So what are the suspension upgrade options for a mid/late 80's Husky????

As I'm gathering parts to rebuild the 500XC project I have, I just started giving more thought to the suspension.

Out back, I'm guessing the Ohlins shock, just being custom tailored to my needs will be fantastic. If there is an upgrade there such as a linkage update or anything, be sure to let me know.

On the front end, just how good can the 40mm Husky forks be built and setup????

Initially I was thinking I'd stay all Husqvarna OE on parts, but now I'm wondering what gains might be had from a front end change.

Spotted the mid 90's Suzuki RM conventionals, that look gorgeous. I'll look into those further.

Then ofcourse spotted the WP KTM 89-91 USD front end swap. How good can those be setup?

What about the Ohlins USD's from Cannondales? Believe its early 90's on those. From my reading, they sound like they can be setup awesome as well.



What USD brand forks came on the early 90's Husabergs???? Or even the Husky USD's???? Was kinda assuming they are WP's.



Would sure love some input here. Opinions, experiences, knowledge of certain legs.

Rear:
Stock build with new good quality bearings. Put zert fittings everywhere and hit them often. Use the stock Ohlins shock, have the shock rebuilt/valved/sprung for your weight by Ohlins USA in North Carolina. They are the source. They are the bomb.

Front:
Keep the stock 40's only if you want a nostalgic look. If so, try to swap in either the 87 internals or the Race Tech emulators. If not, almost any of the others can be set up in a superior fashion, although I wouldn't expect all of them to 'automatically' end up with the correct steering geometry, like offset, trail, travel, or bottoming interference. The 89-91 KTM 40mm USD's I can vouch for personally, at least on the 81/82 frame'd bikes, and I'd bet they're good geometry right up through the 87/88 stuff. Only problem here is you're swapping to another obsolete fork. I use them because they're 'sort of' from that era and I've got a stock of old parts from years and years of KTM build ups.

Ohlins from a C'dale... oh ya. I'd always keep that one in mind!!!

Awesome, was hopeing you'd sound in, amongst others as well.

On the rear, any benefit to updating the linkage to the first of the Cagiva reworks of the dogbone part the shock attaches too???? Or no, just stick with the 87/88 last of the Husky styles I already have????

Great input on the front as well. I do like the Husqvarna legs, but I'm not stuck on them and would like a decent upgrade there if possible. I'm also not totally stuck on the USD forks either, though I do like the more modern appearance a fair amount. I'm just wondering how those WP 89-91 jobbers can be setup as well. Considering as you pointed out they are now by far obsolete as well.

I'm going to keep my eyes opened for both the Ohlins C'dale USD's,.......... but also the zukie 96/97 conventionals. FOr a kind of more period appearance, being conventionals, the later look freakin trick to my eyes.

The steering geometry is a huge good point. That could be easily adjusted I'd think if custom triples had to be machined. However, if the Suzuk triples could be made to work, well......that's just something I'll have to figure out how to measure and compare to my OE Husky setup. This could be fun

Another option and readily available for the front suspension are Showa's from 92 Husq TE 350. These forks are literally a bolt on process on my 86 510TX. You will also need the front wheel, caliper, axle, rotor, and master brake cylinder with hose and lever.

And yet another, which I completed on my 90 250WXE are to use KTM 48mm WP forks and triple's. You'll also have to change the steering geometry using the Rekluse e-Axle.

Both of these mods have improved the front end considerably.

My 95 KTM 440 had the 45mm 'zokie conventionals. They were plush, plush, plush. They also have the advantage of having rebound adjustment in one leg and compression in the other, for completely separate control (almost all other forks have some crossover in adjustment between C and R). Disadvantage: Yet ANOTHER obsolete hard to find parts for fork.

But, ya, that would be a trick conventional look. And if that's what you want, consider 98/99 KTM's for their 50mm WP conventionals. They also had the separate C and R.

I was wondering what was on the early 90's Husky's. So the 92 TE350 forks are 40mm, and allowed re-using the stock triples???? Or those are from the TE as well?

