16 replies to this topic

[keenxxx TT Bronze Member]

I just recently started dirt biking after a 20 year break. My last bike was an 84' CR 500 that was a good bike imo. I recently borrowed a freinds CR 250 but it was too much work to just trail ride and pull hills (being rusty doesn't help either) I came across a brand new 1999 FE 501- I really like the idea of new . I can't find any spec's or details about this bike. Any known issues - good or bad ? How about re-sale ? This bike has been for sale for awhile now and i have a concern if I don't end up riding am I going to have a hard time selling ? Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks.

[BONESTOCK TT Platinum Member]

I don't know much about the older Husabergs but if it was a good price I would be all over it!

[Chas_M TT Addict]

What is the asking price?

[husky34 TT Titanium Member]

keenxxx, on 28 March 2012 - 11:29 PM, said:

I just recently started dirt biking after a 20 year break. My last bike was an 84' CR 500 that was a good bike imo. I recently borrowed a freinds CR 250 but it was too much work to just trail ride and pull hills (being rusty doesn't help either) I came across a brand new 1999 FE 501- I really like the idea of new . I can't find any spec's or details about this bike. Any known issues - good or bad ? How about re-sale ? This bike has been for sale for awhile now and i have a concern if I don't end up riding am I going to have a hard time selling ? Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks.

The 1999 Berg FE501 new (back in the day) was just under $8K. On a "good" used model, you can expect to pay around $1500. If you were to trade the bike in, it is worth $1,295.00 "used" to a dealer (according to blue book).

It has a 2.25 gallon fuel capacity
Dry weight is around 245 pounds (claimed)
Has a 6 speed gear box
Left side kick start (no electric start)
Liquid Cooled
58.7 (or so) wheel base
Single disk brakes front and back
Top speed of around or just above 100MPH.

If the price is right (or a steal compared to the above) this would be a nice pick up. However, I have had left side kick start bikes before, they take some real getting use to.

[keenxxx TT Bronze Member]

husky34, on 30 March 2012 - 11:00 AM, said:

The 1999 Berg FE501 new (back in the day) was just under $8K. On a "good" used model, you can expect to pay around $1500. If you were to trade the bike in, it is worth $1,295.00 "used" to a dealer (according to blue book).

It has a 2.25 gallon fuel capacity
Dry weight is around 245 pounds (claimed)
Has a 6 speed gear box
Left side kick start (no electric start)
Liquid Cooled
58.7 (or so) wheel base
Single disk brakes front and back
Top speed of around or just above 100MPH.

If the price is right (or a steal compared to the above) this would be a nice pick up. However, I have had left side kick start bikes before, they take some real getting use to.

The bike is a FE 501 E - Electric start. Brand new $2500. As I mentioed it has been for sale for quite some time. I'd think new would have had it sold ??? I know nothing about Husabergs, durability, parts availability or potential re-sale.

[husky34 TT Titanium Member]

keenxxx, on 30 March 2012 - 10:17 PM, said:

The bike is a FE 501 E - Electric start. Brand new $2500. As I mentioed it has been for sale for quite some time. I'd think new would have had it sold ??? I know nothing about Husabergs, durability, parts availability or potential re-sale.

Wow.... Goes to show what I know. Didn't even realize they had an E start in 1999. At $2500 brand new I would purchase it just on the brand its self. Reliabity??? I don't know enough about the 99's, actually next to nothing. But at that price, I would picl it up.

[mhambone TT Bronze Member]

Resale is not good at all. I recently sold a '98 FX 600 for $750.

[nsman TT Bronze Member]

I had a 99 fe400 back then and it was a great bike.the 99 models were some of the best Bergs ever made.
It was the 2001 and early 2002 that gave the brand a bad rap.

[ktm300]

I had the 99' 501 MX'er and it was wicked fast, didn't start well when hot but it didn't have E start, there's nothing wrong with them and you'll take a decent loss if you end up selling it in a year.

If you came of a CR500, the power on the 501 is simular.

