same frame. The two-strokes and dual-sport bikes have frames that are about 90 percent the same. It came into being for the 2022 Husqvarna Rockstar Edition and 2022 KTM Factory Edition, and since then has become the universal glue that binds the whole Austrian company together. It has a number of excellent traits; all those bikes are excellent in turns and all are lightweight. On our scale, the 2024 FC450 weighs in at 229 pounds. Last year the only 450 that weighed less was the GasGas because it used the older chassis. Now that the GasGas has been updated, it’s likely that the Husky and KTM will be tied as the lightest bikes in the class, unless the new Kawasaki KX450 takes that honor.

The consistent criticism that has been leveled against all these bikes, including the FC450, is rigidity. It’s a stiffer frame than the one it replaced. This is most noticeable in back-to-back comparisons, which also reveal that the new chassis is more stable and well planted. As time goes by, we have discovered that the Husky frame loses much of that initial stiffness, but careful suspension setup is more important than ever. The Husky works best with 105mm of sag. The front suspension is the WP Xact AER air fork, and the standard air pressure in the fork is 155 psi. The knee-jerk response for all handling complaints is generally to reduce the air pressure, but most of the time that actually makes the front end more harsh. Adjustments in damping are generally more productive. In general, we like the Husky’s suspension. It works well across the board, and if you fall outside the mainstream in weight or aggressiveness, you can always turn to air-pressure adjustments. It’s cheaper than buying springs. It’s important to remember that you still need to bleed the Husky’s fork just like any other bike. The fact that it uses air for a spring doesn’t make it immune to air pressure buildup in the damping chamber.

For most riders, the lower seat height doesn’t seem like it would be that big of a deal. It’s actually hard to measure accurately, but when you use a level at the lowest part of the seat and a plumb bob going straight down, it comes out to about a half inch. That is a big deal to shorter riders, and as it turns out, even tall guys like it. Riders who are over 6 feet tall love the fact that they can get both feet squarely on the ground. It helps for starts, engenders more confidence and seems to have no downside. In theory, you should have less ground clearance, which might mean that deep ruts could wipe your feet off the pegs. If someone claims to have an issue with the reduced suspension travel, it’s probably nonsense. Likewise, those riders who say they can corner better because of the lower seat height are probably imagining things. Or, maybe they are very, very sensitive test riders.

DETAILING

The Husqvarna FC450 is not a cheap motorcycle. Aside from special editions, it’s one of the most expensive bikes in the 450 class with an MSRP of $11,199. For that, you do get some of the best bits and pieces. The rims are D.I.D Dirt Stars, the handlebar is a Pro Taper, the hydraulic clutch is Brembo and so are the brakes. There’s no doubt that this is one of the most well-built bikes in all of motocross. If you’re still confused by its lack of visibility in Pro Motocross, just stay tuned. The Pro Motocross world can turn upside down in a heartbeat.

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