Which HUSKY era was the best....?

[ptkatoomer]

This is going to date me, I know, but I actually worked for the company back when it was still Swedish! Back when guys like Heikki Mikkola were World champion, Husky's were the King of the Desert, Burleson ruled the National enduros and on and on. Hard to argue with those kinds of credentials.

What's your take? Let's see: Swedish, Italian, German and now Austrian?

 

[Mike-AK]

When I remember my youth, I remember it on a Swedish bike. The Italian bike I have now just doesn't perform as well as I remember the Swede performing 30 years ago.

 

[fletchman45]

Swedish-a little crude but still sweet Italian-sexy, competitive , AWESOME German-over thought Austrian-Kill a cub save a KTM

 

[ptkatoomer]

When I remember my youth, I remember it on a Swedish bike. The Italian bike I have now just doesn't perform as well as I remember the Swede performing 30 years ago.

It's hard to compare era's (like who would win in their prime: Decoster or Villipoto?). My 310 is pretty sweet, but like you said, it's not Swede

 

[ghte]

1970's

 

[dartyppyt]

Im gonna say later 70's to early 80's. We got to see and race sum neat stuff that just about everyone was putting out.

Longer suspension better air cooled engines, etc... right before the liquid single shock stuff hit.

I always thought the Suzuki RM 370 was neat.

The Honda Elsinore

The Yamaha YZ monoshock

The Maicos

Was a good era that you rung what u brung and still saw racers with new bikes in an old beat up truck, racing in jeans.

Of course, as soon as I switched to Husky's back then and learned how to ride them. Swedish Husky's were my favorites.

Now it is motor homes/rv's/ high tech bikes/suspension/high tech gear and now a major production and expense.

Back then I got a bike every year. Now im lucky to get one every 3-5 years.

 

[Norman Foley]

Huskys were always great.... It is always interesting, that while Swedish Huskys dominated off road racing in the US, they were just another player in European off road racing scene. Almost 3/4 of Huskys World Championships came in the Cagiva era.....

 

[photoguy_43420]

One thing that about the Cagiva era championship vs the Swedish championship eras are that there where many more championships out there.WEC started in 1990 Super Moto 2002. That's like 25 world championships won by Cagiva era that was not available to the Swedish. In that time Cagiva won 3 Motocross world championships. The Swedish era they won 12 Motocross championships. In the 60s they won 8 Motocross Championships One AMA enduro championship 6 Trophee DES Nation and Two Baja victories. I don't think Husqvarna had another time Husky was as dominate in all racing as the 60's.

 

[water racer]

I wasn't around for the swedish years, so most want like what I have to say, but I think the BMW years produced some great bikes and if they had stayed the course....

 

[Dirtdame]

And as far as owning Husqvarnas, I got in on the tail end of the Italian era, so that will be my favorite.

 

[panhandlebars]

Loved my 82 cr125...air cooled dual shock beast ...in a time when innovations like single shock and water cooled bikes were the best, it was fun to show them it's not all bike, all bling, all $$ ...sometimes it's just a scrappy kid who rides over his head! ..swede! I have had Lot of bikes .... Guess the Italian wr 300 is my second favorite ....dunno 430 auto? The original clutch free woods machine! In the right hands it was smooth!

 

[panhandlebars]

125!

 

[ptkatoomer]

When I worked for Husky I was the only co. employee on the left-coast that was riding an auto (390). When they were testing the new 430 there was a day that Terry Cunningham was out here, so my "job" for the day was to take him single-track riding down in Baja, Mexico for the day so he could compare the two bikes! That day was a sweet way to get paid!

 

[TooOld]

December 2012 to about now is the era that concerns me most...2012 TE449. Yeeeuup

 

[endurokids]

1983 - 1987 "Milk Trucks" for me! (just don't tell my current italian mistress 08 CR 167)

 

[Tinken]

That would be the era coming soon when we take back our Baja titles, place fear on the mx fields, dominate enduros and become the spotlight in the sea of orange.

My family owns 10 vintage Husqvarnas from 1968 to 1979. I love them all, but I am hopeful for the future.

 

[Dentman67]

This might not be popular but i honestly dont remember Huskys ever really being a threat to the Jap (not diragatory) bikes once passed mid/late 70's. They were heavier, and suspended not nearly as well as the big 4. They wore the crown for many years in the power department. Im thinking the last couple years, 13 for sure these bikes are true sleepers.

So many people seem to dissmis then as BMW leftovers its down right silly and i might add dimwhitted since just a glance at the bikes talking points reveal a bike thats miles away from the BMW bikes. As a whole package i think these bikes are very well balanced today and dont suffer much from the weak points since they are not major issues. They have a little further to go but it wouldnt take much to makes these things at the least as good as the best out there. Well done Husky!