That's the worst thing about dual-sports. You pay an extra $2k for all the emissions junk so it's street legal, just to spend another $2k removing all of it.
The Wr250r is underpowered and has horrible suspension stock.The 13k Husky gives you So much more capability stock. I own Yamahas and KTM’s and they are great. I would agree that Yamaha is more reliable. But my KTMs have been flawless for the last 20 yrs. To get a Wr 250r to do what the Husky can you would spend crazy money.
What timing! I just bought this bike two Saturdays ago. Rode it the first time the following Monday for 35 miles in the Southern Utah desert. Lost the rear sub-fender/plate/blinker at 3 miles in. Rode it for the second time form the start line for the '24 Rhino Rally AM heat the following Saturday. Finished both laps okay for not riding a dirtbike for a year and never owning a 4-stroke, and took a podium in my age group. It was an amazing bike even with the few, but significant, short comings. The stock ECU is horrendous, it really hindered my start. I still got 19th around the 1st corner. The throttle response (or lack thereof) for the first 1/8 turn of the throttle continually caused me trouble. Jason at RMATV is a stud, can't recommend those guys enough. He recommended some tires that made it possible to run that race. Other than those tires, and the involuntary weight shaving of the missing sub-fender, it was completely stock. Can't wait to get it dialed for next year. Taco Moto will most likely be taking a fair bit of my money in the near future.
@@russellborn515It probably didn’t vibe off. Probably snapped off on landing like mine did. The plate mount area hangs down super low on the US models.
Those plate holders are so ridiculous they may as well have a quick release snap so when you get out in the parking lot with your bike you can just pop it off and throw it in the truck.
I’m a part of a couple of Facebook groups for the 501/500. They go up for sale often and if I get one, I’m getting it used with some of the mods already done. Save some money.
Hmmm tail light assembly falling off , not on a KLX , DRZ , CRF , I think that's a little too ready to race , an extra 20lbs for sturdiness is ok with me. But I will still enjoy watching your build 😁😁😁
"Its great on road!" Seat is on a permanent 404 "Its totally worth 13k!" cant even go down the road with out falling apart. Also if my recent dealership visits are anything to go buy that's a 17-18k bike out the door (no im not kidding) And for that price it better have a seat i can sit on comfortably and stay together...
@@aaron___6014 yep most dealerships i speak to are adding 4-5 on top of msrp or what ever price they have listed. Used mt-09 listed for 5? Itd 10 out the door
For what it’s worth, I have a FE350S that is bone stock, other than mirrors, a windscreen, Seat Concepts seat, and heated grips. I’ve done huge chunks of the Colorado BDR, ridden singletrack all over Colorado and Idaho, ridden and disperse camped all over forest roads and back roads in the Rockies. While your criticisms of factory deficiencies are valid, it’s also worth knowing for anyone considering these bikes that your conclusions toward the end of the video are the real takeaway: you don’t have to do anything whatsoever to them (except maybe the awful KTM seat) to ride just about anything comfortably. Do they vibrate? Yeah, it’s a dirt bike with blinkers. 🙂 Just put your rackless bags on and go; no mods needed.
Totally agree. If you want comfort, don't buy one of these. My Husqvarnas all have Seat Concepts seats, and larger tanks. My 501 is the design mule for Nomad Adv so it will be pimped up.
I couldn't agree more. Other than a seat and skid plate, ive done very little to my 500 and I never get off the bike dissatisfied. It will do just about everything you could ask a dirt bike to do. Is it an mx bike? No. It's a dad bike with a plate from the factory. As long as you know what you're buying and dont expect the world, you won't be disappointed.
The KLX is a true dual sport. The KTM, Husqvarna, Gasgas, etc are enduros. We don't think of them differently here in the US, but from what I have heard they do differentiate them in Europe. An enduro is street legal, but is all about performance so you can ride it to the track, race, and then ride home. Dual sports are real compromises in terms of weight, performance, and cost.
@@inrptn That's not how enduro competitions work in a lot of Europe (including the world championship), there are often sections using non-competetive normal roads to link off-road parts of the course so the bikes must be road legal and this is checked. All FIM enduro tyres are road certified as well. There are closed circuit enduros as well more like sprint enduros but otherwise it's road plated or you don't start. Nobody actually rides to the start in reality and I never did in my entire career, you need fuel, parts, a mechanic and be able to get home again with a busted bike. The EXC's etc are not sold as dualsport in Europe, they are marketed as a race bike.
@@inrptn I had someone else correct me later. I was right about the differentiation. But in Europe apparently some of the races also go on the road. So that is why they are street legal.
I was torn between the 500 or the 701 last year and ultimately settled on the 701 because at this point in my life I have to ride pavement more than I like. I'm excited about this build though. Thanks.
Great videos! I think a CRF 450RL would be a great comparison bike for this series. The only serious Japanese dual sport compared to the European products. Keep up the good work!
I picked up mine yesterday. Yes, the seat will be the first thing I replace. Then a fender-eliminator tail-tuck kit for the license plate. But I usually custom-make my plate mount out of aluminum L-bracket, so cost is minimal. I will fill the inside of the handlebar with silicone caulking to help quell vibration.
