Dude you’re doing it right Ian! I just installed my taco Moto GET ECU in my 450RL and it changed my bike in every positive way possible. And Mike at Taco moto’s fav bike is the 500/501! The man is a genius and super cool. Excellent job setting this up! You won’t believe the difference
Yeah man, this would be an interesting topic. I ride FAR less than I’d like to because I don’t like riding alone for safety/recovery/emergency reasons.
Also echoing this. I do wait for others pretty frequently and it limits my riding. I’d definitely ride more frequently if I could have some insight as to how to approach it safely.
I meet people to ride with but they tend to become d-bags. I am currently planning to hit El mirage dry lake solo. Beautiful riding, and enough people around that in case of emergency I should be found....maybe
I ride alone all the time. What I do: 1) Carry a sidearm; 2) Garmin Inreach+ Satellite comm; 3) I don't take risks likely to require help to get out of; 4) I more religiously top up my gas and oil before heading out
The value question really hits you hard when you think about how much "more bike" you get for the same money in a Tuareg660. But of course every single (important) part in this Husky is a high end performance part.. still.. 13k for a funbike is really steep. Until you realise that an E-mountainbike is over 11k as well. So I guess it's always just a question of perspective 😂
13k is even at a discount and pretax for a 501 in California. The common man will have a much harder time haggling down to 13 because dealers know they will sell for whatever bananas price they set. Same thing happened with Mountain Bikes. Wealthy folks just pay and prices increase to match
Ian, I recently bought a 2024 KTM EXC-F and I've been building it out. For performance enhancements I installed two things I bought from Taco Moto: 1) a Pro Moto Billet and end cap, 2) a EJK biggy-back fuel injection tuner. These too relatively inexpensive additions (compared to the GET ECU and full exhaust replacements), have drastically changed the feel of my bike. It feels like it woke up, haha! Something to consider if you are looking for an affordable approach.
Dude you’re doing it right Ian! I just installed my taco Moto GET ECU in my 450RL and it changed my bike in every positive way possible. And Mike at Taco moto’s fav bike is the 500/501! The man is a genius and super cool. Excellent job setting this up! You won’t believe the difference. 🏍️💨
Same thing happened to my license plate mount/turn signals on my '23 KTM 500 EXC-F. Rocky terrain here in southern Arizona and it stripped the plastic holding the cheap screws right out and left me carrying it home stuffed part way in my jacket on the first day out. The assembly is way to heavy...and they spent zero money, effort or design into reinforcing it to keep it from stripping the plastic and popping off on any terrain rougher than suburban streets. KTM's are the most expensive cheap bikes out there! Looking forward to seeing your build! Thanks!
@@miker7851 Unknown. I don't know how the 2020's were mounted. AZBDR ripped mine out. It's held in place by 4 coarse thread screws that go thru holes in the fender liner and secure in the plastic fender. First day of riding with washboard, impacts from small jumps and embedded rocks and it stripped the plastic holes out so the screws no longer had anything to bite into. I guess it's possible they could have been overtightened in assembly, so a QC issue with factory could be contributing but that is just speculation. Either way the design on my '23 is just not up to holding all that much weight continuously being pounded up and down. The entire structure is just flimsy and twists/flexes.
Can the license plate holder be eliminated and the fender still have room to remount the lights? I'm picking mine up this week and the first thing I'm going to do is see if there is a way that I can
I got a 2022 500 EXCF a couple years ago and dumped another few grand into it so I can relate to this content. Keep it up! Transalp cannot be bought by us common folk anyway. 500/501 has a massive following so we can use all the content we can get! Keep it up fellow ian
Love my 2024 FE501s. The first thing I did was ditch the dinosaur tail and replace it with a Tidy Tail Light by Taco Moto and Sicass plate mount. Installed a GET ECU and Graves titanium pipe. It's by far the most fun and versatile bike I have ever own.
I had bad experiences with the only KTM I've owned so I ended up with a CRF450L and absolutely love it. A little more weight but from what I hear it is way better on road and I always ride to my trails.
@@SickBikeDude I mean it will stall at times but it's usually my fault. I got a 2019 used with a vortex and a throttle tamer so it isn't that bad. Had a 300L too and the 450L you definitely gotta be on top of the clutch in comparison whereas the 300L was just point, throttle and lug up anything.
This will be an fun series. I have been looking at the FE501 for a couple years now. I don't know if it will ever be as comfortable as my DR650, but it will certainly run circles around it and 100lbs lighter.
My main concern with this range is the location of the fuel pump pickup. It’s high up at the back of the tank rather than low on the LHS. TacoMoto is working on a fix.
Will be a great series. I'll watch. Idk if the fe501 is 'the best' 500cc dual sport though. I think that moniker belongs to the Beta 500RS. Subjective I know
Hi Ian, This is very timely, I am planning on buying 2024 KTM 500 exc-f today. So we will be comparing notes. I just joined your channel, keep up the good work.
I’m loving my 300l rally since I just putter around back mountains Colorado and don’t want to deal with unreliable/expensive/vibration etc. But super interested in this series since I can just pretend I’m younger and still rip it up haha
Thanks for the video Ian. This bike is really far away from my cup of tea since I'm of the elderly group. That said however; I really am looking forward to your up & coming videos related to this bike. I can personally see what attracts you to this machine given your age & land topography. Color wise the bike is beautiful. Have a beautiful day! Illinois,USA
Very interested in the comparison of the Husky and KLX 300, especially as each project bike evolves. I am building my KLX 300 along with you, but on a smaller budget. Keep up the excellent content.
