Just before Husqvarna updated its flagship dual sport bike for 2024, we took delivery of the 2023 FE 501s. As it turned out, we didn’t return it to its Austrian parents until the summer of 2024. That gave us nearly a year-and-a-half to flog the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s in all four seasons, from sea level to mile-high mountains. Now, it’s time to tell you how it did.
We didn’t ever ride the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s in stock condition. To satisfy noise requirements, of all things, the 501s is delivered with Continental TKC 80 tires, which are suited to adventure bikes rather than dual-sport motorcycles. That wouldn’t do, so we went in a different direction.
We wanted to keep the 501s street legal, so we had Editor-At-Large Bill Kranhold spoon on a pair of Shinko 216MX tires using a Rabaconda mounting system. Inside, we used Sedona Heavy Duty Taper Tubes and Stan’s No Tubes tire sealant. The tires are FIM- and DOT-approved with a maximum lug height of 13mm. Despite that, they are used in events like the Erzbergrodeo and Romaniacs hard enduros. We went with the Fat Tyre front, which has a taller profile. We’ll address the Shinko 216MX tire-specific characteristics in a review of its own. In the rear, a Motion Pro rim lock was installed to prevent the tire from rotating on the rim when inflated to a low psi.
A fast run from the historic mining town of Randsburg to the Trona Pinnacles that included cross-country riding, fast dirt roads, and some pavement quickly revealed a problem—the stock rear license plate holder does not get along with a knobby tire. Before the day was over, the plate holder was history, even with the short-knob Shinko 216MX. A full-on off-road knobby would have wiped it out almost instantly. We returned the wounded 501s to Pierer Mobility HQ and the bike was set up with an abbreviated holder, and that did the job for the rest of the test of the 2023 Husqvarna 501s.
Another ride or two confirmed the vulnerability of the ancient stock rearview mirrors. Before we broke two of them, we removed them. Most of our riding was off-road, so we never bothered to replace them. Even in busy areas such as suburban Santa Clarita, no one hassled us.
Had we known how long the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s would be in our stable, we probably would have installed a pair of Acerbis or Tusk dual sport mirrors, or something similar. Our on-street solution was to have the 501s rider in the front and another rider as a wingman, using our now-discontinued Cardo Packtalk Slim helmet-to-helmet mesh intercom units for safety.
With all that worked out, the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s was good to go for the next year-plus in the saddle.
While many riders genuinely do want a dual-sport bike that is a racebike with lights, we’re happy to have everything backed down a notch when we’re trail riding and exploring.
Abundant torque is what it’s all about, and the SOHC 511cc motor delivers the goods in a controllable manner. Once you hit 2750 rpm, you have over 20 ft-lbs of torque on tap all the way to the 9500 rpm redline. If the motor is turning over, it’s churning out more than 25 ft-lbs of torque over most of that range. It’s a sweet motor that’s never overwhelming.
The power increases linearly, with a nice peak plateau of around 40 horsepower from 7k to the rev limiter. That broad overrev range makes it possible to avoid shifting in awkward situations, such as a steep, high-speed hillclimb—just keep twisting the throttle, and it’s all good. At lower speeds, the motor feels docile, and when you do get on the gas, revs pick up controllably, making it easy for even a newer off-road rider to manage. Yet, an experienced hand can get plenty of performance out of the mill.
Clearly, there’s more to be had if you’re not satisfied with the motor, as the off-road-only FE 501 is good for another five horses on top—plenty of power upgrade paths exist, from exhausts to ECUs. We didn’t feel the need, and we prefer the reduced maintenance requirements and enhanced reliability that come with a friendly motor that realizes 40 horsepower is aplenty.
The lowest rpm is the only place in the powerband where the short-stroke single is problematic. It can be reluctant to start up with a push of the button. The bike feels more like it’s carbureted at start-up time rather than fuel-injected. Additionally, the battery seems to be a “just enough” item. We would go with a higher-capacity battery if we were keeping it. Also, the idle speed can vary, and the engine sometimes stalls if you’re stopped in 1st gear with the clutch in, such as at a stoplight.
Just as the motor is a sweetheart on the trail, so is the chassis. The frame is the same as the off-road bike, so the handling is superb in a wide range of conditions. You can confidently ride a single-track trail that empties into a 6th speed run through the desert. Sure, if you do a lot of high-speed desert riding, you’ll want a steering stabilizer; if that’s not on your to-ride list, it’s not necessary.
