Good morning all,
Finally arrived at a purchase decision…after intending to get a new 450, I changed my mind and decided to keep my 21 (but low hour) 450 SXF and pick up a 350 instead.
I’m torn between the FC350 and the SXF. I’m a 40+ intermediate, larger guy (240, goal is 215-220), and other than my 125 (ie young) days have always ridden a 250 2stk/450 4stk. I like the looks of the FC better (especially the heritage with the white frame), and I know the softer bottom end can easily be fixed via airbox/mapping, but I am hung up on whether the shorter suspension would be a negative since I’m obviously on the heavier end of the suspension range. Obviously spring/possible revalve is in the cards with either bike but I’m just wondering if the shorter suspension would be stacking things against me.
Any input from folks that have ridden one or both would be appreciated.
The difference is so minimal to the average rider, that I'd recommend just getting the one that you want. I've had all three Austrian 350s. The bike is going to be undersprung off the floor for anyone over 165lbs despite what the manual might suggest. I had each of my 350s revalved/resprung shortly after purchase, and they all basically felt the same after that.
The new 350s are more luggable than previous gen -- the current motor is an incredible platform. But if you're coming from a 450, you'll probably end up putting a Vortex in it. I added one from XPR, and it's hands-down the best upgrade that I made on any of mine.
I put the Husky forks and linkage on my '24 SXF. I just needed the shorter seat height. Riding them I could not tell a meaningful difference.
Reading tests I am baffled at some of the comments like those saying the rider triangle feels cramped...
I personally went with the FC350 due to the shorter seat height. Can't go wrong either way!
Exactly, I even have a friend wno also owns an FC350 say that he was going to lenghten the suspension due to feeling cramped on the bike. It's like dude, you're reading to many posts on FB. The relationship between the bars , seat and pegs aren't effected at all by the shorter suspension so there's no way your feeling cramped...WTF?
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lol, that caught my attention as well. Obviously some test riders don’t understand that lowering suspension has zero effect on the triangle…
Thanks for all the responses. Also, I forgot to include that I’m 5’11” of a touch over. That said, on my 450 I’m on my toes.
This^^^^
I just got my 2025 FC350 Heritage version, and absolutely love it. As mentioned, you won't be able to tell the difference in suspension between this and the KTM when riding. I had a 23 KTM 350 was actually a bit tall for me, I'm just a tad over 5'8". I'v got the Vortex from XPR, exhaust flange, 2 stroke filter cage, and vented side panel, she rips!!! Don't over think it, get the one that floats your boat when you go out to the garage and look at it.
I’m 6’ and actually like the shorter stance of the FC. And yes the heritage white frame is awesome!
Outstanding looking bike. Love the black with white and white frame.
One of my buddies, who's been riding for 50+ years and raced a couple Pro Nationals back in day, always commented that his lowered Husky felt cramped compared to the KTMs he had ridden. We both agreed that the lowered chassis/suspension has absolutely nothing to do with that feeling, but when I rode his bike back-to-back with my KTM, I noticed the same thing. I have a 2024.5 Husky Factory Edition and a 2024 KTM 350SX-F, so I started taking measurements and came to the conclusion that the standard Husky seat (MX) is "thinner" than the standard KTM seat! Something about the seats is different (I think just the foam thickness) that results in a significant enough difference to measure - the thinner seat on the Husky results in what I measured to be about 0.5"-0.625" difference in foot peg to seat height. I reported this to my buddy and sure enough, he confirmed the same thing. Because you can't swap a KTM seat to a Husky, he ordered 13mm taller seat foam for his Husky and after doing that, I could swap from his Husky to a KTM and not notice the "cramped" feel. With that said, I know a lot of people who can't tell any difference, so maybe I'm just full of it. But I could definitely measure a difference in the seat overall thicknesses, FWIW.
I different seat will certainly make the bike feel different when seated. Definitely not "full of it." I have the Guts low seat, one more thing to get my feet closer to the ground.
Something to keep in mind I always tell people to just get the XC-F or the FX, the off-road huskies are not 10mm lower only the MX bikes.
You get the new awesome spring forks and you can put a SX tank on it for $120, and the 18" rear is fine for us mortals on an MX bike. A new 19" rear is going to be cheaper than spending money getting the air forks how you like them.
There is no other difference in the engine, tuning, etc between the two.
Xc transmission sucks for moto. If you ride lots of moto. I got rid of a XC because of that. 6sp vs tighter ratio 5sp
I have had both (actually all three) in the 250 flavor and the FC probably feels a little closer to the ground which I liked. It is easier to corner too.
Went from 19 450sxf to 2024 FC350, added the TD vortex, lov everything about the bike, even the stock forks, im 190lbs, 62, and quite slow so take it for what is worth
This is the route I went for the same reasons.
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