Husqvarna CRs?

Alessio Chiodi was another Husky rider that stood out to me even tho I pretty much knew nothing about the guy. I just remember seeing his pics in the magazines

I just realized the bike pic I posted has the chain on the opposite side of the swingarm than in these pics, interesting

Because one is a 125 and the other a 250

The CR125 husky and the YZ125 barrel are almost identical - The CR exhaust port bridge is wider something that caused premature wear in the YZ125's

Guy I know had a deal with Husky 125's in 99. Ran Motul lubricants with 60:1 mix. Never had top end issue apparently. Couldn't get the gearbox to hold together but. He was probably level though.

Just spend the winter up till now on a rebuild of a 2000 Husqvarna CR 125.
Bike is ready, just working on getting the jetting perfect.
Bought the bike or $250 all in pieces from a guy who wanted to do a rebuild but didnt get to it. He allready had the forks serviced and had a new crank and clutch. My dad and i powdercoated the frame, blasted the engine and basically rebuild it (replaced some parts in the gearbox). Also bought graphics and a new
All in all i have the bike done for +-$900.

What i found out is that the husqvarna cr from that era is quit unpopular. it is hard to find parts and not that many used bikes are available over here (and all for a low price). Also the bikes were not considered to be good compared to the other makes (at least that is the feedback i get).

If you don't have a specific reason for going for the husqvarna i would suggest to spend your time on a more popular bike. Better availability for spare parts, and if you want to resell your likely to get a better price with a different make.

Maybe JT can chime in on this.... But you're probably not gonna like what he has to say

I have had several from 98 on up to 2011. Even to the end, I was always the only guy with one, cool and different without loss in performance, etc. The one that I liked best was the 98, very few of those were imported. People had no clue what it was... the earlier models had the 250 size crank bearings too.

Different is scary to many, but cool to others. These bikes were awesome and parts are around, sometimes searching is part of a resto... I had no durability issues and the bikes were at least as good as the others.

I know it's not a 125, but I have a 2013 WR300. This bike has been reliable for me. I have 80 hours on it and apart from a sticky thermostat, I have had no issues with it. I've heard great things about the CR125s and 144s. I'd like to add one to my garage in the next year or two. a 125 would purely be a play bike for me as I'm too big to be competitive at my skill level on one.

1980 125CR & 1985 500CR

I raced a 125 and 250 as a local pro in 2002 and tried a couple Nationals.

I’d say the 125 was ok...stock is was competitive and maybe a touch faster than a CR/KX/RM. But behind the YZ and KTM. But another problem for it was that this was the period the YZF 250 pretty much took over the 125 class. My 125 clutch basket exploded at Hangtown and Ferracci took a billet one out of a spare race engine and put in my bike which was cool.

The 250 as JT has talked about anytime this comes up was really dated and behind the other bikes in every way. To be fair to it....it had seen very little changes motor wise since it was called a 1988 Cagiva WMX 250. Some Pro Circuit parts really helped it....but still it wasn’t something you’d choose to ride over the other brands unless you were trying to make money (contingency was decent) or just be weird (guilty of this too).

Still beautiful bikes. I love the colors (like 80s RMs) and the FBF riders always looked super cool in the TLD gear.

Years later I found out a French Distributor (Moto Evasion) used pictures of me for their Catalog..

I have a 2014 (110th anniversary), it came with a 150 kit and was 4K OTD. Couldn't get the carb or forks to work for me, needed a revalve and a lectron. Not a bad bike, but I wouldn't buy it again. The aftermaket is not great, but doing a top end is easy, so much room work with.

tough to be competitive in '02 when the engine is based on a mid to late 80s model. Durable as hell though. The carb on my '11 was just fine, same as the fork. It was a KYB, I think some came with Marzocchi. Maybe I am viewing all of this thru rose coloured glasses.

I picked up a mid-2000's WR250 (the off-road version of the CR) for real cheap a while ago. I wish I had it out on the trails more, but I also had a YZ250 at the time and it just felt dated compared to it. You could tell it was a hold-over from the 90's and 80's.

I have heard the 125 was a bit better bike. And I wouldn't mind finding a equally good deal on a CR or WR 125/144.

