• Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

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HVA 430 vs. 500 engine - power & nature

BlackZ

BlackZ

Husqvarna
A Class
So right now I'm building this other classic HVA where I don't still have all parts, like engine. I have also this 1982.5 CR 500 Silver Streak. I want this other HVA to be clearly milder bike than Silver Streak, but not as mild as air cooled 250 (1979 year model that I had). I have a possibility to buy 430 2-stroke air cooled engine with 6-speed. I would like to know, how it compares to Silver Streak 500 engine.

So it's comparision between:

HVA 430 2-stroke air cooled with 6-speed transmission

VS.

HVA 500 Silver Streak 2-stroke air cooled with 4-speed transmission

Is there lot of difference in horsepower/torque?

How about in engine's nature? I mean 500 feels pretty violent, when for example newer 250cc 2-stroke water cooleds are easily controllable even there are lots of power. And at the same time, my previous 1979 HVA with air cooled 250cc 2-stroke was a bit too mild engine.

So HVA 250 air cooled is a bit too mild for my taste, and 500 Silver Streak then a bit too wild to always ride when I want to go riding. Is this 430 closer to 250 or 500? I guess 500 should be closer, but is it almost the same than 500 or noticable difference versus 500?

And what other choices do I have with these HVA air cooled 2-strokes if I need something between 250-500?
 
The primary kick 430 air cooled is one of the best motors out there. Loads of grunt low down, and revs well (unlike the 500). Much better engine option. You will probably be quicker on that than the 500 as it is more manageable.
For me the best is the non-primary kick 390 for the same reasons.
The 250 is a great woods bike though.
 
grouty said:
The primary kick 430 air cooled is one of the best motors out there. Loads of grunt low down, and revs well (unlike the 500). Much better engine option. You will probably be quicker on that than the 500 as it is more manageable.
For me the best is the non-primary kick 390 for the same reasons.
The 250 is a great woods bike though.
Click to expand...


Yeah, funny thing is that I had 390 at the same time with my 250, it was completely restored bike, but that was bought from me so soon that I didn't have proper chance to test it enough, felt clearly stronger than 250 that I used many times. How big difference there are then between 390 and 430? I heard somewhere that 390 is closer to 250 than 500. If I had now a possibility to choose from 390 or 430, propably I would choose 390. But only engine I know right now, is this 430 6-speed. It's tempting, I'm just not sure that will it go too close to 500 that I already have. I want to have some difference between these bikes :D
 
I had an air-cooled 430 back in the day (81-82?). Nothing violent about the power dellivery at all - it was a great singletrack bike back then.
 
ptkatoomer said:
I had an air-cooled 430 back in the day (81-82?). Nothing violent about the power dellivery at all - it was a great singletrack bike back then.
Click to expand...


Yes, what I've red, almost everybody seems to praise this 430. Also owner of this 430 engine is long time HVA specialist, he said also that it even it is also strong engine, it's nature and power delivery is much smoother than 500. Maybe I'll make a deal about this 430 :thumbsup:
 
Magazines of the day said the 430 was down on peak hp compared to the other by a couple of hp but it equally had a couple more hp for the entire rest of the power curve and was easier to cut faster lap times on than the ktm or maico

The 500 with a 44mm carb is actually very easy to ride and deceptively fast . It wont scare you untill you try to use the brakes lol

It will basically pass anything you want it to especially in soft ground that consumes a lot of hp
 
silverstreakNZ said:
Magazines of the day said the 430 was down on peak hp compared to the other by a couple of hp but it equally had a couple more hp for the entire rest of the power curve and was easier to cut faster lap times on than the ktm or maico

The 500 with a 44mm carb is actually very easy to ride and deceptively fast . It wont scare you untill you try to use the brakes lol

It will basically pass anything you want it to especially in soft ground that consumes a lot of hp
Click to expand...


I wouldn't say "very easy to ride" generally :D But of course I don't have hundreds of hours dirtbike riding experience behind, so also my opinion isn't and can't be general opinion. It's awesome and very good to ride, but with throttle use at least I need to be very careful and precise all the time, when you can control 250 easily in every situation, small mistake with 500 on throttle use and you will sit on the ground and see your 500 going it's own way :D It's very tempting and admirable what this 500 can do :thumbsup: But this other one that I'm building now, I want to be "less careless to ride" so on those days I can ride with 430, and when extreme torque hunger is irresistible, I'll ride 500 :D
 
I like the 83 xc500 the best. That is wide ratio 40mm carb. 430 air cooled has an earlier reed cage more primitive transfer as in not quad port. Same bore 10mm stroke diff. The 500 head on the 430 in the water cooled is where I ended up on them for some reason could not kick right for the 500 water cooled.

I believe the. 250 got the later reed cage while still air cooled might also have the quad ports never seen one apart. That might relate to post 1
 
fran...k. said:
I like the 83 xc500 the best. That is wide ratio 40mm carb. 430 air cooled has an earlier reed cage more primitive transfer as in not quad port. Same bore 10mm stroke diff. The 500 head on the 430 in the water cooled is where I ended up on them for some reason could not kick right for the 500 water cooled.

I believe the. 250 got the later reed cage while still air cooled might also have the quad ports never seen one apart. That might relate to post 1
Click to expand...


Frank,
What does the 500 head do for the 430 liquid cooled?
Thanks
 
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