2020 Husky FX350: Off Road Versatility!
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- Опубліковано 18 тра 2020
- The Husky/KTM 350's are still my favorite combination of power/weight/handling in a 4-stroke off road bike. The FX350 has a snappy and quick revving engine with decent low end and strong mid to top power. The 6-speed gearbox maximizes the broad power with a usable 1st gear for the tight stuff and a 6th gear for open spaces. The engine EFI base Map 1 is very smooth and I use it mostly in the woods turning traction control on when it is slippery. Engine Map 2 has a more aggressive response to throttle inputs mostly low to mid rpm and is fun on the MX track. While the engine runs smoothly overall a quick hand on the clutch is needed to prevent stalling going over trials like obstacles at slow speeds. The FX350 is light and feels light in motion. The lower inertia of the FX350 engine makes the bike feel much lighter than a 450 while riding. The 2020 FX350 stock suspension is a good compromise between light moto and higher speed off road. The 2020 FX350 AER forks are lightweight and offer quick adjustability but for me are a little harsh on the small choppy stuff. I've ridden a 20.5 KTM 450 Factory Edition and the updates to those AER forks are easily noticeable with much better initial compliance and plusher feel. Those 20.5 450 Factory Edition AER fork updates should come standard on the 2021 Husky/KTM off road models. For my FX350 I installed a set of WP Cone Valve spring forks. The WP CV forks are plush yet take big hits well and give a connected to the ground feel to the front tire. The stock rear shock is very good and responds well to clicker changes. I recently got a new WP XACT Pro Component rear shock for the FX350. While not as big of a difference as the CV forks the XACT Pro rear shock does offer a more friction free feel with more comfort on acceleration bumps and good G-out resistance. These special WP suspension components give the FX350 a plush and connected to the ground ride with great tire contact patch feel. The Magura brakes on the FX350 have a softer initial bite and require a little more lever force to generate Brembo level braking power. I run a slip on Akrapovic muffler which is quieter, lighter, and has a spark arrester. The stock Dunlop AT81 front tire has a compliant feel but traction is poor. I have a Hoosier MX25 up front now which is lighter and has excellent traction though durability is not as good as the Dunlop (in hard pack). The stock Pro Taper handlebars have a good bend and some flex too. The plastic subframe gives a slightly lower (about 15 mm) seat height along with a bit more flex/comfort. The seat cover on the FX350 is aggressive and grippy.
Overall the FX350 is a versatile bike and one of the best combinations of power/weight/handling in off road motorcycles available today.
I just love the 350. Only a handful of humans on the planet need a 450. And sometimes the 250 just don’t have the grit. Been riding 350”s for years and there about the perfect size 99% of the time
I agree! 350's are such a great combination of Power/Weight/Handling!👍
@@mxengineer1 what’s crazy is I’m going riding today and sitting here waiting on my buddy and soon as I popped UA-cam this vid was the first one in my recommends. Swear these phones spy on us lol
@@Scummy_shovel UA-cam knows what we like! Have a fun ride....my most recent 350 ride...24 FC350. ua-cam.com/video/cwv2zSTajpA/v-deo.html
Got your self a subscriber. Great content!
Thank you!
I am planning on racing in Hare Scrambles, what tyres do you think will suit the fx350 best? What about changing the rear to a 140?
So many choices when it comes to tires! Really depends on your riding terrain. The OEM Dunlop AT81 tires (in standard size) work great for me here in Ohio over a broad range of conditions. I like the softer carcass of the Dunlop AT81 tires however I prefer the Dunlop MX3S front tire over the AT81 front tire. The Hoosier MX25 tires were much lighter than Dunlop AT8's and had a very soft and absorbing carcass but the durability was poor (easy to chunk off knobbies in hard pack). I've heard good things about Pirelli MX32 tires but have not tried a set myself yet.
How do you think this bike would do in a desert race? Is the transmission tall enough in 6th to go pretty fast?
I have never raced in the desert though I have ridden KTM 790R's at Ocotillo Wells! I have not check by GPS but I am pretty sure this bike will go 85 mph in 6th gear on level hard ground with stock gear ratios.
It is suitable for long ride / touring
The FX350 is not street legal in the US but Husky offers the FE350S which is fully street legal and it is a versatile machine but more oriented towards off road use. With a better seat and some wind protection I suppose it would be fine for longer rides on the road too.
@@mxengineer1 can we make FX350 legal
@@salonlimbu9878 that depends on your local motorcycle laws. In the US in some states it is possible to get a FX350 licensed for the street with the addition of approved lighting and tires.
Which suspension do you prefer the Öhlins set up or the Wp XACT pro set up?
I've had both on this FX350. For me the CV forks are a little better over repeated quick inputs (like braking bumps or high speed chop). I think the cone valve concept can flow a little more oil when needed compared to a shim stack. However the Ohlins forks are very very good too. The rear shocks are not so much different though the latest WP Pro Component shock has a few more adjusters (both high and low speed compression and same on rebound) while the latest Ohlins Flow shock has only about 12 clicks on both combined compression/high speed compression and rebound. Overall I like the WP stuff a little better. I'll give you a good deal on some lightly used Ohlins forks and Flow shock:)
mxengineer1 thanks, I am running a 2020 Beta 390 race at the moment, but thinking about a 2020 FX350 project. With the FX350 factory radiators, Samco hoses and Evans waterless coolant, do you need a fan?...the long stroke 390 Beta, does not seem to need a fan.
@@iainhutchinson345 Really depends on your riding conditions and style. Slow tight trails with some clutch abuse will heat things up quickly and a fan is a good idea.
How does it handle tight technical terrain?
Really comes down to the rider. The FX/XCF350 engine has a very wide powerband and has proven to be every effective base model for National Enduro and GNCC riders. The engine tune is not optimized for low RPM lugging over trials like obstacles unless you have a quick clutch hand. A Rekluse auto clutch makes the bike pretty much stall proof in any terrain. Super slow going would probably require radiator fan too. I did not find the need for a Rekluse or radiator fan on my 20 FX350 or my new 21 FX350 - I run the engine stock. The Husky FE350 is a better tight terrain bike out off the showroom floor. I prefer the higher power and more lively FX350 for my off road riding.
Here is my latest summary on my 21 FX350... ua-cam.com/video/fhI5bFk-1aQ/v-deo.html
How did you get the black shock
Not sure. The previous WP TRAXX shocks were black. The updated design WP Pro Components rear shock is now polished aluminum color.
On the 2020 fx350 did you change the fuel rail?
No. I run the stock fuel rail and fuel lines.
@@mxengineer1 snake oil
@@WADZUP You know from hands on experience just how good KTM/Husky 350's work;) You sure have some nice places to ride!
@@mxengineer1 cheers let me know if you make it to my next of the woods with your 350!
amazing 20k bike with the suspension...that would work for me as well...will likely settle for a 2021 KTM 300 XCW TPI stock and be ecstatic (selling a 16 Beta 300 currently), but I wouldn't kick the four stroke out of bed either except in the nastier conditions...the 350 would definitely have a leg up on the two stroke on more open trails...would be nice to have both and cone valve...hey somebody please loan me 40k!:)
@Tommy Ealey the cone valving is $10k. That's top tier pro-rider necessity.