Doesn't matter to me if it is a rebadged Husaberg. After all, the Italian bikes were just rebadged Cagiva's. Only thing that matters to me is that it says Husqvarna on the side and beats KTM's. Orange dirt bikes are fugly.
life as we know it is not over, this refers to being on a Husky fan site the move to Italy was a big deal they won pretty much right afterwards using mostly Cagiva rebranded bikes BMW was a disaster but I think they were misled at the top KTM is not the owner of our beloved label Pierre is and as I see it he owns half of KTM and Husaberg, but owns all of Husqvarna he did what he felt would get the brand out of the dark times, by this I mean no new models of consequence and a short time to do SOMETHING he was clear this was a hold over till next year and I feel he has the interest of Husqvarna in mind as it is HIS only, due to this thinking he is on the right track, if you need a new bike go buy last years or get a relabeled Husaberg or just wait the future does look good from what I read as a side note one of my best riding buddies just bought a Berg and put a plate on it in California
Here is a question for the Husky purists. No criticism just a question. If Husky was snagged up by Cagiva and moved out of the country but the brains stayed and continued as Husaberg... Then Husky was gobbled by BMW and diluted even more... Then some guy buys Husa to help produce better KTMs... and finally he PERSONALLY buys Husky... puts the Husa designed product BACK in the box and puts the Husky name back on the box... HOW EXACTLY IS THAT SO WRONG ? Except for hate of anything orange it sounds like a pefect reunification of the talent and the logo that was Husqvarna in the first place.
The "New Husky" is not the "New Husaberg", it's the KTM, as the last Husabergs are / were. The 2ts showed KTM that you can get a few more sales by re - badging a bike, so the slopers dissapeared. So, KTM get Husky for a song, and then apply 'the accountants solution'. Hey, it is bloody good business sense, no two ways about it. The biggest expense with the "Hew Huskies", is the dies / molds for sidecases. Once again, bloody good business sense. That blokes on so many forums are that 'unknowledgeable' - a polite word for dumber than a potatoe - that they see this as an entirely new bike, is a worry. Can people have their heads so firmly in the sand, or in their fundament, that they do not know about the linkage SXs and XCs? Because, well, it's such an innovation to see linkage...... Then some are heralding the 'great new bike' because it has the XC-W gearbox in it. Though, others are screaming about that..... It's a White KTM. With the most basic of changes. Well, we knew this would be the case, the first year. It was put out there by KTM / Husky. Fine, and / or Dandy. It's been said that they will gradually separate from being so much a 'colourised' KTM. Lets see how far that goes. Perhaps they are re-doing the Husky engine modules, that are modern. Perhaps we will see the "very interesting 2 Strokes that Husqvarna has in development" - re Peirer. Perhaps all will be 'dissapeared'. Perhaps we'll see X- Lite engines in the TVS (Indian) bikes - BMWs sub continent partners. The real future for KTM / Husqvarna is in Indian production. They are not going to get the total years production and sales 'rocketing' through bikes made in Europe. Approximately 108, 000 KTMs were sold in the 2012 financial year, which brought them to 'dominance' in European Bike production - by 'huge' couple of hundred bikes over BMW. And that was achieved by the basic start up of the Indian made Mini Dukes. That added in something like 8,000 / 18,000 bikes produced / sold to KTM / 'Bergs total. I'd say the Mini Dukes and 390 'Middle Duke', if it gets into the years production / sales number, will be a far higher contribution to KTMs 'rise'. I think 2 or 3 Indian manufacturers - of Motorcycles (Bajaj stopped doing scooters / mopeds a few years ago, to make only Motorcycles - Kawasaki Ninja 250 /300s are / were made by Bajaj, too), make bikes in the hundreds of thousands, and at least one, in over a million , per month. Yes, they are not R1s etc, but they are motorcycles. Not toys. Oops, I went off on a tangent, as is so often my 'wont' - back to the, in the years to come, diversification / separation / re-establishment of a Husqvarna Identity / Production : As another bloke here put up about Beirers " it will be very different to a KTM", or words to that effect: " He Lied ". I do very much hope things go well, and Husqvarnas become more than a 'face lifted / blinged KTM. But, I might be dissapointed. 'Berg' is gone, as a real, 'own' brand. At the moment, Husqvarna has too. Two, markedly different Motorcycle Lines ( yes, even with the 'Bergs being built in Austria, and, using so many parts as KTM - I'm refering to Slopers and Vertically Split Engine 'Bergs, not the 2ts and subsequent 4ts), have gone / died. " The King ( well, I use this just for effect) is Dead, Long Live The King", could be less than what we end up with. Lets see how the next few years go, shall we? Despite my curmudgeonly post above, I trying to be optmistic.
