Words: Ryan Marmont

Following great success in racing for Husqvarna this year, the company has made significant improvements from the previous models to introduce the 2016 motocross range at Budds Creek in the US at the international media launch.

My first impressions of the 2016 Husqvarna FC 450 was how light and nimble the bike is to ride. Husqvarna has done this by paying attention to the finer details of the bike, shaving weight from the chassis and motor, with a weight saving of 3.5kg on the chassis and 1.8kg in the motor, resulting in a total weight of 102.4kg.

On the track this is a huge improvement, with the bike gliding over the bumps, while it does not push through the bumps. Husqvarna has delivered a stable package that you are able to appreciate almost from your first laps on board.

The weight is not the only big improvement on the bike, also the ergonomics giving the 2016 FC 450 have a whole new feeling. With the addition of a carbon fibre plastic composite sub-frame, this has been redesigned to give the bike an overall lower and narrower, slim feeling about it.

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The seating position now has a flatter, more streamline feel, and the slippery seat cover that the bike was known for now has an aggressive race gripper-style seat cover, which is something that you need on a powerful 450.

Another new feature is the Pro Taper handlebars straight out of the crate. The bend suits this bike well, putting you in the right riding position around turns and over jumps. To top this package off, we now see rubber mounts added to the top triple clamp, reducing vibrations and feedback through the handlebars.

ODI lock-on grips are now on the FC 450 and this product is a great invention, being that they are maintenance-free and are easily replaced when needing new grips with no glue (mess) to clean off your handlebars.

The FC 450 range now features a new Magura hydraulic clutch system, which has a very predictive feeling about it when using the clutch throughout turns on the track. The new Magura system definitely works well with the bike. All these combined provide the bike with a great, racey feeling.

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The 63hp single overhead cam 450cc motor is now 23mm shorter, 23mm narrower and 9mm lower than the previous model. The result of this is the engine is now a lower centre of gravity to improve the handling of the bike and when riding it you can feel this in the turns – it’s very easy to throw the bike from side-to-side.

Husqvarna’s FC 450 power delivery has definitely been an improvement with a smooth delivery from down low in the rpm range, giving the bike excellent control when exiting turns, and when the bike hits the mid-range power it comes into its own. And the new GSK brake discs do a fine job of stopping you when needed, so it’s an ideal match.

A launch control is now added to the 2016 Husqvarna FC range. With the engine at idle, launch control is engaged by switching once between the selected map and the alternative map, and then back again. When the fuel injection LED flashes, launch control is engaged.

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This function limits the amount of power to the rear wheel for approximately two seconds, improving traction and preventing loss of control under hard acceleration. This works exceptionally well and I was impressed just how effective this feature is. As for the different maps, I preferred the more aggressive map, but there is an option for a smoother delivery of power.

In 2016 Husqvarna have designed a sub-frame with the combination of carbon fibre and plastic infused together. It results in a light, but strong sub-frame with just enough flex to not give the bike a harsh feeling.

With the redesigned sub-frame now having a more compact and lower construction, the bike feels a lot more settled and balanced coming into turns. The new design features a tool-less air-filter change, so now the need for tools on changing a filter is no longer required – it is now as simple as clicking it all into place.

A revised setup in the WP 4CS fork is new for 2016 and, with a new setting and new mid-valve piston, the fork is now a better package. When I first went out on the bike the forks were a bit stiff, but with some easy adjustments we went softer with the compression, getting the fork to use more stroke and that gave the bike a much better feeling on the front wheel.

Source: Supplied.

A new shorter and lighter shock has been designed by WP and features a larger gas chamber, designed to help with shock fade under extreme heat situations. The shock is now 12mm shorter, but with a redesign in the linkage system, the stroke is now increased by 3mm. The combination of this with the new sub-frame gives the bike greater balance and a more predictive feeling.

With all the hard work and endless hours that Husqvarna has put in to the new and improved 2016 model FC 450, there’s no doubt it has paid off. The bike’s exciting to ride and with the fresh new look, it will be a bike that will no disappoint.

For further information visit www.husqvarnamotorcycles.com.au or complete technical info can be found here. Further individual tests of the 2016 Husqvarna motocross range will be posted this week.