When I heard the price at $13K for a 500cc dual-sport, I fell off my chair! What is going on w/ vehicle prices these days? I know the '23/'24 pickup trucks are running between $60K to $90K which is ridiculous even on the low end. Husqvarna isn't shy for charging high prices for their add-ons either. I'm sure the vibration might ease as the miles pile up. But for $13K, OMGosh you should be given a free 3 gal tank w/ the dealer compliments for install. I realize as time goes on prices will rise but this current economy doesn't give us a break for more affordable riding. Oh well, thanks for the video.
That is so true that vibrations decrease up to a certain extent as you put more miles, on a bike, am surprised that most reviewers never mentioned that.
Nice mod cause it looks better without the license plate bracket, all joking aside, that is one of the best looking dual sport bikes to date in my opinion. Great review Ian, can't wait to see more on the FE501!
What a great bike after some modifications!!! I’m jelly as my 15 year old daughter would say. All these people complaining about the price, do what makes you happy!!! And the scenery is just breathtaking….enjoy your new bike!!!!
The little things matter to me too, like the glittering blue paint. The milling of the swing arm is really sweet. And I love the overall color of the bike as well. Not only is it a very capable machine, it looks like one too. I just wish it weren’t so tall! Or I wish I wasn’t so short🧐
Thanks Ian top job I'm in Australia mate really enjoy your videos verry well done mate I was waiting on a good review no bs laughed at the tail light falling off good on ya for putting that in keep up the great honest job you do mate getting my mate to check out your channel top stuff cobber
Per Husqvarna's website, the FE501S weighs 117.4 kg (258.8 lbs) without fuel. So with a full fuel tank (2.1 gal = 12.8 lbs) the wet weight is 272 lbs. The KLX300 is 302 lbs wet, so the difference is 30 lbs instead of 50 lbs as guesstimate. Still pretty significant and sure it could be noticed.
Hey, I recognize that area, Garner Valley good riding around there you’ve got Thomas Mountain or Anza down the hill and dirt roads everywhere BTW, that Santa Rosa gas station has good chicken sandwiches. I live down the hill in Hemet and have been riding that area for decades.
Looking forward to seeing how your bike turns out. I've got a 2024 500 Six Days added to the fleet, so always looking to see what comes out. It would be cool to see a comparison between the different ECU options with the Best Dual Sport ECU flash, and then the stand alone ECUs.
$13,000 bike - cheap plastic parts, cheap display, needs new tires, new seat, new exhaust, new hand guards, new skid plate, new gas tank, new tail, and forgot what else. But to compensate for that, they provide terrible service. I don't know how this is "well worth the money".
Excellent first impression review! 24:00 SPOT ON with the being able to feel weight difference. I've owned a DRZ since 2006. During the time I've owned the DRZ, I also owned a 2012 500 EXC dual sport for 2 years and I currently own a 2019 450 EXC-F Six Days (dual sport). I bought both KTMs new. It's instantly noticeable on the weight difference between either KTM and my DRZ. The KTM is far easier and more pleasant to ride on single track trails I like to ride.
I defintely wouldn’t want to use a 501 for anything too long on the road, the maintenance would be expensive for that, for enduro it is obviously fantastic but for road the 701 would be more adapted
Dual sport bike prices are getting out of hand. I went with the wife this weekend to find her an off-road capable bike and the best deal we found was on a KLR 650 S. She originally wanted a KLX 300 or CRF 300. It was crazy seeing them at 7800ish out the door at three different dealerships. The KLR 650 S was 8000 out the door. The used market isn’t any better. You can buy a used 300cc bike for 6000+ that has already been abused. My wife is also vertically challenged and said she felt more comfortable on the KLR S.
@@reneeann5340 you are correct, but I am going to wait for the updated model before looking at it. I am an also looking at the ibex 450 for her as well.
I have a 2020 Suzuki DRZ400 and a 2024 Kawasaki KLX300. The KLX makes a great first bike. Get a lower seat and lower the suspension and it would be a great bike for your wife I would guess. I much prefer my DRZ over the KLX for me as the suspension and power are sooo much better on the DRZ, much more fun to ride…
I find it really odd that these are called "dual sports" in the States, I mean it's an enduro machine made for competition. Things like mirrors and turn indicators are there just for road homologation. And to be honest I don't see why anyone but a desert racer would want a 60hp monster offroad 😅
Reality is every dual sport ever made including 2025 models are made to meet on road regulatory requirements, maybe fit someone 5’10”, 180 lbs, have enough fuel capacity to go 80 miles and compromise tires for off-road. This is a labor of love (and money) for dual sport riders. If you love exploring trails, and maybe even some backcountry discovery rides, these bikes can be amazing. But extensive mods and meticulous bike prep is key to your enjoyment, safety and survival. Tough sport? Yes.
First glance that seat looked painful so not surprising to hear it needs an upgrade. I personally don't care for the colour scheme but I'd love to try one of these out
Ktm 350 dual sport is around 12-13k ughhhh I want it so baddddd. But I agree with the comments for the price this bike shouldn’t have vibrations like that.
Love the channel really enjoy the high end bikes and the way u make them better by putting the best of the best upgrades on them u spare no expense on your bikes that you for that
I would love to see the same build with the Beta 500 RR-S to see the cost difference. I know the Beta resale is not as good because of the lake of brand recognition. But I have watched a 430RR-s smoke the ktm 500 and the husky 501 time after time in standing and rolling start races
Awesome video series! My blueprint for my new Husky i'm picking u tom! Please continue the great work I will be following the mod list very closely. First order will be the tidy tail/ enduro plate!
