Best Motocross Bike 3rd Place—2021 Husqvarna FC 250

Hugh Janus · December 18, 2020

Rounding out the podium in the 250F Motocross Shootout for the second year in a row is the Husqvarna FC 250. With a smooth yet powerful engine, suspension settings that do a fantastic job of gobbling up small chop, and a chassis that is lower to the ground and corners better than in years past, the FC 250 is a very user-friendly motorcycle. It could be considered a slightly milder-mannered version of the KTM 250 SX-F in some regards, and a number of those differences in attributes suit riders of certain weights and skill levels better than others. With that, which Austrian-made 250 four-stroke motocross bike is best for you depends mostly on your weight, riding ability, and what you value in a 250F motocross bike as far as suspension setup and handling.

“Overall, the Husqvarna FC 250 is a very easy motorcycle to hop on and ride, but seems to keep getting better with more speed. It is a winner in my book as it blends the balance of potency and rideability that I am looking for.” —Michael Gilbert (Jeff Allen/)

2021 Husqvarna FC 250 Engine

Before loading all of the bikes in the van and heading to the track, hard empirical numbers needed to be established, which included runs on the Dirt Rider dyno. The FC 250 cranked out 40.3 hp at 13,300 rpm and 19.3 pound-feet of torque at 9,100 rpm with a Dunlop D404 street tire mounted on the rear wheel, which put it in the runner-up spot in the peak horsepower rankings of the class along with the most peak torque.

Related: 2021 Husqvarna FC 350 Review First Ride

Being that it shares the same engine as the KTM 250 SX-F, the FC 250 unsurprisingly shares a nearly identical horsepower and torque curve to it. The only notable differentiation along the curve between the two Austrian bikes are that the FC 250 makes just a minuscule amount more than the 250 SX-F from 8,800 to 9,800 rpm and a touch less than the orange bike from 11,000 to 11,500 rpm and 11,900 to 12,400 rpm before the 250 SX-F begins to ascend higher on the curve at 12,700 rpm until it makes its peak horsepower of 41.1 at 400 rpm higher than the FC 250. When all is said and done, the Husqvarna makes 0.8 hp less than the KTM at peak.

The FC 250 is competitive on the dyno; 40.3 hp at 13,300 rpm puts it in the runner-up spot in peak horsepower and 19.3 pound-feet of torque at 9,100 rpm is the highest peak figure in the class. (Michael Gilbert/)

Compared to the three Japanese bikes, the FC 250 makes more horsepower than the Honda CRF250R, Kawasaki KX250, and Yamaha YZ250F from 5,200 to 8,200 rpm. The Austrian machine is matched by only one of those three bikes, the CRF250R, from 8,200 to 8,400 rpm, and then passed by the red machine from 9,600 to 10,800 rpm. The FC 250 follows the same horsepower curve as the CRF250R from 10,800 to 11,600 rpm, then passes it until both machines reach peak.

Related: Best Motocross Bike 4th Place—2021 Husqvarna FC 450

As far as torque, the FC 250 again follows a similar curve to the 250 SX-F with the only notable differentiations between the two being the amount of peak torque they make; both record their highest figure at 9,100 rpm with the FC 250 producing a class-leading 19.3 pound-feet and the 250 SX-F churning out just 0.2 pound-feet less. Also, from 13,000 rpm to peak, the FC 250 is down just slightly compared to its orange counterpart.

Making more torque than the CRF250R from 5,200 to 8,000 rpm, the FC 250 meets the red bike briefly from that point until 8,400 rpm. It then supersedes the CRF250R until 9,500 rpm, gets passed by it from 9,500 to 10,600 rpm, follows a similar curve to Big Red until 11,600 rpm, then remains higher on the curve than it from that point until peak. The FC 250 makes more torque than the KX250 and YZ250F from 5,200 rpm all the way to their respective rev limiters.

“Although the Husqvarna is very mellow from the low-end to midrange, the power is nice on the top-end. I wasn’t very impressed with its Magura hydraulic clutch as I felt like it needed more input to help with shifting.” —Michael Wicker (Jeff Allen/)

With its broad power delivery, the FC 250 builds power in a very linear manner throughout the rpm range and really comes alive in the midrange to top-end. It pulls all the way to the rev limiter and can run a gear effectively the second-longest behind the 250 SX-F, which pulls an extra 400 rpm before signing off. Although the FC 250′s torque feel isn’t as plentiful as the YZ250F’s, it is stronger than the KX250′s and CRF250R’s and comparable to the 250 SX-F’s. Selecting map 2 on the handlebar-mounted engine map select button increases the bike’s torque feel slightly and is Dirt Rider testers’ go-to map regardless of the track conditions. The FC 250′s bottom-end power falls in the middle of the five bikes as it makes more than the CRF250R and KX250, but not quite as much as the 250 SX-F and noticeably less than the class-leading YZ250F.

Part of the reason the FC 250′s low-end grunt isn’t quite as plentiful as the 250 SX-F’s is due to airflow. While the 250 SX-F comes with an optional ventilated airbox cover that has 10 relatively large perforations, the FC 250′s six slit-shaped vents are not only less in quantity, but smaller in size, which limits airflow and makes for slightly less throttle response. The FC 250 can be made to run more similar to the 250 SX-F by drilling holes in the airbox cover that emulate the size and pattern of those on the KTM’s.

