Happy Epic 3 Month Late Birthday to Me

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

No pics yet, sadly, but today I picked up my new dirtbike. Husaberg 2005 FC450  :toothy10: :toothy12: :toothy11: :hello2: ccasion14: :cool01: :headbang1: :laughing8: :icon_biggrin: :blob7:

I had to go into town today to get it, about an hours drive. The guy took the bike off his ute and then told me the history of the machine, then showed me how to start it. Note: left side kickstart :sad1: . After about 10 minutes, i managed to start it, then I rode it about 50 meters down beside the road, then stalled it. I didn't even bother trying to start it again. Strapped it into the trailer, then off home.

Arrived home, whats that in the mailbox? A large package with my name on it. Inside was my Hardwire (Digitech) TL-2 Metal Distortion :headbang1: Stompbox and a Boss GE-7 EQ. Also, a letter from the post office with my name on it, interesting, I have another package waiting. What could this be? :icon_tongue:. More on that later.

Unloaded the bike at home, then my dad proceeded to work his magic and started the bike within 2 or 3 minutes. HOLY FRICK, this thing has no speedo, but it's damn fast. And the power. Oh, the power. The bridgestones were smoking on the tarmac, although I wasn't on the tarmac for more than 20 seconds. i think the only downside is the handling is a little....nippy, but I can cope. :toothy12:

I'm not allowed to ride it in the next few days because it's gonna be over 40 degrees C, but i'll be needing some training time on this beast.

I'll have some pics tomorrow.

 

[Nando Vallart]

I'll have some pics tomorrow.

Untill there, the biggest lie I've ever seen in my life


Congrats :icon_biggrin:

 

[OzziePete]

All the pressies coming in at once. Nice ........ :icon_thumright:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Most of the Euro bikes had kick starters on the left back in the day.  Husaberg was actually started by former Husquavarna employees, not unlike Gibson/Heritage.  Husquavarnas didn't move the kickstarter to the right until after KTM did it and the Husky factory in Sweden closed and moved to Italy after being bought by Cagiva.  The kick starter is on the left because you start it with your right foot standing on the ground next to the motorcycle.  This method of starting a motorcycle almost seems like there should be Benny Hill music and London Cops with handlebar mustaches chasing people in striped one-piece bathing suits, but it's true.  Anywho, those have been some of the best and worst motorcycles ever made.  The early ones had a tendency to shake vigourously at idle.  There was an easy fix.  Split the cases, dig out the lower end, take it to a machine shop, have them balance it, and reaasemble.  After that easy fix, they were as smooth as an electric motor.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Sorry for the stupid answer, but the case is the block of the engine?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The case is 2 pieces, and hard as hell to split even with tools.  Splitting cases is the dreaded terror of motorcycle mechanics not just because of the work, bur everything inside falls out.  You may or may not have seen how it was in there.  The case(s) houses the lower end and transmission.

 

[Nando Vallart]

thanks

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

That package turned out to be something different, so it looks like i'll be waiting a bit ( I'm going away next week, no warmoth for me)  and so will you guys.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Most of the Euro bikes had kick starters on the left back in the day.  Husaberg was actually started by former Husquavarna employees, not unlike Gibson/Heritage.  Husquavarnas didn't move the kickstarter to the right until after KTM did it and the Husky factory in Sweden closed and moved to Italy after being bought by Cagiva.  The kick starter is on the left because you start it with your right foot standing on the ground next to the motorcycle.  This method of starting a motorcycle almost seems like there should be Benny Hill music and London Cops with handlebar mustaches chasing people in striped one-piece bathing suits, but it's true.  Anywho, those have been some of the best and worst motorcycles ever made.  The early ones had a tendency to shake vigourously at idle.  There was an easy fix.  Split the cases, dig out the lower end, take it to a machine shop, have them balance it, and reaasemble.  After that easy fix, they were as smooth as an electric motor.

Some good info here.
The bike seems to be well made and really sturdy, seems if I were to drop it, all it'd get would be a scratch. It's also fairly light.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

More

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

In the mid 90s when the Japanese manaufacturers were entertaining the idea of re-inventing a competitive fourstroke to maintain a market of both sales and competition in California thanks to tighter environmental restrictions (burning pre-mix for a 2 stroke and so on), the Europeans were already doing it.  The Japanese 4 stroke offerings (XR, KLX, and DR) were still air cooled, slower, heavier, had less ground clearance.  Some even still had drum brakes on the rear.  KTM, Husquavarna, and Husaberg found there niche by doing it better, but they just didn't have the infrastructure.  Sure people wanted one, but they were a little expensive compared to a Japanese 2 stroke, and where would you get parts for one?  There weren't as many dealerships as they didn't produce as many units.

The kick starter being on the left almost guarantees the chain is on the right side like yours.  That is a throwback to the older European styling.  It's not an issue with the brake now because your's has a disc brake on the back, and can easily be mounted on the opposite side, but the drum brake and sprocket used to both share the same side.  It made for a very crowded visual compared to the other side of the hub that was bare.  The only Japanese model I remember seeing that on was the Yamaha IT-200, which was discontinued in 1986.  If you ever see one (IT-200) with a disc brake on the front, it's a 1986 model, the only year they did that and the last year they were made.

Happy Trails, and it takes me back.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Wow, you sure know your stuff.  :icon_thumright:

For a 5k bike that's 4 years old, it's tricked out with some cool stuff. White Power shocks, FMF pipe, Brembro brakes, Magura hydraulic clutch, New chain and sprockets and the guy even changed the brake pads.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Wow, you sure know your stuff.  :icon_thumright:

It's mostly anecdotal as I remember it.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Nice bike! This doesn't help my desire to have one :sad:

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Nice bike! This doesn't help my desire to have one :sad:

Thanks. How much is that new model CBR 600 you wanted? :laughing7:

 

[texicus]

Happy belated birfday dude!  The husas are decent bikes, from what I've ridden anyway...should serve you well!

 

[Nando Vallart]

Nice bike! This doesn't help my desire to have one :sad:

Thanks. How much is that new model CBR 600 you wanted? :laughing7:

The one with ABS brakes are R$75000, about US$43252, I guess it doesn't cost 15grand there

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

You sure about that price? My dad has a 08 model CBR XX 1100 with ABS, it was nowhere near $43252US.

 

[Nando Vallart]

You sure about that price? My dad has a 08 model CBR XX 1100 with ABS, it was nowhere near $43252US.

I was talking about that one, the CBR 1000 Firebird ABS... I'm pretty sure about the price:
http://www.webmotors.com.br/webmotors/motos/novas/honda-cbr-1000rr-fireblade/83808/detalhe.wm

When I say things are different here, I'm talking serious... Honda Civics are cars to 40+ old people with GOOD job, not ordinary people...

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Ah, yes. You guys there also have those insane import taxes and such.