I like the merge of berg and husky, even if it just so the brand lives.....but berg was once swede engineers put out of work who rallied to build awesome bikes big powerful 4st! It was Ktm that bought them up and slowly berg became blue ktms....sad...now the same has happened to husky...sad again that's 2 unique bike brands killed off by walmart err...Ktm ...what we want to see is some unique swede influence design, husky ergos and handling...distinct , different product lines.....choice. I think the last cool berg was the 390/570 experiment ...it was cool that Ktm tried something with berg...more than just bold new colors...maybe this is in the future? Innovative design? Or more Chevy vs Gmc? Blah that ends with Oldsmobile and pontiac extinct .
PS : I really hope / would like to think that Pierer is really the owner of Husqvarna, but I really do believe it's Bajaj, that own Husky. I think that Pierer is only the 'front' man. I very much hope I am wrong.
Why don't you see that Husaberg minds created the newest KTM and therefore Husqvarna. Dropping the sideways motor was not a bad idea. Limited success and acceptance. I have the 2008-2010 gen KTM. I also have the 2011-2014 Husaberg designed/inspired KTM. Vastly different bike. So as I see it Husaberg is the mental giant of both KTM and Husky product going forward. I just don't see how you can call a 2014 Husky a rebadged KTM. I see both 2011/12+ KTMs and 2014 Huskys as rebadged Husabergs.
Just answer here that asks more questions .... There seems to be a reoccurring theme here that somehow, the original crew that broke away from Husky and turned into Berg bike builders, are still alive and kicking and building bikes as they wanted from yrs past and have plans to revive something from the past... Even if those guys are even alive, they just might be too old for anything but standing and pointing at the young guys. There has to be young blood in here somewhere and its called the future. -- Now ask this question... Who are these 'berg people' that everyone seems to think hold the keys to the machines that are gonna build these new bikes?
Interesting question because Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH, SP company, sits underneath ktm-AG ... So whats the deal here? SP can control his company in-directly because he sits as CEO of the parent company that does control Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH. Other than that, Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH is just another block on the company setup. None of this changes the fact that SP can give Husky (his company that sits spending ktm-ag money), the best deal possible ... He's still CEO of this entire show till removed from that chair .. -- Who actually has controlling interest in Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH? Only SP or does someone else hold 49% of his company?
..do your research...Cagiva bought the failing Swede and after tweaking their Husky version ,dropped their namesake bikes and concentrated on making it's own...at no time was the Husky a threat to Cagiva -however Husky despite some griping about how bmw handled the marque,they did start stinging ktm in a few areas.....however you won't see ktm dropping their product line to further the development of Husky(be pretty stupid if they did) like Cagiva-see where this going yet...Cagiva made provisions for all Swede factory,r/d personnel the chance to come aboard..long before the move to Italy was to take place (no hand was given to the Italian workers when mr. sp took over) a sense of pride and the awkwardness of moving that far contributed to many not going(understandable-but many people in the US have had to move to states to protect their jobs..I moved 1200 miles away!..then again a new country would be difficult..but I've known many that have)I for one,with over 36 years on Husky have been thru this roller coaster ride..hell,I even became a HUSKY dealer just when the US lost it's Husky distributor . I SURVIVED many of the ups and downs of this company..it took back to back hurricanes and a large financial hit after them that put me under....and you know what,the boys at Cagiva USA had stood by me and encouraged me to keep going..despite many sessions with Larry Ferracci and Rob Keith to try and save my dealership,it just was not meant to be.Even after closing my doors I kept in touch with both of them and when I visited family in the summer in Jersey,I'd go there(CAGIVA USA) visit with them and they would always spring for a meal.THIS IS THE TRUE MEANING OF MY STRONG FEELINGS FOR HUSQVARNA (and the fact they have been there for me thru it all on all of my 16 + Huskys even if I never reached the pro level)and why I can not digest this buy out by the Marques biggest competitor...I just don't see s.p. helping his fellow dealers- big corps are killing the small shops..there are still a few,but my little slice of heaven with only 3 employees were treated with the utmost respect,despite our size.My only hope is that Husqvarna will ,in the near future, become a truly independent manufacturer,and not share ktm parts/designs ..I said ktm,not Magura,Dominio,Excel,Kokusan or whatever outsource parts company. Whew ,I'm done!I got my 3 Italian Husky's to keep me occupied for awhile..AND I have a new project Husky 2010 SMR 450 (Husky #16)under way to keep me away from looking at the Husky badged ktm's...
oops ,sorry Rayray..it took me so long to comment on jeff aka bolt ,it looks like I was responding to your question....
Thanks for clarifying that ... You put out alot to d-cypher ... I'll be glad when a new Husky wins a big race ...The crowd will like that ...
