• Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

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What's a good bike for a vintage newbie?

Phoenix

Phoenix

Husqvarna
AA Class
Hey all. I've been eyeballing all of y'all's bikes for a while and have been thinking about looking for a vintage bike to ride around at the race track and maybe participate in some vintage races. I didn't start riding until my mid twenties and started out on modern dirt bikes, so I have no idea what i'm looking for. Do y'all have any suggestions as to what might be a good starter bike for a newbie to the vintage thing? Of course I want a Husky. I'm a 5'6" 145 pound girl, so I'd like something as light as possible and...since I'm new to this...the most reliable motor possible would probably help me out. :) Any thoughts?

My bike experience includes
2005 CRF 250X
2007 250 XCFW
2010 TXC 250
2013 Gas Gas 300
And some street bikes and motards
 
Husky's are all pretty tall bikes as compared to most, but based on what you have been riding, I'd suggest any 125cc or 250cc pre 1979 and preferably a 77-78 for the post vintage class. The 77-78 bikes have approx. 9" travel and are very competitive with other makes. In 79 and later the suspension travel increased and the bikes got even taller.

The 390's and larger motors can be very difficult to start and take a pretty good boot to get them going sometimes. The 125cc's in 77-78 and later are just 125's in the same frame as the larger bikes and were always consider a little under powered, compared to the big 4 in the 125 class. Your light enough for a 125, but I wouldn't recommend the 125 Husky.

IMO, most vintage tracks cater to post vintage bikes and the classic vintage bike with 4 inches of travel on the rear and 7 inches on the front, just wear you out to fast. I believe the 75-76 bikes only had round 7 inches of travel, but will still race with the post vintage bikes. Anything pre 75 would be classic vintage 4" and 7" and would sit much lower.

Here is a pic of my 77 250CR, it sits about as high as your CRF 250X.
Ron

 
So 77-78 250 would be a good target? Honestly, I probably won't be competitive in anything I do...I'll just go out to have fun. Being underpowered isn't really an issue to me, but being easier to kick start would help (i'm not even good at kick starting my Gas Gas. haha).

Your CR is beautiful...that is my favorite "looks" wise...with the red/chrome tank. There was a Husky (for sale) at our races this weekend, but I never got to go over and write down the phone number so I could talk to the owner about it. It looked like this one. It had a round chrome air cleaner cover on the other side. I didn't get to spend much time around it, but I did tip it off the kickstand and was shocked at how light it was.

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Dont overlook any year of Husky, they can all be lowered with very little time or money. I just built an '82 250 for my friend Paula to race at Diamond Dons a few weeks ago, she is shorter than you at around 5'4". The '82 stock has a 38-39" seat height and 12" of travel. All I did was put 9.5" travel forks off another Husky, and a different swing arm with shorter shocks that also gave around 9.5" travel. The forks slid right in, and the swing arm is a 20 min swap. The swing arm is from an '82 auto, but its the same as a '79-'80, it cost me $39 on eBay and I used a pair of shocks I already had.

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The bike handled great, was around 34-35" seat height and has plenty of travel for the typical vintage track. I agree with Ron on the 125 Huskys, they are heavy and slow, and women's classes have no displacement limit, you can ride any size you want. Paula has a KX250F modern bike, and while she did say the Husky 250 two stroke required more throttle control, she didnt have any trouble with the power.
 
Also, this '82 lowered the way I did is lower than Ron's '77, and the '82 engine is a LOT faster, while still being smooth and relatively easy to ride. The bottom line is that any year Husky 250 from '75-'83 or '84 could be set up to work pretty well for you, so dont overlook any good deal you come across.
 
A few more pics. She's a good rider, but I am happy that she was able to jump on a bike she had never even seen before that weekend, and I did not even get to test the bike after I swapped the forks and swing arm/shocks. Its a testament to how good the base Husky chassis is. She felt completely comfortable on the bike.


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I'd start with exactly what class you want to run. Makes a big difference in bikes and riders.

Down here in the south vintage are all bikes 74 and older. 75 and up that are duel shock are evo 1 and mono shocks up to 87 that are air cooled and drum brake are evo 2.

If you didn't have a year in mind I'd buy the newest common bike I could afford.

Me personally wanted to run the 74 and older class cause the bikes are gorgeous the riders are all on the track to have a great time not to beat themselves and their bikes.
 
I suppose if you want to moto, then stick with the CR's. But if you're looking for an all around ride, maybe look for a WR or even XC. I have done some vintage mx with mine ('84 WR250) and it will keep up with the others in my class motor-wise but the gearing and suspension is meant for woods/trails/offroad so eventually I get left behind. The early 80's bike are taller but based on your bike list, that doesn't seem like that's an issue for you. My son is about your height and weight and he likes the way my WR fits him. He also rides a KTM 125 and that bike is TALL!
 
