2020 Husqvarna FC 250 | Track Tested Video

2020 HUSQVARNA FC 250 | COMPLETE CONTENT ARCHIVE

For 2020 Husqvarna only made a few changes to its motocross lineup, knowing well that it already had proven winners in all three divisions (including the 350). We took delivery of our 2020 FC 250 test bike last week at Milestone MX Park and have logged three solid days of riding on the new machine and are quite impressed with its performance. 

One of the things we love most about the Austrian machines isn’t that they were the first to be outfitted with electric starters, but rather for how well they work. While some of the Japanese machines equipped with e-start seem to labor before roaring to life, the Husky barks as soon as the button is depressed. With or without the choke, and whether the bike and weather is hot or cold, the FC 250 fires right up in an instant.

Ergonomically, the FC 250 is excellent, with a slim feel between the rider’s legs and a nice footpeg-to-seat ratio that accommodates a variety of rider heights well. The Husky comes outfitted standard with excellent Pro Taper oversized handlebars that we love: the bend is universally liked by all of our test riders and they do an exceptional job of dampening vibration from both the engine and track feedback. We only wish the bike would come standard with a Pro Taper bar pad instead of the strange rubberized Husqvarna pad.

The biggest change in the way the new FC 250 feels on the track in comparison to the bike it replaces is in the suspension department. Though the shock still comes with a 4.2 rear spring and the recommended standard fork air pressure is 10.4 bar, internal valve settings are directed at more initial compliance and comfort. Unlike the softer setting in the FC 450, we weren’t deterred by the plusher settings and the bike was praised by our fastest participating tester, 155-pound Pro, Rene Garcia, who enjoyed the initial action of the fork and shock but didn’t have a problem bottoming either end. With the shock sag set around 103-105mm, the FC 250 enjoys great balance with a lot of front-end traction in the corners. The bike is exceptionally adept in rutted corners but surprisingly stable and confidence-inspiring in faster stand-up sweepers. We slowed the shock rebound down several clicks to really get the bike to lay into the corners and were very pleased with the bike’s ability to change direction with minimal input.