1972 Husqvarna 450 WR

Cool shots of a 1972 Husqvarna 450 WR motorcycle

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• mx
• motocross
• vintage
• motorcycle
• dirtbike
• husqvarna
• maico
• cz
• bultaco
• honda
• suzuki
• yamaha

[jrclifford]

I have the same exact bike sitting in my garage. where can I get mine fixed up? it hasn't been started in over 2 decades keep in mind. I'm just curious to see if I can get this thing working again or not. I live in Nassau County, Long Island, NY. are there any dirtbike specialists in my area that you know of?

[jrclifford]

I have the same exact bike sitting in my garage right now. Its been there for about 20 years untouched under a sheet. Its my dad's, but the last time he used it he was my age (20 yrs old) and flipped the bike on himself when he gunned it. Is there anyway i can get this bike up and running again? and if so, where should I bring it to to get it fixed up? Keep in mind I live in Nassau County, Long Island, NY.

[shockadellick]

I'm new to husqvarna. But love my 2005 supermoto husqvarna 450.. It has more torque than any supermoto out there! And it's sexy too! I'll keep it till I die. Love the old husky also. Which I came along in the 450 WR time. Love the king!

[sparra1946]

@sparra1946: Despite problems HVA's were designed and tested by RIDERS, small teams of enthusiasts, all who raced themselves: we knew them, talked to them (grabbed the b#gg#r's by the throat) they listened. HVA's annual race budget covered a mere week at Suzuki. More or less the same at Maico etc, thus our bikes had another feel to them than Jap bikes. Rude and crude, yes (until Ubbe Larsson's superb MAG-series) but they flat worked. Jap bikes looked good, but not same quality or feel.

[sparra1946]

@twoweeled: Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end.... I gave up watching mx when I realised they were slower than we were, AND on less suspension. Swedish riders were so good they had no trouble getting rides and good money in Europe, but in 80's the old guys retired, AND the generation after them (me etc) and standards dropped like a stone. An international licence ment 1 point at S/champ race, now you had to take 3 points over 3 S/C meets and still riders not good enough.

[twoweeled]

@sparra1946 No doubt the 400 was quicker. They felt like a 2 stroke, open class bike should feel like. I don't know what the weight difference was, but just looking at the two engines was an obvious difference. The 400 was more of a flick around that I would take to Saddleback park (in the 70's). Going to the desert, it all depended on what type of group I was going with. WFO everywhere we went, the 400. Beer and laugh, the 450. Those were great times. Can't seem to get that feeling back??

[sparra1946]

@twoweeled Can't comment on flywheel effect, tuning of 450, as said, we didn't use them. They were very popular in GB, I recall, but those madmen were still into lugging 4-strokes! Spinning rear wheel on 400: we rode faster than you and thus no problem, we needed an engine that would react instantly. After first straight I was NEVER overtaken on my 400 5-speed, best races I ever had, about 5th places, but blowing engines, cracking frames (ex-factory test bike) stopped any results.

[twoweeled]

@sparra1946 I don't know. I had 450 desert master and the 400 cr, and the 400 was quicker, but the powerband was wide even by today's standards. although that was 30 plus years ago. But that rear wheel would not stop spinning, no matter how low I lugged it, or how deep the sand was. The 400 was quick but I'm betting it was a lack of flyweel weight, and different tuning? 450 was heavy, but to chug up hills, and upshift, while going up! My 426 yamaha doesn't have the low end that bike did.

[sparra1946]

The Iron Horse. That's what Swedes called the blasted things! The 450 was never popular here, 400 was much better, but were heavy, didn't handle like old 4-speed, clutch was always coming off (like chainsaw!) the crankcase split at kickstart and g'box fell out (don't laugh, it happened to me at 80mph, bits flying everywhere) Big problem: we could phone HVA direct - and did! Blue-air time? We local racers forced development of fab 6-speed MAG series. Cost HVA 24 million kr, but it was GOOD.

[soohoojrj]

Should of fired that beast up and let us hear it instead of that Beethoven shit!!!!