Husky Happy Hour: Riding the little screamer

CR125, but don't think Honda - this bike is all Husqvarna

Husky Happy Hour: Living with the little screamer

By Jimmy Lewis, Photos by Scott Hoffman

“How do you like that Husky?”

It’s a question I’m asked at least a couple of times when I’m out with the 2012 Husqvarna CR125 at the track. Truthfully the question is warranted since Husky has not had much of a presence at the MX tracks of America since the late ’70s. That small push in the late ’90s was a flash in the pants and short-lived, even by Travis Preston’s account.

JL standing next to his favorite eighth liter screamer.

Husqvarna's own Revell Harrison (National Sales Manager) is a big fan of keeping the 125 alive and revving.

I really like the bike. Enough to recommend one to the right person. In Dirt Rider Magazine’s 125 shootout, the bike impressed everyone who rode it and was not that far off against any of the bikes currently available surprising many with the longest-pulling powerband in the class. Where it lacked, I knew it wouldn’t take much work to dial it in so I grabbed the bike and went to work.

The Husqvarna is an affordable and fun machine. And it also comes with an optional 144cc kit when you pick up a new unit from a dealer.

The first area was the suspension and that was largely because of my weight—I’d have to have suspension work done to any 125 because of my weight at 185 lb. But I wanted a little more progression in the valving and for the fork to get better use out of the mid-stroke. Through a little work with Pro Circuit we got that setting even better than I imagined and even though the components may not be perceived as being the best (a Sachs shock and an older design KYB fork) they are working just as good as anything else right now.

The motor did not really need anything done to it but in testing a PC pipe and muffler the improved punch could not be ignored. The pipe really wakes up the initial part of the power spread and then adds even more to the already long spread. The muffler puts a little more punch on the bottom but I switch between it and the stock muffler depending on the track. The less traction, the better I like the stock muffler.

The main reason I like riding the Husky is that it is extremely fun and it keeps me on my game. You can’t be lazy riding one. Since the chassis has solid handling characteristics, it makes track riding a science experiment of finding good lines and carrying speed where others have to shut off. Then there is the added importance of hard braking to make up time. And it keeps my jumping game in check with a real limit on what I think I can jump and what I shouldn’t even try.
With a retail cost of $6000 for the 2012 (the 2013 is $6200) you are getting in close to $2000 under the cost of most four-strokes. And the bike comes with a complete 144cc kit included. The CR is simple to work on and has proven to be extremely durable for the first 20 hours of hard use.

The sounds of two seasoned 125 riders battling on the track brings back memories and questions why this bike rarely has a dedicated class at races.

For more Husky CR125 info look/click below:

-Dirt Rider Magazine Long Haul Husky CR125

-Husqvarna website: http://www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com/

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