I had a klx 300 for a couple years before I saved up for a 450rl! As much as I love the 450 the klx is for sure the best dual sport for the money! 13 tooth front sprocket made it feel so much faster!
I just bought a Beta 200rr (2021) since Northern California is more about forested mountains and tight single track and less open desert. However, if I was able to ride to trails off my front porch, I may have been tempted by a big dual sport like the Husqvarna. I did ride a few hundred miles through the Mojave on a 501 but think I preferred the feel of the 350 EXC-F, which also had plenty of power for dual sport use.
Oh wow, I didn't realize they made a change to the subframe along with suspension improvements. I love dual sports so I'm excited for this series. Thanks for making quality content!
Hi Ian, looking forward to this series as I just purchased this bike in January. I am curious to hear what you find at your 1 hour valve check. I just did mine and they were all tight. Very surprising as a lot of what Ive read indicates that this isn't very common. It seems like most owners don't bother checking after a while because they are so stable. Thanks
Bring it on dude anticipation is running high. All the modifications you spoke of are necessary if it was to serve me and I wonder how effective the standard headlight is!!
Still have your KTM 350? I had the previous generation Husky 501 and loved it. I ultimately sold it and ended up with a 2023 KTM 690r which suits my increased highway riding better than the 501. Also less maintenance with the 690. Apples and oranges though. Looking forward to more videos with your 501. Cool bike!
I like how you started trying to justify the purchase at the end. Lol, a lot of us that watch your channel have "the addiction" too. I also always get a severe case of buyers remorse after gifting myself another new toy. ;)
I had a 2021 and vibrations, through handlebars and foot pegs was just too much compared to the KTM 690 I had and the Beta 390 I have now. 390 almost as good on linking roads and handles so much better on tight single track.
@@mikebishop6095 When I did a bit of Vet motocross I had 2014 (so not latest greatest) KTM 350SXF and motor felt like slightly stronger 250F. I haven’t been on latest generation of 350s, but it seems that owners are reluctant to do road miles with them. One owner acquaintance did a rally on his and sold it shortly after. I believe he decided not the right bike. Obviously the Austrian (various brands) are going to do much better in that regard. I have a Beta X-dealer friend (he loves the brand, hated entitled buyers) that money down from 500RR-S to the 390RR because he likes gnarly single track and the 500 was a handful. There is the Beta 430RR-S that is maybe a sweet point. I demo’d one and loved it. No one in my circle has bought the 450RL. Honda’s never suck, but it seems to have a couple issues. Maybe turning off buyers.
Looking forward to this series! I liked the way you setup your former 500 EXC. Do you still have the 350 EXC "Ultimate Dual Sport?" It is fun to set these bikes up and personalize them; there's so much you can do and almost every part of the bike (aside from changing the internals of the engine or modifying the frame) is either changed/upgraded/replaced for a full build. Costs for aftermarket accessories add up quick for these and can quickly match or exceed the purchase price of the bike, but you end up with the latest and greatest tech.
I love all your reviews Ian , it’s so funny that the license plate holder fell off after only a few km , I am not sure that would have happen with a CRF450 RL , but I understand the performance difference . Keep up the good work !
Great intro, Ian! Looking forward to the build out. I've always liked these bikes and, if the maintenance intervals were longer, might have gone this way vs. my 690 Enduro. Keep up the great content!
I am stoked about this one. Really eyeballing the FE501S and the 701 Enduro. I have been riding my Norden on single track and its a bit of a bear at times. A lighter dual sport would be so nice to have alongside it.
Excited about this. It's the top DS performance machine. Not something for me but I respect having this and the KLX next to each other is great content.
Let's get moving with that second video. I take delivery this week and I'm anxious to see what you put on yours. I follow Mike over at Taco Moto and he's way ahead of you but I want to see what's important to you
@@inrptn I think influencers push KTM group for clout, when in fact they aren’t great out of the box and require tuning and a pipe to not flame out. All told you will probably spend 18K setting up the bike for enduro whereas the Beta comes with more and doesn’t have the same ecu pitfalls
Sold my 501 and love my 390. Road them side by side and decided to sell the 501. The 501 felt taller and bigger. In single track trees felt like a hand full for my average skill rider. 390 just about as good on the road.
Great review. Keep weighing the bike as you go through the mods. Interested to see the full-tank-ready-to-ride-with-tools weight after all the mods. aka Like a typical owner/rider.
Nice. This is going to be a great series. I’d love to see if it’s improved for the road riding portions. My CRF450L is an excellent bike all round and I really want to hear its road manners va that.
What up! 450RL owner here too. I rode 7,000 miles until I FINALLY got a new ECU to kill the twitchiness and flameouts and I went with Taco Moto’s GET ECU and it’s everything it’s suppose to be and helps make it the bike it should be if it weren’t for the EPA’s regulations. Enjoy! 🏍️💨
@@ferkuzuel Without a doubt its a better street bike than the KTM 500. That being said, I wouldn't want either for street riding. I did a trip 5 trip, on and off road and I was pretty comfortable for what the bike is. My friend on his KTM 500 was begging us to stop riding, although I admit he is a bit of a baby. The KTM is just a lot buzzier and twitchy on the street at high speeds.
@@richardrabe3349 Thanks for the reply, I usually ride 25 miles to get to the nearest trails, about 25 miles off road, and 25 miles to get back home, so I think the 450rl would be a better fit for me
Hey Ian, if you get a chance to get the suspension upgraded, try to be there and film the team when they pull out all rather cheap OEM parts from the stock forks and shock. There are several good options out there, I went with K-tech. When you see the OEM parts that come out and the replacement parts' quality, it is a wake-up call on what Husky/KTM are pushing out the door and calling greatly improved. I installed K-Tech ORV valves on the front and K-Tech Bladder Conversion and spring on the rear, with valving matched to the new spring. Now, one click is noticeable on both the front and rear.
