Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1366987
8 Trail Rider 2021 Husqvarna FE 501 s 2021 Husqvarna FE 501 s Dual Sport Madness Dual Sport Madness By Kurt Flachbart By Kurt Flachbart Dual Sports. I'll be honest, as a woods rider who prefers the gnarlier terrain, I've never been much of a fan. Most true dual sports are a series of compromis- es, and in the end, they just don't do anything really well. The majority are porky, underpowered with horrid suspension for any real woods work, and riding long stretches of pavement has never been my thing. When we took delivery of a new 2021 FE Husky 501 s earlier this spring, I had my doubts as I threw a leg over and headed out to see what this new Husky had in store for me. Ini al impressions are the 501 s feels light. Having been used to the Husky/KTM pla orm for many years, I'm familiar with the feel. It's narrow and carries its weight low. It's also quiet. Incredibly quiet and unassuming. In today's day and age, quiet is good since some mes it's be er to blend in than stand out. Over the course of a week, I spent more and more me with the 501 s. Ge ng "one" with the machine is good prac ce before se ng out on any real ride, and let me tell you, it was me well spent. I'm guilty of throwing parts at bikes, and I have a handful of components that I'm familiar and confident with, but I've also been guilty of changing the dynamics of a bike over me, hence my 285 lb. 2013 KTM 300 that's been pushed into the corner for a svelte, less clu ered ride. In this case, I felt it best to get used to the new 501 s as it was delivered, fresh out of the crate. The more miles I put on the 501 s, I began to gel with the dual sport groove. Our Sprinter van was in need of res, and working alone, I would have needed to reach out to a friend for a ride home a er dropping off the van at the re shop. Might as well throw the 501 in the back and ride it home. Given the fact that it's mostly back roads, I took the long way that included a sweet stretch of camp roads for a quick dirt fix. As men oned above, my pavement riding typically consists of knobbies on tar and I'm used to that. The stock Con nental Twinduro res delivered a surefooted feel on the tarmac and thankfully didn't exhibit even a hint of the imbalance I'm so used to running knobs on pavement. Strangely enough, the more I rode the 501 s, the less I felt the need to change anything. What's fun about longer solo rides is it gives the rider me to think about the en re package.