As an affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases made on our website.
The second dirt bike I ever owned was a Husqvarna FX 350 which I bought brand new a couple of years ago. In this post, I’ll be talking about my experience with the bike and doing a full review of the FX 350.
I’ve owned this bike for a few years now and mainly use it for trail riding around my area. I also own a TTR 125 (which I use for hunting) but I wanted to get a bit more speed out of the bike and that’s why I picked this up. It’s much bigger, way more powerful, and a lot more expensive.
That being said, you’re probably wondering whether this bike is worth the hefty price tag that comes with it and in this post, I’ll be sharing the pros and cons of the FX 350.
Durability
I’ve put a decent amount of hours on the bike since I’ve had it, but like I was saying before, I’ve only had it for a few years and it’s pretty hard to find durability issues in such a short time.
There really hasn’t been any serious issues with the bike and things are running pretty smoothly. Here is everything that’s happened to the bike and what I’ve had to do:
- The third or fourth time I was riding the bike it got a flat tire. It wasn’t the bikes fault or anything like that and I’m sure the same thing would have happened on any other dirt bike. I was able to inflate the tire long enough to get back to the truck but the tire did need to be patched up.
- When I was climbing a hill it was a bit too sandy to get up so I had to stop and turn back and the bike fell on its side and broke the handguard. It wasn’t a very hard fall so that was pretty unfortunate. Not a huge deal but again, it’s probably something that would have happened to any bike.
- A few months after the handguard broke off I had another decent spill and the tip of the front brake lever broke off. Some people like having the end of the lever off and I guess they’re designed to be pretty weak at that point.
That’s pretty much it. A few minor issues with the bike but definitely nothing major. I’ve been impressed so far with the durability of the bike and it’s passed the test for sure.
Weight & Height
The seat height of the FX 350 is just under 37″ (inches) and is the perfect size for me. I’m 6 feet tall and am able to touch the ground but not enough to be flat-footed. It’s probably going to be too tall for beginner riders and also a bit tall for anyone under 5′ 10″ (still rideable though, just won’t be able to touch the ground).
The weight of the FX 350 is 240 lbs (with a full tank of gas) which actually isn’t that bad considering the size (my TTR is around 200 lbs). It is fairly heavy if you haven’t been on a bike before but once you get the hang of it it’s really not that bad and is easier to control than some of the other bigger bikes.
Horsepower
The FX 350 comes loaded with around 53 horsepower and am not quite sure the top speed on it simply because I haven’t had the chance to top it out yet (at least 60 MPH). There is no way I’d need more speed out of it though because I do more trail riding where it’s pretty tight and with lots of turns.
Some of my buddies have 450 bikes and I’ve been able to keep up with them no problem. Sure, they might be faster going on a straight line but the FX 350 is lighter and easier to control (which has been way better for me). It was super stable on hills and I was able to make it up easier and faster than a lot of my buddies.
Engine
The FX 350 uses a 349.70cc engine that is as solid and reliable as any. The FX is a 4 stroke bike that comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. I noticed the bike shifted much smoother than a lot of the others I’ve been on but it didn’t hit as hard either (which I was completely fine with).
The engine is liquid-cooled as well so you’ll have to make sure you add that to your list of things to check. My TTR was air-cooled so it did take me some time to get in the habit of doing so.
Price
This is not a cheap bike. The FX 350 is currently priced at around $9000 (different places seem to have different prices). That price is for a brand new one though and it looks like you can get a decent priced one that’s been used.
If you can find one for sale for quite a bit less than that, buy it!
Is The Husqvarna FX 350 Street Legal?
If the FX 350 is completely stock then NO it’s not allowed on the streets. You can make some quick adjustments though and it’ll become street legal (which I plan on doing soon). It all depends on where you are because different countries and different areas have different rules so be sure to check.
The first thing you’ll need to do is attach a rear light and brake light. You can use the same taillight assembly that the FE models have (which are Husqvarna’s street-legal bikes).
The next thing you’ll have to do is get a headlight put on your bike. You can do the same thing with the FE models headlamp or you can find another light from a company like Baja Designs (here is their store on Amazon).
Husqvarna FX 350 Maintenance Schedule
The maintenance schedule on a dirt bike is pretty important. A lot of people don’t take care of their bikes and that’s the reason they’re always breaking down or not performing up to par.
First things first, always wash your bike after using it. Leaving dirt and debris all over your bike can actually start to corrode the joints and chain. It’s a simple thing to do so just get it done.
After I wash my bike I always grab some sort of stiff brush and scrub the dirt off of the chain. After that, I’ll toss on some lube to make sure it’s good to go for next time.
Next thing is the oil. It’s recommended that you change the oil every 10 operating hours. It’s kind of a pain doing this after every couple of days riding but it’s an expensive machine and is well worth the effort.
Every time you change the oil you’ll want to clean the air filter as well. It’s recommended you do this every 10 operating hours and it’s pretty simple to do. It’ll be a piece of cake after the first time you do it.
Remember when I said the bike was liquid-cooled? Well, that means you’ll have to add that to your maintenance schedule as well and check the coolant levels every 10 operating hours.
That’s kind of the main thing you should do on a regular basis. There are a few more things as well so I’ve included a picture below that will tell you more of the details (also look at your own manual).
Husqvarna FX 350 vs FC 350
- The FX 350 will be better for trail riding.
- The FC will be better for racing on the track.
Husqvarna FX 350 vs FE 350
- The FX 350 will be better if you’re using the bike for trail and track riding.
- The FE 350 will be better if you’re using the bike for trail and road riding.
Let me know your thoughts and any questions you have. Like this article? Feel free to give it a share!
Looking to get some new dirt bike gear? Click here to check out our recommended gear page to see the stuff we’re actually using and the cheapest place to pick them up.