Last time I sat on a real Husqy it was 1997, hadn’t purchased husqy yet and the 610 TE was the reason for any of my wet dreams. I’m 5“7 and that wasn’t an issue but somehow it seems now on my GS. Must be the bikes weight, wider seat and the thickness of my Rev’it gear . Back in the day, I used to ride in Jeans only
Very excited about this series. Especially because you're also doing one for KLX 300. Both bikes I've been looking at as options for my first ever bike (along with cb500x). Won't be buying for a few more months so I'm looking forward to absorbing all the insights you have for us on the horizon :)
I miss the aprilla ian... Can you please just do a quick ride on it maybe... With your more socked in thoughts and feelings about the bike. I have a fairly kitted 390 adventure that I do love ALOT... it's great out here in s ut. But I feel a change is imminent for a better touring bike and the aprilla might be it. Thank you and continued success.
No need for a pipe and cpu. Take a round punch and knock out the screen in the back of the muffler, take the reed valve out of the air box and set the TPS. Did that to mine and it rips!
Ahhh yeah! Maybe my choice for the bike if I had to choose just one. Go so well with my te300i and Norden Expedition. Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks as always. 🏍️💨
The license plate on my FE350 came off on the first ride too. It’s ridiculous. Luckily here in France we can get the tiny enduro plate, and they look so much better anyway….so was kinda happy that it gave me the excuse to change immediately. Nonetheless, I adore the bike……it makes me look like a far better rider than I am 😃
Love dual sports... One of my favorite bikes was a CRF 300 Rally. I have been thinking about moving up to the 450/500 level. Huge jump in price though... You can get a base model Africa Twin for that money.
Congratulations, great bike. Hopefully this will inspire similar tuning and performance mods for the KLX to bring it as close as possible to this level of love.
2 years ago I sat on one expecting to be put off by the 15ft seat height but it was so light I felt no intimidation. I was impressed by the Quality..went gs310 cause I was thrifty at the time.
Good video Ian, can't wait to see the next episodes. I'm also looking for a dual sport motorcycles for the trails in Colombia so I'm stoked to see all these dual sport comparisons!
I LOVE this bike. Is it expensive? It is indeed. But a GS costs as twice as much and there are thousands of them around here. Could you compare it to the GasGas? I think they are very similar but the gasgas is quite cheaper. I think the worst enemy of this motorbike are the increasingly restrictive off road regulations, at least here in Europe. We'll keep fighting to avoid them!!!
Had a 500 for a while. If I had to choose, the 690 is definitely my preferred bike. It does the road so much better and is not enough of a sacrifice offroad for 95% of riders. If you have the funds, get a 700 and a 300. Best combo out there....
Over the yrs l've gotten new bikes some go most stay , kept the ktm 400exc for d-s , ktm 300xc-w for h-s racing & hardcore trailrides , tenere 700 adv riding , 300L for both adv/d-s . On the 700 & 300L l have a longer milk crate mounted on a rack to strap my dog in as he loves an adv as much as me . I'd like to add either a 500 or 501 as l've rode both but something would have to go , l thought about a 701 husky & knew l'd love it but went T-7 for reliability & it is that .
Suggestion: measure temps between stock and ecu upgrade. Get one of those laser thermometers and check the head, case, various spots on the exhaust pipe, which an ecu is suppose to help.
A word about KTM Husqvarna 500/501 reliability. I have bought both new and logged lots of miles. 12,000 on my 2016 Husqvarna 501S and 8,700 on my 2021 KTM 500 XCF-W. Most of the miles were on difficult single track. Neither bike ever broke down or needed expensive servicing. Neither bike ever needed a valve adjustment. I’ve changed the oil and filter every 20-30 hours, and washed after every ride. I replaced a lot of tires, rear brake pads, and front counter sprockets. The suspension got serviced at 400 hours. These are top quality machines that hold their value better than any other dirt bike on the market. People ride 500’s around the world. If you want the best, and are willing to progress as a rider, the 500’s have the widest performance envelope of any dirt bike. They can truly do it all. If I could only have one bike, it would be a 500.
I like it and if I lived somewhere with the riding you have available I would probably own a bike like that. I have a Ktm 690 but it rarely sees off-road. It’s still a great city bike for me though. Any plans on the new Ducati 698? I’d like to know more about that bike.
Yeah. I'm a sucker for metal flake in the paint as well. I remember seeing a dune buggy with large metal flake in it. Hooked ever since. You can't get metal flake that large any more I don't think.
I still haven't figured out the GG/KTM/Husky market. I was thinking the Husky is the upper edge on tech., but now , maybe, the precipice has shifted. Maybe a MV Agusta would fill in.
