r/supermoto • u/Kaiki-Deishuu • 4d ago

About to purchase a 2024 FE 501s. How does it compare to a CRF300L?

I'm very seriously considering purchasing a 2024 FE 501s for a great deal (approx. $8500-$8600 OTD) but I have a few questions.

I'm coming off a CRF300L. For anyone that's ridden both, how do the vibrations and general road manners compare? How do they compare on the highway?

I plan on using this as a do-it-all bike, but I don't intend on doing super long trips on the highway (maybe an hour or two <6 times a year) or need to rely on it for commuting. Although I will likely commute on it fairly often for fun. It will also be subjected to 15-35 minute highway rides fairly often.

How long do you guys typically wait to do top ends? I'd like to hear from people that do both supermoto and dualsport. I plan on doing quite a bit of both.

As far as conversions go, do you think it requires more than the new stock suspension and a 320mm floating front to be good? I've heard people say older models were too soft stock, but the new stuff is way stiffer I hear.

Before anyone suggests it, yeah, I've considered the 701/690, but unfortunately where I am the FE 501s is a good $3000-$5000 less expensive. My primary motivations for swapping from the 300 were to save weight and increase power, as well. The 701 does not fit both of those bills.

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6

u/connornomore 3d ago

501 is an s tier bike. At that price, I'll hit you over the head with a hammer if you don't buy it

2

u/Kaiki-Deishuu 3d ago

Yes, sir. o7

This will just be my only bike, so it’s either this or a slightly less expensive street bike alongside my 300L. The prospect of two bikes makes it a more difficult decision.

3

u/Ok_Celebration_2560 3d ago

This will be a huge quality of life upgrade over the 300L

2

u/mr_clo 4d ago

You don’t need anything much more than bigger rotor and 17s for sumo stuff. I think it vibes a great deal. And it also isn’t great on highway, and can’t speak for long term maintenance haven’t owned it long enough

2

u/Ktheelves 3d ago edited 3d ago

lol cmon bro.

Edit: just saw you could have a street bike and 300l. What kind of street bike? I have a 21 501 but my bikes strictly for fun so I don’t have to worry about commuting but it can do it. Insane reliability and enough power to pull it up in top gear at low rpm’s. The bikes and animal but depending on the bike you can get would maybe sway the decision.

1

u/Kaiki-Deishuu 2d ago

Not really set on a specific street bike. I just have a budget of not more than 9500–10,000 at the most (including insurance). That’s a lot of options.

The big thing is that while I’m not reliant on the bike, I do ride a lot. Probably 5,000+ miles a year. I I just haven’t seen very convincing proof that the Husky can put with that kind of abuse for long. Hence me thinking that, as much as I’d like it, perhaps a supermoto isn’t for me at the moment.

But then I think about the insane deal and I’m right back to where I started.

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u/Ktheelves 2d ago

Honestly I’d either get a slightly used husky/ktm500 and throw sumo wheels and some mods or I’d get a newer mt07 and have the 300l also up to you. I will say the 501 is a silly bike and I’ve raced 1000cc and 600s and the bike I had before this was a pretty worked 690smcr and this thing is another level of ridiculous. 60hp on 220ish pounds is wild. The bike feels like it has a power band like a 2 stroke. Try and ride one if you can.

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u/Kaiki-Deishuu 1d ago

So... I've just learned that there is a sub-1000 mile 2024 Street Triple 765 R at a dealership within driving distance from me that I could have with comprehensive insurance for something in the neighborhood of $9500... thoughts? Very tough call.

If I'm being entirely honest... I do not know why my insurance is so cheap. I would describe myself as a new-er rider; a pretty significant part of me says that while that's a rocking deal... I simply have no business on the Street Triple. Especially since I have very limited experience on non-dirt-style bikes.

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u/Ktheelves 1d ago

It’s cheap because of the displacement and type of bike. They go off of numbers, how common they’re crashed and stolen et plus where you live in the country and driving history. The last time I rode a street trike was probably 2012 ish when the triumph sales rep let me ride the whole line up and gave me rocket 3 for the week but I always loved the street and speed triple. It’s up to you I’m at a different point in my riding career with kids bore the only time I ride is to do errands and hooligan shit so my 501 is perfect I couldn’t ask for a better bike. Tbh I ride my surron more than anything the last two years.