Equipped with a Magura hydraulic clutch, the FC 250 has the second easiest clutch pull in the class behind the KX250. Some test riders commented that the clutch felt like it needed more input to help with shifting under load, and that keeping the clutch lever adjusted as far out as they were comfortable with was key to having good clutch input and easy shifting. As it has been for the past several years, the FC 250 is easy on the ears as the quietest bike in the class.

2021 Husqvarna FC 250 Suspension

With 10mm (0.4 inch) lower suspension via shorter fork cartridges and outer tubes along with a revised shock linkage, the Husqvarna FC 250 is differentiated from its orange Austrian counterpart more than ever in 2021. (Jeff Allen/)

Like the rest of Husqvarna’s 2021 full-size motocross bike lineup, the FC 250 features 10mm (0.4 inch) lower suspension than prior year models via shorter fork cartridges and outer tubes along with a revised shock linkage, which is now one of the major differentiations between it and the 250 SX-F.

The FC 250′s suspension setup is a noticeable improvement over the prior year model and the most comfortable Husqvarna we’ve swung a leg over in terms of suspension feel. For riders who are novice level in ability and less than 150 pounds, the WP Xact air fork and WP Xact shock have a near-perfect setting for a rough track like Glen Helen. Because of the suspension’s somewhat soft setting in stock trim, the fork and shock tend to move too quickly through the stroke and can come close to bottoming in the case of a big impact such as an overjump, but this can mostly be alleviated by stiffening the compression at both ends.

“I have always really appreciated the WP air fork on both of the Austrian motorcycles, mainly for the ease of adjustability. They do a fantastic job of blending a balance of small bump compliance and big-hit support, and have always been very easy for me to dial in.” —Michael Gilbert (Jeff Allen/)

For riders more than 150 pounds, regardless of ability, the FC 250′s suspension is a little soft and springy with the stock settings, and some pitching is noticeable in braking bumps. This causes the components to ride a little low in the stroke, which can provide a bit of a harsh feel in rough areas of the track, especially acceleration bumps. Increasing the fork’s standard air pressure setting from 10.5 bar to 10.7 bar and going in a few clicks on the compression improves the fork’s initial bump absorption. Also, raising the sag from the recommended 105mm to 103mm helps get the shock to ride in the softer part of the stroke, which makes for more comfort on bump absorption.

2021 Husqvarna FC 250 Chassis/Handling

“The FC 250 has a distinct lower ride height. The chassis is stable and almost no longer has a hinged feeling under load.” —Allan Brown (Jeff Allen/)

The FC 250 is a very neutral-handling bike that corners better than ever thanks to its distinctly lower ride height compared to the other bikes in this test. It has a slight chopper feel to it, which is mostly alleviated by decreasing the sag (raising the rear of the bike) and stiffening the shock’s high-speed compression. These adjustments also improve the Austrian machine’s already-impressive turning capability. Being the only motorcycle in the class to feature a composite carbon fiber subframe, the rear portion of the FC 250 provides the most suppleness and comfort in terms of chassis feel.

Like its handling characteristics, the FC 250′s ergonomics are mainly neutral. The rider position is right where it should be thanks to the bike’s well-proportioned rider triangle and having more of a sit-on feel. There are no unwanted protrusions in the bodywork that inhibit rider movement either. Also, its handlebar is noticeably wider than those on the Japanese models and offers more flex and comfort than the Neken bar found on the KTM. Sharing Brembo brakes, which are the strongest in the class, and ODI lock-on grips with the 250 SX-F are just a few additional features that make the FC 250 such an excellent bike right off the showroom floor.

“In a sport as gnarly and demanding as motocross, it’s nice to have a bike like the Husqvarna FC 250 underneath you. It offers a smooth, super-predictable power delivery that pulls seemingly forever, a plush suspension setup, and a well-rounded chassis that has plenty of compliance thanks to the composite carbon fiber subframe and ProTaper handlebar. The Husqvarna is the most expensive of the five bikes gathered here, but its multitude of high-quality components and fit and finish reflect the premium price tag.” —Andrew Oldar (Jeff Allen/)

Why the 2021 Husqvarna FC 250 Should Have Won

The FC 250 produces some of the highest numbers on the dyno throughout the rpm range including the most peak torque. On the track, it has a great combination of high-rpm power combined with an impressive torque feel, the most comfortable suspension setup in stock trim for lighter, novice-level riders, a compliant chassis that handles very neutrally, the best brakes, and several other high-quality components in stock trim.

Why the 2021 Husqvarna FC 250 Didn’t Win

It doesn’t have as strong of a bottom-end power delivery as the YZ250F or 250 SX-F, lacks some suspension holdup on large impacts, and the shock rides a little low in the stroke when the bike is piloted by heavier riders. With that being said, although it’s improved in this area over last year, the FC 250′s suspension setup still isn’t quite as suitable for a wide range of rider weights and abilities as some of the other bikes in the class.

Gearbox

Helmet: Arai VX-Pro4

Goggle: Scott Fury

Jersey: FXR Racing Podium MX

Gloves: FXR Racing Clutch Strap MX

Pant: FXR Racing Podium MX

Boots: Sidi Crossfire 3 SRS

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