License plate outro, such a good bit of reality there 😄 Very cool they updated the suspension. I wonder if the 690 platform will get the Xact stuff as well. A buddy has the Beta 500, that thing is freakin' cool and the engine truly is a thing of beauty right out of the box, no modding required. Giving credit where it is due, this is ripped right from a Dirt Bike Magazine test: "BENEFITS OF BEING SMALL The Beta 500RR-S is a fully legal street bike in all 50 states. It passes the noise tests, the emission tests and lighting equipment tests. Beta checked all the boxes and did everything by the book, but the “book” isn’t the same one that Honda, Yamaha or even KTM are expected to follow. As a result, the bike that you get from your Beta dealer isn’t as restricted as a Honda CRF450L or a KTM 500EXC. It might be quiet by dirt bike standards, but it’s still much louder than dual-sports from bigger companies. That gives Beta a big advantage in performance. Up front the most impressive aspect of the 500RR-S is power. It’s got plenty. There is no other 500cc dual-sport bike that even comes close. This is a bike that could roll straight to the start of a desert race and have a reasonable expectation of success, even with a long, high-speed bomb run. It might give away peak power to fully open, unrestricted race bikes, but it’s also very smooth and controllable down low. When it comes to tight, technical sections with lots of rocks and carnage, the Beta is much, much easier to ride than your typical closed-course competition bike". Beta needs to be seriously considered if shopping the "serious light dual sport" segment, as it's not choked up and doesn't need a bunch of money spent on tuning it. I experienced that routine with my new 701, it was choked up so badly in stock form so I completed the "required" exhaust and tuning mods including a Rottweiler mapped PC6. Now it's a monster compared to stock and in general. It would have been nice not to feel compelled to spend the money on top of what was spent for an already expensive bike though...
@@JohannesDalenMC I can't specifically reply to all the models but I had the Husky FE501s parked next to my Beta 350RR and I could definitely see the Beta was a smaller bike. Not by a great amount, as in smaller frame such as Beta 200RR is specified to be, but it was visibly noteable. The main thing was when I road both back to back the Beta 350RR felt lighter, more maneuverable and bottom line more fun to ride. For me anyway.
Hey, Ian-- Really enjoy all your reviews and perspective. Do you plan on a Kove 450 when they come out with their street-legal model? An option could be to plate it in Arizona and ride it in CA. Seems like a killer bike with the suspension and fuel capacity down-low for $9K.
@@BigRockMoto Hey, thanks for the response. I moved from Montecito, CA, awhile back down to just south of Ensenada, Mexico. Seems like it'd be a great bike for extended off-road/desert riding.
I had a 2018 KTM 1290 SAR which for me was too big for the tighter stuff so I got rid of that and bought a 701. Nicer on the trails but I miss the longer trip comfort. Now I'm thinking 350 or 500 Husky plus a Tiger Rally Pro. Both of them together is about the same price as a Harley. Motorcycles are like Lays potato chips. You can't have just one. Actually if I did this I'd have 4 but who's counting except maybe my wife.
I just sold my 300l two weeks ago and picked up a 23 fe501s at a huge discount. Been raining so havnt been able to ride it yet Look forward to this one
How does it compare to the ktm 350 that you have ? Is there a place for both? Or would you, in most circumstance, just buy the 501/500 and be done with it.
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Dude you’re doing it right Ian!
I just installed my taco Moto GET ECU in my 450RL and it changed my bike in every positive way possible.
And Mike at Taco moto’s fav bike is the 500/501!
The man is a genius and super cool.
Excellent job setting this up!
You won’t believe the difference
Maybe you should do a video about riding alone off road. It's something I do a lot, too. If I waited for other people, I'd hardly ever ride.
Yeah man, this would be an interesting topic. I ride FAR less than I’d like to because I don’t like riding alone for safety/recovery/emergency reasons.
Also echoing this. I do wait for others pretty frequently and it limits my riding. I’d definitely ride more frequently if I could have some insight as to how to approach it safely.
I meet people to ride with but they tend to become d-bags. I am currently planning to hit El mirage dry lake solo. Beautiful riding, and enough people around that in case of emergency I should be found....maybe
I use an in reach and make sure family know where I am. I ride more conservatively solo off road.
I ride alone all the time. What I do: 1) Carry a sidearm; 2) Garmin Inreach+ Satellite comm; 3) I don't take risks likely to require help to get out of; 4) I more religiously top up my gas and oil before heading out
The value question really hits you hard when you think about how much "more bike" you get for the same money in a Tuareg660.
But of course every single (important) part in this Husky is a high end performance part.. still.. 13k for a funbike is really steep.
Until you realise that an E-mountainbike is over 11k as well. So I guess it's always just a question of perspective 😂
yes, it seems OK when I see my friends riding $10k plus mountain bikes
13k is even at a discount and pretax for a 501 in California. The common man will have a much harder time haggling down to 13 because dealers know they will sell for whatever bananas price they set. Same thing happened with Mountain Bikes. Wealthy folks just pay and prices increase to match
Apples to oranges comparison. Tuareg 660 is an adventure bike that weighs over 400 lbs. It compares well to the KTM 890 adventure.
@miker7851 exactly my point ;)
@@chukku2175 By that logic, with the Tuareg 660, look at how much "more bike" you get for the money with a KLR. Lol
In 2001 I bought a XR650R.
I had it legal for the street, but didn't ride it much on the street.
Still ride the bike in 2024.
I love the big red pig
Ian, I recently bought a 2024 KTM EXC-F and I've been building it out. For performance enhancements I installed two things I bought from Taco Moto: 1) a Pro Moto Billet and end cap, 2) a EJK biggy-back fuel injection tuner. These too relatively inexpensive additions (compared to the GET ECU and full exhaust replacements), have drastically changed the feel of my bike. It feels like it woke up, haha! Something to consider if you are looking for an affordable approach.
Dude you’re doing it right Ian!
I just installed my taco Moto GET ECU in my 450RL and it changed my bike in every positive way possible.
And Mike at Taco moto’s fav bike is the 500/501!
The man is a genius and super cool.
Excellent job setting this up!
You won’t believe the difference.
🏍️💨
Same thing happened to my license plate mount/turn signals on my '23 KTM 500 EXC-F. Rocky terrain here in southern Arizona and it stripped the plastic holding the cheap screws right out and left me carrying it home stuffed part way in my jacket on the first day out. The assembly is way to heavy...and they spent zero money, effort or design into reinforcing it to keep it from stripping the plastic and popping off on any terrain rougher than suburban streets. KTM's are the most expensive cheap bikes out there! Looking forward to seeing your build! Thanks!
