Vintage/EVO Husky Question

Husky Experts of Cafe Husky

Getting back into my growing up roots of the 70s and 80s..Motocross, but on an EVO machine
I am leaning very very hard at an 82-83 either CR or XC 500.
Question to the pros and I KNOW this is subjective...
a good, solid, ready to race bike (not a vintage bike show queen that is trick beyond words) but a racer without any mechanical gremlins...

what should I be expected to pay????


Not afraid of maintenance etc, but I dont want to spend my first year simply taking a back in the barn special that hasnt been started in 15 years and 32 gallons of WD 40 just to start getting bolts of either...

thanx!
HR is on the hunt for Husky #2

HR

Kelly...

I have craigs helper and been searching like 1000 mile radius from Seattle and NOTHING.

if you know something you aint tellin me.......


PM me your phone number so I can harrass you and woof about my '08 610. My other work in progress......



HR

roughly speaking $15-25 for a decent runner, $3500 for sorted out machine. Stay away from the 500, go with 430.

Okay, if you can, why the stay away from the 500?
curious on the background vs 430...

thanx for the response, I just love background!

Scott

I was gonna offer to sell my 83 500 CR, but I guess you're supposed to stay away from it. If jetted right the 500 IMHO is easier to ride than the 430, but both are nice bikes.

Husky

83?
500?
husky?

Talk to me goose!

Scott

There is a 83 XC500 on ebay right now from Portland, Oregon (VRM racing). I am sure Ray would work with you if you want a bike that is in the PNW. I have a 1982 XC250 that I have been trying to sell that is on the Portland craigs-list right now. Really nice and it screams but does not have that big bore power.

For what it's worth, I bought a non-running "barn special" WR for a great price then proceeded to spend 1800 having a completely toasted engine rebuit and roughly another 2-300 on steering head bearings/races, chain wear pad, all cables, lots of fasteners and brake shoes. I'm very happy with the result and since I was interested in riding more than restoring, alot more could have been spent on purely cosmetic stuff. But if I had to do it again I would pay the price for a running well maintained bike. That said, you can't always get what you want so you may have to make do with the barn special. In my case, there were no well kept running early 80's WR's for sale anywhere remotely close to me. Good luck!

500

a friend of mine owns a 500 Husky (83) and simply loves it.
He has laid down the + and the -, but with me being as tall as I am and having raced big bores for most my life...if I can find one, I am leaning really hard in that direction unless something satanic pops up about the model and I cant find it yet.
In fact all the period reviews of the bikes and the Husky suspension stated that it rivaled anything out there, and the rear was actually better than any of the linkage at the time....

so.....havent made up my mind yet, but from Husky owners, Husky EVO racers, I havent heard a thing bad about the 500s that would keep me away, yet...


HR

2whlrcr- no offense please and your 500 is soooo sweet (i thought is sold on ebay?). my experience is from building, owning and racing both 500 & 430. for me (5'8" 190lbs, expert) the 430 was easier to ride after it was modified. the 500 was insane off the line- i really loved it- but just wore me down after back-to-back races plus i couldn't ever get it to turn sharp. i still lust after it and the guy who bought it says he'll sell it back... mui conflicted.

hey moderator- this post is similar to private thread i'm involved with, how do i make available for all to see?

84 has a little tighter frame geometry than 83 and turns better but true to old Husky form....now wander....wobble....nor headshake.

We are about the same size, I'm 3" taller and the same weight, also a vintage Expert. I have only ever ridden my 500 and one other 430. My 500 is electric smooth compared to the 430 I rode. Plus my 500 seems tame compared to some Japanese 500's I have rode. And yes it's very old school Husky, stable as a barge, but you need to horse it through turns. It really likes to rail the outside and use a berm.

I had the bike on eBay and didn't sell.

This is my bike. I will sell it to anybody on here for $2900. I will not take less, so don't bother trying to beat me down.

what'll you ride then?

The other stuff in my signature line.