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
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.
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.
@@ridewherever 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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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. ;)
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.
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
@@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.
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.
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!
@@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.
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!!!
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!!
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
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 😃
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!
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
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 :)
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Reliability is the most important thing to me. Performance is secondary. Almost all ADV/ Dual Sport bikes have more capability than I do. I want to get back home.
Most people would agree but I'm the opposite. Performance is the most important thing for me. An unbalanced bike with soft suspension or a lack of power (to loft the front wheel) is more likely to make you crash. For me, the risk of crashing and getting an injury due to having inferior suspension etc. is worse than dealing with the occasional break down. Cheers
@@glossblack1098 I get that, but I’m older, I don’t own a truck or trailer, so making it home is high on my list. Also I ride alone in the Forests of North Idaho with no cell service.
@@noidreculse8906 yeh I get that. I ride fairly remote places too in Australia. Not good to get stranded. Having said that I’ve owned 3 Huskies and 1 KTM over the past few years and never had a single mechanical issue or break down. So for me they are reliable enough. Cheers
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'm sure it's an awesome bike. However, it is difficult enough for me to get enough seat time in without taking on a bike with a very short service interval.
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.
Very interesting bike to see videos on. (Something exciting, not japanese mediocreness, jk :) And that Mosko gear looks really nice. Maybe for weight it would be useful if all bikes would be weighted in the same, with full tank of gas maybe?
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.
@ 2000 miles per year and around 120hrs, per year, would I be better off on a 690r for longevity and wear and tear on the engine? I guess I just dont know at what point these bikes need an engine rebuild.
These bikes are all too tall, at 5’6” (29” inseam) i need something with a 500cc and closer to the ground but still with a lot of grunt. How low can this Husky go with linkage and low seat?
@@BigRockMoto okay thank you for the answer. looking forward to the opinion I am torn between 500 and 350. I currently own 890 R 23 and a 22 beta 200 two stroke. Looking to replace the beta whit a dual sport but I am afraid of not being able to go places the little beta takes me. But beta has other major downsides in its fuel consp. and road capabilities and comfort...
He bought a heavily modded friends 690 with rally tower last year but did not like it and sold it. It was an in-betweener for him, not very good at anything. I understand what he means owning a 2020 701 but it being an in-betweener is what makes it a fantastic bike.