Did they change the design on that? I have a 2020 with 8000 miles on it and several BDRs, and the license plate mount has never had a problem.
@@miker7851 Unknown. I don't know how the 2020's were mounted. AZBDR ripped mine out. It's held in place by 4 coarse thread screws that go thru holes in the fender liner and secure in the plastic fender. First day of riding with washboard, impacts from small jumps and embedded rocks and it stripped the plastic holes out so the screws no longer had anything to bite into. I guess it's possible they could have been overtightened in assembly, so a QC issue with factory could be contributing but that is just speculation. Either way the design on my '23 is just not up to holding all that much weight continuously being pounded up and down. The entire structure is just flimsy and twists/flexes.
Same thing happened to me out in the superstitions twice. 😅
Now I safety wire everything as a backup. 😁
Can the license plate holder be eliminated and the fender still have room to remount the lights? I'm picking mine up this week and the first thing I'm going to do is see if there is a way that I can
Eliminate the tail piece without buying a tail tiddy
I got a 2022 500 EXCF a couple years ago and dumped another few grand into it so I can relate to this content. Keep it up! Transalp cannot be bought by us common folk anyway. 500/501 has a massive following so we can use all the content we can get! Keep it up fellow ian
Love my 2024 FE501s. The first thing I did was ditch the dinosaur tail and replace it with a Tidy Tail Light by Taco Moto and Sicass plate mount. Installed a GET ECU and Graves titanium pipe. It's by far the most fun and versatile bike I have ever own.
I had bad experiences with the only KTM I've owned so I ended up with a CRF450L and absolutely love it. A little more weight but from what I hear it is way better on road and I always ride to my trails.
I looked at ktm and husky, ended up with a 23 450rl! I love it!
Any flame outs?
@@SickBikeDude I mean it will stall at times but it's usually my fault. I got a 2019 used with a vortex and a throttle tamer so it isn't that bad. Had a 300L too and the 450L you definitely gotta be on top of the clutch in comparison whereas the 300L was just point, throttle and lug up anything.
This will be an fun series. I have been looking at the FE501 for a couple years now. I don't know if it will ever be as comfortable as my DR650, but it will certainly run circles around it and 100lbs lighter.
My main concern with this range is the location of the fuel pump pickup. It’s high up at the back of the tank rather than low on the LHS. TacoMoto is working on a fix.
Will be a great series. I'll watch. Idk if the fe501 is 'the best' 500cc dual sport though. I think that moniker belongs to the Beta 500RS. Subjective I know
Would love to see one of your beautiful spreadsheets, breaking down expenses, add-ons, etc. Thanks - great vid!
Hi Ian, This is very timely, I am planning on buying 2024 KTM 500 exc-f today. So we will be comparing notes. I just joined your channel, keep up the good work.
You posted a month ago, did you pull the trigger on your KTM?
Finally a lightweight dual sport worth traveling on!
Nice video thanks ! I have a 501 2022 here in Europe and my only concern is about the vibrations...
I’m loving my 300l rally since I just putter around back mountains Colorado and don’t want to deal with unreliable/expensive/vibration etc. But super interested in this series since I can just pretend I’m younger and still rip it up haha
Very excited for this series. I'm looking to purchase this bike next year for a lighter ADV bike, so curious to see how it works out for you.
Thanks for the video Ian. This bike is really far away from my cup of tea since I'm of the elderly group. That said however; I really am looking forward to your up & coming videos related to this bike. I can personally see what attracts you to this machine given your age & land topography. Color wise the bike is beautiful. Have a beautiful day! Illinois,USA
..but its so light, you should find a dealer and try sitting on one for what the heck why not.
Very interested in the comparison of the Husky and KLX 300, especially as each project bike evolves. I am building my KLX 300 along with you, but on a smaller budget. Keep up the excellent content.
I had a klx 300 for a couple years before I saved up for a 450rl! As much as I love the 450 the klx is for sure the best dual sport for the money! 13 tooth front sprocket made it feel so much faster!
I just bought a Beta 200rr (2021) since Northern California is more about forested mountains and tight single track and less open desert. However, if I was able to ride to trails off my front porch, I may have been tempted by a big dual sport like the Husqvarna. I did ride a few hundred miles through the Mojave on a 501 but think I preferred the feel of the 350 EXC-F, which also had plenty of power for dual sport use.
Oh wow, I didn't realize they made a change to the subframe along with suspension improvements. I love dual sports so I'm excited for this series. Thanks for making quality content!
The link rear is a NOGO for me…The KTM 500EXC is more my bag of parts. Many of your upgrades will cross so Ill be tuning in.
Hi Ian, looking forward to this series as I just purchased this bike in January. I am curious to hear what you find at your 1 hour valve check. I just did mine and they were all tight. Very surprising as a lot of what Ive read indicates that this isn't very common. It seems like most owners don't bother checking after a while because they are so stable. Thanks
Bring it on dude anticipation is running high. All the modifications you spoke of are necessary if it was to serve me and I wonder how effective the standard headlight is!!
Exciting stuff. Glad to see your back to a Husky for analysis and fun!
Thank you Ian, Great bike, looking forward to the next episodes.
It will be a killer bad ass bike once mod's added though the falling apart ending says it ALL,
MOD'S NEEDED ON A 13K BIKE FROM FACTORY!
2025 models will have a less stiffer frame cause everyone complain about it even pro's. The rest of the updates is pure joy.
