1983 Husqvarna 500 CR
This monster 1983 Husqvarna 500 CR comes from one of our members, Jim McConnell of Yorba Linda, CA.
I am the 2nd owner of this bike. It was purchased new from Mitch Payton, (Mr.Pro Circuit). It has some one off items on it as the bike was used as a proto type bike in 1983. It took 1 year of restoration to bring it to what you see now. Almost all the nuts and bolts are titanium. It has the original motor, frame, shocks, hubs, forks and gas tank. It even has the stock pipe with no dents!!
Some would say that the Husky CR 500s lived in the shadow of the Maico 490s of that time period. However, owners these Huskys know that they can hold their own. Outstanding power and plush suspension thanks to the Ohlins shocks, these two wheeled rockets are not for novices. The power delivery hits in the lows rpms and continues to rev through the entire power band. Like most bikes of the time, the drum brakes were decent at best; and brakes are a great thing to have when you’re doing 90+ mph on one of these Huskys on an open stretch. The 1983 Husqvarna 500 CR also featured a 6 speed gear box and a giant 44mm carburetor.
Thanks for sharing your great looking Husky Jim!
Do you have some tips or knowledge about the ’83 Husky CR 500? Leave your comments below!
12 Comments
Az mike is trying to sale a gas tank and other items. Don’t believe the pro circuit story. The old pro circuit tanks had gold leaf husky symbols. Be Careful , the tank is worth about 200 – 250, the rest if the seat has the base 150.
Hey all you vintage husqvarna buyers be real careful about the 430 for sale . In northern cal with the fox suspension. The guy sad it does’t run and want a bundle of cash. Wrong rear hub for that year bike good luck.
I’m a little late to this post but hopefully can get a response! Does your bike have the Pro Circuit triple clamps? There’s a few folks who would like to replicate them.
What a piece of art that bike was. I bought mine new in 83 and had a four speed transmission. The torque was incredible. A perfect power band. It pulled hard in every gear. I could rip really good on that bike in the right conditions. I wish I kept it.
Just a few tips when buying a 81 thru 83 cr 500 husky. The brake stay will run from the backing plate all the way to the frame. Most CR 500s will have a four speed trans. The center weld on the tank will be about a half inch from the fill hole. The rear backing plate will sit away from the hub a little, it won’t be flush. Happy shopping. You can see my bike . Go to rem Saturday motocross 83 CR 500.
I have an ’83 CR500 Husky. Mine has a 4 speed trans. Jeff at Bills pipe made me a cone pipe and silencer. I race most weekends at REM vs the new bikes. I had the tank painted blue to match the shock bodies and the seat. It has a v-force reed and is as fast as any 450.
Frank, that sounds like a sweet Husky, feel free to submit it to our showcase! wink… wink…
The 1983 CR 500 should have a 40mm Mikuni and a 4 speed trans. That’s how mine is, and the handbook.
I just got my second 83 CR500. They’re the hardest hitting bikes I’ve ever owned. The first one I bought new in 83, it had the 6 speed. I hardly got to 6th. I hope I can still handle my newly restored one, if not I’ll just sit and smile at it…
I have the 6 speed ’83 proto type CR500 believed to be the Billy Grossi bike from the August ’82 photos! I shipped it from CA Christmas time!
It purr’s like a kitten !!
That thing looks like a BEAST!!!