husq wr500 vs xc500 1983/4 main differences.

[ELC hunter]

Can anyone describe main differences between 1983 xc500 to 1984 wr500 so to be able to identify if looking at the real thing before purchasing. Running gear engine suspension looks similar.   Any issues if one is US import wr500 doesn't have compliance plate so im thinking it to be a import ? It was at cd15 for sale. Frame number is stamped neatly with Husqvarna 1then a more roughly stamped number which equals 84 wr500 id is this sort of stamping common like this on these? cheers ELC hunter.

[PEZBerq]

Yes the frame is stamped on the steering head as you describe. US models will not have an Australian compliance plate.

The 83 has a metal tank while 84 was plastic but many people have put metal tanks on 84 models. The seat is slightly different due to the different tank shapes.

XC will have the longer fork sliders same as CR while WR has short sliders with not too much projecting below the axle. Both XC and WR have rear frame loop.

WR has lights whereas XC doesn’t have lights but again many people have removed these and WRs are often dressed up as MX.

Both good models so buy on what you can see in terms of quality and cost to get restored etc.

Good luck

[bigk]

Got a nice 1984 WR500 which is for sale. Has Australian compliance & current club reg (not transferable).
K

[80-85 husky]

Mick, how much is that WR 500...

[ELC hunter]

So other than the engine number how are you able to pick it as a 500 and not a 430 or smaller

[huskibul]

Ten fins on 500 barrel & 9 on 430 ?

[ELC hunter]

Thanks for that information

[80-85 husky]

10 fins of fury....also husqvarnaparts.com has a model id chart from f/n and e/n

[ELC hunter]

Yep my brother had a 85xc 500 power to burn but it didn’t stop and forks felt like they flexed everwhere 6th gear bloody fast

[80-85 husky]

the wr has a much nicer power delivery than teh CR / XC very controllable and user friendly. chalk and cheese. the best thing is the WR can be changed easily to an XC with the longer fork sliders and dampers and the shocks have a spacer that once removed gets you nearly 13" of travel.. good for a desert blast

[Husky500evo]

I don't think that just removing the travel limiting spacers in the Ohlins ITC shocks will give you 13 inches of rear wheel travel . The swingarms on the XC and CR models are about 30 mm longer than the WR one .
Another difference between the '83 and '84 frames , is that the steering head rake was steepened from 30 degrees on the '83 , to 28.5 degrees on the '84 . So the '84 will turn a bit better . My '84 XC frames have a stamped number starting with a prefix XO and  my WR frames are stamped starting with WO .
 There are also some other subtle differences between the '83 and '84 ( air cooled motor ) Husky frames .

[ELC hunter]

Who is person to freshen up the rear itc s bump stops gone so might as well get serviced cheers

[80-85 husky]

Big K recently serviced my itc's and they are performing superbly, pm him for details

[enzo906]

I had the XC and it was the same as the CR but had a headlight and taillight and could be registered (Mine was) it had a squeeze horn from a pushbike and total loss battery for the blinkers (from an Yam IT175 aftermarket blinkers). I used to take the light off swap the rear guard and ride MX on it.
I think the shop at Penrith were I bought them (I also had the 84 and it was the same but plastic tank) , were doing them up to be registered?
The wr's had lights and softer suspension and wider ratio gears (Even faster top speeds), They were registerable too but I dont think Penrith was dodging them to pass rego?
In 80's, If you wanted a mxer with lights you bought the XC husky, then/or the Maico or later there was Woodys CR transformations
If you wanted a Euro Enduro then you went WR.

[ELC hunter]

Just got a trail and track mag with the wr500 test in it will be interesting to see how it went on test