Husqvarna's "new" bikes looks good and I am sure they are good bikes but it is just a white KTM :/ I've been thinking about why KTM buys Husqvarna and just change the name of Husa's bikes, even the Husaberg FE/TE is left. My guess is the U.S. market. Husqvarna has always had both MX and enduro bikes. And a big part of the US market are very conservative and a bit gullible (your/their car industri almost invented re-badging) so it is perhaps easier to buy Husqvarna and exploit the name and re-bagde existing KTM bikes for Husqvarna. Instead of lounch a line of Husaberg mx bikes which might fail. And sell a lot more of enduro bikes becaus Husqvarna is beter known in the US. I do not think Europeans are equally gullible. So the future of Husqvarna? Well this is not the end. I hope they will be a bit diffrent from KTM like Husaberg was a couple of years a go.
Personally, the Husqvarna era ended when this model was released...nothing innovative apart from using a supposedly Husqvarna frame, KTM SX linkage, rest are TE forks and KTM parts. Maybe 2015 for a distinctive model? Too late to make a distinctive model for 2014? I say bollocks, Pierer Ag could have used the current WR/TE plastics and wrapped it around the TE and FE Bergs with the SX Linkage for all l care but it would have been visually different? Hell, l sure the new Huskberg will sell quite well which is the crux of Pierer buying out Husqvarna.
Well, let's see.... I looked at some "bergs" a couple of months ago and thought they were pretty nice. Rode one and liked it. Not as much as my Husky (which seems to fit me like a glove) but more than the KTM's I've ridden. The one thing I see in all of this "re-badging" is at least an effort to bring the brand to the masses. The videos are awesome and the bikes sexy looking.
Real Husqvarna`s stop being made when they rolled the last one out of the Husqvarna factory in Sweden in 1988.
Here is my two cents: If you go back and read some of the first articles in the acquisition. SP did say that he was worried about dealer support and was going to help the dealers with Husaberg. So what has changed? If I was in his shoes, SP inherited a bike line up that was basically outdated, except for some newer models that BMW produced. We saw years of just new graphics, maybe some black rims, etc..... along with pricing that was halfways decent. I think the pricing was positioned because of the lack of updates. They did make some nice models like the X lites along with the 449/511's ( What hurt the 449/511 was the fiasco with the BMW GSX thing and David Knight deal). But the Italians got there hands on them and made them a great bike. Even some neat DS bike were produced at the tail end. BMW from the get go should have gone in there and redone/updated each bike. They didn't and the numbers showed. Maybe, they should of listened to the Italian designers instead of there egos. Okay, so SP comes in and picks this company up, right? What would you do fast? Well, your not going to build a new bike in 9 months but you have to support your dealers in the mean time, plus worry about the image? You better come up with a bike that is reliable, that someone can race and not flop to get negative attention. Looks like they did that. This ship isnt going to turn yet for a couple of years. It is a big machine that is hard to start and takes time. Same goes for bike ship. They don't stop on a dime either! I think he is somewhat doing the right thing. Build a bike that works, give it a face lift, market it, put some good riders on it and hang on. It will grow! When you see some names out there winning, sales will go up. He also wants to pull market share from the Japanese manufacturers. I bet they are working like mad dogs behind doors for the future. Right now, this is a crutch, only a crutch. Think you will see alot of similar things like swing arms, etc..... The concept is not to build one hand built swing arm for $500 dollars. It is to build 100,000 of them for $50 bux. They might be looking at and planning on stealing some good Husky designs for the future in their R&D dept. That takes time and can't be pulled off in 6 months. Another issue that is out there is? We bought these bikes, then they were discounted towards the end. Our values took a kick in the bucket. Guess we are stuck with some of these bikes till things level off. Long term, some of these are going to be collectors items. Low production numbers and a end to an era. If i was smart, probably go get a new 110 anniversary 449 or 310 and put them away for 10-20 years. Kick myself now not for getting the Delong bike @ Hall's. Many of us remember the days when we couldn't get parts and affected our racing results. Back then you had to call all the dealers, hoping they had third gear in stock. There was no internet, just a phone book and good ol networking. That era ticked alot of Husky guys off and they went to KTM and most never came back. I did but it tooks years, as a kinda watch and see what happens. Nothing worse than winning one day and not being able to continue, all over a 3 month wait for stinken parts. I gave my Husky away and yes bought a KTM so I could have a bike to race, backed up with parts. In our state, alot of guys left Husky again and got Husabergs after the BMW flop/David Knight thing/outdated bikes. I almost bought one, but I didn't like the price tag. We lost some racers to Gas Gas, just cause the Husky 2 strokes were not updated. KTM is a good bike, Husaberg is a good bike, Gas Gas is a good bike and so are others. If I had a Husaberg,I would probably keep it for a collectors bike. I just don't do the exotic thing and don't want a bike without support/parts. These little companies can fall at any time. KTM and giants have an open check book with