Husky shock length

[Husky500evo]

What is the correct tank colour for a 77 CR? I thought red, mine is black..

      The correct colour is the purple for the 390, as shown on Slakewell's bike and red for the 250. Are you sure you have the correct frame and not a '76 CR, or even a '77 WR frame ?  On the '77 CR250 and 390 frame, the top shock mount plates face upwards to allow for longer shocks. On the '76 CR and '77 WR frames , the top shock mounts face downwards and use shorter shocks. The frame number will also tell you what it is. From memory a '77 CR390 will have a frame number between the range of ML16000 to ML22000, but I'd have to look up my numbers to check that. It does sound like you have a '78 pipe though, which I think is a good thing.
       I may have to ask you some questions about KX250 A5 shocks, as I want to replace the standard ones on mine with something better. I may also have another KX A5 project in the wings  . I measured the standard KX shocks at 420mm eye to eye, with around 150mm shaft travel.  I have a set of piggyback Ohlins from an '82 CR Husky, that are about 420mm long with 140mm shaft travel and a set of  420mm long Fox piggybacks somewhere. I just have to find the Fox piggybacks to measure the shaft travel, but I did have those shocks put aside to go on my Can Am MX6 250, when I get around to it. Will the Ohlins off the Husky do the job and will the shim stacks need changing much to suit the KX ? Or am I just better off buying a new set of Ohlins set up for the KX, with the correct shaft travel length? I might also PM you to ask how much the fibreglass tank on your A5 cost from Mr. Holley. 

[JohnnyO]

Mark I think you're on the money with my frame, the top shock mounts angle down. That would explain why I need to use 260mm shocks. I just fitted some Ohlins that were 285mm but I used a 25mm shorter shock eye and fitted softer springs and it feels pretty good now.

With the A5 KX250 I'm using ohlins from a 82 Husky and have rebuilt and revalved them totally to suit the KX and they work really good..

[Husky500evo]

Mark I think you're on the money with my frame, the top shock mounts angle down. That would explain why I need to use 260mm shocks. I just fitted some Ohlins that were 285mm but I used a 25mm shorter shock eye and fitted softer springs and it feels pretty good now.
With the A5 KX250 I'm using ohlins from a 82 Husky and have rebuilt and revalved them totally to suit the KX and they work really good..

     Yeah, that's not a '77 CR390 frame, but interestingly enough the swingarm is the correct one. The '77 Husky CR250 and CR390 swingarm is a one off item, that only came out for that year. I posted up a pic recently, showing the differences between the '76, '77 and '78 Husky CR swingarms. That pipe looks like it is from a '79 WR390. I have a '79 390 Auto pipe, which would be the same as the WR, that I will go and have a look at to compare.
     I may have to get my '82 Husky Ohlins to you , if you are interested, to get them revalved. They have already been rebuilt with new shafts. I don't know if the wheel travel you would lose with the 10mm shorter shaft travel than the KX shocks, would make any noticeable difference.

[JohnnyO]

Yes I'll gladly revalve the Ohlins for you Mark, are they off a WR or CR? WR have an internal spacer that can be removed for extra travel. My KX came with some other cheapo shocks so I've never compared shaft travel to originals but mine has plenty and work great.
Any more info you can give me on the Husky would be good, I may have to get a 77 frame so I can run longer shocks and bring the travel up to 9" instead of 7.5!

[bigk]

I believe the correct color is indeed black with gold for '77 CR390. To my knowledge the 360's in '75 '76 were purple, not the 390 in '77. Who knows for sure though?
K

[Ted]

The Husky  brochure says black with gold 1977 CR 390

[Brian Watson]

No way!!!.. Black with gold line was introduced in 1978.. the correct colour for 1977 is purple...

[Ted]

Type 1977 Husqvarna CR 390 into Google and hit on images at top of page. Scroll down to Husqvarna brochure.

[Brian Watson]

The brochure may have , as an example 4/77 date in the bottom.. but it is not the 1977 model bike..it is advertising the 1978 bikes...  in 1978 the knee panel is different shape (elongated) and the colour for a 390 , is black.. but certainly.. the colour on Slakewells' bike is correct for 1977

[Brian Watson]

In about the 12th or so row of those images is a scan of the front page of a Cycle World magazine with a test on the 1977 390.. you can see the colour of the tank..it ain't black..

[JohnnyO]

I looked inside the top of the tank today and there is purple overspray that looks like it might be the original colour...

[Slakewell]

Here is the short travel version. Finally gave up on the Husky front brake cable and its spongy feel and converted to Yamaha cable today.Its heaps better.Now just a final wash detail and off to the Nats.

[JohnnyO]

I reckon I need that front brake cable too, my brake is shite and way too spongy..

[Husky500evo]

Here is the short travel version. Finally gave up on the Husky front brake cable and its spongy feel and converted to Yamaha cable today.Its heaps better.Now just a final wash detail and off to the Nats.

The only thing with that bike now is, apart from the leading axle forks, it looks more like a '76 CR360 rather than a '77 CR390. The only person that would have ridden a CR390 like that back in the day would have been a midget that couldn't touch the ground . I thought that vintage racing was supposed to be about reliving an era, not changing history. Not having a go at you Slakewell, as your bike is still beautiful, just the stupid rules that's all. Its a bit like going to watch the Melbourne Cup and seeing Black Caviar (or whoever the favourite may be) wearing hobbles to make it fairer for the other horses. Sorry about harping on , but I just can't let it go. 

[Slakewell]

I reckon I need that front brake cable too, my brake is shite and way too spongy..

If you want give me your front brake stay after the Nats and I will weld on the bits you need.