Thanks Ian for the great review always good to see different bikes on your channel, it does look like that bike would be throwable into the corners and over jumps. Looking forward to the next videos on this bike.
I've got the 2017 FE 501. That rear section for the plate was very beefy...so much that I just modified the stock one instead of going with a weaker aftermarket. Basically so it would keep supporting the rear fender a bit for luggage and it works better than the flimsy aftermarket one I bought.
Ian, I cannot wait for this series! I'm about to pull the trigger on the '24 500 EXC-F and will be following your videos closely. It appears not to have the flame outs and twitchy throttle, etc.....correct? Thanks for your videos. Hopefully when you add parts you show install details..:)
I owned a 02 drz400 for over 10 years. Bought it new. Now I just picked up the GasGas version of this bike. The DRZ and The ES are not comparable in anyway. Not in power,not in performance and certainly not in weight. The DRZ is a solid platform. It is a tank and very hard to kill. Like an XR I’d say. But if you want something more off-road capable then modern 350/500’s are the way to go. 1st impression of gasgas are seat sucks period. The mapping is super lean and will flame out easily. Fuel pump pickup is high and stupid. If you start running out of gas just shake the tank around or do a wheelie and it will go. It’s stupid. I slapped a EJK piggy back tuner on it which definitely woke it up. I’m still running completely stock exhaust because I like that it’s quiet and running intake reeds. But the piggyback tuner absolutely helped it out. Only thing now is check engine light blinks. Most likely but not positive to do with O2 sensor being unplugged which it has to be with tuner. The gasgas is kinda the “Walmart” version of the Husky but I only paid $9,999 out the door and into my truck. Is it worth the few extra grand for the KTM/Husky? To some yes. The suspension is better and you get some extra stuff like hand guards and I think Brembo brakes. But I’m happy with my gasgas Es500 and everything he does to this bike is a match to my gasgas so I’m excited to see what he does.
I appreciate all your efforts to bring interesting and varied content. Once you get a bit further along on this build, I think it would be cool to contrast it to your 2020 6 Days KTM 500EXC. Is it really worth close to twice the money for an "average" solid intermediate rider? Thanks Ian!
Hi Ian. My 2024 501 is being used as a design mule by Nomad ADV in Holland and will be featured in the British ABR magazine. Very little design, if any, transfers over from the older FE range. My initial impressions are similar to yours. Brutal seat, amazingly good off tarmac, rideable on tarmac. It is what it is on the road. Once I pick mine up from Holland I'm away for a mini adventure, which will tell me if I have wasted £11,000! Nomad do turn dirt bikes into excellent light adventure bikes.
@@BigRockMoto if you want, Ian, I'll send you pictures and the article. The boys at Nomad ADV have done a beautiful job but it took a lot more engineering than they anticipated.
Looks like some screws vibrated out on the license plate holder. Similar thing happened on my 2023 300xc. And seen on some other bikes. Seems kinda common. Next new KTM product I buy I’m double checking all the body fasteners.
Just want you to know that when I see a new video I literally announce to the entire house “Hey Ian from Big Rock Moto just dropped a new video Imma need y’all to leave me alone for half an hour.”
All I heard was complaints and why it sucks so much from the factory on top of stuff falling off. And have to spend mega cash to get it to what you want it to be. And on top of all that, it's the most expensive dual sport you can buy. I'm no genious, but why exactly would anyone want to pay top dollar for some bike that sucks stock and have to spend a butt ton more money to get it to be decent? After watching this video, I have realized that this bike has to be the biggest waste of money ever.
Yet again another good vid. Can I ask what tiers your putting on please, just about to order some for my new exc-f 500. Putting a Cush hub on. Thinking Motoz enduro ITs. Thanks Ian.
In Europe the bike is doing 57HP at the wheel only with the euro map, you don't need to change the exhaust. The exhaust is maybe different for the US market, I'm not sure, seems similar to me
Buen video 👍🏻 Me parece que la luz, y espejos sueltos son más un problema de la concesionaria que vendió la moto, que de la marca que la fabricó 🤷🏻♂️ Pero en fin uno espera que esas cosas no sucedan en una moto de $13K…. Pero pueden pasar. Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷
While I agree that the TKC80's aren't the best tire for this category of bike, they do a decent job as a dual sport tire and are far better than some stock tires I've seen on other makes. I've had them on four factory KTM's now and I usually keep them on for 1000-1,500 miles just to get some use out of them before swapping over to something more appropriate. It always makes me appreciate the better tires that much more when I do swap them out which is nice. I would like to ride one of the 2024 bikes to see just how much better the new suspension is over the Xplorer stuff. That said, most riders need some suspension work regardless of how good it is stock in order to get it properly sprung and valved for their weight and riding style so there's still money spent there. My biggest concern is the frame, lots of reports of the chassis being far too rigid for dual sport/enduro style riding. And it always sucks to drop $1K+ to get the power up and emissions nonsense removed but that's the overlord world we live in.
Not manly enough for a big bore, I have the 350 version. It’s just a great handling well balanced joy to ride. There are no peaks in the power band all the way to its 12k red line. It’s reminiscent of my 08 EXC in smooth power and flick ability. Can’t wait to add the ecu/pipe combo. GREAT review.
Where do you buy a more comfortable seat? I’ve a 2024 TE150 that’s a rock! In Canada it costs $12800.00 to buy the150, I love it. Been riding since 1971, DT250. Talk about inflation.