financial world. Oh, you need a couple million, sure no problem. These little companies have a hard time getting funds. Especially, if the picture is not proven growth, but a retarding sinking ship. I do think Beta and Sherco are on the rise. I do like the Sherco but who is going to support the bike in Illinois like Hall's or etc....? Plus, you go to re sell it? Well, good luck cause to most? What the heck is a Sherco? Don't know where you get parts for that? My friend had to give his Gas Gas away cause no one even called on his ad. Really, a bike is a bike. Kinda like a pair of shoes. If the shoe doesn't fit, then try on another pair. They all have frames, engines, suspension and etc.... Some have a better turning rake, some have more low end, some have more top end, some more roominess, etc.... Most of the racers bike's are customed to their likes, that you and I don't have the resources or the funds to do. So right now, if you like the new bike (which I do) then go get one. If you don't than go try something else on. I would like a 200 2st, with a button. I don't want a 125 that I have to sink money back in, to make it a 150. A 250 wears me out at my age. Walt was that crutch for most that wanted the 200 that never came to pass! Good job Walt! So, I am going to enjoy my Italian Red Head TXC 310, till the prices stabilize. Maybe wait till 2015/2016 and get a 200 ( I think they will bring one out). BTW, with having my suspension done and some other stuff on my 310. I can't really get a better bike, it is that good! The power is there, bike doesn't wear me out, love the handling and the reworked KYB's just eat up everything. For now, just going to run what I brung and restore some old vintage Husky's till I see what the next two years brings. I am forecasting that the Vintage Husky's should go up in value. Just for more exposure and awareness as the brand comes back. At the end of the day! I have made some great friends on Cafe Husky, learned some neat stuff, and got solutions from you, to solve some of my bike headaches . Really, I think the bottom line is? Probably more, the relationship, with all you guys/gals on here! Long Live Husky! As PV Duke would say. Mreeeeep ding ding!
Most of what is here is exactly what I feared -- poo poo KTM, long live the "real" Husky. From where I am, the real Huskys were produced in Sweden -- everyone has a perspective. The real issue here is all the equity the old school guys have in the Italian Huskys - so much time and effort with them. I understand having something unique and all -- what I don't get is why the same creative, innovative people can't work their magic on these new platforms? Everyone loves the x-lite platform? There was never any guarantee it would stay around? What would everyone have done if it was dropped? At least be a little humble in the approach to the new bikes --- if people put as much efforts into these new bikes as they did to work out the bugs on "old" Huskys imagine what they could be. Platforms come and go -- I am a little irritated at the glass is half-empty mentality. Face it -- the old Husky's were nice bikes -- but they weren't at the top of the heap. The way most of the people here got to enjoy them is to put MUCH effort into them -- working out the bugs and making them work. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER BIKE. This forum was dedicated to making improvements on the Italian platform -- by installing new injectors, carbs, increasing displacement, etc.. From where I sit -- most of the ingenuity here went into fixing "deficiencies" with Italian Huskys. All bikes are "deficient" -- everyone loves the CTS, the x-lite, the cheapness -- I get it. It wasn't all good though -- otherwise nobody would have anything to talk about! I guess my point is that Italian Husky's were what they were - but they are gone. What do you do now? My hope is that folks here embrace the new Husky. Back in the 80's -- Husky's weren't cheap -- they were the premium brand, cream of the crop. When you saw a guy riding a Husky -- you knew he was serious about off-road. I see these new bikes as a move in that direction. I think folks looking to jump ship are missing a tremendous opportunity to be in at the ground floor and be with something from the beginning [sort of beginning anyways]. These bikes are well manufactured and well supported. But not perfect. Nobody has fixed the e-start yet - fix that! PDS was a drawback -- well that is fixed now, but what about the handling. How about a blue anodized stabilzer and a revalve? I just see this as a missed opportunity. Go over to KTM talk and look at how many KTM guys want to get a Husky -- more than a few. There is room to make Husky different? Want something unique -- take that TE125 and make a 175? That would be cool. I'd buy one. Seriously - stop looking back and look forward. Last thing -- how about we cut KTM a little slack? Cheezus -- they just got the brand 6 months ago. Sure the new bikes are essentially new H-Bergs with Husky stickers. WTF did you expect them to do in 6 months. Most organizations take 4 weeks to decide on pizza toppings -- I thnk KTM is doing well here. Give it some time -- who knows what will come down the pipe? I for one will be anxiously awaiting the answer.
It may have made the transition easier on everyone if they kept red and no one had to buy new gear lol
Time will tell if Husky evolves into something totally different. I personally dont think it will I think they simply renamed Berg husky and are moving forward. Frames motors and suspension will always be shared I believe. My wish is at some point soon they adopt the X-light frame geometry and economics at least. The red bike above is kinda what I thought was coming. Was somewhat surprised by the white/blue/yellow.
