1986/87..................88? ..iirc * That is a great looking Husky....but wouldn't say no to a 430 auto either.
Nothing scary about it. I rode an '80 WR 390 with a 420 Auto piston and barrel for years. Below about 5K it's like a big 4 stroke, lots of torque. Get above 5K, and then things start to happen.... Really was a great enduro engine. For some reason the picture is not being displayed, so I'm guessing it's the John Player Special black and gold deal.
I had a 250 can am was kinda like that. Put me into a barbed wire fence once on a twisty little uphill section. Was really good on a fire road.
I have a 1988 430 basket case if anyone is interested? Atlanta area, all parts are there and some spares!
My apologies for the late response. So the story, ok but it may be a touch long. First off, I just bought the bike a month ago and haven't done a thing to it other than clean it up and it runs like a top. I have plans but will take my time. Ok, the story:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> <o></o> Back in 1982 my riding buddy and I would come across a lone rider on this very bike, an '82 430WR. We never met the rider; he was always in the distance leaving when we arrived. I think we only saw him 2 or 3 times but it was enough for me to fall in love with the bike (I rode a Yamaha IT25). Back then I would read Dirt Bike Magazine and they would ask Husqvarna when they were going to get with the times (i.e. aluminum box swing arm, single rear shock and water cooling) and they said something to the effect of, "When we see it adds value, we will incorporate the technology." I loved the hold out position and I think they were right, the twin Ohlins were probably every bit as good if not better than most of the early generation single shocks. That being said I'm sure Husqvarna lost sales due to marketing. Shame. Anyway, this was the last year Husqvarna made the aluminum tank bikes. I believe it was 1983 they went to white plastic. The bikes were still Swedish made until 1986 (I think). The picture below says it all as far as I'm concerned.<o></o> <o></o> So fast forward. I got away from riding after college, job, wife and babies. Then in 2006 I got back in with a brand new Husqvarna TE610. I loved the bike and really learned to appreciate the beauty of current day dual sports. I thought I would be more into adventure riding so I was a little worried the 610 was going to be too small. I was wrong. The bike was so good in the woods that it woke up the trail rider in me and it all came back with a vengeance. Then one day I realized I was killing myself trying to flick a 308 lb bike through the woods. So I picked up a 2006 TE250 and now I'm home. What a great bike! So great in fact I got rid of the 610 and bought a brand new CRF150 for the wife (or me when I ride with my 8 year old). Ok, back to the story, sorry. So my riding buddy (the same guy I used to ride with in '82) collects vintage motorcycles so his hobby is to scour the Internet looking for bikes. I gave him standing orders that if an '82 430WR shows up on the radar in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace w:st="on">New England</st1lace> to let me know. I told him that 2 years ago. Well this past September I got an email from him with a link to this bike on craigslist. And I'll be damned; it was in the metro <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Boston</st1:City></st1lace> area. Unreal.<o></o> <o></o> So I drive up there with trailer and cash in hand. Meet the guy who turns out to be a shop mechanic teacher. He got the bike a few years ago from a friend of the family who hit hard times and stored the bike for 15 years. The original owner had even removed the tank and wrapped it in bubble wrap before storing it. The guy I bought it from was actually using it as his primary trail bike and just got tired of the expense and time of trying to find OEM parts for the thing. The sad part is the few nicks and scrapes it has on it are from the last 3 years of use. Unbelievable. The bike had 500+ miles on it when I picked it up. It even has the original Husqvarna tires. Time has attacked some of the rubber but overall the thing lights right up and is happy to fly. My other riding buddy and neighbor hopped on it recently and was running through the gears and the front end just snapped up on him in 4th. He saved it and came back with a huge smile and said, "I had no idea these things were so grizzly!" The bike makes gobs of power and is super light. It's lighter than my TE250 and it's also really narrow when you're on it. It's the lack of radiator shrouds that make it feel so nimble. I always thought they were just a big heavy bike but they are not. Honestly, my first thought when I rode it the first time was, "No wonder guys won on these". So 26 years later we have all this tech, water cooled 4s etc. and you can't help but wonder if the new tech is the long way around the block for modest gains. Anyway, this bike will be babied and ridden only once in a while on light trails just to keep its spirit intact.<o></o> <o></o> Thanks for the great responses and I apologize again for not writing back sooner. Happy riding! <o></o>
What a great story Ted! My return to my "roots" is similar to yours, except I haven't found an old classic yet,and I still have my 610. Instead of an old classic, I have a WR250 and it is really nice to be back. But I'm a lookin
nice looking bike! i have a 1979 wr250 i ride occasionally - that era of huskys are my favorite of the dual shockers...
That is one gorgeous Form Follows Function bike: no nonsense, good looker, great engineering. I'm not a dirt bike rider, at all, but years ago living in New Hampsha, there was all my friends, with the buzz and talk about the Huskys.... Went to the Riding into History bike show in St. Augustine this last spring, and saw a Husky and was reminded that they built more than chainsaws...... Great bikes!
