Multiple SA Champ Ryan Hunt has not ridden any of this brands 2024 models before, so we dragged him away from his day job to the launch, pointed him in the correct direction and asked him to share his thoughts on the ‘24 model line up:
First up for me, (Ryan), were the 2-Strokes:
The 300 was the last bike left after the rest of the press had chosen their steed of choice, just perfect to start the day of testing. A few twists and turns round the MX track then up the rocky hill next to Blue Groove. Beautifully nice throttle response was the first improvement to notice so the new TBI system really does work better. The climbing power as always on the Husky 300’s was there right from the bottom. Sprocket sizes have also changed giving you even more options in the gearbox on the climbs and twists.
Next for me was the 150. What a brilliant bike for Juniors, light riders and people that don’t want to get pulled around the whole day and allows you to come back with a bit of spare energy from a day in the saddle. I would happily tackle any hard Enduro on this very nimble 2-stroke up and down the hills, it was a breeze.
Before we got to the end of the loop, I managed to pry the 250 off Kyle and get a feel for the ¼ litre bike. What nice perky power right off the bottom and not having to deal with quite the same moving mass of the 300. This probably has the best overall package for me after riding all the models this could have been my favourite 2-stroke for the day.
Next up were the four strokes:
The big 501 was waiting for me. Getting on and going through a few twists and turns it didn’t take long for me to remember why I just love big bore bikes. The raw power! Just hook a gear higher and let the torque pull you through, it has power that goes on and on. Roll the throttle on and off it goes just saying, well now, how far & how fast do you want to go, it just won’t give up.
After the climb to the top of the hill we stopped and swapped out for the 450. The 450 still delivers a lot of punch and is a solid package. Compared to the 501 however for me if you want big-bore go straight to the 501.
Then it was onto the smallest bike in the 4-stroke range the 250. How nice and light compared to the big 450 and 501.
It surprised me how well it climbs and gets through the rocks. If you really want to make the 250 go, rev it up and keep it buzzing in the top half of the rev range and you can really zoom.
Last for the day I found the 350. This has the power the 250 doesn’t and has a nice smooth feel through the rev range. Testing it on the MX track, it did feel a bit heavier than I was expecting. The 350 is the sweet spot for me if you are looking for a good all-round package in a 4-stroke.
So overall some of my impressions on the features:
- The new suspension, especially the forks make the front far more predictable than the previous generation making me feel more confident on the front end. You really can feel the difference between the previous generation and this new generation.
- On the new chassis, everything is in the right place. The good news is that the pipes on the 2 strokes are higher up so you will have less chances of dinging the pipe.
- The other big talking point of the new ’24 Husqvarna range is the new Braktec braking system so I was keen to test this out. Using the MX track as the place to do it by really hammering it into the turns and putting on the anchors. The feel was good and predictable even giving me control to come in on the front with the rear lifting off the ground.
- The 4-stroke range comes with electronic switches to change engine mapping so I had to test this too. Moving between map 1 and 2 there is a definite difference in power delivery however for me, just give me all the power and let me decide how and when and how far to twist the throttle.
- Another point to note is that none of the bikes come with a kick-starter or even an option to retrofit, however the technology now seems to be that good that we shouldn’t get stuck out on the trail.
Overall Husqvarna have taken another leap forward and delivered a comprehensive range of bikes for just about every riding style.
Then, we, (D&T), wandered down to Legends at Rhino Park for one of Trax Moto’s legendary customer demo days for their 2024 leg of the Husqvarna 2024 Enduro range demo rides and chatted to some of their customers as they came off the track. We must say, Riaan and his team put on a really slick event, well organised and controlled, a good ride out where everybody is grouped together with other riders of similar skill levels with around 4 Trax marshals per group. Boerie rolls, ice cold waters and cool drinks at hand, soft green lawns under shady trees and a big Lapa with plenty of branding. Judging by the happy, dusty grins and the excited chatter, everybody had a great time and were only too happy to give us their five cents on the bike they had just ridden. Incidentally, the bikes to come out with Michelin rubber from the factory and Autocycle, the local distributors for Michelin Motorcycle rubber made sure to take advantage of the day and Nicky always had a bunch of people milling around him asking about the tyres and other products he had on display.
