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

What aftermarket shocks do you like?

Discussion in 'Vintage/Left Kickers' started by Eurofreak, Feb 15, 2017.

  1. wrx Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    845 newyork
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1973 to 1986 husky's various models
    Other Motorcycles:
    RM -250 / Buell / Penton 400 mc5
    what do 4x4 trucks have to do with dirt bike shocks ????? keep on track BigBill. THE GUYS WANTS REBUILDABLE SHOCKS
    justintendo likes this.
  2. Jeff B Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1975wr 250
    Other Motorcycles:
    yamaha ty 175,
    I have to agree with Kartwheel on this one. If you don't bottom out every now and then. IMHO, you are too stiff. You have only 4 inches. Use all of it. Spring rates are hard to come up with. In a average cross country lap, I will bottom out at some point. The shock is protected with a bumper. If you can find "Mad" Max Richardson, he has raced those old big bikes. He is fast and has already done the homework. Also put a cable tie on your forks to see how much you are using. Most of all have fun. Some of the fun is the build.
    justintendo likes this.
  3. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    My point was some shocks won't take a steady diet of bottoming out. They can destroy themselves. Now looking for a set of better quality, rebuildable shocks is probably the was to go. I seen used olins with the hoses and external gas bottle selling for $500.

    I have three bulging discs in my lower back I don't think they will handle the shocks bottoming out.
  4. justintendo klotz super techniplate junkie

    Location:
    mercer, pa/northwest pa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    84 250,86 400,87 430,88 250,95 360
    Other Motorcycles:
    99 kawasaki zrx 1100
    no one has said steady bottoming is good. we are talking about correctly set up suspension, that when pushed hard can bottom out softly.
  5. Eurofreak Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Western NY
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1986 TE 510, 1982 CR250, 2008 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    70's Triumph , Bultaco , Maico, etc
    Mines a Bitsa with Trailwings and a Shinko-bit heavier than yours.
    If I buy better shocks I would keep them and switch something else on the bike if it gets sold. The rebuildable aspect is important because of this. They can be revalved later. Still, the price is def. better
  6. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    I sold a set of shocks that were rebuilt for a 82/500. Dumb me.
  7. Picklito Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Washington
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    430, 430, 430, ,400, 175
    Other Motorcycles:
    KTM250xc, KTM500mx, KTM440exc

    This is true. I have now accumulated a nice box of Ohlins parts and can mix and match a set for any vintage Husky I'm likely to build. And while the bikes come and go... the Ohlins stay.
  8. Eric The Leg Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Currently Tacoma, WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1986 WR400, 1985 WRX400, 1979 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 Kawasaki KZ 440
    What all tools do you need to work on these at home? Spring compressor, shock spanner, a good press, nitrogen source & filling tools do it, or is there more to it?
  9. Eric The Leg Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Currently Tacoma, WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1986 WR400, 1985 WRX400, 1979 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 Kawasaki KZ 440
    Also, Huskyjunk has several spring options in the sub-$500 range, and new Ohlins for $650 your budget can budge for the good stuff. I'm not sure what the limits are for re-springing an MX shock for a Triumph.
    My old man tells me that back in the day (late 50's/early 60's) when he was out of high school, he and his buddies bought basket cases on a regular basis, would fix them and occasionally enter enduros on old Indians and the like. Nothing brings the gleam to his eye like talking about his buddies Bonneville. Apparently their test of worthiness back then was how far they could fling gravel across the HS parking lot, and that Bonneville was the first to fling them clear across the parking lot, a bit of a feat at the time.
    Eurofreak likes this.
  10. Chayzed Pilot Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    So Cal
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2004 TC450,1978 390CR,1983 430 Wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    A gaggle of them
    This is kinda like a Triumph with good suspension.

    [IMG]
  11. Bill502 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Upstate NY
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2007 WR167 1978 CR250 1938 sw maus
    Other Motorcycles:
    1970 Triumph T100C 1973 Honda TL125
    And good brakes!!!
  12. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    Nice norton. I like the 750 commando. I have wentworth wrenches somewhere.

    Kind of like a triumph? Don't let the triumph guys hear you say that. The triumph guys are the worst riders I ever met. "Snobs" The group never said hello to us. I thought the Harley riders had their own zip code.

    I remember we were out on Sunday cutting trees on the way home stopping at our local watering hole three guys on dirtbikes rolled up. One was a 60's maroon husky, the two others were different I think one was a triumph and the other was a bsa. These guys were in old full biker brown leathers. If their leather could talk. They looked like we went back in time they were older riders.
  13. Joe Chod Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    upstate NY
    And one time....at band camp.....
  14. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    The norton brought me back thirty years ago.
  15. Eurofreak Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Western NY
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1986 TE 510, 1982 CR250, 2008 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    70's Triumph , Bultaco , Maico, etc
    I dig the Curnutts on the Norton-that looks expensive!
    I have a couple of Rolls Royce wrenches came with the Triumph
  16. suprize Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Bendigo, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    WR 400, bike in a box Moto Villa 350
    Other Motorcycles:
    ktm 300
    wentworth wrenches Bill?? Wentworth Wenches...there is a womens prison at wentworth...whitworth wrenches I think you ment:p
  17. justintendo klotz super techniplate junkie

    Location:
    mercer, pa/northwest pa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    84 250,86 400,87 430,88 250,95 360
    Other Motorcycles:
    99 kawasaki zrx 1100
    wentworth wenches!
  18. wrx Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    845 newyork
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1973 to 1986 husky's various models
    Other Motorcycles:
    RM -250 / Buell / Penton 400 mc5
    like Joe said , and on time...at band camp
  19. Eurofreak Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Western NY
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1986 TE 510, 1982 CR250, 2008 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    70's Triumph , Bultaco , Maico, etc
    One time, one time
  20. Alfie Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Pembrokeshire
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    76 360 WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    Honda XR600r