Went to look at this 08 CR125. Came with a spare spring in the box. New Protapers, FMF silencer unused. $1400, Paint wasn't even worn off the cases on the 125. Pretty mint condition.
Ended up getting an 05 TC250 at same time. Was in pieces to be ebay parts. He had bought the bike brand new. Said engine ran till warm then would stall. Ends up giving me the 05. That became my project.

Ride what you want to ride and don't let anyone tell you different but lets not kid each other here as far as performance those things were turd burglars.

roninho wrote:
Just spend the winter up till now on a rebuild of a 2000 Husqvarna CR 125.
Bike is ready, just working on getting the jetting perfect.
Bought the bike or $250 all in pieces from a guy who wanted to do a rebuild but didnt get to it. He allready had the forks serviced and had a new crank and clutch. My dad and i powdercoated the frame, blasted the engine and basically rebuild it (replaced some parts in the gearbox). Also bought graphics and a new
All in all i have the bike done for +-$900.

What i found out is that the husqvarna cr from that era is quit unpopular. it is hard to find parts and not that many used bikes are available over here (and all for a low price). Also the bikes were not considered to be good compared to the other makes (at least that is the feedback i get).

If you don't have a specific reason for going for the husqvarna i would suggest to spend your time on a more popular bike. Better availability for spare parts, and if you want to resell your likely to get a better price with a different make.

That’s awesome man. I found an ‘02 WR360 on Craigslist for $600 that the guy is trying to part out. He said everything is there but it needs a new cylinder and crankshaft. I thought about it, but I don’t really want to hunt down parts for it. I really would prefer a 125 like you were able to find! How do you like it?

The only thing I wondered about those bikes was why on Earth DKNY was a sponsor. Anyone have any info on that? Like, why?

I had a Husky WMX 125, I think it was the model before the CR. I think it was a '90 or '91? It was a blast, actually kind of miss it!

Melicar wrote:

Ride what you want to ride and don't let anyone tell you different but lets not kid each other here as far as performance those things were turd burglars.

the 125 was no turd.

Kelz87 wrote:

That’s awesome man. I found an ‘02 WR360 on Craigslist for $600 that the guy is trying to part out. He said everything is there but it needs a new cylinder and crankshaft. I thought about it, but I don’t really want to hunt down parts for it. I really would prefer a 125 like you were able to find! How do you like it?

Thnx, i've been riding a 250F for a couple of years, so the first thing i absolutely like is the weight of this bike, i think its 22 pounds lighter then the sxf. It's fun to ride, and you really notice the powervalve to kick in.

Having said that it is a 20 year old bike so it is lacking in power. Today's 125's (almost?) hit 40 hp's, this one doesnt hit 30 hp and has a much smaller range. And it was allready down on power back in the day compared to other bikes.
All in all i like the bike, but really see it is a 'play-bike' and 2nd bike for me to enjoy and every now and then i invite some buddies and they ride the husky and i ride my ''race' bike.

Anyway, my advice would be:
* Money: It's not that hard to quickly spend $2000 on this rebuild (your WR360 example: bike + crank + piston, some other parts, $200-300 on seat cover & graphics, etc. etc.). If you want to ride the bike a lot that is a good price for a fully rebuild bike, however if you want to resell and recoup your money it likely isnt going to be a hot market.
* I wouldn't focus on a specific make/model, but just wait for the right project to come by. I wanted a Kawa or Suzuki 125 2-stroke of mid 00's but ended up with the Husky because after months i've only seen $1800 Suzuki's that needed way to much to do compared to the price.
* realize that re-building a 20 year old bike is going to take time and that you'll find a lot of unexpected surprises (stuff that ends up being broken or in need of replacement that you didnt expect). If you want to ride quick buy something that is running. There were some shitty jobs that i was lucky to have my dad retire recently so he spend some days on that which helped a lot.