Can I order this bike without a fuel tank, hand protection, tires, seat, rear tail, original mapping, mirrors, bar clamps, exhaust and finally suspension? If not, I will deal with it like all my other bikes. 13k plus another 5-7k more making the bike proper.
I don't believe it needs $3,000 worth of mods since most people can't ride these bikes to their potential stock but they choose to do it for whatever reason. I bought a 2023 701 last fall and the only " mod " I did to it was foot pegs. Now I'm good to go.
Hi Ian, great initial ride review. I just picked mine up a couple of weeks ago. Is that start/stop switch the original one or the updated one? Apparently there was a recall from Husky/KTM regarding the switch. My dealer told me about it when I took delivery of the bike. My switch looks different from the one you have on there at the time of this video. The start/stop switch on the same bike in Taco Moto's video of Mike's initial walk around of the bike is the same switch that I have on mine. I believe it's the updated one. Just wondered if you knew about the switched switch on the '24 fe501s. I'm looking forward to the future upgrade videos on this machine! Keep up the great content. Ride safe.👊
Hey Big Rock Moto, I know you have already filmed a few episodes with this bike. But when you're done doing all the mods I am sure your followers/viewers would want to know the total cost of all the mods, including labor for anything you didn't do yourself and the stuff you get for free. That would be a real world barometer.
![เปิดใจ พี่ญา คนรุม หลังทัวร์ลง หนักสุดในชีวิต!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2-OJZRtclro/mqdefault.jpg)
The build-out of this bike is going to be more involved than I've ever featured on the channel, stay tuned! Plus, more KLX300 content coming soon!
EP 1: th-cam.com/video/WtE3ikSJPUI/w-d-xo.html
EP 2: You're Here
EP 3: Talking Tech with Taco Moto
EP 4: Mods and Changes
Ep 5-7 TBD
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That's the worst thing about dual-sports. You pay an extra $2k for all the emissions junk so it's street legal, just to spend another $2k removing all of it.
The tyrants have done the same thing with our guns
@@TheAnnoyingBosshow so?
@@brianErickson-bx9hp you havent seen californian orwellian gun control?!? Atf red coat tax stamp taxation without representation?
Best dual sport ever made!! Stuff falling off on first ride. Haha. What a perfect example of KTM. I’ll hang on to my WR250R
WR250R's are great bikes, keeps the knob jockeys of everything else.
WR is the best bike ever made
Those were awesome. Yamaha should make a 450.
Agreed. Drz with the suspension done is a better bike imo
The Wr250r is underpowered and has horrible suspension stock.The 13k Husky gives you So much more capability stock.
I own Yamahas and KTM’s and they are great. I would agree that Yamaha is more reliable. But my KTMs have been flawless for the last 20 yrs. To get a Wr 250r to do what the Husky can you would spend crazy money.
Considering the price, some of the niggles are unacceptable in my opinion.
i think they spent the money on engine and suspension mostly
@@BigRockMoto13k? For suspension and engine and everything else is crappy.
Hard pass!
As soon as you ride one, you'll understand.
For 13k you shouldnt have to change much , if anything.
Big government is the reason they can’t build them turn key
Not sure if you’ve heard about vehicle prices. 😮
Yea, it ought to be the best if I’m paying more than my truck
I’ve never bought a DS/enduro bike that didn’t SOMETHING. Plan on at least $500 in extras no matter what you buy.
@@boss302nard Yeah , they are out of control.
What timing! I just bought this bike two Saturdays ago. Rode it the first time the following Monday for 35 miles in the Southern Utah desert. Lost the rear sub-fender/plate/blinker at 3 miles in. Rode it for the second time form the start line for the '24 Rhino Rally AM heat the following Saturday. Finished both laps okay for not riding a dirtbike for a year and never owning a 4-stroke, and took a podium in my age group. It was an amazing bike even with the few, but significant, short comings. The stock ECU is horrendous, it really hindered my start. I still got 19th around the 1st corner. The throttle response (or lack thereof) for the first 1/8 turn of the throttle continually caused me trouble. Jason at RMATV is a stud, can't recommend those guys enough. He recommended some tires that made it possible to run that race. Other than those tires, and the involuntary weight shaving of the missing sub-fender, it was completely stock. Can't wait to get it dialed for next year. Taco Moto will most likely be taking a fair bit of my money in the near future.
awesome!
So would this be the same motor as in the SWM SM500R? Or a later iteration.
"Lost the rear sub-fender/plate/blinker at 3 miles in" C'mon KTM, is there no LocTite in Austria?
@@russellborn515It probably didn’t vibe off. Probably snapped off on landing like mine did. The plate mount area hangs down super low on the US models.
Those plate holders are so ridiculous they may as well have a quick release snap so when you get out in the parking lot with your bike you can just pop it off and throw it in the truck.
I’m a part of a couple of Facebook groups for the 501/500. They go up for sale often and if I get one, I’m getting it used with some of the mods already done. Save some money.
i agree
It wouldn't be a KTM if everything worked :D
so true
Roger that! LOL
Hmmm tail light assembly falling off , not on a KLX , DRZ , CRF , I think that's a little too ready to race , an extra 20lbs for sturdiness is ok with me. But I will still enjoy watching your build 😁😁😁
"Its great on road!" Seat is on a permanent 404
"Its totally worth 13k!" cant even go down the road with out falling apart.
