chain adjustment slots were
lengthened by 5mm to allow
increased wheelbase adjustment.
The $12,695 FC350 comes standard
with a map switch. This allows riders to
select between two engine maps,
activate the launch control or toggle the
traction control feature. The Keihin
engine management system is designed
to be smaller, lighter and faster at
processing data for the 44mm throttle
body. The FC starts easily on the button,
with a new lithium-ion battery helping
to keep the weight penalty down.
ON TRACK
On the track the 350 is very surprising.
The power is much stronger than
anticipated. The bike no longer has the
feeling of being a fast 250. The engine
now produces far more power and
torque than a 250 and the gap between
the 350 and 450 is closer than ever. In
fact the 350 can best be described as a
tamer, more mellow version of the 450.
The biggest difference is how you
ride it. A 450 still has more torque and
can be ridden lower in the rev range
and the rider can use the torque to
driveit aroundthetrack.While the
FC350engineis muchimprovedand
now has much more torque it still
likes to be revved. If you try to
torque-drive the bike around the track
you will find yourself not going as
quickly as if you rev it hard.
This tells me that the 350 would
make a great bike for someone trying to
bridge the gap between a 250 and 450.
If you are a rider who likes to rev your
bike to redline everywhere then you
are going to potentially get yourself in
trouble on a 450 and the 350 would be
the perfect option.
The chassis and handling on the
FC350 is where it excels. It took me a
few minutes to get comfortable but
once I did I had enough confidence to
dive hard into inside ruts or peel it off
sideways from the lip of a few big
tabletops. It is a very easy bike tomanageanddoesnotfeellikea big
biketorideat all.
It’slightandnimbletothrow
aroundandoneofthebigthingsI
noticedquicklywasthatI couldpull
it upmuchquickerorchange
directionsinaninstantif I needed to.
I alsofeltI couldridethebikeharder
forlongerwithoutmyforearms
becomingfatigued.
The Magura hydraulic clutch and
brakes are top quality and work
exceptionally well. I found I preferred
the aggressive engine map the most
and I actually found the AER 48 fork to
be too stiff and harsh in standard form
so we let a few pounds of air out to
make it plusher and handle the bumps
with a smoother action.
Overall the 350 is a great option and
I see it best suiting riders who are a
little smaller or who don’t get to ride
often. It is a much easier bike to
manage but, surprisingly, can be
ridden just as fast as a 450. It is
certainlywortha testride.Gotsomethingtosayaboutthisyarn?
[email protected]
More images and info at adbmag.com.auMX TEST I 2019 HUSQVARNA FC 350
Perch is 10mm lower and plastics are narrower Stillhaven’tgotusedtothetwo-piecesideplate64 |JUNE 2019 http://www.adbmag.com.au
Husqvarna FC350
SPEX
ENGINE
TYPEDOHC, four-valve
DISPLACEMENT349.7cc
BORE & STROKE88 x 57.5mm
COOLING Liquid
COMPRESSION RATIO N/A
FUEL METERING Keihin 44mm EFI
TANK CAPACITY 7L
TRANSMISSIONFive-speed, constant-mesh
CLUTCHMagura, wet multiplate
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE1485mm
SEAT HEIGHT 950mm
GROUND CLEARANCE 370mm
WEIGHT 100kg dry
SUSPENSION
FRONTWP AER 48 USD, 310mm travel
REARWP DCC monoshock, 300mm travel
BRAKES
FRONTBrembo twin-piston, 260mm wave
REARBrembo single-piston, 220mm wave
RUNNING GEAR
HANDLEBAR Pro Taper aluminium alloy
FRONT TYRE Dunlop MX3S 80/100-21
REAR TYRE Dunlop MX3S 110/90-19
PRICE & CONTACTS
PRICE$12,695
WEBhusqvarna-motorcycles.com.au
PHONE 1800 644 771
WARRANTYThree months parts onlyThe engine
weighs only
27.2 kg and
churns out 58hp