Sorry for the photo dump

I’ve been fortunate enough to have owned and ridden almost all of the late model Italian Huskys.
I’ve owned the following models:
2000 wr250
2000cr250
2009 wr250 my first new bike I bought in 11 as a leftover while in high school.
2012 tc250r/tc449 they were john dowds bikes.
2013 wr125/144 came with both cyclinders and one of my all time favorite bikes.
2013 txc310r
2014 txc310r


The 2000 wr250

The 2000 cr250
The 09 wr250 I had the suspension worked on by Wyatt Seals he ran the Gncc team for a few years back then and we got hooked up with him. This bike hit harder than any bike I’ve rode and man was it fast 450s did not like this 250.
This is the 12 tc250r and tc449




One of my favorite and most capable bike is the 13 wr144. Never tried it in 125 form. Just messed with the needle and it was fine from sea level to 5000ft
Don’t let people tell you these bikes are slow I pulled many holeshots on these bikes live engine and dead engine start. This next pic is from a harescramble in open c back the day. I’m on the 144 and my dads on the 310r we both pulled everybody.
Now I currently don’t own any huskys but my dad has one of the 310s and a 2000 wr360 with a lectron and efm auto clutch and recently wrapped up the championship in 45+ Setra harescramble series with multiple wins on this 18 year old dinosaurs against newer bikes.

If anybody has any questions about this old huskys I’ll be glad to answer for ya. Having so many of them and dealing with the guys I dealt with I can kinda guide you in the right direction set up wise.

The Husky are underrated. They may not be for everyone. After all the dealers need to keep moving four strokes the average guy can't afford to rebuild nor has the skills and tools to work on. It's evolution.

Not racing nor worried about resale myself. If I see another CR or WR Italian Husky. Am on it.

I have a 2002 CR125 from factory team in the GPs had a 2001 125 too stock bike though and a team 250 from 2003 the upgraded suspension and factory kit cylinder, head and chiodi’s works pipe on the 125 along with titanium subframe, boot kit and magnesium covers all make the bike light and super quick racing in local national champions ships nothing but fettled KTMs could keep up with it only thing was the kTMs used to blow up
I never had reliability issues with the engine or the works 5 speed gearbox for years but in 16 years I have had to big ends, replacement gear box back to stock as I couldn’t get the factory gearing and additional gears, usual clutch wear and other wear items they were just unpopular cause they were different but I wouldn’t ride any Japanese bike I’m it’s place
The 250 was works 65hp of powerful machinery it would compete with any other marques and had uprated suspension Paul Copper and Carl Nunn took it to some great GP results a solid top 5 bike the Honda and Suzuki were hard to beat in that era though
I probably have enough spares to build another bike I have a frame on the shelf swing arm sub frames wheels even a modified stock engine minus the gearbox inners though it is tough to get parts for them now I struggle like hell

sonnie wrote:

I have a 2002 CR125 from factory team in the GPs had a 2001 125 too stock bike though and a team 250 from 2003 the upgraded suspension and factory kit cylinder, head and chiodi’s works pipe on the 125 along with titanium subframe, boot kit and magnesium covers all make the bike light and super quick racing in local national champions ships nothing but fettled KTMs could keep up with it only thing was the kTMs used to blow up
I never had reliability issues with the engine or the works 5 speed gearbox for years but in 16 years I have had to big ends, replacement gear box back to stock as I couldn’t get the factory gearing and additional gears, usual clutch wear and other wear items they were just unpopular cause they were different but I wouldn’t ride any Japanese bike I’m it’s place
The 250 was works 65hp of powerful machinery it would compete with any other marques and had uprated suspension Paul Copper and Carl Nunn took it to some great GP results a solid top 5 bike the Honda and Suzuki were hard to beat in that era though
I probably have enough spares to build another bike I have a frame on the shelf swing arm sub frames wheels even a modified stock engine minus the gearbox inners though it is tough to get parts for them now I struggle like hell

fine bikes there! Miss mine.

Lamson's Husqvarna (actually pronounced Hooskvarna...not HuskAvarna.... if you're not sure) was a thing of beauty!

There is ha guy in Wisconsin that has one of those race bikes. It’s pretty neat but he wa ya 10k.

CrGuy2T wrote:

There is ha guy in Wisconsin that has one of those race bikes. It’s pretty neat but he wa ya 10k.

That’s heavy even for a race bike 10k is way to much I know there value is coming back up with the resurgent 2 stroke scene but state of the art in 2002 is stock nowadays half that price as a start point would be better

Might be picking up a 2002 husky Cr 125 has 50mm fbf forks , fbf clamps, oversized radiators , full pc exhaust going to sell it for $3800 if anybody is interested