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/126769
Give Husky credit for openly (although perhaps a little tardy) addressing their problems. And they are providing the solutions for free! The owners of other brands have had to rely on the aftermarket, their own cash in hand, for their sol utions. And leave the left handed negative journaJisD1 to the trash publishers. You are better than that. By the way, I don't own a Husky four-stroke. I am currently sorting out the design shortcomings of my 500 Af.. CHARLIE PASKA Redmond., WA T he facts are: 1. Dirt Bike recommended that its readers buy $2945 to $3045 Husky four-strokes on the basis of a few hours riding the bike under the supervision of Husqvarna employees; and 2. The bike was recalled due to serious problems... Editor. WEST America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Sharon Claylon. Pu.blisheT Mike Klinger. Comptroller Skip Johnson. Associate Publisher, National Sales Manager Caroline Gendry. Executive Secretary to the Publisher Editorial Rules and News John Ulrich. Editor Dale Brown. Senior Editor Xit Palmer, Assistant Editor Mall Hilgenberg, Assistant Editor • Advertising Terry Prall. Sales Manager Mike Spencer. Sales Manager Linda Brown, Advertising Coordinator Nancy Dang~r. Advertising/Editorial Assistant Graphic. and Production Lance Bryson, Manager Lori Tyson. Graphic Artist Larry Gill, Graphic Artist Marion Halashita. Typography Sheila Larsen. Typography Dennis Greene. Laboratory Accounting/Data Proce..ing Donna Bryan. Accounts Receivable Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Terry Dailey, Credit Manager Circuilltion Rheba Smith. Manager Michelle Hanna, Assistant Sarah Taylor, Assistant Debbie Walker. Assistant Lyna Hood, Assistant Deeler Sales and Service Tim Ryan, Dealer Sales Manager Want Ad. Robert Elliot. Want Ad Sales Service and S'upport Chris Aitcheson, Reaption;st Gregory Hanson, SibS West 2201 Cherry Ave.. Long Beach. CA P.O. Box 198. Long Beach, CA 908010198 (213) 127-7133: L.A. Line 636·8811. Ea.t 4190 First Ave.. Tucker. GA. P.O. Box 805. Tucker. GA 30085·0805. (404) 931-7850. Cycle News/West (USPS 141-310) is published weekly except the first and last week of the calendar year for $25 per year by Cycle News. Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach. CA 90806. Second c.lass postage paid at Long Beach. CA. POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to CycIeNewa. P.O. Box 498. long Beec:h. CA 90801-0498. Subscription rates: One year, second class mail, $25: twO years, second class mail. $45; three years, second class mail $68: 25 weeks, $13. Foreign rates available on .request. Cycle News w.elcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories. canoons. photos. etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Such accepted material is subjeclto revision as is necessary in the sale discretion of Cycle News. Unsolicited material which is nol used will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope. All unsolicited material will be handled with reasonable care. however, Cycle News assumes no responsibility for the safety, loss or damage losuch material. Reprinting in whole or part only by peTmission of the publisher. Advertisingrates and circulation in{ormalion will be sent upon requesl. See S.R.D.S. Copyright $ Cycle New•• Inc. 1984. Trademark Cycle New'l'1llllote..d U.S. Patent Office. All right. re..rved. ON THE FRONT PAGE: St..dy Eddie Lawson ha. won two of the - three 1984 500cc Grands Prix. to Ieed the pointlatandi"lls. Photo by M. . Pon•. Husky turkeys This is in support of Mr. Brian Meyette who went to the aid of us Husky four-stroke owners at his own expense. I own a Husky TE510 and have experienced some of the problems he refers to. I am also in receipt of two letters from Husky, the second of which came by certified mail on Monday, May 7. (Husqvarna's letler to owners is printed below ... Ed.) As the letter from Husqvarna states, the Husky four-strokes have several major problems that are at this time unresolved. Mr. Dick West, who wrote and compared the Husky to fine wine, can perhaps offer some suggestions to Husqvarna as to how they can satisfy people like Mr. Meyette and me who don't want to have to modify a $3500 dirt bike from day one. I hope Cycle News can let the reading public know the problem side of a new bike instead of following the AU's Well In Huskyville attitude. IThis four-stroke is an acknowledged turkey that deserves to be roasted. WAYNE PETROWITZ AMA #247370 Richmond Beach, WA Dear Husqvama motorcycle owner We at Husqvama Motorcycle Company request your cooperation in . order to recall and update your 1983 four-stroke