Still have your KTM 350? I had the previous generation Husky 501 and loved it. I ultimately sold it and ended up with a 2023 KTM 690r which suits my increased highway riding better than the 501. Also less maintenance with the 690. Apples and oranges though. Looking forward to more videos with your 501. Cool bike!
Really looking forward to this series!! It's good to see more performance dual sports on the channel.
I like how you started trying to justify the purchase at the end. Lol, a lot of us that watch your channel have "the addiction" too. I also always get a severe case of buyers remorse after gifting myself another new toy. ;)
I had a 2021 and vibrations, through handlebars and foot pegs was just too much compared to the KTM 690 I had and the Beta 390 I have now. 390 almost as good on linking roads and handles so much better on tight single track.
Would you recommend to 390 over the 500s and 350s ktm group and 450rl
@@mikebishop6095 When I did a bit of Vet motocross I had 2014 (so not latest greatest) KTM 350SXF and motor felt like slightly stronger 250F. I haven’t been on latest generation of 350s, but it seems that owners are reluctant to do road miles with them. One owner acquaintance did a rally on his and sold it shortly after. I believe he decided not the right bike. Obviously the Austrian (various brands) are going to do much better in that regard. I have a Beta X-dealer friend (he loves the brand, hated entitled buyers) that money down from 500RR-S to the 390RR because he likes gnarly single track and the 500 was a handful. There is the Beta 430RR-S that is maybe a sweet point. I demo’d one and loved it. No one in my circle has bought the 450RL. Honda’s never suck, but it seems to have a couple issues. Maybe turning off buyers.
Looking forward to this series! I liked the way you setup your former 500 EXC. Do you still have the 350 EXC "Ultimate Dual Sport?" It is fun to set these bikes up and personalize them; there's so much you can do and almost every part of the bike (aside from changing the internals of the engine or modifying the frame) is either changed/upgraded/replaced for a full build. Costs for aftermarket accessories add up quick for these and can quickly match or exceed the purchase price of the bike, but you end up with the latest and greatest tech.
i sold my 350, big mistake. I loved that bike. but it allowed me to buy the new 501;.
I love all your reviews Ian , it’s so funny that the license plate holder fell off after only a few km , I am not sure that would have happen with a CRF450 RL , but I understand the performance difference . Keep up the good work !
I'm sure you already have a seat concepts comfort saddle for it. that's my favorite. looking forward to this one. 🤠👍
Great intro, Ian! Looking forward to the build out. I've always liked these bikes and, if the maintenance intervals were longer, might have gone this way vs. my 690 Enduro. Keep up the great content!
I am stoked about this one. Really eyeballing the FE501S and the 701 Enduro. I have been riding my Norden on single track and its a bit of a bear at times. A lighter dual sport would be so nice to have alongside it.
Thanks for this. I’d like to hear your comparison with the EXC regarding linkage/pds and brakes brembo/braktec.
Exactly want to know more about the linkage
Excited about this. It's the top DS performance machine.
Not something for me but I respect having this and the KLX next to each other is great content.
I cant afford the motorcycles you test. So i have to live vicariously through you.
Yeah, if I had one of these we wouldn’t be watching this!
Fun bike out of the box. What would be a great series is where you take a stocker head to head with a modded 501. But that’s not a ratings magnet.
I’m interested in a) how you determined which components to upgrade to and b) how you determined who you could trust to do the job right.
That seat looks pretty comfortable for an all-day ride. 😁
Dibs when Ian sells it in two years. 😄
Let's get moving with that second video. I take delivery this week and I'm anxious to see what you put on yours. I follow Mike over at Taco Moto and he's way ahead of you but I want to see what's important to you
Yeah, taco Moto is the ultimate hookup for KTM/ Husqvarna help.
I'm 66, only new vehicle I purchased in my life was an '85. cr500.$ 2351.oo out the door
Ok.
Wow, that’s awesome! do your legs still tingle from the vibration of that beast?
Would love to see a test for the Beta 390 RS. Better bang for the buck than the Husky imo
Beta is so underrated
@@inrptn I think influencers push KTM group for clout, when in fact they aren’t great out of the box and require tuning and a pipe to not flame out. All told you will probably spend 18K setting up the bike for enduro whereas the Beta comes with more and doesn’t have the same ecu pitfalls
Sold my 501 and love my 390. Road them side by side and decided to sell the 501. The 501 felt taller and bigger. In single track trees felt like a hand full for my average skill rider. 390 just about as good on the road.
And it won't fall apart first ride 😅
@@MotoCampAdvand you get a warranty with Beta and they are generous with warranties
Great review. Keep weighing the bike as you go through the mods. Interested to see the full-tank-ready-to-ride-with-tools weight after all the mods. aka Like a typical owner/rider.
Nice. This is going to be a great series. I’d love to see if it’s improved for the road riding portions. My CRF450L is an excellent bike all round and I really want to hear its road manners va that.
What up! 450RL owner here too. I rode 7,000 miles until I FINALLY got a new ECU to kill the twitchiness and flameouts and I went with Taco Moto’s GET ECU and it’s everything it’s suppose to be and helps make it the bike it should be if it weren’t for the EPA’s regulations.
Enjoy!
🏍️💨
@@lukefish7562Do you think that the 450rl is more smooth on the road the ktm platform?
@@ferkuzuelYes, from an owner of both ‘23 450RL and a ‘23 500exc-f, the 450RL is smoother on the road in my experience.
@@ferkuzuel Without a doubt its a better street bike than the KTM 500. That being said, I wouldn't want either for street riding. I did a trip 5 trip, on and off road and I was pretty comfortable for what the bike is. My friend on his KTM 500 was begging us to stop riding, although I admit he is a bit of a baby. The KTM is just a lot buzzier and twitchy on the street at high speeds.
