1982 WR 250 & XC 250 Cycle World Test

http://yeoldecycleshoppe.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/1982-husqvarna-xc250-and-wr250-road-test/

Good stuff -- enjoy.

Nice, thank you

Beyond cool. This issue of Cycle World was the first motorcycle mag I ever bought and what got me hooked on the black tank Huskys. 30 years later I finally found and 82 XC but in 125 form. Thanks for posting. Amazing the impression that article made on me at the grand old age of 11. Those things looked huge to me at the time.

Here is a Dirt Bike test of our 125XC. They dont think much of it.

http://davestestsandarticles.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/dbike_oc82hus_125xc175xc.pdf

This is awesome!!! Thanks. Their assessment is pretty spot on. Bike likes to be wrung out or else you aren't going anywhere. That said I still love the thing and for a 31 year old bike the handling on trails is really good. The biggest downfall for me is brakes that go away when wet. Was surprised how expensive these bikes were. I remember paying $1750 for my CR125 in 1987 and that bike was light years ahead in development.

I had a 125XC when it was new and I didnt know it was slow, heavy and hard to ride, but I was only 14. I rode the one I have now only once with the 125 top end, and it was so slow I put it away until I could find a piston for my 175 kit. With the 175 top end its still slower than a Japanese 125, and my '84 KTM125 is so much faster its embarrassing. The 175 top end is a significant improvement, it does make it easier to ride and adds quite a bit of low-mid power where the 125 has absolutely none, but it wont get you even with a Japanese 125 and wont get you near a stock IT200 or KDX200. Like you though, probably even more so since I had one new, I still love the bike and of course the chassis/suspension/handling is standard Husky, which means its perfect.

Isn't that the truth? Only after I started reading the magazines did I realize the bikes I had were either slow, had bad suspension, handling, or all of the above. I had to second guess whether I should be having as much fun as I was considering how deficient my equipment was. Ha ha. Sometimes for me at least, it is fun to just accept things for what they are and appreciate the experience. Thanks again for posting the bike test. Cool stuff.

Hey guys, the site has been moved and the old wordpress site will dissolve in June. Here's the new link to the WR/XC250 road test:
https://yeoldecycleshoppe.squarespa...2/28/1982-husqvarna-xc250-and-wr250-road-test