Top Husqvarna "Best Woods Bike" From 1979-88

[justintendo]

dont get me wrong tho, those big xc and cr frames can haul the mail over fast terrain, and still do ok in the woods...just a lil tipsy in tight situations. husky had some big bikes there for awhile..

 

[cruisetopdown]

Bought a WR400 a few years ago out of curiosity and the fact that it was on CL for cheap. Rode it a few times and then tossed a 99 WR250 front end on it (way better brakes and fork). Took it for a ride with my normal ride buddies that thought they would have my number. Nope, come to find out I am as fast through the woods on this as I am on most other modern bikes. Buddies with the new KTM 250's and 350's were in shock as I roared away from them then took pix as they went by. Nothing is more fun than walking away from guys 10 years younger than you on a 25+ year old bike. Priceless.

I love it! Would have loved to see the young buck's reaction to that!
w

 

[cruisetopdown]

I can recall talking with Mark Hyde of team husky at a national H.S. about the ignitions overheating on the 430 autos, and he said that they would drill holes in the timing cover and run rubber hoses to vent the heat....I couldn't bring myself to do that, I did fry an ignition much later. I asked him how he survives the pro class when he has to drop the bike into gear, he drags me to the truck and shows me how he ran a clutch purch/cable down to the lever which was spring actuated, he just let go of the lever and was off. Pretty cool talking to your heroes in person...
w

 

[mci-owner]

I would have to agree that the 79 390WR is a formitable woods machine. Easy to ride, loads of low end, enough suspension to enjoy, as a vintage bike.

 

[Jens Ries]

with woods bike You mean a bike for riding at the forrest ... tricky trails, uphills and downhills?! ..
I would mix me one: 430 AE auto aircooled (no leaks at coolingsystem after crashes), TE/TC frame '87/88 with plastics and seat from first monoshock two strokes '85/86 (slim and slick silhouette for easy handling), marzocchi usd front end and brembo brakes from end of 90s ... and bushguards at the handlebar

 

[suprize]

Im happy with the WR 400. plusho cruisomatic riding from an open class bike. railing turns and berms with ease, nice power with a wicked rush when the country opens up. autos have jus ta small reliability issue. good ones are good, bad ones are pooo

 

[2premo]

TE/TC frame '87/88 with plastics and seat from first monoshock two strokes '85/86 (slim and slick silhouette for easy handling), marzocchi usd front end and brembo brakes from end of 90s

funny choice of comfort, no disrespect but I have both the 85 and 87 CR models, the 87 seat is quite a bit longer so you can move quite a bit more forward for "easy handling", personally I have no problem with the Zokes but a lot of the forum members are not fond of them, but those brembos are nice, and by the way they are the same basic brakes from the earlier models the feel of the brakes under load, holding both and looking at them, the mounts are different but they look the same, not sure of the bore size of the early vs. late so don't quote me as an expert because I have both laying around

 

[HardCoreHusky]

I would have to agree that the 79 390WR is a formitable woods machine. Easy to ride, loads of low end, enough suspension to enjoy, as a vintage bike.

I have to agree with all those points, and that any bike in black and gold just looks beautiful. I found an old photo of the 79 390 I resto-modded back in the late 90's.

 

[Jens Ries]

to 2premo: Yes You re right, the set from 87/88 is longer and for better handling at frontend at uphills but the 85/86 gastankis slimmer at front ... like this handling more
to Suprize: You re right to ... You always have to keep the auto in good conditions, otherwise it runs bad or out of order.
Had a funny moment when I was riding the 420/4 speed auto from my father. Throwed the bike at wet conditions in thick bushes. Didn t see the bike but heard it running at low rpm, like a true horse. Found it, picked it up and kept on riding through bushes without kicking on again. This is the reason why I like the auto.

 

[suprize]

there is no doubt that the auto is one of the greatest mudda boik inventions and riding one is a real treat. its a shame that they are finicky to get right. id love to have one but I don't have the mindset to get it right. I would get depressed at the first spring fail and park it in the shed so they are not for me.
ive ridden the 400 all year with gearbox and airfilter maintenance only. (once I fixed the water pump....) but that's all good now I haven't even had to adjust the chain...that's how I like them.

 

[wrx]

any liquid 400 mono or dual shock. or wr/xc 430 dual shock. it's really hard to pick one!

 

[fran...k.]

I thought I might put some damage (and the way my buddies who don't ride don't flush cut) I did earlier to the brittle by now radiator shrouds. I had spent a couple hours cutting trail earlier in the week but this little section I just did by moving brush the day I was riding. The picture is just before I flush cut it not really the riding conditions. This is my 88 430 with the 500 head and a 12 tooth sprocket. I don't think I mentioned in my earlier post in thes thread how hard to smash the 250-500 air cooled exhaust is. at least for the years I am familiar with.

 

[suprize]

bush bashing again eh??

 

[2premo]

I thought I might put some damage (and the way my buddies who don't ride don't flush cut) I did earlier to the brittle by now radiator shrouds. I had spent a couple hours cutting trail earlier in the week but this little section I just did by moving brush the day I was riding. The picture is just before I flush cut it not really the riding conditions. This is my 88 430 with the 500 head and a 12 tooth sprocket. I don't think I mentioned in my earlier post in thes thread how hard to smash the 250-500 air cooled exhaust is. at least for the years I am familiar with.

what is the point of the 500 head on the 430????

 

[fran...k.]

what is the point of the 500 head on the 430????

Basically it is easier to start and harder to stall. It seems to me the early 400 water cooled bike had a higher compression head, later water cooled 400 heads I bought off ebay were just 430 heads without the 430 stamped in. I tried that and didn't like it. I tried the 500 head and for rock gardens in the deep forest and just in general I like it.

 

[fabrice]

it's a 430 sweet as a 400

 

[Jens Ries]

so if You have a lower compression, You have less power... or is it still enough?

 

[suprize]

its a 430 Jens... as Mr Rolls and Mr Royce said "power is Adequate"....

 

[2premo]

the last time I rode my 87 430 the lower end fed through the transfer ports
had major piston damage and the head was collecting a lot of material, but it still pulled like a tractor
I shut it down back at my truck and realized when I tried to restart it there was a huge lack of compression
the sides of the pistons had huge score marks, there was aluminum holding the ring in places and by virtue of its design (pedigree) still pulled hard

 

[suprize]

what happened there? did the big end fail?