1. Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

Brads 360 GP bike photo - his favorite ?

Discussion in 'Vintage/Left Kickers' started by GaryM, Aug 17, 2015.

  1. GaryM Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1981 430cr second 430 CR 500cr
    Other Motorcycles:
    1981 490 Maico
    John and I were lucky enough to talk with Brad about his favorite Husky racing bike at Unadilla rewind a couple years ago.
    Unsure if this was the final version he liked the best but here is another rare photo I found
    on web to share to keep on this site. Nothing like hi tech duct tape !

    John let me know was this the bike ? Brads 360 his favorite Husky.jpg
    GaryM, Aug 17, 2015
    #1
    Husky cr, ray_ray, oldbikedude and 1 other person like this.

  2. GaryM Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1981 430cr second 430 CR 500cr
    Other Motorcycles:
    1981 490 Maico
    Dang may have to find a 360 now. Thats not a bad thing !
    GaryM, Aug 17, 2015
    #2

  3. ruwfo Administrator

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 390CR, 1982 430CR, 1984 400WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 250XC, 2016 FJ-09
    Gary,
    This looks like a pre 75 model, or a works 1974 360, I think Brad was talking about the next years works bike, like this.

    Lackey_Husky.jpg

    Husky John
    ruwfo, Aug 17, 2015
    #3
    Husky cr, robertaccio, ray_ray and 3 others like this.

  4. jimspac Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Connecticut
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR, 82 430WR, 84 250WR, 85 400
    Other Motorcycles:
    86 400WR, 82 Montesa Cota 349
    That 1976 was likely his last before moving to Honda and was likely an early 1977 390CR. The 250CR I saw him with at the 1976 Southwick national was similar with leading axle forks. I got a real close look as I was flagging that race and got to meet him at the starting gates as I was at the 1st turn.

    Being built on the 77 CR -78 ML frame it was the best handling Husqvarna of the 70's
    jimspac, Aug 17, 2015
    #4

  5. GaryM Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1981 430cr second 430 CR 500cr
    Other Motorcycles:
    1981 490 Maico
    The one comment that Brad made was that there was not bike faster in the class at the time. The bike was the one he came back to race the national
    with that helped Jimmy Weinert win the national championship in New Orleans race. I will have to go back and watch the Motocross files video on that race.

    I swear you are right on handling. It been so long but I seem to remember how much fun I had on cornering/ turning my 77 390 with. It loved the night track at Delta. I raced that bike more then any. Raced that bike three times a week in summer. Two night races and then on Sun at tracks like Mid Ohio, Baja and Redbud for you Mich/Ohio guys.

    The later 80 390 well I don't remember cornering as well , but I do remember it really tackled the whoops and bumps better then anything.
    GaryM, Aug 17, 2015
    #5

  6. david gross Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    New Zealand
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2008 WR250 1984 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    1979 GS750

    Leather riding pants duct tape round the top of your boots, Those were the days , wish i still had my 360.
    david gross, Aug 17, 2015
    #6

  7. GaryM Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1981 430cr second 430 CR 500cr
    Other Motorcycles:
    1981 490 Maico
    Check this out Kent Howerton bike on warm up lap at Mid ohio.

    Well what do you think of the setting on his shocks with all that sag ? I think this bike will turn.
    06c016891fd8ee1059c0f4b78eef7eaa.jpg
    GaryM, Aug 17, 2015
    #7
    ray_ray likes this.

  8. robertaccio Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    San Diego, Ca
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 Husqvarna TE300i
    Other Motorcycles:
    99 HusqvarnaTE610, 94 Husaberg FC501
    LOOK HOW FAR LAYED DOWN THE SHOCKS ARE !! ALMOST HORIZONTAL!! Very cool shot
    robertaccio, Aug 17, 2015
    #8

  9. ruwfo Administrator

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 390CR, 1982 430CR, 1984 400WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 250XC, 2016 FJ-09
    Yes, the 76 360 I've got with Jim's modified frame (77 125CR/78 390Auto) turns well, as long as you have the suspension balanced right.
    With the shocks set too soft the it rode like a chopper, put stiffer springs on & turn up the spring tension, transformed it.

    Your correct both my 80 390CR & 82 430CR don't turn as well as the 360. I ride those differently using more rear wheel spin to turn
    the bike, rather then the front.
    ruwfo, Aug 18, 2015
    #9

  10. jimspac Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Connecticut
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR, 82 430WR, 84 250WR, 85 400
    Other Motorcycles:
    86 400WR, 82 Montesa Cota 349
    Brad found out in 1977 what a fast bike was when he was racing the Honda RC-400 in GPs.

    John, the only mod I did to the frame was press in the Timken bearing caps off my project ML frame. No geometry change whatsoever! Came from Husqvarna that way in 77 with the CR only.
    jimspac, Aug 21, 2015
    #10

  11. ptkatoomer Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    San Diego area
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None
    Other Motorcycles:
    2020 ktm 300 xc-w, 2020 ktm 500exc
    Must be "works " - it uses less duct tape!
    ptkatoomer, Aug 22, 2015
    #11

  12. Kartwheel68 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Newnan, Georgia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 125XC, 250XC, 430XC, 430WR, 250CR
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 175WR , 76 250WR, 74 250 Mag
    The race in New Orleans was the end of '75, Brads bike was a 390 but it had straight leg forks and the early ML rear suspension.
    Kartwheel68, Aug 29, 2015
    #12