Also if my recent dealership visits are anything to go buy that's a 17-18k bike out the door (no im not kidding) And for that price it better have a seat i can sit on comfortably and stay together...
I think the MSRP is $11.7k. what would the extra $5-6k be? That's as much as a bike.
@@aaron___6014 yep most dealerships i speak to are adding 4-5 on top of msrp or what ever price they have listed. Used mt-09 listed for 5? Itd 10 out the door
For what it’s worth, I have a FE350S that is bone stock, other than mirrors, a windscreen, Seat Concepts seat, and heated grips. I’ve done huge chunks of the Colorado BDR, ridden singletrack all over Colorado and Idaho, ridden and disperse camped all over forest roads and back roads in the Rockies. While your criticisms of factory deficiencies are valid, it’s also worth knowing for anyone considering these bikes that your conclusions toward the end of the video are the real takeaway: you don’t have to do anything whatsoever to them (except maybe the awful KTM seat) to ride just about anything comfortably. Do they vibrate? Yeah, it’s a dirt bike with blinkers. 🙂 Just put your rackless bags on and go; no mods needed.
Totally agree. If you want comfort, don't buy one of these. My Husqvarnas all have Seat Concepts seats, and larger tanks. My 501 is the design mule for Nomad Adv so it will be pimped up.
I couldn't agree more. Other than a seat and skid plate, ive done very little to my 500 and I never get off the bike dissatisfied. It will do just about everything you could ask a dirt bike to do. Is it an mx bike? No. It's a dad bike with a plate from the factory. As long as you know what you're buying and dont expect the world, you won't be disappointed.
Is it worth $19000 here in Australia ?
It’s worth what people are prepared to pay …personally I find the price a joke .
good points!
@@brumfiba I love that. Dad bike. That's true. I'm 55 and a dad. And I have a 501.
My butt hurts just looking at that seat.
No one buys this and looks at the seat😂😂 ... That's a cooking board
The seat is awful. I have one. It's supposed to be an improvement. I had an FE 350 2016. The 2024 501 is not an improvement.
everyone upgrades the seats on these bikes first thing
My thoughts exactly
It's an enduro bike, you're not meant to sit down on it.
My god that's the prettiest dual sport there is by far, I just want to stare at it
I love the milling of the swing arm, that’s so dope!
The KLX is a true dual sport. The KTM, Husqvarna, Gasgas, etc are enduros. We don't think of them differently here in the US, but from what I have heard they do differentiate them in Europe. An enduro is street legal, but is all about performance so you can ride it to the track, race, and then ride home. Dual sports are real compromises in terms of weight, performance, and cost.
If you are serious about racing and running non-DOT knobbies / mouses and everything very stripped down, what's the point of riding it to the track?
@@inrptn That's not how enduro competitions work in a lot of Europe (including the world championship), there are often sections using non-competetive normal roads to link off-road parts of the course so the bikes must be road legal and this is checked. All FIM enduro tyres are road certified as well.
There are closed circuit enduros as well more like sprint enduros but otherwise it's road plated or you don't start. Nobody actually rides to the start in reality and I never did in my entire career, you need fuel, parts, a mechanic and be able to get home again with a busted bike.
The EXC's etc are not sold as dualsport in Europe, they are marketed as a race bike.
Thanks for the correction/clarification and adding to my understanding. @@jimtitt3571
701 dual sport
@@inrptn I had someone else correct me later. I was right about the differentiation. But in Europe apparently some of the races also go on the road. So that is why they are street legal.
I like watching videos about KTM and Husky bikes. Makes me glad i own a DRZ400S and a DR650S
You rascal, how dare you!.. lol
13k? Makes the honda 450 seem cheap
You’re spending almost $15k total to get the Honda in the same ballpark and it still doesn’t compete with the 500/501
13K and another 3K to make it right… no thanks.
So that being said in Canadian with taxes and all. Thats $22,400.
Thats a Big NO from me too.
Obviously the people that spend that kind of money on a bike have way too much money on their hands.
You can really tell the weight difference between this and a drz4 what the -tail proceeds to break off-.
GOLD
I was torn between the 500 or the 701 last year and ultimately settled on the 701 because at this point in my life I have to ride pavement more than I like. I'm excited about this build though. Thanks.
Great videos! I think a CRF 450RL would be a great comparison bike for this series. The only serious Japanese dual sport compared to the European products. Keep up the good work!
That was going to be my question. Over time, is this bike 30-40% again as good as the CRF450RL?
I picked up mine yesterday. Yes, the seat will be the first thing I replace. Then a fender-eliminator tail-tuck kit for the license plate. But I usually custom-make my plate mount out of aluminum L-bracket, so cost is minimal. I will fill the inside of the handlebar with silicone caulking to help quell vibration.
Thanks Ian. Another solid review from Big Rock Moto. Any sign of that Kove 450 yet? Number plate on your backpack? Cool!
Great job as always! Can't wait to get some time on my 350 version of this bike I got last week!
When I heard the price at $13K for a 500cc dual-sport, I fell off my chair! What is going on w/ vehicle prices these days? I know the '23/'24 pickup trucks are running between $60K to $90K which is ridiculous even on the low end. Husqvarna isn't shy for charging high prices for their add-ons either. I'm sure the vibration might ease as the miles pile up. But for $13K, OMGosh you should be given a free 3 gal tank w/ the dealer compliments for install. I realize as time goes on prices will rise but this current economy doesn't give us a break for more affordable riding. Oh well, thanks for the video.
