1. Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

Swingarm

Discussion in 'Vintage Restoration Projects' started by Neanderthaler, May 27, 2014.

  1. Neanderthaler Husqvarna
    A Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250XC
    Other Motorcycles:
    76 RM250, 77 RM125, 86 XR250
    I have an 82 250XC that I would like to lower slightly. I don't remember where I read that replacing the swingarm with an arm from a WR would achieve this. If this is true, would a swingarm from an 83 WR work on my 82 with no modifications? Thank you in advance
    Neanderthaler, May 27, 2014
    #1

  2. ruwfo Administrator

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 390CR, 1982 430CR, 1984 400WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 250XC, 2016 FJ-09
    Yeap, it's a direct swap, should lower the suspension about 1.50 inches.

    Husky John
    ruwfo, May 27, 2014
    #2

  3. vintagecs Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Lebanon, IN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '78 390OR, '76 360 Auto, '74 125SC
    Other Motorcycles:
    Penton, Yamaha
    Get the forks, also, should lower some more.
    vintagecs, May 27, 2014
    #3

  4. jimspac Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Connecticut
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR, 82 430WR, 84 250WR, 85 400
    Other Motorcycles:
    86 400WR, 82 Montesa Cota 349
    No need to replace the forks, just put a 1.25 long PVC spacer under the head of the damping rod to lower to WR specs
    jimspac, May 27, 2014
    #4

  5. suprize Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Bendigo, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    WR 400, bike in a box Moto Villa 350
    Other Motorcycles:
    ktm 300
    just get the wr spacer fitted to the ohlihns shox and fit the wr dampers and fork sliders and you will be down to 10 inches both ends
    suprize, May 28, 2014
    #5

  6. Neanderthaler Husqvarna
    A Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250XC
    Other Motorcycles:
    76 RM250, 77 RM125, 86 XR250
    Thank you, gentlemen. Easiest thing to do, sounds like would be, buy and mount the swingarm and PVC spacers in the fork. Thanks again
    Neanderthaler, May 28, 2014
    #6

  7. slosh Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 wr 430, 84 wr 500, 86 cr 500
    Other Motorcycles:
    93 Husqvarna wr250, 99 Suzuki rmx250
    Is the wr swingarm the same overall length as the cr/ xc? Just the shock mount placement differs?
    slosh, May 29, 2014
    #7

  8. ruwfo Administrator

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 390CR, 1982 430CR, 1984 400WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 250XC, 2016 FJ-09
    Is the wr swingarm the same overall length as the cr/ xc? Just the shock mount placement differs?



    This thread I wrote a while back (2011) may help answer your question, been a while so I don't remember off the top
    of my head.


    http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/1980-85-brake-swingarm-wheel-mounting-parts.16679/

    Just remember whatever you do to the back end (say lower it an inch, with short shocks) you need to do the same
    to the front end. You can put in spacers , as Jim suggested, or by just pulling the tubes up in the triples, the same amount, or it will handle funky.

    Husky John
    ruwfo, May 29, 2014
    #8

  9. motomwo Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Imbler Oregon
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Many vintage big bore and automatics
    I am thinking the best thing to do for the front forks is to just get a pair of 82 or 83 WR dampening rods and bolt into the XC forks. These are usually easy to obtain as most people want the XC/CR longer travel. If you pull the tubes up higher into the triples you are limited as to how far due to the travel on the XC forks and the front tire could possibly make contact with the bottom of the triple tree/fender mount area. Also if you use a spacer under the dampening rod as Jim suggested it will cancel out any topout dampening due to the taper at the top of the dampening rod will not enter into the bottom fork vavle due to the spacer. Just my 2 cents worth.

    Marty
    motomwo, May 29, 2014
    #9

  10. slosh Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 wr 430, 84 wr 500, 86 cr 500
    Other Motorcycles:
    93 Husqvarna wr250, 99 Suzuki rmx250
    From that thread:

    I just measured my 1982 WR 430 swingarm...
    Distance from pivot bolt to the bottom of the shock bolt- 14".
    Distance from the pivot bolt to the end of the swingarm- 21.5".
    So switching from the CR/ XC swingarm to the WR swingarm will lower the bike height and also shorten the wheelbase 1".
    slosh, May 29, 2014
    #10

  11. Neanderthaler Husqvarna
    A Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250XC
    Other Motorcycles:
    76 RM250, 77 RM125, 86 XR250
    Great, I knew I shouldn't have just cut the brand new chain for the XC swingarm. Looks like I might be cutting again
    Neanderthaler, May 30, 2014
    #11