So I just picked up a carry over 2009 Husqvarna TC450 for for a steal of a deal at Tri County Powersports in Moorpark, CA. I got my first ride in this past Sunday. This is a review coming from a self confessed KTM lover. My thoughts:

Handling
Easily on par with every Japanese 450 I have ridden (09 KX450F/09 CRF450/06 RMZ450/06 YZ450F/08 YZ450F etc.) The thing is lighter than it seems and can be controlled well. Out of the box the forks are sitting way high in the clamps and this causes some pushing at higher speeds. This is easily fixed by sliding the fork tubes down in to the clamps more.

Suspension
Where do I start? The thing has linkage and I can feel it! The Sachs shock soaks up everything and the Marzocchi forks are very good with square edge bumps. Right out of the box, no adjustment of clickers I had some swapping in some whoops but I was told to turn the compression down a couple clicks to clean that up. The suspension on this is on par with Japanese 450s.

Motor
The 41FCR on this bike allows it to just keep on revving. The motor can rev high and keeps on making more and more power as the revs build. The jetting stock was good but I think I could tinker with it to get more out of it. Down low the bike has plenty of juice but I would have to say the bike is mid to top oriented. Don't get me wrong, its got a great bottom end grunt but it likes to be ridden with generous application of the throttle.

Ergonomics
If you own or have owned a KTM this bike feels awfully familiar and European. I have ridden KTMs for long enough to greatly prefer the Euro feel and be kind of uncomfortable with the Japanese ergos. The bike sits kind of higher than most, just a tiny bit that is noticeable. With that said its very comfortable still. It is skinnier feeling than current gen KTMs.

Build Quality/Fit Finish
Like KTM, Husqvarna put great attention to detail on this bike with adjustability galore and quality parts that you won't find on any Japanese brand. The Magura clutch on this bike works better than the Brembo did on the KTM. Braking brake rotors with Brembo pumps and calipers work very well. The gold cadmium hardware adds a nice touch. Then you get into the red valve cover, red anodized oil line fittings/assorted other bits, full Titanium exhaust with a removable spark arrestor insert and you know this bike is decked out. WOW you can actually get to the carb without stripping the bike down to bare frame!? Comes stock with Twin Air filter etc.

Cons
The carb's hot start is not remote! I don't know what they were thinking adding an additional remote decompression lever over a remote hot start. The bike has auto decompression but they added a supplemental remote decompression for what the manual says is in case of flooding. I would rather have the hot start. Zip-ty told me that they used the hot start from another 450 and made their own cable. Im going to do that but I wish I didn't have to. Its not hard because you have the lever there but still annoying.

Parts Availability
I have a local dealer that I have shopped at for about 10 years and get a good deal on parts with. In terms of aftermarket a Hyde Racing skid plate is on the way (only plate I will run). I am going to get with Zip-ty to get some goodies. Hopefully get with George at Up-tite and have him send some stuff over but other than that I think while in its infancy the aftermarket parts availability is not bad. I can get hiflo filtro oil fitlers, twin air filters etc. TT has the maintenance stuff covered with hopefully more hop up stuff on the way.

Final Thoughts
WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS AND NOT ON YOUR WAY TO THE HUSKY DEALER!? Dealers are giving great deals and BMW is giving great finance offers, no dealing with GE or those other joke garbage companies.

With complete and absolute honesty I cannot see why these bikes are not more popular. They look great, handle great, make great power and have great attention to detail with tricked out parts galore.

BMW has done great with Husky so far and you can only expect more great things. They revamped the whole company and you now have BMW backing the Husqvarna brand. As a fan of everything BMW, I really appreciate what they have done and have COMPLETE faith in them. BMW is not finished yet! :thumbsup::worthy:

give her more time, note 1.5 years on my 08 TXC through alot of truely gnarly rides and brutal races and have never used the hot start knob once, I realize the TXC has the button, but still I do the kick drill just keep sharp if the batt dies. Jet her good and never use the hot start,,use the choke/enrichment to cold start and never look back.
Best of luck with the new ride,,,properly cared for the thing will be virtually bullet proof.

robertaccio said:

The hot starting seems to be hit or miss if I try it w/o. So I will follow your advice, get the jetting spot on and cross my fingers! Thanks!

Yea Tri County Powersports is selling there huskys extremely cheap. they are the ones to go to if you want a good deal.

Congrats on the new bike!


Did you drive all the way from Nevada to buy that thing? or did you have it shipped?

Great write up and I hope your love affair stays the course.
I am a pretty average rider in the tight and often stall. In the Aussie bush over summers its as hot as hades I have only once had to use my hot start button. Also never had the old girl over heat (06 TE450). These are brilliant machines with good build integrity and quality parts. Look after it and they are so damm reliable.

jrmobb said:

Definitely Tri County rocks. The drive wasn't bad at all. I think about 650 miles round trip or so? Was on the road about 7:30, hit dumb Burbank/Pasadena traffic back and forth and was back by 5:30 or so with a couple stops for food and a couple for gas.

Oddly enough on the way down my cousin and I saw a party barge pontoon boat off its trailer and in the middle of the I-15! CHP was scratching their heads thinking what they were going to do and traffic was backed up for the guys going in to Vegas. On the way back it was removed and traffic was good for that stretch. Easy drive.

Nice write up. The guys at Motosportz.com are Husky fanatics and have some good bling from what I hear.

Personally I agree with Matt about the hot start lever. I would rather have one of those than a decompression lever.

Grab a DRD remote hot start kit for the KTM and with a little tickering will suit the husky.

Matt Tiede said:

Cuz your late to the party bro, most of us have several in the garage. I currently have three and looking to add a 2010 TXC250 to the mix. :smirk:

- Good writeup. Surprised you liked the forks, most think they are valved and sprung to stiff. they do get better with about 600 miles on them. Make sure to bleed the forks a lot as they accumulate air quickly. The rear has always been very good. the motor will gain power and rev EZer with time as well. JD jetting kit is mandatory IMHO and you might never need the hat start.

Huskys are well built and are very tight in the motor and boingers out of the box. I recon 500 miles on the forks and a 1000 on the motor before they are free and working at their optimal best. This is good as it presupposes longevity.

Yeah, I got my 2010 TC250 at Tri-County Powersports, good stuff going on there. This Saturday they are doing Husky demo rides. You don't hear about dealers doing that everyday. Good luck with your new 450. TC's Rock!