Me personally wanted to run the 74 and older class cause the bikes are gorgeous the riders are all on the track to have a great time not to beat themselves and their bikes.
Click to expand...

This about describes me. I wouldn't be doing any motocross with it. I can't even successfully motocross on my current bikes (I'm a jump roller. lol). I do cross country (hare scrambles) races and trail rides. I mostly want it to just ride around on and any racing I did would be cross country and strictly for fun. Of course, I always say that and then end up trying to be competitive. haha.

Thanks for the link adam. I'll check it out when I get home from work...Craigslist is blocked!
 
Phoenix said:
This about describes me. I wouldn't be doing any motocross with it. I can't even successfully motocross on my current bikes (I'm a jump roller. lol). I do cross country (hare scrambles) races and trail rides. I mostly want it to just ride around on and any racing I did would be cross country and strictly for fun. Of course, I always say that and then end up trying to be competitive. haha.

Thanks for the link adam. I'll check it out when I get home from work...Craigslist is blocked!
Click to expand...

I still have not been able to make it out to one of the OCCRA events. I saw the race on the calendar this last weekend, but my son had a bball tourney in OKC. Driving back Sunday saw several trailers/trucks of bikes headed back to Tulsa Sunday, was feeling very envious, although probably a good thing i couldnt go as I wrecked my left elbow a few weeks back, may need to go see a dr.
 
We had a really great time...this was our annual charity race where we donate all the proceeds to Make Promises Happen. From what I've heard, we raised over $30,000 (between race fees, special events, concessions, etc.) for the charity. We are planning on doing another vintage race at Round 10 at Cross Bar Ranch (9/14 - 9/15) and are really going to promote it and try to get a big vintage turnout. Hopefully you can make it out...we'd love to have you! There are several folks that are really interested in starting a full season vintage class in OCCRA for 2014 and I'm definitely in that crowd. We did a Le Mans style start at the Guthrie race for the vintage bikes and it was fun even to just watch.
 
Phoenix said:
This about describes me. I wouldn't be doing any motocross with it. I can't even successfully motocross on my current bikes (I'm a jump roller. lol). I do cross country (hare scrambles) races and trail rides. I mostly want it to just ride around on and any racing I did would be cross country and strictly for fun. Of course, I always say that and then end up trying to be competitive. haha.

Thanks for the link adam. I'll check it out when I get home from work...Craigslist is blocked!
Click to expand...

Out here in Southern California it seems to me the "Classic Vintage Bike" classes are getting smaller and smaller. I quit racing my Penton 125, because it just doesn't have enough suspension travel.
The point I was trying to make in suggesting a 77/78 and later as Brian pointed out, is that those bikes have adequate suspension for the tracks and courses of today.
Vintage bikes like vintage cars have generations of followers.
Most of the folks now in their 70's rode the big heavy British singles from the 50's and build T-bucket Hot Rods.
Folks now in their 60's were introduced to European 2 strokes and for them it's 30's and 40's roadsters and coupes.
Folks in their 50's where introduced to long travel suspension and it's always tough to go backwards.
They lust after the muscle cars of the 70's.
As each generation hangs up their helmet and boots, the tracks and courses evolve with the bikes.
I guess you truly can't stop progress.

 
In addition to what Ron said, the true 74-older vintage bikes require a different riding style than the longer travel bikes that started around '75-'76. If you have never ridden a true 4" rear travel vintage bike, I suggest you get one of the first era long travel bikes at least, like the '75-'78 Husky MLs.

As for vintage MX, dont be afraid of it, almost all tracks vintage races are run on are very tame compared to modern tracks. You should not have any trouble and most of them there will not even be any jumps that you would have to roll like a modern track. But, I do know where you are coming from, I prefer cross country to MX myself.
 
I agree with Ron and Brian. The primary suspension on a 4 inch travel bike is your body and knees. Personally, I prefer air cooled 81+ twin shocks. Keep in mind what you saw out at the races last weekend and what ultimately appeals to you.
 
I would prefer to not have to learn a new riding style. I already have many bad habits from riding sport bikes that I can't seem to shake. :banghead:

I'll start looking for a longer travel 250 WR. The bonus is that i'm not in a huge hurry at all so I can take my time to find a good one with all of y'all's suggestions in mind. Thank you very much for all of the great feedback. You guys have pointed out many things that I would not have even known to consider. :)
 
Good thread, and nice to see a rider interested in Women's Vintage! Good luck Phoenix! Do you plan to get a fixer-upper and build it yourself?
 
I wouldn't be opposed to a fixer-upper, but I'd probably gravitate more toward something that is at least in good running condition engine-wise.
 
Vintage bikes need vintage tracks! Enduro hasn't changed except extreme enduro. if you want to compete. later dual shocker with big luger motor. Hope your strong because throwing the old bikes around isn't an option.
 
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