A Husqvarna employee has taken on the task of building the ultimate Husqvarna FC250.
Sitting glistening in the morning light, idling gently, is a Husqvarna FC250. But this is not just any Husqvarna FC250. This is an insider build. A Husqvarna employee with access to every single part in the Husqvarna technical accessories catalogue, time with world-class mechanics, and unobtanium information lying in the minds of Husqvarna staff has set out to build the ultimate in-house machine. A bike that could line up at any race around the world and be competitive. A bike that didn’t need to access any parts outside of the Husqvarna catalogue, or aligned brands. The price tag? An eye-watering $30,000.
FROM THE OUTSIDE
Around the world, Husqvarnas have a clean and standard look about them. There is not an obvious dripping of aftermarket accessories in hundreds of colours. So from a distance, even with a $30k-plus price tag, the standard and corporate vision is still evident. Which I dig; there is nothing worse than a bike with multicoloured anodised rubbish thrown at it, with no vision other than to spend money for the sake of it. As you get close to this machine, however, hello Mumma — the trickness is oozing. While Husqvarna motocross machines come standard with a Magura clutch, our insider Conor has replaced the standard units with a Brembo clutch master cylinder, purely for personal preference.
Up front, you’ll find XACT Pro forks and at the rear a TRAX Pro shock, which are the same units that race at the very pinnacle of the sport around the world. For lack of a better explanation, these are ‘factory’ forks and shock. The forks feature lightweight construction, a HQ coating, and allow for a harder setup without limiting the plush feeling thanks to the unlimited opening of WP Cone Valves. Without a sealing surface, there is minimal drop in pressure after the valve opens. And without shims, there’s no loss of damping due to bent shims. Partnering these forks with the TRAX Pro shock creates an incredibly confidence-inspiring ride at a professional level.
When our test riders, Mat McEntee and Shane Booth, were putting in time on the bike, it was increasingly evident that they were able to push the bike harder and harder without looking as if they were getting close to the edge of their ability. These WP suspension components are the most costly part of the build, but after seeing them in action they are incredibly beneficial, not just a big-ticket item to brag about.
REV HER UP
With a snap of the throttle, it’s instantly evident that this FC250 is far from stock. The angry bark from the FMF titanium exhaust cracks a warning of power. Internally, this FC250 has been tuned in-house by the Husqvarna race team engine technicians. This service isn’t available to just anyone; our insider Conor has been able to access parts and work that aren’t on offer to the average Joe. Don’t be jealous — you would do it too.
However, for the sake of this project, a similar style of work would be available from a reputable engine builder or local Husqvarna dealership. The cylinder and cylinder head have been modified, the valve train has been modified and so has the flywheel.
Mat is a young rider bred for riding bikes in an aggressive manner and he loves to keep it in the high RPM. On a bike such as this, a rider who revs the bike and rides it hard will be rewarded.
At the same time, Boothy, who has ridden more test bikes than almost any rider in the world, raced at a professional level and continues to ride at an extremely high level, is smooth, calculated and uses the entire power curve.
The work performed by the Husqvarna technicians has created an engine that works for both these vastly different riding styles. It has an increase in torque for riders who prefer to short shift, but those who absolutely bounce off the limiter will also be rewarded. Given that the Husqvarna FC250 is already an incredibly strong engine as standard, engine builders are already ahead of the game when it comes to chasing extra horses.
THE FINAL TOUCHES
While the engine and suspension are the most critical aspects of this build, Conor has gone to town with technical accessories. A complete seat, outer clutch cover, blue sprocket, gold chain and skid plate are all littered across this bike. They’re classy extras, however; nothing looks over the top and every part has a feature and requirement when chasing the title of ultimate FC250.
Now, this bike isn’t cheap — but, hell, neither is a Ferrari. What you have here is an incredible beast that could line up and race at a high level anywhere around the world. Plus, the heftiest investment is in the suspension, an item that can be transferred from motorcycle to motorcycle if you continue to race Husqvarna or KTM equipment.