That’s enough about that, let’s see what the customers had to say:
- Dick Jacobs had just climbed off the 350 when we stuck a camera in hid face: “I’m used to a 250 2 stroke and this 350 four stroke is very smooth. The quick shifter is excellent and the smoothness of the ride on this bike is just amazing. The smoothness of the suspension, the acceleration… just makes it so easy to ride. I usually ride a KTM 250 2T so next I’m going to try out the new Husky 300 2T.”
- Volgende het ons gepraat met 13 jaar oud Regardt, (hopelik het ons dit reg gespêl – askies as ons ‘n fout gemaak het, ons is maar Souties jong): “Ek ry gewoonlik ‘n 150 2 stroke KTM, en nou net die Husky 250 4 stroke gery. Dit is so smooth, baie smooth, Jy voel nie niks nie. En hy het baie krag, dis daar… net waar jy dit soek. En die veering, daie rear linkage lath om lekker lag sit – baie beter vir my om te ry as my KTM. Volgende gaan ek die 250 2 stroke ry, hy lyk baie lekker”
- Anri, (we think that is how it is spelled, we didn’t go to school much), just got in on the 250: “The suspension is a little soft compared to my normal set up, but I really like it. The power delivery is also very lekker.Everything is lekker on this bike, chassis, suspension, brakes, motor – I like it a lot, next I’m going out on the 350.”
- Nick had just come from a ride on the TE 300: “It’s a beast, it is so plush, the brakes are really, really good… and the low-down torque, that is just so much fun through all the gears. No matter where you are in the rev range or what gear you are in or where you are in the whoops, just hit the gas and it pulls – I want one. The suspension is perfect, love it. Next I’m riding the FE350, but I’m a 2 stroke oke, so I am probably going to get me one of these. My normal ride is a Yamaha YZF R-1 but I’m getting back into dirt biking and these Husky’s are the way to go.”
- En dan het ons met die jong man Keegan gepraat wat gou a spin gevat het op die TE150 en tans ‘n 125 en ‘n 250 ry: “Nie Oom, die 150 is amazing, ek het hom laat loop! En niemand kon ophou met my nie. Die veering is so lekker sag, en hanteer alles baie mooi, dit is maar die beste suspension wat ek ooit meer gery het. Hy handle alles wat die veld en die baan opgooi soos ‘n Baas, baie maklik – en dink ek gaan mooi vir my Pa verduidelik dat die gaan my derde bike wees – ek is klaar vir vandag, ek het net gekom om die 150 te ry.”
- Ons het Louw bietjie vas getrek by die braai waar hy die wors brand nada thy van die 501 afgeklim het: “Ek het bietjie lekker ‘arm pump’ van die 501, jy weet mos, as jy bietjie lank las bike gery het… Ja maar overall is dit a flippen lekker bike, 100% baie kraag en die quickshifter werk mooi. Ek dink ek het so 110kmh gehal op die vinnigste seksie en die suspension is fantaties, He actually said Phenomenal in Afrikaans, but we don’t know how to spell that – so fantastic it is. Ek ry gewoonlik my 500 en my 530, en hierdie 501 het my baie impress, ek gaan definetief vir my ‘n 501 aanskaf.”
- Then we cornered Lucius as he came back in on the 450: “I normally ride a 300 2T, but I must say this 450 is very smooth, I enjoy the ride. It is a very plush suspension and it is easy to ride along these routes. It is not as aggressive as the 300’s and much more, a lot smoother out of the turns ad has much better traction and a longer exit out of the turns. I didn’t realise it had a quick shifter, but when I finally worked it out it was just so smooth and easy to use. I played with the mapping a little bit, I really liked the aggressive map because of my 300 and the aggressive mapping gave me the same thrill as my 300. This link suspension also feels great, jis… it’s soft… it’s amazing. Next, I’m going out on the 300, I wanna try it to see how it feels compared to mine”
In Conclusion:
So, the general consensus is that Husqvarna has really come up with something special in the 2024 Enduro range, from the new chassis and suspension, the motor and the brakes their new bikes are impressively fast and powerful, super plush and smooth to ride and stop really well as well.
At your local Husqvarna dealer
https://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/en-za.html
