Husky’s all-new four-stroke race bikes
Published: 15th November 2007
Author: Tony Marshall Photos by Jonty Edmunds
Are Husky’s all-new four-stroke race bikes prime pups or just a pair of old dogs?
After seemingly sitting static for longer than I can care to remember Husqvarna have rehashed and revamped their TC model four-stroke motocross machines and released something that looks well worth owning and riding for 2008.
Slimmer, lighter and lower than in years gone by the ’08s also look smarter and racier with brand new plastics and fuel tanks fitted to an all new oval and box section semi perimeter design frame.
The new frame offers a completely new ergonomics package that sees the footpegs sitting 15mm further forward than on previous models to improve the rider’s weight distribution. A new subframe contributes towards the 10mm seat height reduction which is another positive move.
The subframe also carries a new airbox and boot that offers a more direct air intake from the filter to the carburettor – increasing efficiency – which is made possible by the offset fitment of a new Sachs shock absorber. As well as moving back to Sachs rear suspension units to replace the Ohlins shocks fitted in ’07, the TC250 now runs the far superior top of the range 50mm Marzocchi front forks that the 450 had this year – an all-round positive move by the company who were bought out by the BMW bigwigs earlier this year.
Of course BMW have long been known for producing flash looking motors and that’d be a fairly good description of the power plants fitted to the ’08 TCs. With new black coloured crankcases and red cam covers the engines look super trick as does the titanium exhaust system that runs to the left hand side of the bike – there’ll be definitely no mistaking these bikes out on the track.
That’d be true in normal circumstance at least but for the ’08 model launch – held in a German bog just north of Munich – it was so muddy that it was hard to tell just which bike was which underneath all that glorious mud.
But if they’re not caked in brown stuff you can’t help but notice how damn slim they are when you first jump on them. The two-stroke Huskys have been skinnier than even the scrawniest of supermodels since Y2K but the thumpers have been infinitely more bus like – until now. I felt in real danger of losing the TC250 up my crack when I first sat on it but luckily the Tommaselli fat bars gave me something to hold myself steady with and all was okay.
The seating position feels very neutral – dare I say more Japanese than ever before? – and all the controls are just in the right place. I thought the bike might feel strange with the exhaust being on the opposite side to what I’m used to but I didn’t notice that at all.
One thing I did struggle with was the kickstart lever. I don’t know if I found it a problem because I’m so short or it’s down to the angle of the lever itself but I felt like my boot always wanted to slip off it – add a little mud and it felt 10 times worse.
Once the motor was running the bike sounded great but out on the track felt relatively tame – there is no hard hit and the power delivery can best be described as smooth.
The riding position is good and the bike handles well pretty much everywhere. The new TC250 sits lower in the rear than the older models and this makes it feel so much better balanced. The ’07 Huskys had the habit of pushing away from underneath me in turns but the new bike turns much more positively which helps increase your confidence and decrease your lap times.
The suspension feels a little on the soft side but I think that’s probably because the bike probably weighed twice as much with all the mud it was carrying.
Everything else on the bike is pretty sweet. The Pirelli MT32 tyres are excellent and work well in a wide range of conditions, while the Brembo brakes are probably the best brake systems that money can buy and offer an amazing progressive feel at the lever and outstanding braking performance at the wheel.
As a complete package the bike is generally a good one although it is a little lacking in the motor department which could be a problem in a class where sheer horsepower helps win titles.
450s generally have an abundance of power and rideability is the key to success with the MX1 class missiles and this is one area in which Husqvarna have improved their bike significantly. Like its kid brother the TC450 has an all new chassis which really brings the bike alive and makes it much more fun to ride than past 450 Huskys of years gone by.
Aside from the extra power the 450 feels quite like the 250, sharing the same sweet riding position, controls, brakes, clutch and shifting action.
The front and rear suspension works well together with the front feeling planted and stable at all times with the rear following. Not once did I find myself in a muddle, a puddle yes, but never a muddle.
Similar to the 250, the 450 delivers its power in a smooth and linear fashion with no hesitation or flat spots which make it a very easy bike to ride. On the day it was my favorite bike by far which is unusual as I consider myself to be an MX2 class specialist.
All in all I’m impressed with both these bikes and the 2008 Husqvarna TCs have definitely improved from the ’07 and earlier models. With the take over from BMW done and dusted and an exciting new 250 four-stroke engine ready for production in 2009 things are really looking up for the Husqvarna brand.
Specifications
TC250
Capacity: 249.5cc
Bore and stroke: 76mm x 55mm
Transmission: five speed
Carburettor: Keihin FCR-MX 37mm
Front suspension: Marzocchi USD 50mm (300mm travel)
Rear suspension: Sachs (296mm travel)
Front brake: 260mm disc
Rear brake: 240mm disc
Wheelbase: 1495mm
Seat height: 968mm
Dry weight: 100kg
TC450
Capacity: 449cc
Bore and stroke: 97mm x 60.76mm
Transmission: five speed
Carburettor: Keihin FCR-MX 41mm
Front suspension: Marzocchi USD 50mm (300mm travel)
Rear suspension: Sachs (296mm travel)
Front brake: 260mm disc
Rear brake: 240mm disc
Wheelbase: 1495mm
Seat height: 968mm
Dry weight: 104.5kg