2014–2019 · Enduro · Buyer's Guide
Dirt-Ready, Trail-Proven Grunt
The FE 501 is built around a 511 cc liquid-cooled single making 58 hp, and the number matters far less than how the power arrives. This is a big-bore four-stroke tuned to pull from just off idle, carrying enough flywheel weight that it keeps chugging where a motocross motor would stall and spit you off the back. Around it sits a light chromoly steel frame with fully adjustable WP suspension at both ends, 11.8 inches of front travel and 13.0 inches at the rear, and traction control as standard equipment. With 13.6 inches of ground clearance, the geometry was drawn for rocks and ruts.
On the trail it behaves like a machine that wants to keep you upright rather than prove a point, and traction always comes before peak output. Ruggedness is the other half of the story. This generation takes abuse and keeps running, routine service is approachable if you turn your own wrenches, and aftermarket support runs deep enough to build it around whatever you actually ride. It's a bike for experienced riders working genuinely technical ground. The honest caveat is range: 2.4 gallons (9 L) disappears quickly behind a 511 cc single, so long days need a fuel plan and the known weak spots want watching.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 58 hp (43 kW) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 511 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 140/80-18 |
| Wheelbase | 58.3 in (1482 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 13.6 in (345 mm) |
| Front travel | 11.8 in (300 mm) |
| Rear travel | 13.0 in (330 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.4 gal (9 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
You notice the height before anything else. Getting a boot up onto the peg is a stretch, and once you're aboard the bike feels narrow between your knees, almost thin, with nothing in the way when you shift your weight around. The single has a dry, hard bark to it, deeper than the noise most dirt bikes make, and it comes through the pegs as a steady physical pulse rather than a buzz. Standing is clearly the default posture. Bar position, tank shape, and peg placement line up so you're over the front without hunching, and the skinny 21-inch front wheel tracks straight through junk that would deflect a smaller hoop. At an honest trail pace the whole thing sits calm underneath you and never feels like it's arguing with your inputs.
Clutch slave cylinder failure
The OEM clutch slave cylinder can fail prematurely, leading to loss of clutch actuation. Replacing with an aftermarket slave (e.g., Oberon) is a common fix.
Front fork seal leaks
Some owners report the front fork seals weeping or leaking, especially after heavy off-road use, leading to reduced damping performance.
Clutch slippage due to worn plates
Owners note that the clutch may begin to slip under hard acceleration, often caused by worn friction plates.
Fuel pump and filter degradation
Fuel pumps and filters can become clogged or fail around 200-300 hours, causing poor running, stalling, and hard starting.
Countershaft seal leak
The countershaft seal is prone to leaking, requiring replacement to prevent oil loss.
Stalling and hesitation
Some owners report engine stalling or hesitation during acceleration, often traced to fueling or air filter issues.
Where this Husqvarna FE 501 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Displacement
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the FE 501 is actually built for.
This is your bike. It was drawn for exactly the terrain you go looking for, and the traction-first engine keeps you moving where sharper motors stall. Plan your day around the 2.4-gallon tank.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
It will hold its own on a motocross track, but the tuning here favors traction and drive in rough terrain over the explosive hit a race moto rewards. Buy it for the trail, not the gate.
Made for Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area · Fox Raceway at Pala · Glen Helen Raceway
The dirt sections of a BDR are easy money on this bike. The connecting miles and the fuel math are the hard part: 2.4 gallons and a hard-working single make multi-day logistics tighter than you'd like.
Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Husqvarna FE 501. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
