Best Swedish Husqvarna Motocross Bike?

[photoguy_43420]

I was talking to a freind the other day and we started talking abouth the best Husqvarna motocross bike that they built. I have rode many of them, my pick is the 75-76 GP Bikes. They where better or as good as any other motocross bike of the that time I think.
I have not ridden any 66-71 Husky Motocross bikes or 80-83 the rest I have had some time on. He was going with the 70 400 which I know was a great bike. What do you guys think?

Guy

 

[Ron]

What's the difference, blonde, redhead or brunette?

 

[jimspac]

Also, are you talking about in relation to it's competition or in terms of best ever regardless of era or competition?

 

[photoguy_43420]

Competition or in terms of best ever regardless of era or competition? all plays into the choice. Lets say Tom White gives you a chance to pick one of his Husqvarna motocross bikes from his collection and he has one of each year and size. What would you pick and why. I would pick a GP 75-76 250 or 360 they where fast or faster then any bike made at that time and had great suspension.

 

[V.R]

I aint going to try and convince anyone lager is better than bitter as it comes to personal choice. However I would agree with you on 75-76 360. Name another bike that won titles for 3 succesive years. Mikkola in 74, lackey in 75 and Howerton in 76. The story I think about the 360 is Roy of the rovers stuff. (english saying sorry) The bike is very light and extremely fast, I think they actually de tuned it for production. I am a bit biast as I am doing a lackey replica at the moment for racing this year, I have owned a 69 360 8sp, a 78 390, a 80 250 and a 83 500, the mikkola 76 360 though just moves my soul. A close second would be my 78 390 though.

 

[Michel Dufayard]

That's like asking what's the best woman. Blonde or redhead or brunette? It all depends on what type of riding you like.
Steve

Best wife is the next !

 

[hvaloz2]

I had 76 open class to 84....and the best was the 82 430cr.... trouble was on most english tracks you would struggle to get out of 3rd gear..this was the case at matchams apart from the start straight..so a bike designed with a wheelbase... steering angle.. and suspension for 5th gear sandy whoop de doo swedish tracks was never going to cut it over here!

 

[Husq.fleet]

Best? Best fitting? Fastest on? Loved my 80 OR 390 that I put a 420 "kit" in. But then again I was 16-17 yrs old with no fear so I could overide that bike.

 

[jimspac]

My favorite was the 1978 390 Auto setup for enduro that I bought in 1981. MX suspension, great handling,and excellent turning considering my previous was a 1976 Honda MR250 with Gas Curnutt shocks and Number 1 Products damping rod giving me 8,5 front travel and 9.5 rear. I have yet to ride anything I currently own but I feel between the 82 250WR, 84 250WR, 85 400WRX, and 86 400WR that all are currently deep projects I would likely pick the 84 250WR because of the handling and also because I could put a 430 engine in it and be really happy. The 400WRX seems to be touchy front end wise to me. That and the 86 400WR I would seriously look to fit a steering damper on

 

[rajobigguy]

I know this isn't going to be the people choice winner but my '83 500 xc that had been warmed over by Tommy Turner was just about the fastest open class desert racer that I have ever been on. Even with what was then considered outdated suspension (twin shock) there weren't many that could keep up with me, triple digit speeds were very common. Yeah, it vibrated like a jack hammer, second gear was kind of fragile and god help you if you got any kickback while starting but it never failed to bring me home and more often than not I was ahead of the pack.

 

[Hwy]

My vote are the 1986-88 510 4-strokes.

 

[Factory4510]

I had a purple tank 360 which was pretty cool, but my faviorite was the 430 with the Pro Circuit 470 kit. I was racing a YZ 490 the 4 speed gear box just sucked. I was pumped about the 500 follow on until I rode it with the 4 speed, if they would have put a 5 or 6 speed in that bike with a disk on the front it would have been killer.

 

[Bengt Husky]

I had 76 open class to 84....and the best was the 82 430cr.... trouble was on most english tracks you would struggle to get out of 3rd gear..this was the case at matchams apart from the start straight..so a bike designed with a wheelbase... steering angle.. and suspension for 5th gear sandy whoop de doo swedish tracks was never going to cut it over here!

I was talking with Perry Leask (UK Husky Importers son) on the very same topic last week. We both rode huskies in the schoolboys from mid 70's till 1983 when I packed up. We always struggled against the RM125's on the short straight corn stubble field tracks we had in the south east (Horsham and Portsmouth clubs) The Huskies came into their own on the long tracks with steep up and down hills we found when we raced Gloucester area and places like Hawkstone. Then the long wheel base and better handling worked in our favour.

My favourite was a 1977 Works 125 with twin reed valve. After that it was the '82 430 which i'm restoring now.

 

[Larsa]

I wish I could give my opinion on the Husqvarna bikes, but unfortunately I have had only one which I am currently restoring (430 CR -81). What I can say though from having many other brands of bikes is that I fell in love when 'big' 2-strokes the first time I rode one and I shall never go to 4-strokes unless regulations dictate otherwise in the future (both street and mx). Not because they are the most reliable, modern, quitest, best handling etc, but because the powerband, sound and smell always leave me with a smile on the face after riding it.

Lars

 

[endurokids]

'83/'84 430WR is my all time fav. '83 430 WR with '84 tank and seat actually.
Just finished restoring mine and it does everything right.

 

[Trailridernut]

THAT'S tough!! I would say the '74 mag 250 but followed up by the '75/'76... my true love is the automatics(rode them from '81-'87)... both series of bikes were very inovative and won national/world titles in their given discipline.

 

[V.R]

I did have a go on an 83 500 auto, now thats an experience, I have also ridden a tc510 twinshock, in the right hands I do think they are unbeatable. In the uk there is a guy who races one who goes by the name of CRANKY KEN HANSON the man is a legend. He would win every race he entered if he stopped crashing which is quite often. However he is possibly the fastest twinshock husky rider in the uk bar none at the moment.