Development of the 75 360 GP as viewed by one man

[Crashaholic]

For those of you with an appreciation for the story behind the development of the 75 360 GP heres an article at the attached link that has a lengthy comment from a fellow who calls himself Big Sven regarding his involvement in the development of the 360 GP. Don’t know how much truth is to this but his comment sure makes for an interesting 360 GP story.

Remember this isn’t so much about the main article at this link as it is about the reader Big Sven’s story about the 360GP.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/290/1734/Motorcycle-Article/Memorable-MC-360-Mikkola-Husqvarna.aspx

 

[auto]

Interesting read.Take a look at the Terry Pratt book and see a lot of what he talks about,just a bit earlier(1972)

 

[86 400 XC]

I have 1 of the bikes in my front room.

Thanks for sharing that!

 

[Crashaholic]

I have 1 of the bikes in my front room.

Thanks for sharing that!

86 400 XC,
Yeah thats a good looking bike. I bought a new 360 in 75 and then sold it a couple years later after racing it into the ground. I bought another one 15 years ago but its a basket case. Plans are to put it back together and ride it then maybe restore it. I was riding and racing a lot of desert when I got the new one in 75. I had a problem with the sleeve moving in the barrel, at least thats what the Husqvarna said. They gave me a new barrel under warranty and it never happened again.

The agility of the bike was definitely impressive, but oh how I missed the torque of my older 450 5-spd. Pulling desert sandwashes on the 360 was a slower task than with the 450, and hills were more challenging too although when I didn't make to the top the lightweight 360 was easier to pick up if dropped while on the hill . Sandwashes and hills are more manageable at 4500 RPM than 7500 RPM. One slip that causes the R’s to drop and you’re screwed with a screamer. A thumper on the other hand can come back from a drop in RPM.

I think it would be fun to have a 360 GP to ride today because I’m only about 20 lbs heavier than in I was in 1975 and I’m not as strong making a lightweight bike more preferable. I still have a few 450's too. Love that torque.

 

[86 400 XC]

I take it out and ride for vintage motocrosses.

My first bike was a Husky 75 250 cr, bought it used.Hard starting bugger with no travel, i could not wait to get rid of it and move up a few years.

Friends had 79 to 82s, love having 1 of that era now.

 

[Crashaholic]

Interesting read.Take a look at the Terry Pratt book and see a lot of what he talks about,just a bit earlier(1972)

Hi auto,
Thanks for the reference to the book. I looked into it and I’ll definitely get a copy.

 

[hvaloz2]

magic! only de coster to beat ! I think they meant he was the only competition rather than being up against 5 or 6 other would be world champions. I love my 76 360 but only after i fitted 77 forks and a few other later parts, much like a big 250 really rather than a small 390.

 

[ronn450]

The liners would move around due to over tightening the head bolts on the 360 , in 1977 when the 390 came out this problem was fixed .

 

[Picklito]

I have 1 of the bikes in my front room.

Quite possibly my favorite Husky ever. Beautiful, man. Good on ya! The '74 Mag gets a lot of attention, for good reason. But look at how a '75 is put together compared with any previous Husky. Easily, the '75 was as large of a leap from '74 as '74 was from '73. The first "correct" length swingarm. The first correctly balanced Husky, front to back, both handling and travel. The first Husky that could turn from front or back. And, certainly not least, just LOOOK AT THAT THING!! OK, rant... off (although I'm still drooling just a little).

 

[86 400 XC]

Well Said!!!

 

[Bengt Husky]

Interesting read...I've taken a copy to give to my old man who worked for the UK Husqvarna importer Brian Leask from the mid 60's to the early 80's. He spent a lot of time out in the factory and was lucky enough to spanner for Mikkola when he raced in the UK at non GP events.

I'm not sure who big sven is but he does know a lot of the names that I know from the Husky factory so maybe he is well connected.

I'll let you know what he has to say on the subject.

Steve

 

[Crashaholic]

magic! only de coster to beat ! I think they meant he was the only competition rather than being up against 5 or 6 other would be world champions. I love my 76 360 but only after i fitted 77 forks and a few other later parts, much like a big 250 really rather than a small 390.

Hey hvaloz2, I like the idea of putting later forks on a 75 - 76 360. I've got a junker 79 390 that I've considered using the forks to do that but it looks like the triple clamp tree woul dhave to be shortened to fit the goose neck on the 360 frame. Is that what you did?

 

[Crashaholic]

The liners would move around due to over tightening the head bolts on the 360 , in 1977 when the 390 came out this problem was fixed .

The liners moved from over tightening the head bolts? I guess I shouldn't of been using a 3/4 inch drive air impact wrench on my head bolts. ................ Just joking, my new 75 360 liner slipped before I had a chance to get my 17 yr old mechanic hands on it.

 

[hvaloz2]

Hey hvaloz2, I like the idea of putting later forks on a 75 - 76 360. I've got a junker 79 390 that I've considered using the forks to do that but it looks like the triple clamp tree woul dhave to be shortened to fit the goose neck on the 360 frame. Is that what you did?

It was a long time ago crash! i managed to get a few 77 and 78 parts on to it , ignition cover,air filter cover etc but it still had the akront bare ally rims and bing carb when i sold it. I will try and dig out some pics and post up.