There is the question - Who the Hell knows? I sure can't find real 'ownership' records, but I'm no investigative Journalist, just a grumpy old Bear. Hey, I'd genuinely love to see Pierer own it outright, and forge Husqvarna into being a 'stand alone' company. But, I really do think it's Bajaj behind the Husqvarna aquisition. As a company, they can eat KTM, alive. Now, perhaps 'appearances' and 'politics' / 'national ownership' restrictions may keep Bajaj from acquiring KTM. Either wholly or with 'controlling majority' holdings (they may be already there? - I'm not up on current percentages), But I'd say that Husqvarna, would not come under many, or any 'national interest / company ownership' restrictions in Austria.
If Maico or CZ had taken out Husky instead of Cagiva....then the sentiments would have been similar on that round. A major goal of Husqvarna was to beat KTM, and instead KTM has assimilated Husqvarna/joined forces. Cagiva was never a powerhouse in the offroad world, so Im sure it didnt feel the same way to most people. That said, its a new day and we move forward ......
Let me explain it to you. He is mad because the Italians sold out to the Germans and the Germans killed the brand. For some reason, he is mad at Stefan Pierer for reviving Husqvarna from certain death. Quite the contrary, he killed Husaberg to save the Husqvarna brand. The new Husky's are going to be awesome and will kick some orange butt and put the brand back on the map. The guys that want to hang on to the Italian bikes can race vintage with the fans of the Swedish bikes. Should be good all around. Got it?
Bloody Hell, how much of a Husaberg fanatic are you, Bolt? Yes, KTM bought Husaberg, in '95, AND they applied a fair bit of the 'Bergs design to the first RFS's. But after that - you can be your sweet bippy that Austrian Engineers were the huge majority force behind all subsequent KTM 4ts - Dirt and Road. The 'KTM', KTMs. Which, were rebadged, into Husabergs in the last couple of years, now, into Husqvarnas. No "ifs" or "buts" on that. As for the 2ts being anything but KTM? -. Plastic changes, different suspension valving do not make a "brand new design" Unless you are a total 'Swedefile'. I am, just a 'partial' one of those. I hold huge affection for Husaberg, having been involved with them from when they came to Australia. Well, before, as I was able to swap rides with 'Berg riders at the '92 Six Day - my XR / CR hybrid I made at the time intrigued a fair few Euros. The 'Bergs were intriguing to me at the time, though I knew of them years before - my idea of the perfect 4t, at the time. And they came in multiple colours ! - some Yellow, some Grey, Some Blue, some, a mixture of those colours. Seems they couldn't decide on the 'colorways', as 'artistes' say it, these days. KTM 'indulged' in making use of different ideas from , who I assume were Swedes, for quite some time - Not sure if Roland (to quote : it F******g REVS! , with reference to a mid / high 40mms stroke 250 4t Husaberg he / they were developing, at one time) and many / any of the very few others were retained in the KTM 'move production to Austria' times, as I went away from being involved with 'Berg sales years ago. I daresay a few - as good minds, are good to hold onto. So, the 'Vertically Split' 'Berg engines, then the Slopers were the engines with real Husaberg / Swedish design involvement to them. The chassis's, well, the Slopers did have to have a different one, along with body work and some ancillaries. The Austrian Engineers, ruled supreme, basically, with 'KTMs'. Completely understandable. Husaberg minds Creating the newest KTM and therefore Husqvarna? Well, yes, if there are Swedish Accountants as a big part of the descision / design process. I very much hope that Swedes are a real part of the 'New Husqvarna'.
KTM bought Berg to learn how to build a light weight 4 stroke which was mainly the single over head cam motor based closely on the 570 husky motor which came from the original light weight 4 stroke the first Swedish husky 4 strokes. This gave KTM the RFS motor. Then pretty quickly removed anything that was actually berg and in the end were rebadged KTMs. That's the way I see it. All that is good and fine but the down side for me is no matter how you slice it we now have 2 flavors of KTM motorcycles and no other choice that was husky be it Italian or otherwise. We have one less choice plain and simple. If you wanted what the "husky" as it is now you could have bought it a log time ago. And many did. I like Bergs just fine. I thought the FE390 was cool and different and thought it was cool KTM let them do their own thing and think outside the box and provide another very different choice. I'm not upset in the least about any of this, these are motorcycles and toys. I loved the way the Italian based huskys handle, like the ergonomics and the how EZ they are to work on plus the uniqueness and $2000 less price tag. All that is gone and we have in it's place basically a rebadged and slightly tweaked KTM. What was "Berg" is totally homogenized from the KTM parts bin and is no longer and unique choice and now a "husky". Like I said, I'm fine with that, makes no real difference to me, don't have money riding on any of it and again this is a toy to play in the dirt with to me. I do think it will extend "huskys" life and for that I am thankful I guess. But the fact remains we have one less choice in really different brands.
Hey, I'm not really knocking him as much as I appear to be. As I wrote, I've very much been a 'Berg appreciator, for many years. But I know a minimally changed KTM when I see one. Here's to a great, and somewhat independant , or, as 'the cool folk' say, nowadays, "Authentic" future for Husqvarna. I do live in hope.
