Dirt Bike Test -- TC250 and TXC250

KTM is smart in the fact that they have a dedicated staffer who sets up all the magazine test bikes and makes sure that they are dialed in before they get dropped off at the mags for testing.

They should get a TC250 in JD jettings hands and let him sort out the carb ASAP.

I think it is funny......mag says something bad and 3 pages later is Meo winning htis or Guilliume winning that. How does that happen if the bike stinks? I know factory parts and all but if the bike is a pig as a magazine says then putting a tuxedo and cologne on a pig still leaves you with a well dressed good smelling pig!
Their best adds are their results. People poke fun at the unchanged WR250 and rave at its big bore brother; the WR300. Same bike basically. And it kicked butt at the 2009 ISDE (facts don't lie) It is just not "magworthy" though I guess. The motorcycle rags have gotten like our media.

Husky folks will still by Huskys foreever but if they want to sell upward of 40,000 a year, then they gotta get some new blood too. Prep them and sned them out. Better still, prep, flog, re prep then send this small batch out as testers/loaners. Then when done, put on new plastic and donate to Cafe Husky for a members only raffle....(just saying)

Joe

Point is we know they are good competent bikes that can compete but if you gave me one stock that runs like shit what kind of review should you expect? That's where the frustration comes from.
While I'm sure corporate doesn't expect to or aspire to sell the number of units say that Honda does,they certainly would like to sell more units then they currently do and with just a little better marketing such as garnering some more positive reviews that would be easily done.This isn't brain surgery ya know.
No one is bashing Husqvarna the motorcycle,it's just stunning that the powers that be continue to repeat these basic mistakes year after year.Hell if you're going to fly mag folks over to Italy like they did earlier this year to preview your product ie '10 TC250 etc. the least you can do is make sure your test mules are setup correctly when you release them in US to the American press.Otherwise what's the point?

As long as you are not in my class, represent all you want!!! (ja ja ja, that's Spanish for ha ha ha)

Huskies always seem to come out of tests/comparos appearing to be good but just a tad behind the Katos of this world. Frankly it is a public relations/commercial advertising spend matter. Husky is not a major sponsor or advertiser in the mags and is slightly marginalised as a result. I say this without any justification other than years of observance and subsequent test results. I honestly feel the current range of Huskies are superior to the KTMs in most respects (weight being my only concern re the TE's) yet the results never confirm this unequivocally. There is always some snide little detractor or jibe that just seems to cruell the test results down to very good rather than excellent.
Having ridden the latest KTM 450 I believe it has diminished in several areas c/w earlier versions. The motor is not as tractable, I feel success has seen their build quality dip at the margin,they still cant get rid of the head shake and the ergs seem off. In the meantime the Huskies seen to just keep getting better, admittedly it is by increment but none the less going the right way.
Huskiy now need to make the next move in its market positioning. With the financial clout of BMW behind it and the extra capacity of its new factory Husky need to increase is sponsorship and marketing spend. This will result in a higher profile and provide the following outcomes:
1; Increased profile will increase public demand and introduce additional dealerships. This will transalte into better and easier access for after sales service etc. it will also create a stronger after market segment, these will enhance Huskies market position and relative importance.
2; The increased corporate spend will self generate a higher level of magazine and tester awareness. This will translate into familiarity which we know in the case of Huskies does not breed contempt but rather to know them is to love them.
The only caveat to the above is I would not like to see Huskies be as common place as KTM's etc. The pleasure many of us derive is being on a wonderful machine that is a little unique and not common place.

So husky the strategy is realtively simple, strategically plan your spend and promo's to your key major markets, this will give you critical mass and the results will be a better market perception, increased demand and a improved product as R&D's budget will now be bigger.

+1 ghte

All that said... riders on podiums will overshadow the commercially focused (ad revenue focused) "journalists". Meo, Graffunder, and company are poised to put Husky on the map with the new 250's. If they succeed, the "journalists" will use the pages of their own rags to wipe their own asses.

..."and for you sir, another plate of crow?!?!" I'll even serve it up to them, but damn Husky...let's at least make it hard for them to say anything negative by sending a fully prepped bike with all the bugs worked out.

I'm really excited to see what events Cory enters with this bike...he'll probably ride a 2 stroke at Erzberg.

More!

NC

[.........about a bike purchase that doesn't turn out to meet 100% of your expectations from the day of delivery.[/QUOTE]

+1,,,,these are out of the box full on racing machines, they need personal set up (which can be a million different set ups), the OEM base settings are just that,,base settings. IMHO


PS I am patient for 2011 but also mega jealous of all you X-Lite riders!!! Best of set and dial in to all of you!! Enjoy the ride.

...don't forget Motosportz rotor guards...front and back...you should see all the scratches on mine, but I have straight rotors. The red faded so I took off the annodized color with Grease Lightening.

David

I remember you telling me that before, but I need natural aluminum because I would just keep scratching the crap out of them...they have saved me plenty!

Well, to chime in, I for one base a lot upon magazine and riders articles a like before buying.

Everyone has the right to read into the magazine however they choose. I was trying to explain that the TXC Dirt Bike tested was lean in my opinion. My bike did something similar and once it was richened up the bike was pulling much stronger and lost the hesitation without the spark arrestor being in. My experience with the Ibeat FI is once the dealer has them set there is not much to worry about. As far as magazine tests go, I remember when one of the magazines named the Cannondale as the bike of the year.