@@richardrabe3349 Thanks for the reply, I usually ride 25 miles to get to the nearest trails, about 25 miles off road, and 25 miles to get back home, so I think the 450rl would be a better fit for me
Hey Ian, if you get a chance to get the suspension upgraded, try to be there and film the team when they pull out all rather cheap OEM parts from the stock forks and shock. There are several good options out there, I went with K-tech. When you see the OEM parts that come out and the replacement parts' quality, it is a wake-up call on what Husky/KTM are pushing out the door and calling greatly improved. I installed K-Tech ORV valves on the front and K-Tech Bladder Conversion and spring on the rear, with valving matched to the new spring. Now, one click is noticeable on both the front and rear.
noted
Looking forward to more videos on this bike as I am considering one later this year.
Last time I sat on a real Husqy it was 1997, hadn’t purchased husqy yet and the 610 TE was the reason for any of my wet dreams. I’m 5“7 and that wasn’t an issue but somehow it seems now on my GS. Must be the bikes weight, wider seat and the thickness of my Rev’it gear . Back in the day, I used to ride in Jeans only
Very excited about this series. Especially because you're also doing one for KLX 300. Both bikes I've been looking at as options for my first ever bike (along with cb500x). Won't be buying for a few more months so I'm looking forward to absorbing all the insights you have for us on the horizon :)
I miss the aprilla ian... Can you please just do a quick ride on it maybe... With your more socked in thoughts and feelings about the bike. I have a fairly kitted 390 adventure that I do love ALOT... it's great out here in s ut. But I feel a change is imminent for a better touring bike and the aprilla might be it. Thank you and continued success.
No need for a pipe and cpu. Take a round punch and knock out the screen in the back of the muffler, take the reed valve out of the air box and set the TPS. Did that to mine and it rips!
Great that you're weighing bikes but please top up the tank first. Leaves no room for speculation that way. Nice to see more dual sport content.
Ahhh yeah!
Maybe my choice for the bike if I had to choose just one.
Go so well with my te300i and Norden Expedition.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Thanks as always.
🏍️💨
The license plate on my FE350 came off on the first ride too. It’s ridiculous. Luckily here in France we can get the tiny enduro plate, and they look so much better anyway….so was kinda happy that it gave me the excuse to change immediately.
Nonetheless, I adore the bike……it makes me look like a far better rider than I am 😃
Love dual sports... One of my favorite bikes was a CRF 300 Rally. I have been thinking about moving up to the 450/500 level. Huge jump in price though... You can get a base model Africa Twin for that money.
Congratulations, great bike. Hopefully this will inspire similar tuning and performance mods for the KLX to bring it as close as possible to this level of love.
2 years ago I sat on one expecting to be put off by the 15ft seat height but it was so light I felt no intimidation. I was impressed by the Quality..went gs310 cause I was thrifty at the time.
I live in the Sierra Vista Arizona area and I love some desert ripping!! I like climbing the mountains on my KLR
Good video Ian, can't wait to see the next episodes. I'm also looking for a dual sport motorcycles for the trails in Colombia so I'm stoked to see all these dual sport comparisons!
I LOVE this bike. Is it expensive? It is indeed. But a GS costs as twice as much and there are thousands of them around here. Could you compare it to the GasGas? I think they are very similar but the gasgas is quite cheaper. I think the worst enemy of this motorbike are the increasingly restrictive off road regulations, at least here in Europe. We'll keep fighting to avoid them!!!
Had a 500 for a while. If I had to choose, the 690 is definitely my preferred bike. It does the road so much better and is not enough of a sacrifice offroad for 95% of riders. If you have the funds, get a 700 and a 300. Best combo out there....
Over the yrs l've gotten new bikes some go most stay , kept the ktm 400exc for d-s , ktm 300xc-w for h-s racing & hardcore trailrides , tenere 700 adv riding , 300L for both adv/d-s . On the 700 & 300L l have a longer milk crate mounted on a rack to strap my dog in as he loves an adv as much as me . I'd like to add either a 500 or 501 as l've rode both but something would have to go , l thought about a 701 husky & knew l'd love it but went T-7 for reliability & it is that .
Oh gosh, I’ve been wanting one so bad, it would look great next to my 21’ 701
Suggestion: measure temps between stock and ecu upgrade. Get one of those laser thermometers and check the head, case, various spots on the exhaust pipe, which an ecu is suppose to help.
I'm interested to hear how servicing goes for you.
A word about KTM Husqvarna 500/501 reliability. I have bought both new and logged lots of miles. 12,000 on my 2016 Husqvarna 501S and 8,700 on my 2021 KTM 500 XCF-W. Most of the miles were on difficult single track. Neither bike ever broke down or needed expensive servicing. Neither bike ever needed a valve adjustment. I’ve changed the oil and filter every 20-30 hours, and washed after every ride. I replaced a lot of tires, rear brake pads, and front counter sprockets. The suspension got serviced at 400 hours. These are top quality machines that hold their value better than any other dirt bike on the market. People ride 500’s around the world. If you want the best, and are willing to progress as a rider, the 500’s have the widest performance envelope of any dirt bike. They can truly do it all. If I could only have one bike, it would be a 500.
Great choice Ian! Looking forward to the in depth review to come.
Thank you for a good walkthrough. Looking forward where this will go. Seen these but with moto tires.
Can’t wait till part two.