The best KTM's are 2nd owner KTM's
Because they can
That is so true that vibrations decrease up to a certain extent as you put more miles, on a bike, am surprised that most reviewers never mentioned that.
@@ferkuzuel Ya know, for $13 large you'd think Husky would have a counter-balancer.
Kove 450 for $9k. Hardly need to change anything, just basic protection stuff and maybe some basic comfort stuff if you plan to do the highways.
Absolutely best reviewer on you tube, thank you Ian !
Thanks 👍
Stoked on this build series....cant wait to see how the mods work seriously thinking about picking one up.. Thanks for your honest reviews.
I'm stoked too!
Looking forward to the updates on this bike. Really enjoy seeing these machines. I will definitely be sticking with my DR650 though.
The DR is way more dependable
@@slalomking and way less powerful, it’s performance vs reliability, not comparable
Nice mod cause it looks better without the license plate bracket, all joking aside, that is one of the best looking dual sport bikes to date in my opinion. Great review Ian, can't wait to see more on the FE501!
What a great bike after some modifications!!! I’m jelly as my 15 year old daughter would say. All these people complaining about the price, do what makes you happy!!! And the scenery is just breathtaking….enjoy your new bike!!!!
The little things matter to me too, like the glittering blue paint. The milling of the swing arm is really sweet. And I love the overall color of the bike as well. Not only is it a very capable machine, it looks like one too. I just wish it weren’t so tall! Or I wish I wasn’t so short🧐
Thanks Ian top job I'm in Australia mate really enjoy your videos verry well done mate I was waiting on a good review no bs laughed at the tail light falling off good on ya for putting that in keep up the great honest job you do mate getting my mate to check out your channel top stuff cobber
Per Husqvarna's website, the FE501S weighs 117.4 kg (258.8 lbs) without fuel. So with a full fuel tank (2.1 gal = 12.8 lbs) the wet weight is 272 lbs. The KLX300 is 302 lbs wet, so the difference is 30 lbs instead of 50 lbs as guesstimate. Still pretty significant and sure it could be noticed.
Hey, I recognize that area, Garner Valley good riding around there you’ve got Thomas Mountain or Anza down the hill and dirt roads everywhere BTW, that Santa Rosa gas station has good chicken sandwiches. I live down the hill in Hemet and have been riding that area for decades.
Looking forward to seeing how your bike turns out. I've got a 2024 500 Six Days added to the fleet, so always looking to see what comes out. It would be cool to see a comparison between the different ECU options with the Best Dual Sport ECU flash, and then the stand alone ECUs.
coming soon
$13,000 bike - cheap plastic parts, cheap display, needs new tires, new seat, new exhaust, new hand guards, new skid plate, new gas tank, new tail, and forgot what else. But to compensate for that, they provide terrible service. I don't know how this is "well worth the money".
it's about performance. for some people the money is not a concern.
Excellent first impression review! 24:00 SPOT ON with the being able to feel weight difference. I've owned a DRZ since 2006. During the time I've owned the DRZ, I also owned a 2012 500 EXC dual sport for 2 years and I currently own a 2019 450 EXC-F Six Days (dual sport). I bought both KTMs new. It's instantly noticeable on the weight difference between either KTM and my DRZ. The KTM is far easier and more pleasant to ride on single track trails I like to ride.
That's a sweet ride. Definitely my favorite of all the bikes on the channel so far ;)
Still enjoying my xl600r, 4 times the seat.
I defintely wouldn’t want to use a 501 for anything too long on the road, the maintenance would be expensive for that, for enduro it is obviously fantastic but for road the 701 would be more adapted
Dual sport bike prices are getting out of hand. I went with the wife this weekend to find her an off-road capable bike and the best deal we found was on a KLR 650 S. She originally wanted a KLX 300 or CRF 300. It was crazy seeing them at 7800ish out the door at three different dealerships. The KLR 650 S was 8000 out the door. The used market isn’t any better. You can buy a used 300cc bike for 6000+ that has already been abused. My wife is also vertically challenged and said she felt more comfortable on the KLR S.
Royal Enfield Himalayan
@@reneeann5340 you are correct, but I am going to wait for the updated model before looking at it. I am an also looking at the ibex 450 for her as well.
Get a used KTM 250 EXCF
I have a 2020 Suzuki DRZ400 and a 2024 Kawasaki KLX300. The KLX makes a great first bike. Get a lower seat and lower the suspension and it would be a great bike for your wife I would guess. I much prefer my DRZ over the KLX for me as the suspension and power are sooo much better on the DRZ, much more fun to ride…
Double check, but I believe the 500/501 motor is a single overhead cam. And now we know your first aftermarket purchase - a TacoMoto tail tidy🙂
I find it really odd that these are called "dual sports" in the States, I mean it's an enduro machine made for competition. Things like mirrors and turn indicators are there just for road homologation. And to be honest I don't see why anyone but a desert racer would want a 60hp monster offroad 😅
Exactly why I bought a Beta!!!!
Tomato tomato
Reality is every dual sport ever made including 2025 models are made to meet on road regulatory requirements, maybe fit someone 5’10”, 180 lbs, have enough fuel capacity to go 80 miles and compromise tires for off-road. This is a labor of love (and money) for dual sport riders. If you love exploring trails, and maybe even some backcountry discovery rides, these bikes can be amazing. But extensive mods and meticulous bike prep is key to your enjoyment, safety and survival. Tough sport? Yes.