model Husqvarna motorcycle. Due to the safety related aspects of the possibility of air filter fires, Husqvarna Motorcycle Company, with the cooperation and guidance of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is requesting that you cease to operate your 1983 model four-stroke Husqvarna motorcycle. Upon receipt of this letter please contact your authorized Husqvama motorcycle dealership and supply them with your name, address and. frame number of your motorcycle. The dealership will then arrange for a time for you to bring in your motorcycle and leave it for the instal- lation of the up-date kit. Due to the time required to send the up-date kit for your motorcycle to the servicing dealership, and the man hours involved in the installation of the update kit including required modifications, please allow sufficient time for the servicing dealership to complete the work. Upon completion of the installation of the up-date kit and the complete inspection of the gearbox and crankshaft for worn parts, we feel confident that you will experierrce improved starting hot or cold, better carburetion, better cl utch response, improved oil seals and overall improved function of the motorcycle, plus elimination of aflY air filter fire risk. If you do not at the present time still own your 1983 model four-stroke Husqvarna, please supply us with any knowledge you may have concerning the present owner on the enclosed form. We wish to apologize for any inconvenience during this recall but we feel the improvements to your motorcycle will be worthwhile. HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLE CO, INC. San Diego, CA The above letter was sent certified mail to Husky four-stroke owners... Editor. Super Husky You guys obviously have some ax to grind with Dirt Bike and/or Husqvarna because your April 25 "Quote of the Week" was little more than a thinly disguised opportunity to take a journalistic kick at the cat. There is no doubt that Husky has some problems bringing sound design concepts into the real consumer world. But it took weeks for the guys around here to even get their 1984 CR500 Hondas to start. and a lot of the XR350s still won'" And what happened to the 1983 KX500? Granted, Husky has problems with the concepts of "quality assurance," but they are not the only ones in that boat. There isn't a good running bike on any track that is running the way it originally left the factory. I am writing in regards to the article on the AFM road race on April I, 1984 at Sears Point, appearing in the May 2 issue of Cycle News. It's disappointing to me that Cycle News chooses to put so much emphasis on one incident on a race day. AFM/North had nearly 400 entries on April I st, with a lot of close and good racing. But instead of reading about any of that, the bulk of your article featured a supposed controversy over a rider who was illegal in that class to start with. I don't understand the point of the article, since it was based on fantasy, and one of the writers was not even presenL Mr. DohertycertainJydeserves press; but because of his riding ability, not because of an incident that he was not even aware of until it happened. The article did not show Mr. Emde to be a good rider, or sportsman, either. What was the point? In the past, AFM/North has allowed riders to race "out-of-class" so they can get more track time to break in a new engine, tires, etc. They al ways start at the back of the grid, and are not supposed to interfere with the legal riders in that class. Since your article appeared, it has started a lot of bad feelings towards these riders. At the last AFM/North chapter meeting, the riders overwhelmingly voted to disallow riders racing out-of-class for no points. I would hope that in the tuture, Cycle News will feature articles on racing, and on riders who could really use the publicity your newspaper affords. BARBARA I. SMITH AFM/North Secretary Menlo Park, CA Our story was based on eyewitness reports of the incident and an interview with Dave Emde, 1977 250cc National Champion. A former National Champion who comes from dead last to win in eight laps is worthy of attention whether or not his machine complies with rules which are, in the case of AFM's Superstreet class, contrived to restrict competition. Unfortunately, AFM . rules and policy are unduly influenced by the small, vocal minority of riders who attend chapter meetings, when such important issues should be decided by a general membership vote conducted through the mails or at least at races... Editor. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Send letters to Voices, Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801. . .....