Words: Ryan Marmont

The all-new 2016 Husqvarna FC 350 is fresh and exciting for next season, featuring a lightweight chassis and a faster, more powerful engine than we have seen in the past.

Upgrades have now made the FC 350 feel more comparable to a 450, rather than a fast 250, which is an important step forward for the mid-capacity entry that both Husqvarna and its parent company, KTM, boast. The improvements were clear during Budds Creek’s international press intro that MotoOnline.com.au attended this month.

From the moment that you sit on the Husqvarna FC 350, you know that there has been some major changes made, like the seating position, which is now lower to the ground and narrower through the centre.

On track this helps through turns and over the jumps and with a gripper seat cover, this now helps keep you in a more ideal riding position.

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The Pro Taper handlebars now fitted for 2016 are a perfect fit for the FC 350, with enough room to not make you feel cramped, complimenting the ergonomics of the bike. And with the addition of rubber mounts on the top triple clamp, there is very little vibration and feed back through the handlebars.

Husqvarna has changed from a Brembo hydraulic clutch system to a Magura Hydraulic system, giving the clutch a more consistent and smooth feeling upon operation.

ODI lock-on grips are now a new feature and they also have a great feeling, being not to thick, and when it comes to changing the grips when they are worn out, it’s as simple as unscrewing a bolt and off they come. It simplifies the process.

The chassis has been redesigned to improve handling. The frame is now 6mm wider and 2mm lower, offering 20 percent more torsion rigidity and 30 percent less longitudinal stiffness compared to the previous design.

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Those modifications result in an improvement over the bumps and a better feeling on the hard-packed surfaces, which is where Husqvarna feels that its steel frame has its advantages over an aluminium package.

The new frame features an innovative footpeg mount that prevents mud and dirt build-up, allowing the footpeg to spring back into position when dragging the pegs through ruts. There is a weight-saving of 380g alone in redesigned chassis.

A newly-constructed sub-frame is now a combination of 30 percent carbon fibre and plastic infused together, resulting in a stronger and lighter structure that’s 1.4kg lighter than the previous version.

This improves not only the handling of the bike, but the balance of the FC 350 is now lower in the rear, making the bike a lot more settled in the turns.

The sub-frame also features a tool-less air-filter change. The need for tools on changing an air-filter is no longer required; it is now as simple as clicking the air filter into place.

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The WP 4CS forks are still on the FC 350, but for 2016 there is a new mid-valve piston and new valving setting that provides a more progressive feeling on the track, especially under braking with the fork having more control over the bumps and not hitting a hard spot mid-stroke.

A redesigned WP shock has been developed, lighter and 12mm shorter in length. Combined with a new linkage system, it allows the shock to use a lighter rear spring and improving the handling under braking bumps. On top of that, Husqvarna has fitted GSK brake discs for added bite.

The motor on the FC 350 is now 1kg lighter than the previous engine and is also more compact, keeping the weight more central to the bike, and now with 58hp the FC 350 ‘feels’ like it belongs in the 450 class.

When you first open the throttle up on the 350 you can feel the power improvement and the torque of the engine is very broad. But it almost revs through the power too fast, so with a simple flick of the map switch (mounted on the handlebars) I found that this made the power not hit quite as hard and let the power stretch on for longer through out the gears.

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A new feature added in 2016 is the launch control. Like the entire 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.

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 with the correct technique, will improve your starting capabilities.

Husqvarna’s 2016 model FC 350 is the ultimate bike for someone who is not quite sure if they could handle a 450, but don’t be fooled, as its still a powerhouse and weighs in at only 101.7kg. So if you’re in the market for a Husqvarna with all the new features, to me its hard to look past the FC 350.

For further information visit www.husqvarnamotorcycles.com.au or complete technical info can be found here.