The yellow/blue color scheme is fantastic
First glance that seat looked painful so not surprising to hear it needs an upgrade. I personally don't care for the colour scheme but I'd love to try one of these out
Ktm 350 dual sport is around 12-13k ughhhh I want it so baddddd. But I agree with the comments for the price this bike shouldn’t have vibrations like that.
I'm glad you're impressed with the suspension. In my opinion the XPLOR on the 890AR is appalling.
I have a 23 and do really enjoy it. The only issue I’ve had is there is a rattling coming from around the handlebars it seems. Can’t figure out where.
That's a motocross bike with lights!
Enduro
Love the channel really enjoy the high end bikes and the way u make them better by putting the best of the best upgrades on them u spare no expense on your bikes that you for that
I sure hope it is. It’s a $13,000+ dual sport. Stock.
I would love to see the same build with the Beta 500 RR-S to see the cost difference. I know the Beta resale is not as good because of the lake of brand recognition. But I have watched a 430RR-s smoke the ktm 500 and the husky 501 time after time in standing and rolling start races
the beta's are a great value
Awesome video series! My blueprint for my new Husky i'm picking u tom! Please continue the great work I will be following the mod list very closely. First order will be the tidy tail/ enduro plate!
Thanks Ian for the great review always good to see different bikes on your channel, it does look like that bike would be throwable into the corners and over jumps. Looking forward to the next videos on this bike.
I wish you could do a supermoto setup for this bike too!
I've got the 2017 FE 501. That rear section for the plate was very beefy...so much that I just modified the stock one instead of going with a weaker aftermarket. Basically so it would keep supporting the rear fender a bit for luggage and it works better than the flimsy aftermarket one I bought.
I dont care about anything i just want this bike
It would be great if you can get a clutch weight to see if it helps with the vibration. They also come with a bigger clutch cover.
Ian, I cannot wait for this series! I'm about to pull the trigger on the '24 500 EXC-F and will be following your videos closely. It appears not to have the flame outs and twitchy throttle, etc.....correct? Thanks for your videos. Hopefully when you add parts you show install details..:)
I owned a 02 drz400 for over 10 years. Bought it new. Now I just picked up the GasGas version of this bike. The DRZ and The ES are not comparable in anyway. Not in power,not in performance and certainly not in weight.
The DRZ is a solid platform. It is a tank and very hard to kill. Like an XR I’d say. But if you want something more off-road capable then modern 350/500’s are the way to go.
1st impression of gasgas are seat sucks period. The mapping is super lean and will flame out easily. Fuel pump pickup is high and stupid. If you start running out of gas just shake the tank around or do a wheelie and it will go. It’s stupid.
I slapped a EJK piggy back tuner on it which definitely woke it up. I’m still running completely stock exhaust because I like that it’s quiet and running intake reeds. But the piggyback tuner absolutely helped it out. Only thing now is check engine light blinks. Most likely but not positive to do with O2 sensor being unplugged which it has to be with tuner. The gasgas is kinda the “Walmart” version of the Husky but I only paid $9,999 out the door and into my truck. Is it worth the few extra grand for the KTM/Husky? To some yes. The suspension is better and you get some extra stuff like hand guards and I think Brembo brakes. But I’m happy with my gasgas Es500 and everything he does to this bike is a match to my gasgas so I’m excited to see what he does.
Seems to me the AJP PR7 makes more sense, given all the mods you have to do.
Hmmmm. a boutique brand that uses another boutique brand's engine. Sounds like a recipe for reliability and good parts support.
I suggest you get a set of 17” rims for street fun days.
I’ll stick with my 2023 KLRs. I’ve had 28 bikes and this is my third KLR.
I’m that way except with a drz
I appreciate all your efforts to bring interesting and varied content. Once you get a bit further along on this build, I think it would be cool to contrast it to your 2020 6 Days KTM 500EXC. Is it really worth close to twice the money for an "average" solid intermediate rider? Thanks Ian!
The mode you had the camera on looks good Ian
Hi Ian. My 2024 501 is being used as a design mule by Nomad ADV in Holland and will be featured in the British ABR magazine. Very little design, if any, transfers over from the older FE range. My initial impressions are similar to yours. Brutal seat, amazingly good off tarmac, rideable on tarmac. It is what it is on the road. Once I pick mine up from Holland I'm away for a mini adventure, which will tell me if I have wasted £11,000! Nomad do turn dirt bikes into excellent light adventure bikes.
awesome, I might be getting a rally tower for mine as well
@@BigRockMoto if you want, Ian, I'll send you pictures and the article. The boys at Nomad ADV have done a beautiful job but it took a lot more engineering than they anticipated.
This makes me crave a new DRZ400S 🔥
Looks like some screws vibrated out on the license plate holder.
Similar thing happened on my 2023 300xc. And seen on some other bikes. Seems kinda common.
Next new KTM product I buy I’m double checking all the body fasteners.
Crazy that you can buy a 2 cylinder adventure bike for 3 grand less.
Please weigh it when done with additions too.
Just want you to know that when I see a new video I literally announce to the entire house “Hey Ian from Big Rock Moto just dropped a new video Imma need y’all to leave me alone for half an hour.”