Hope to see you bring this to DV in March, but you'll definitely need a bigger tank
Nice! This is the review I am looking for. I have a full size ADV now I’m in the market for the ultimate dual sport. 👍😎
I like it and if I lived somewhere with the riding you have available I would probably own a bike like that. I have a Ktm 690 but it rarely sees off-road. It’s still a great city bike for me though. Any plans on the new Ducati 698? I’d like to know more about that bike.
Yeah. I'm a sucker for metal flake in the paint as well. I remember seeing a dune buggy with large metal flake in it. Hooked ever since.
You can't get metal flake that large any more I don't think.
HOK
house of kolor
Love my 2021 501s ! Lotta fun once uncorked. Once you ride one you understand
Nice Video, how does it compare to your fe350?
Looking forward to your thoughts on 'er vs the KLX/DRZ!
Looking forward to watching that new suspension soak up the trails for you, hopefully it’ll be like riding a cloud lol
I still haven't figured out the GG/KTM/Husky market. I was thinking the Husky is the upper edge on tech., but now , maybe, the precipice has shifted. Maybe a MV Agusta would fill in.
License plate outro, such a good bit of reality there 😄
Very cool they updated the suspension. I wonder if the 690 platform will get the Xact stuff as well. A buddy has the Beta 500, that thing is freakin' cool and the engine truly is a thing of beauty right out of the box, no modding required.
Giving credit where it is due, this is ripped right from a Dirt Bike Magazine test:
"BENEFITS OF BEING SMALL
The Beta 500RR-S is a fully legal street bike in all 50 states. It passes the noise tests, the emission tests and lighting equipment tests. Beta checked all the boxes and did everything by the book, but the “book” isn’t the same one that Honda, Yamaha or even KTM are expected to follow. As a result, the bike that you get from your Beta dealer isn’t as restricted as a Honda CRF450L or a KTM 500EXC. It might be quiet by dirt bike standards, but it’s still much louder than dual-sports from bigger companies.
That gives Beta a big advantage in performance. Up front the most impressive aspect of the 500RR-S is power. It’s got plenty. There is no other 500cc dual-sport bike that even comes close. This is a bike that could roll straight to the start of a desert race and have a reasonable expectation of success, even with a long, high-speed bomb run. It might give away peak power to fully open, unrestricted race bikes, but it’s also very smooth and controllable down low. When it comes to tight, technical sections with lots of rocks and carnage, the Beta is much, much easier to ride than your typical closed-course competition bike".
Beta needs to be seriously considered if shopping the "serious light dual sport" segment, as it's not choked up and doesn't need a bunch of money spent on tuning it.
I experienced that routine with my new 701, it was choked up so badly in stock form so I completed the "required" exhaust and tuning mods including a Rottweiler mapped PC6. Now it's a monster compared to stock and in general. It would have been nice not to feel compelled to spend the money on top of what was spent for an already expensive bike though...
I am considering a Beta soon. Love them.
@@BigRockMoto If you get onem the Beta's license plate will fall off during the 1st ride too. They all do that 😆
Beta 500 RRS would be my pick over KTM or Husky.Lots of us getting away from KTM based hand grenades
Had a Husky 501, now a Beta 390, and so prefer the 390.
@@pilotobob66 I've been told. Betas in general are smaller than shercos, ktms, huskies etc. Do you know if this is the case?
@@JohannesDalenMC I can't specifically reply to all the models but I had the Husky FE501s parked next to my Beta 350RR and I could definitely see the Beta was a smaller bike. Not by a great amount, as in smaller frame such as Beta 200RR is specified to be, but it was visibly noteable. The main thing was when I road both back to back the Beta 350RR felt lighter, more maneuverable and bottom line more fun to ride. For me anyway.
Hey, Ian-- Really enjoy all your reviews and perspective. Do you plan on a Kove 450 when they come out with their street-legal model? An option could be to plate it in Arizona and ride it in CA. Seems like a killer bike with the suspension and fuel capacity down-low for $9K.
I plan to buy one
@@BigRockMoto Hey, thanks for the response. I moved from Montecito, CA, awhile back down to just south of Ensenada, Mexico. Seems like it'd be a great bike for extended off-road/desert riding.
The end of your video makes me laugh. I'm going to follow you as I'm thinking about picking up a new 510 this year.
I had a 2018 KTM 1290 SAR which for me was too big for the tighter stuff so I got rid of that and bought a 701. Nicer on the trails but I miss the longer trip comfort. Now I'm thinking 350 or 500 Husky plus a Tiger Rally Pro. Both of them together is about the same price as a Harley. Motorcycles are like Lays potato chips. You can't have just one. Actually if I did this I'd have 4 but who's counting except maybe my wife.
Cool cover. Let’s see what’s coming next
I just sold my 300l two weeks ago and picked up a 23 fe501s at a huge discount. Been raining so havnt been able to ride it yet
Look forward to this one
Excited for this series!
Thanks for the video!
Would you recommend this for a beginner?
Yall can also easily weigh your rides at highway truck check points (if there is one close enough).
Not my jam, no issue with the auto focus the tree was perfect.👍🏻
I have cheap Chinese Lifan 250 KPX dual sport with air cool engine and weighs 333lbs !!!! 260 on yours is great!!!
Please tell me you got rid of that Chinese crap and got something better! Lots of good used bikes out there for a good price.
gawd i was a beginner rider in 2022 i got a klx 300 but really wish i splurged on a husky
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this one!
How does it compare to the ktm 350 that you have ? Is there a place for both? Or would you, in most circumstance, just buy the 501/500 and be done with it.
I sold the 350 so I could try this one. I might prefer the smoother power of the 350. We'll see.
Man you’ve had a lot of nice bikes!
Have the 701, awesome bike.
So once you do the "ecu reflash" the bike is no longer street legal in California?