Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126277
Husqvarna IAbove) A design experiment. not for production. Dealers didn't like the style of the tank-seat combo. lLeft and below) The newest motaweapon from the Husky works is the black and gold 384cc, longlegged 390CR. It met with the dealers' approval, all right! New model presentation Husqvarna's "Vapenveltmladen" armament for 1978•••and more By Charles Morey 20 Teacups tinkled and ··a soft breeze wandering in off the adjacent lake ruffled the birch tree leaves creating a placid, almost unlikely sening for the unveiling of Husqvarna AB's latest selection of off-road weaponry. Nearly fifty Husky employees and U.S. dealers mingled and shared exclamations as they discovered the inovations on the 1978 bikes. Six models from the Husqvarna Vapen-' verkstaden (Weapon f actory -- Th e sign over th e door of the gear· box /motor assembly building in Huskoarna rema ins even though Husqoama no longer ma nufa ctures rifles) awaited their comments in the lawn party atmosphere. Immediately surrounded was the anxiously-anticipated black and gold • 390CR. A certain regality emanated from the handsome 384cc machine, extremely attractive with the black fuel tank painted in the familiar Husky style with gold trim bordering the chrome panel, gold painted wheel rims and gold painted upper springs on the dual-spring clad reservoir-type Ohlin shocks. Critics questioned whether the now-shiney finish would turn drab after a few rides in the dirt, but in all the 390CR was met with approval by the Americans. . Their approval was based on details that went far deeper than the superficial dressing, however. The high pressure die east cases, sidecovers, reed valve housing, air filter housing and brake plates are all made of magnesium. The big bore (83mm X 71mm) Husky accapts the fuel charge from a 38mm Mikun i carburetor, pumps it through the reeds where it .eventually drives the single chrome ring forged piston. The power is transmitted through a six-disc light alloy clutch into the six-speed close ratio motocross gearbox and on. Electrics are Motoplat COl. A new kickstarter makes the Husky starting procedure a little easier, even for those uninitiated to the "Husky quick-kick" technique. At the rear is a new larger diameter . and redesigned swingarm that cradles the new 17-inch rear wheel. A 5.00 X 17 Trelleborg comes standard. The . rear hub also has been redesigned, wider for strength. The swingarmlOhlin shock combination gives ten inches 1254mml of wheel travel. The Swedish='made leading axle front forks provide 9.5 inches (242mml travel and pivot on TImken steering head bearings. Other details include lightweight heat treated handlebars, a lighter ' exhaust pipe and silver plated big end bearing. The 245cc 250CR shares most of the same characteristics with a few exceptions. Instead of Ohlins, the 250CR sports new" 380mm gas filled Girling shocks with a 143mm stroke. The rear wheel travel is identical to the 390's at ten inches. The 250CR also features a new cylinder, described simply having a wider power band and improved cooling. Traditionalists will be relieved to hear that the 250CR is painted in age-old Husky red. Two other 245cc machines were also on display, the 250WR and the new 2500R. Both w ill be similar in detail to the CR although final spec sheets have not yet been released. . The OR (for Off Road) is intended to be a desert machine. The gear ratios are a mixture of WR and CR - WR for first through fourth, CR for fifth and sixth. The swingarm is longer than the one on the CRs. The bike on display had Curnun shocks, but the Curnuns are not necessarily going to ' come through on the production model. Ukewise, head and taillights that were displayed on the WR model may not , make production either. The WR was fin ed with Girlings. Both WR and OR have the larger Husky fuel tanks. That the WR/OR bikes did not have their specifications firmed up was encouraging in that it indicated the Swedes were willing to listen" to the dealers' comments. In a relaxed group discussion, Ruben Helmin, Husqvarna's Chief Design Engineer led the group from bike to bike, listening to American feedback and suggestions. Wh ile no firm decisions were made on the spot based on the group's reactions, many good points entered the discussion and were are apparent!) being considered. Another exciting 78 model is the 390AMX - the automatic transmission machine: The enlarged displacement over last year's 360 Automatic not .only gives the motor more punch, it actually makes the transmission work a. bit better. The 390 AMX keeps an 18-inch rear wheel but features most of the other refinements of the '78 CRs. The 1978 125CR is probably the least changed among the Husqvarna machines. The new Girlings are added on back, and the suspension travel is identical to the larger models; ten inches on back and 9.5 in the forks. The new kickstarter is included in the 124cc package. And it's still yellow. • " as