Great choice for content. Ian, if you want to make your life easier try some Steg Pegz on this build. They really help with a punchy bike.
All I heard was complaints and why it sucks so much from the factory on top of stuff falling off. And have to spend mega cash to get it to what you want it to be. And on top of all that, it's the most expensive dual sport you can buy. I'm no genious, but why exactly would anyone want to pay top dollar for some bike that sucks stock and have to spend a butt ton more money to get it to be decent? After watching this video, I have realized that this bike has to be the biggest waste of money ever.
Yet again another good vid.
Can I ask what tiers your putting on please, just about to order some for my new exc-f 500. Putting a Cush hub on.
Thinking Motoz enduro ITs. Thanks Ian.
My buddy only ever rode with his license plate on his backpack. He would reach behind and flip it over when the cops chased him. 😆
Your laughter says it all.
Bolts going loose in tailpart. Why dont dealers do a proper install. How hard is it to properly assemble the bike.
I sort of wanna see you do a series on the Scram 411, would be interesting to see what you do to improve it.
In Europe the bike is doing 57HP at the wheel only with the euro map, you don't need to change the exhaust. The exhaust is maybe different for the US market, I'm not sure, seems similar to me
How's vibration compared to a crf450 rl with its dampening
This would be the bike I would get if I didn’t have Max! I can’t leave him home and he loves surfing the larger tanks!
Great review. I have to say Beta got the price, BYO, and fun factor ratio right.
Buen video 👍🏻
Me parece que la luz, y espejos sueltos son más un problema de la concesionaria que vendió la moto, que de la marca que la fabricó 🤷🏻♂️
Pero en fin uno espera que esas cosas no sucedan en una moto de $13K…. Pero pueden pasar.
Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷
While I agree that the TKC80's aren't the best tire for this category of bike, they do a decent job as a dual sport tire and are far better than some stock tires I've seen on other makes. I've had them on four factory KTM's now and I usually keep them on for 1000-1,500 miles just to get some use out of them before swapping over to something more appropriate. It always makes me appreciate the better tires that much more when I do swap them out which is nice.
I would like to ride one of the 2024 bikes to see just how much better the new suspension is over the Xplorer stuff. That said, most riders need some suspension work regardless of how good it is stock in order to get it properly sprung and valved for their weight and riding style so there's still money spent there. My biggest concern is the frame, lots of reports of the chassis being far too rigid for dual sport/enduro style riding. And it always sucks to drop $1K+ to get the power up and emissions nonsense removed but that's the overlord world we live in.
chassis feels great to me. i am having my suspension done right now
Wait on that tank upgrade, check your mileage first. These things can get amazing mileage.
Not manly enough for a big bore, I have the 350 version. It’s just a great handling well balanced joy to ride. There are no peaks in the power band all the way to its 12k red line. It’s reminiscent of my 08 EXC in smooth power and flick ability. Can’t wait to add the ecu/pipe combo. GREAT review.
Where do you buy a more comfortable seat? I’ve a 2024 TE150 that’s a rock!
In Canada it costs $12800.00 to buy the150, I love it. Been riding since 1971, DT250. Talk about inflation.
My atk has rotax 600 286 lbs 55 hp torquey made in USA change belt n cams tensioner sprockets n keeps going. Wp susp
These are all on sale at 2 different dealerships near me for $9,999.
2.1 Gall isn’t a bad size ! it’s more than my Honda CRF450 RX came with !
Can I order this bike without a fuel tank, hand protection, tires, seat, rear tail, original mapping, mirrors, bar clamps, exhaust and finally suspension? If not, I will deal with it like all my other bikes. 13k plus another 5-7k more making the bike proper.
2:12 where do they claim "wet" weight? I have never seen a KTM bike weight spec other than dry.
$13,000 and needs $3,000 worth of fixing factory shortfalls....makes absolutely no sense
I don't believe it needs $3,000 worth of mods since most people can't ride these bikes to their potential stock but they choose to do it for whatever reason. I bought a 2023 701 last fall and the only " mod " I did to it was foot pegs. Now I'm good to go.
Love the bike, hate the price. Maybe in 10 years when used ones are cheap lol.
Sorry, considering the pricing, crf300l still would be the better value dual sport with its USD 6k in our country
Yes, not so funny, but
Nice bike, thanks for the video Ian! FYI the FE501S sells for $19,800 in Oz.
Where Oz ?
@@slalomking Australia. Thats where MotOZ tyres come from 😄
@@slalomkingfollow the yellow brick road! 😁
Hi Ian, great initial ride review. I just picked mine up a couple of weeks ago. Is that start/stop switch the original one or the updated one? Apparently there was a recall from Husky/KTM regarding the switch. My dealer told me about it when I took delivery of the bike. My switch looks different from the one you have on there at the time of this video. The start/stop switch on the same bike in Taco Moto's video of Mike's initial walk around of the bike is the same switch that I have on mine. I believe it's the updated one. Just wondered if you knew about the switched switch on the '24 fe501s. I'm looking forward to the future upgrade videos on this machine! Keep up the great content. Ride safe.👊
Hey Big Rock Moto, I know you have already filmed a few episodes with this bike. But when you're done doing all the mods I am sure your followers/viewers would want to know the total cost of all the mods, including labor for anything you didn't do yourself and the stuff you get for free. That would be a real world barometer.
That's the plan!
TKC 80 are awesome & sticky