[phastasbananas TT Member]

I got a 1999 FE600E that I bought new 13 years ago. Will never sell it, this bike is with me for life now. Bought a SM factory wheel kit for it that cost more than you will pay for the brand new 501

-99 was the first year with electric start, however the electric start is not that much more than a help start that you can use when the bike stalls. If cold and /or having difficulties starting due to carbs or valves, you will have to use the kickstart to get it going.

Oil capacity is 1 l only, and the oil lives a very hard life in these engines. Just change it all the time. Oil is cheap compared to Husaberg top ends. It got an oilpump (don't remember which year they changed, but previous ones had oil feed via cam chain), oilfilter and screenfilter inside the oildrain plug.

Check the valves all the time. Difficulties in starting is often incorrect valve clearances.

Listen to the engine and take good care of it. It is possible to make these babies last a long time. Most Husaberg problems comes from its owner, either skipping on maintenance or just ride the **** of it. Lot of the problems came with the supermoto models. They usually live a harder life on the tarmac than in the dirt, and while dirt people usually are used to do maintenance road people are'nt expecting roadbike maintenance intervals.

The engine that sits in these models is the reason KTM bought Husaberg back in the days, and you can see alot of similarities between the two. They are grunty powerful things, not as smooth and revvy as todays 4-strokes are.

[Chas_M TT Addict]

phastasbananas, on 11 April 2012 - 06:55 AM, said:

-99 was the first year with electric start, however the electric start is not that much more than a help start that you can use when the bike stalls. If cold and /or having difficulties starting due to carbs or valves, you will have to use the kickstart to get it going.

My '96 FE600e was electric start and the E-start always reliably started the engine cold or hot during the many years that I rode it.

[DanSh TT Member]

99 uses the original engine that was first introduced in 89. Has the reed style lubrication system ala early Husky that had a small oil pump added in 97 to help lubricate the lower end. 99 saw the stator moved from the engine case to the ignition cover so it ran cooler. 99 and 2000 engines were the last and best of the original design. Starter Sprague clutch failures were common on the original engine designs and require  tearing the motor down to replace. Run good oil and use it as a restarter once warm and you won't have trouble. I bought a leftover new 99 Fc501 3 or 4 years ago and it has been trouble free. I have owned 6 of the original engine design bergs and other than putting a top end in my 2000 (I rode and raced that bike a lot) and a stator in a 97, they have been very reliable.
dan

Edited by DanSh, 16 April 2013 - 04:03 PM.

[Snelens TT Member]

I've had 5 bergs now. My 99 501 was my favourite. Only issue I had was fork seals & dusted it.

Be religious with air filters and oil. Even use filter skins if dusty as they will suck dust easily through the top filter. Kiss the top end goodbye...

I loved mine and would happily get an 00, install a Taffmeister (UK based Berg shop) Keihin kit & race it.
Taffmeister does a few other little bits for them as well & I think has an ebay store.

[husabuzzard TT Member]

A 99 would have a DelOrto carb, fine when they are set up, hard to find parts for. The ignition/alternator is less than desired for being dependable. In about 95-96 Berg went to Keihin carb and a Japanese electrical, curing many problems. Just so you know. I raced on a 92 FE501, a 2000 FE501, and a 2006 FE450. I still have boxes of old stators, coils, and whatnot from the first two, never had a problem with the 06. Loved all three, but the difference between the 06 and the older two was huge.

[YHGEORGE TT Addict]

husabuzzard, on 18 April 2013 - 08:01 AM, said:

A 99 would have a DelOrto carb, fine when they are set up, hard to find parts for. The ignition/alternator is less than desired for being dependable. In about 95-96 Berg went to Keihin carb and a Japanese electrical, curing many problems. Just so you know. I raced on a 92 FE501, a 2000 FE501, and a 2006 FE450. I still have boxes of old stators, coils, and whatnot from the first two, never had a problem with the 06. Loved all three, but the difference between the 06 and the older two was huge.

Quite confusing.

[DanSh TT Member]

I think he meant 05-06 switched to keihin and Kokosan but had 90's on the brain. the Keihin/Kokosan switch was actually made in 04.
dan

[husabuzzard TT Member]

Yep, I did a mental slip. 2004 was the upgrade to Keihin/Kokusan. KTM did much the same thing at that time. Sorry for the confusion.