Trail Rider Magazine

36 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com As for this par cular 360 Viking, like so many of our vintage features, this one also belonged to my friend Howard. With an apprecia on for Euro- pean dirt scooters, as did McQueen, Howie also appreciated the Swedish mounts. He liked their simplicity, durability, and ergonomics. As the years progressed, Howie began collec ng fine examples and placed them in his home as art. From what I remember, this bike was a low-use survivor that had been stored for many years in the back of an old Husky dealer in New England. It was some me in the late 80s that Howie purchased the bike and had it stripped down for a light cosme c resto- ra on, including sandblas ng and pain ng the frame. The engine tank, handlebars, and rims are original to the bike and have never been painted. The fenders were replaced with correct repro- duc ons, and the seat was recovered locally. For the next two and a half decades, this old Viking occupied space in Howie's living room. Yes, he was a proud single guy! While researching this cool old ride, I found an interes ng 1968 Cycle World write-up. Here's what they had to say about this fine machine at the me: "The Husqvarna 360 Viking is a specialized combat- ant—every bit the rugged war machine that was its horn-ha ed, red-bearded, seacoast raider namesake. Sword and shield in hand, the fur-clad Viking lived to make war. The 360 Husqvarna, tough and hos le look- ing as its Scandinavian fore-bearers, exists only for combat on the motocross courses of the world. The 360 Husky is no play bike for the inexperienced novice or part- me weekend trail rider. It is all business that requires riding concentra on and finesse normally a ributed to champion-class riders. An average rider is unable to meet the demands necessary to ride the Viking quickly, as its handling characteris cs demand a very professional approach. In this respect, the Viking is iden cal to the out-and-out works machine that demands a rider intent on winning. It is really not much fun for an amateur to ride hard, with its narrow power band and spasmodic torque charac- teris cs. The machine either bogs down or the rider pulls back a gear and hangs on. However, with too much thro le, the inexperienced pilot finds himself arriving places sooner than an cipated and discovers jumps where previously there had been none. The 360 Viking is a machine that is either liked or disliked, nothing in between. It seems the closer to perfec on a machine comes, the more it demands from its rider,

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