Thanks much, appreciate the info/help.

............is there a front setup that will complement the performance of the ohlins rear shock, rather than outdate it?

eg, the attached i think is 1988

Huh, another great bit of info on the Suzuki conventionals. I keep reading the plush comment on those in particular. AS well as the Ohlins USD's.

I'm not stuck on conventionals either. Actually I like how burly the USD's look up on the upper half and the triples, but think they look spindly down low, and keep seeing ones with cracks on the axle and brake mounting area. Right now though, I'm leaning towards the Suzuki conventionals I'd say. Would lend to a more period look, and they look great, and sound real good. I'll have to look into the KTM 50mm conventionals, those sound interesting.

Thanks for the 88 ad, appreciate it. And the CR WP hint.

'92 TE350 has 45mm USD Showas. Frame is still pure single shock Swedish Husky, so stem and clamps probably work.

Ah ha, interesting. Thanks for sounding in. Wonder why they switched to the USD Showas, price and or performance over the WP's I guess.



I spotted some of the late 90's KTM conventional WP's. Some look to have real minimal over hang down below the axle like USD's. Nice looking 48 or 50mm's forsure.

...................it just sounds like were in the same kinda boat, i want to do a USD fork conversion, i just dont want to end up chasing my tail.

Yeah, I certainly can relate to that. I'm not perhaps so set on a USD conversion. Just a decent upgrade on the front end period. The vintage side of me wants to stay conventional.

RIght now, I'm going to look into both the WP conventionals more, and the Suzuki ones from the late 90's. When I looked for the WP's on ebay, there sure seemed to be more parts support for them. I just need to keep looking and reading right now.

In '87, Team Husky riders in the National Enduro Series ran.... USD WP's (Irwin and Bertram) or conventional Showa's (Hawkins and Russell). The WP's would have come right off the CR's, but don't know about the Showa's.

Thanks, I always find it interesting to look at what the team riders were doing.

Right now, I'm really leaning towards the conventional options we've touched on here. I'm finding lots of info on the WP 50 conventionals, and they really sound good. Able to be real soft and smooth for trail or singletrack stuff, yet still soften big hits too. I'll keep reading/looking. Really like the looks of those Suzuki conventionals, man they are nice lookin.

The Showa's are 45mm and all front end hardware is needed for the transformation- These were OEM from the factory. Showa were used on this model.

OK thanks Hwy, and I appreciate the pic for ID.

I'm finding myself really gravitating to the 96/97 RM Showa conventionals, or the 50mm WP's from 99/00 KTM's. A bunch of folks sure to sware by the WP conventionals. Some claiming best forks ever made. Especially for non MX duty.

The problem you are gonna have with the RM and WP conventionals is the bushing wear super fast because of the amount of overlap inside the fork...it stresses the bushings and they wear bad....but the RM forks are absolutely the best riding fork ever

Thanks for the input racemx, I hadn't spotted that info yet, appreciate it.

What is your experience with the RM forks???? And would you say they have the edge over the WP conventionals in your opinion????

Just how fast is the bushing wear rate? Any way to clarify that? Or any other pro/con thoughts on either conventionals?

I'm really getting sold on the conventionals, which is kinda cool to me as well, since they lend to a more period look, big time. I'm starting to think either of these must feel pretty different than the Husky 40's.

Was reading where one guy that swares by the WP 50's, said it's like having two different sets of forks on his bikes, as all he has to do is swap oil and springs and it goes from the ultimate trail setup to MX in no time. This dude says the range of adjustment, and how the forks can be setup, is unmatched by any thing and the USD's can't even come close. Or some such wording like that. This was a guy that I read reference to in several places, and apparently he's known for any time he gets a new bike the first thing he does is sells whatever forks they come with and puts the WP 50mm conventionals on. He said something about putting a brace on them making them stiffer than the USD's as well. Definetly some interesting info out there I'm finding on the conventional end of things.

Really good info. on suspension upgrade options for a mid/late 80's Husky's. I thought the answer would be, "use heavier back brace"