Dual-sport bikes largely fall into two specific sub-segments. On one end of the spectrum, we have approachable, reliable bikes that are great for beginners and those who want to do the occasional bit of trail riding. On the other end, we have bikes that are designed to take on hard enduro race courses and are only barely street legal. These dual-sports are commonly referred to as street-legal dirt bikes.
These high-performance dual-sports are designed for enthusiasts who take off-roading seriously, yet prefer to ride out to the trail rather than loading a bike onto a trailer or pickup. They also offer riders an opportunity to ride certain trails that are not open to pure off-road bikes. A certain Austrian brand dominates this end of the market, but we feel the best version of the bike comes from its Swedish cousin.
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The Husqvarna FE 350s Will Go Where Other Dual-Sports Won’t
MSRP: $12,749
At the time of writing, Husqvarna faces uncertain times. While we have no doubt KTM will continue, its financial troubles mean there is a distinct possibility that recently acquired brands like Husky and Gas Gas might get the axe. It is something any would-be customer needs to be aware of. Out of the three brands under the Pierer Mobility banner, these are the two that are most vulnerable.
Although it may seem like the same bike in three colors, the KTM EXC350-F and Gas Gas ES350 have subtle differences. The KTM has a different rear suspension setup and costs $100 less, and the Gas Gas has different brakes. All the plastics are vastly different and the engine and chassis are identical on all three bikes. But the Husky also has a different subframe and airbox.
Arguably, the most interesting alternative to the Austrian-made bikes is the Italian-made Beta 350 RS. It is over $1k cheaper yet offers almost the same specification. It is well worth a look if you are able to tolerate Italian “charm.” It is also worth mentioning that there is a distinct possibility that Triumph will offer a street-legal version of the TF250E, but for now, that only really amounts to speculation.
In the past, all four big Japanese manufacturers had something on offer in this space, but only Honda still makes a like-for-like “street-legal dirt bike.” The CRF450RL is, by all accounts, not for the faint of heart, with wild, unpredictable power delivery and atrocious fueling from the factory. It is $2k cheaper, and one remap away from being highly competitive in this space.
Rivals
- KTM EXC350-F
- Gas Gas ES350
- Beta 350 RS
- Honda CRF450RL
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The FE 350s Has A Powerful KTM Engine
Power: 49 Horsepower
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
|
350 cc Single-Cylinder, liquid-cooled |
49 HP |
26 LB-FT |
6-speed |
The Husky makes around 30 horsepower at the wheel, which might not be much for the street, but it is more or less ideal for the dirt. It doesn’t have a lot of weight to cart around, so the power-to-weight ratio is exceptional. But, like any single-cylinder dirt bike, you will feel a lot of vibrations through the bars and pegs when you are riding on the street, and with no wind protection, you will feel pretty fatigued after a long highway stretch. It just is not designed for that.
This is an engine designed for the trail, and is able to put down ample power almost all the time, thanks to how effectively the mass has been centralized. Not only is the engine situated in the chassis to optimize mass centralization, but the engine itself is also pretty light, weighing in at just over 63 pounds. With titanium valves and a high compression ratio of 13.7:1, this engine screams “race-spec” yet is able to go 135 hours between services. We certainly wouldn’t recommend pushing it that far, but that is what Husky seems to be comfortable publishing.
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The FE 350 Boasts A Lightweight Chassis
Weight: 234 pounds
The FE 350s differentiates itself from its two equally powerful cousins by offering the best components for just a little more cash. It is very much a premium offering, and the extra expense is justifiable for those who know what they want in a hard enduro machine. To save money, the Gas Gas compromises with more affordable brakes and clutch, while the KTM offers a different suspension setup at the rear.
The Husky offers no such compromise. Its chassis itself, just like the engine, is identical to the other two bikes, but with the Husky, you can have your Brembo cake and eat it – so to speak. The linkage-type suspension has also proven to be superior in the rough stuff. It also gets a lighter subframe, but, in reality, you can’t really go wrong with either of the other two bikes.
Actual differences in performance are only incremental, and every rider is so different, the performance gains will only be worthwhile for a select few. By far the biggest difference is obviously cosmetic. Objectively speaking, the Husky is by far the best-looking bike of the three with a more tasteful color palette. Although there is nothing wrong with the bold colors of the other two machines, the Husky just looks a little more sophisticated.
Very few dual-sports offer this kind of balanced performance, and while anything from the 500 class will be more powerful, much of that extra power is rendered moot by the added weight. The agile nature of the FE 350s allows it to venture further into the brush than any other dual-sport may dare, yet still emerge from it, and take you home safely.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Chromium molybdenum steel |
|
Front Suspension |
48mm WP XACT cartridge |
|
Rear Suspension |
WP XACT Monoshock with linkage |
|
Front Brakes |
260mm disc |
|
Rear Brakes |
220mm disc |
|
Weight |
234 lbs |