The rolling hills of RAW Enduro’s Hapton venue provided the perfect battleground for an initial showdown: Enduro Dirt Bike versus motocross machine. While our visit had other purposes, this location, a classic northern landscape of steep inclines and open scramble sections punctuated by technical streams, rocks, and climbs, became an ideal proving ground to compare these two breeds of off-road motorcycle.
Jumping on the motocross bike first, the difference is immediately apparent. It’s an aggressive beast, all sharp edges and instant power. The engine feels peaky, demanding to be revved, and brimming with a brash energy. For a blissful hour, I reveled in its MX DNA, flicking it around, attempting (and often failing at) wheelies, and pivot turning out of tight spots. Its agility and responsiveness are utterly addictive. A quick blip of the throttle sends it soaring off small rises, landing with a playful eagerness. Sure, I stalled it a few times – a common MX bike trait in slower enduro terrain – but the sheer fun factor overshadowed any minor hiccups. The stiffness of the air fork is another highlight, offering precise feedback and going exactly where I pointed it. In those initial moments, the thought of adding an MX bike to my garage fleet became increasingly tempting.
Knowing the FC350 motocross bike boasts a smartphone app for power tuning, I decided to experiment. For this test, I dialed things down a notch, softening the throttle response and reducing engine braking through the app. The result was surprisingly effective, making the MX bike more manageable in the varied terrain. However, this was still a free-flowing, untimed session. There were no course markers, no pressure to stay in a specific line, and no riders breathing down my neck forcing mistakes. It’s always easier to feel like a hero when you’re the only one competing. And, importantly, JB, our photographer, wasn’t capturing any embarrassing upside-down bike moments, contributing to the overall positive vibe.
Being familiar with Hapton, I knew what to expect from the terrain, making it simpler to keep the high-strung MX engine in its sweet spot. The FC350 is undeniably a bike that thrives on being ridden hard. As many have said, a 350cc motocrosser is often considered a racer’s 450 – demanding to be ridden aggressively or it will quickly show who’s in charge. They love to rev and possess that characteristic MX snappiness.
For the sake of balanced photography and because JB knew my penchant for the MX bike, he insisted I switch to the FE350 enduro dirt bike. My immediate reaction? Dislike. It felt significantly taller than the MX bike. This highlights the value of back-to-back testing – subtle nuances can be lost when switching bikes less directly. The height difference was genuinely striking; the enduro bike felt cumbersome in comparison. The handlebars seemed much higher, and the whole riding position felt more stretched out and ‘leggy’. Clutch-dump spin turns and the constant back-and-forth of cornering for photos (“again, but slower this time, wider now, actually the first one was better, do that again!” and so on) required considerably more effort on the enduro machine. I found myself on tiptoes more frequently than I’d like. Intriguing.
While the FE350 predictably felt softer in the suspension department, it’s worth noting I had also softened the MX bike’s settings via the app. However, the enduro bike did eradicate the stalling issue I experienced on the MX bike, and surprisingly, I could actually maintain a slightly faster pace on the sharp, repeated granite rocks of the fire roads and driftier corners. The softer suspension and different engine characteristics of the enduro dirt bike began to reveal their advantages in specific off-road scenarios.
This experience underscores the significance of the mapping capabilities available on modern motocross bikes like the FC350. Husqvarna’s myHusqvarna app offers a powerful tool for customization:
“Following the launch of the 2021 motocross range, Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce the availability of the myHusqvarna app – an easy-to-use smartphone application that grants exact customization of engine on all 2021 four-stroke models. Ensuring true performance can be tailored to suit individual riders of all abilities, the myHusqvarna app and accompanying bike-mounted Connectivity Unit also allow the management and storage of motorcycle set-up information.
“Together with many other features the key highlights of the myHusqvarna app are two main engine modes – Prime and Advanced. These options let riders of all abilities accurately set-up their engine’s performance according to their specific requirements and track conditions.
“Combining valuable input from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing with extensive in-house research and testing, both modes give valuable set-up recommendations to support riders using the application. Additionally, in Prime mode riders have the possibility to adjust the level of traction control interference. The Advanced mode further permits modification of the engine brake, throttle response, traction and launch control, based on personal preferences.”
The question then arises: is this mapping technology merely a gimmick? In my experience, definitively not. While the technicalities of whether it’s pure ‘mapping’ or simply throttle position adjustment for various conditions might be debated, the tangible outcome is undeniable. The bike’s behavior changes dramatically and noticeably. The app provides genuine options to tailor the bike for sand, hardpack, slippery surfaces, and to adjust throttle response and traction control levels. This level of adjustability significantly bridges the gap between motocross and enduro dirt bike performance, allowing riders to fine-tune their MX machine for a wider range of off-road riding experiences.
