You know you’ve arrived if you go to a local racetrack and see yourself. That’s what’s happened to Malcolm “Mookie” Stewart. On any day of the week on any given racetrack there might well be a handful of Mookie imitators, wearing Mookie gear, riding Mookie motorcycles and maybe even sporting Mookie hair.
This year, at the age of 32, Malcolm Stewart won his first 450 Supercross main event at his home race in Tampa, Florida. It was a wildly popular win with the fans and even with the NBC announcers in the booth—one of whom was older brother James Stewart. In truth, Malcolm didn’t have to win a Supercross to be a crowd favorite. He already had a replica of his bike available at most Husqvarna dealerships. The 2025 Husky FC450 Factory Edition is a limited-edition FC450 with Rockstar graphics and a big number 27. It’s the model formerly known as the Rockstar Edition, but everyone calls it the “Malcolm Stewart replica.”
THE EXTRAS
The Factory Edition offers more than cosmetic upgrades. It gives you a list of extras that include:
• Rockstar Factory Racing graphics
• Guts gripper seat cover
• Connectivity Unit Off-road
(CUO) with GPS
• LitPro compatibility
• Rekluse outer clutch cover
• FMF slip-on muffler
• Split triple clamps
• Excel rims
• CNC-machined hubs
• WP holeshot device
• Carbon-composite skid plate
• Gray ODI lock-on grips
• Black rear aluminum sprocket
• Carbon-composite brake disc guard
• Longer-travel fork
• Longer-travel rear suspension
• Taller seat height
Accordingly, the MSRP is $12,799. That’s $1400 more than the standard model, $100 more than the KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition and $200 more than the Honda CRF450RWE. The good news is that it’s $800 less than the Kawasaki KX450SR. Those last three are all special editions that use a slightly different formula to offer more value. The Honda and Kawasaki both have suspension refinement and head porting, whereas the Husqvarna and KTM have no substantial performance upgrades aside from the slip-on exhaust systems. The suspension travel and seat height are not reduced on the Husky Factory Edition (but are for the standard FC450).
One feature that both the Husky and KTM special editions offer that no one else has right now is Bluetooth telemetry through the Connectivity Unit Off-road (CUO). The Factory Edition comes with hardware that allows it to connect to your smartphone as well as GPS service. With the free Ride Husqvarna app, you can adjust a number of engine parameters. This function is similar to the Yamaha Power Tuner, but a little more simplified. You don’t alter spark advance, fuel mixture or throttle position individually. Instead, it gives you generalized terms. You can choose Smooth, Standard or Aggressive power delivery. Then you get to choose between five levels of throttle response, traction control, launch assist and Quickshift sensitivity. There’s also a suspension tab that gives you guidelines on how to set up the fork and shock, as well as other tabs where you can log service and download manuals.
Another aspect of the CUO is GPS telemetry provided by Litpro. This function costs $11.99 a month or $69.99 a year, and once you sign up, every ride is downloadable. The information provided is a dream come true for every riding coach in America. After each ride, you can see your speed on individual laps, segment times and so forth. This is nothing new for LitPro users, but the Ride Husqvarna app also gives you information from the motorcycle, such as what gear the bike is in and what rpm the motor is turning. It’s fascinating stuff.
THE BIKE BENEATH THE GRAPHICS
This year the FC450 Factory Edition doesn’t have any substantial changes compared to the 2024 model. That’s not true for the standard FC450. It got the Factory Edition frame for 2025, so now the two models are almost on the same page. We say “almost” because they still have different seat heights because of slightly limited suspension travel on the standard model. In the grand marketing plan for the three brands within the Pierer Mobility structure, Husqvarna is seen as the one that targets more mature riders. It makes sense; if the Husqvarna brand means something special to you, you’re probably not a kid. Accordingly, all of Husky’s motocross bikes (outside the minis) have a lower seat height than corresponding KTM or GasGas models. The frames and motors are the same, only the fork, shock, and linkage were changed. This does not extend to the Factory Edition. According to the specs, the Factory Edition Husky fork has 310mm of travel, whereas the standard edition has 305mm. The rear suspension is 300mm versus 293mm. All that is said to make the Factory Edition 8mm taller in the saddle. Whether or not those numbers actually make sense is a matter for another day. The bottom line is that the Factory Edition is slightly taller than the standard model. Both bikes use the same WP Xact air fork, and the valving is the same, front and rear.
The motor is the same too—a SOHC five-speed with four valves driven by rocker arms and finger followers. Brakes are Brembo, as is the hydraulic clutch.
ON THE TRACK
In case you don’t already know, the standard FC450 ain’t bad. In fact, it’s the official winner of the 2025 Dirt Bike 450 MX shootout. In that story, the Husky finished in a dead heat with the KTM 450SX-F. We gave the tiebreaker to the Husky because we figured the lower seat height would appeal to more riders than not.
This bike might not have the same seat height, but it has everything else that we loved about the standard model. It starts with that motor. It’s incredible. It has the freakish ability to combine record-breaking horsepower with a smooth, easy-to-control power delivery. We used to think those two things were mutually exclusive. Not so. The power comes on early and strong, but you’re always in charge. On top, it’s virtually the same as the KTM, but outperforms all the other bikes in the 450 class. The FMF Factory 4.1 RCT slip-on exhaust system gives it little more willingness in the middle of the powerband, but more than anything else, it makes it sound edgier. Most riders liked the more aggressive of the two maps (the green light), but in truth, they aren’t substantially different until you go into the Ride Husqvarna app and start modifying things. You also get a vented airbox cover in a kit when you buy the bike. It provides a little more snap throughout the powerband. Again, most riders, from beginner to pro, liked the more aggressive setup. That says something about how controllable the bike is.
The Factory Edition’s handling is just like the standard version, which is to say it’s excellent. Current-generation Husqvarnas and KTMs have excellent cornering manners. The FC450 has quick steering, but it’s level and stable throughout all phases of any given turn—entry, apex and acceleration. In the past, chassis squat on exit was a Husky weak point. That was addressed with a new frame in 2022. That generation, however, drew fire for its harsh, stiff ride. That was remedied with last year’s Factory Edition, and now Husqvarna’s engineers have left us very little to complain about.
Okay, there are some riders who will never warm up to air forks. Fair enough. We don’t like the added burden of checking air pressure with every ride. Objectively, the Xact fork is pretty good on the track, and the rear suspension is excellent. Can we tell the difference in travel between the Factory Edition and the standard model? Some riders say yes, some say no. All, however, notice the difference in seat height. One advantage of a taller bike is evident in the ruts, where the additional ground clearance is a real benefit.
IS IT WORTH IT?
The Husqvarna FC450 Factory Edition is a very expensive motorcycle. We aren’t in the business of telling you what your money is worth, but we can tell you that this is a truly great motorcycle. Husqvarna took a bike that we already loved, made it sexier and recast it in the image of one of our favorite riders. We can positively state that it will not make you as fast as Malcolm Stewart, but it can make you look the part.