The WP suspension units are mismatched—Xplor front and linkage-assisted Xact rear—yet are wonderfully compliant and integrated. Test riders ranged from 115 to 170 pounds, and we’re not doing clickers when swapping between bikes on rides. The suspension is taught enough to provide high-speed confidence and doesn’t wallow on technical trails. The Husqvarna and WP engineers nailed it on the suspension settings.
Braking is handled with downshifts and the Braktec calipers. Brembo partisans will likely look down their noses at the units, but the Braktec graspers were fine for us—front and rear.
A big part of the success of the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s off-road is its outstanding ergonomics. The bike is narrow, and the seat/grips/pegs relationship is ideal for sitting, standing, and transitioning. While a fantastic engine and chassis can give you plenty of confidence, a superb seating position makes a huge difference, and the 501s has it. Although some will justifiably complain about the hard and narrow seat, none of our test riders had an issue with it on long rides.
At five-foot-six, Associated Editor Kelly Callan occasionally struggled with the 37.4-inch seat height, but the 259-pound wet weight more than made up for it with her. It’s 20 pounds more than the Honda CRF250RX she has been testing frequently, but the doubled displacement helps mask that.
As we went out on rides from our suburban satellite headquarters, we put a decent amount of time on the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s on the pavement. It’s fun around town, except when it stalls unexpectedly when the clutch is in and the revs drop. Handling in the twisties is completely tire-dependent—put street rubber on the rims, and it will shred. On the freeway, the motor is buzzy around 65 mph, and dropping to 55 mph or upping it to 70 or so helps. As we all are well aware, the FE 501s is a heavily dirt-slanted dual-sport bike, and it reminds you every time it’s on pavement.
We did only the most routine maintenance on the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s. We kept thinking it was going back soon! Regardless, checking the chain, washing the air filter, and an oil change was all it took for the 501s to run without a hiccup. The only failure after the license plate holder fiasco was the loss of the kickstand spring. Fortunately, the FE 501s has a kickstand retaining loop, and Editor Don Williams became quite adept at inserting and removing the kickstand with one hand at stops.
You don’t have to be a mind reader to know we were enamored with the 2023 Husqvarna FE 501s. We kept it so long that we never tested the new, updated 2024 edition—oops! It became a friendly and reliable riding companion, and no one likes to lose those. The FE 501s isn’t the race bike some might want, but it is the wonderfully performing dirt bike we love in a dual-sport mount.
Photography by Kelly Callan, Bill Kranhold, and Don Williams
2023 Husqvarna FE 501s Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Single-cylinder 4-stroke
- Displacement: 511cc
- Bore x stroke: 95 x 72mm
- Compression ratio: 12.75:1
- Valvetrain: SOHC; 4 valves
- Fueling: Keihin EMS w/ 42mm throttle body
- Muffler: Aluminum; USFS-approved spark arrester
- Cooling: Liquid
- Starting: Electric
- Transmission: 6-speed
- Clutch: Diaphragm-spring wet-multiplate w/ Braktec hydraulics
- Final drive: 520 X-ring chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Double-cradle chromoly steel
- Subframe: Polyamide reinforced w/ aluminum
- Handlebar: ProTaper
- Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable inverted WP Xplor 48mm fork; 11.8 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Linkage-assisted, fully adjustable WP Xact piggyback-reservoir shock; 11.8 inches
- Front wheel: 21 x 1.60
- Rear wheel: 18 x 2.15
- Tires: Continental TKC 80 (Shinko D216MX w/ Fat Tyre front, as tested)
- Front tire: 90/90 x 21 (90/100 x 21, as tested)
- Rear tire: 140/90 x 18 (120/100 x 18, as tested)
- Front brake: 260mm disc w/ Braktec caliper
- Rear brake: 220mm disc w/ Braktec caliper
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 58.5 inches
- Rake: 26.5 degrees
- Triple clamp offset: 22mm
- Seat height: 37.4 inches
- Ground clearance: 14.2 inches
- Fuel tank capacity: 2.16 gallons
- Wet weight: 259 pounds (stock)
2023 Husqvarna FE 501s Price: $12,649 MSRP
2023 Husqvarna FE 501s Review Photo Gallery
