2016 Husqvarna FC 250 First Riding Impression

This is a big year for the Husqvarna FC 250. It is an all-new bike from the ground up taking all the changes that the KTM Factory Editions did less than a year ago and adding some of the Husky differences along the way to make the bike unique. Aside from the looks there are a few significant differences between the bikes that roll off a similar production line in the Mattighofen, Austria factory. The main difference in the chassis is Husky’s use of a composite rear sub-frame and the different airbox external that goes along with it. The wheels are DID rims and the standard tires Dunlop MX52s. Magura clutch actuation components are used as well.
The FC250 is impressive right from the first crack of throttle. With the engine being smaller and with less rotating mass, it is impressive the amount of torque feel the bike has at small throttle openings and at low RPMs. Now this isn’t where a fast rider will be racing the bike, but for novice riders and even in low traction situations this power will come in handy and it is without those heavy flywheels of old making it. In fact this is the kind of power only factory 250Fs had just a few years ago and it shows how continued improvements with FI and ECU changes will make things better at all RPMs. Along with mechanical changes that get shafts closer together, combine tasks and basically shrink and cut weight, this motor is very potent right from the bottom. The power then builds in a predictable yet exponentially building fashion to a 14,000 rev cut. Though the rev limiter comes in softly with a taper to tell you to shift, the bike lives in these high RPMs and makes plenty of power. The delivery isn’t the type that bounces off the ceiling; it stays in the meat while you have the tire on the ground and is for a 250cc four-stroke tractable in the upper range. Even switching between maps the character is still very useable just changing the way the bike works in the middle RPMs.
You don’t have to use the clutch much and the shifting was exceptional. Even being a bit heavy for the bike and with Budd’s Creeks many off-cambers taxing the gearing and length of power delivery, stock gearing was spot on. If there as any negative to the engine it would be that there isn’t one area that stands out and riders looking for a motor with a big hit someplace in the powerband might be disappointed.
The new chassis works well on the FC 250. It, like all of the bikes, is critical on the ride height which we kept in the 105mm range on all the bikes we rode. We also had the fork set stiffer in both compression and rebound, finding that the WP 4CS fork prefers to have its adjusters used as a mid-speed type of adjustment more than low-speed. It affects ride height of the fork as much as it does the bump feeling and having the fork higher in the stroke made them act softer and more compliant. Especially in a track with lots of ups and downs. In the end I was very happy with the overall suspension setting and did not feel any further changes were needed, especially since the bottoming resistance was helpful on the over-jumps.
The FC feels light in the air and especially going into and in the middle of turns. It tracks the front wheel and allows for easy changes mid-turn without the bike wanting to stand up or oversteer provided you are comfortable with the ride height setting. There is just enough compression braking to aid in turn entries and help steady the bike without really slowing you down.
There really wasn’t anything to complain about on the FC 250 except for it being a 250cc four-stroke when there were 350cc and 450cc bikes to ride as well. The build feels very well built and things like the plastic bodywork all seem to stay out of the way of causing any issues. In fact the gripability of the bike was excellent, including the seat.
These bikes will be in dealerships in the Fall and we suspect they will be hot items. Husky has not been a serious contender in the smaller displacement classes for a long time but times are changing.