Husqvarna’s best-known for its dirt bikes and now its new line of Blade Runneresque street machines, but the company makes some mean supermotos as well. Now, we’ve got word the FS450 is returning for 2021, and while it looks similar to last year’s machine, there are some key differences.
Husqvarna uses the same basic engine package as last year, with a single-cylinder liquid-cooled SOHC powerplant making a claimed peak output of 63 horsepower. That doesn’t initially sound blow-your-pants-off fast, but combined with a 102-kg dry weight, this machine should have excellent power-to-weight in the riding scenarios you’d actually be using it: urban playgrounds, or supermoto tracks. Remember, Husqvarna ships this machine without signals (although you can certainly street legalize it in some jurisdictions if you wish).
Husqvarna knows that supermoto riders can be hard on their equipment, so this machine is equipped with a proper slipper clutch from Suter and five-speed gearbox from Pankl.Â
Husqvarna has a huge 310mm front brake disc on the FS450, with a radially-mounted, four-piston Brembo caliper. There’s a more modest 220mm disc in back, with two-piston caliper.
There’s new suspension, too, from WP. Husky went with XACT forks up front and an XACT shock in rear. Front suspension travel is 285mm, rear suspension travel is 266mm. There are changes to the damping system and other small bits that are supposed to improve handling. Fork offset is reduced 7mm, too, and there’s a new 22mm front wheel axel.
Such excess doesn’t come cheap! The FS450 is $12,699 in Canada, with availability in October. For more info, see Husqvarna’s Canadian website.
16.5″ front wheel is a mistake – limits tire choices considerably