I've been spending time with people trying to better understand the last few decades of bikes, both because of the upcoming Vintage Motorcycle days and possibly altering some forums slightly. These descriptions are for the 'average Joe', to give him a vague idea where to put his posts, and has nothing to do with whatever vintage racing association rules there might be. circa 1986 / 1987: Electrolux sells Husqvarna to Cagiva 1988 & older: Made in Sweden, 2st & 4st all had left kick, right side chain, and left (or possibly dual) mufflers About 1989 to 2002: "older single cam 4st", most were left kick , right side chain, left side (or dual) exhaust. About 1989 the production was transferred to Italy. The USA had different designations than the rest of the world. In the USA in about 1990-1996 both 2st and 4st were called WXC, unless the light kit was added, then it was called a WXE. 2003 started the 'newer' bikes. 2003 was not brought into the USA. Does that sound like a reasonable high level description?
2003 factory was 2 meters under water (100 year flood), so we got them in 04 had that not happened? who knows, would have been 2 years ahead of the rest of the pack. And Aprilia wouldn't have had the V twin would have stayed at Husqvarna. Later George
Was this flood in the same area that the current factory is at now? Considering 2004 was the centennial year, maybe in 1904 they would have also been underwater, if they had the same location back then... But of course they were being made in a completely different country in 1904.
Flood was at the old factory, which is now the MV Agusta factory. It is right on the shore of Lake Varese. This was the Aermacchi aircraft factory. Seaplanes were pushed out of the factory and into the lake to be launched. Aermacchi later built motorcycles there and then sold the motorcycle division and factory to Harley Davidson. H-D produced small bore 2 and 4 stroke motorcyles there and then sold it to Cagiva. Cagiva bought Husky from Electrolux and moved production from Sweden to this plant. I forgot to add... Ironic that H-D would end up buying MV/Cagiva and getting the old Aermacchi factory back, plus the company they sold it to!
Wow. Thanks Norm for that bit of interesting history. Anyone know of the relative elevations between the new plant on the old plant? I believe they are close to each other.
I think the plants are on opposite sides of the lake, about 40 minutes apart. I'm not sure of the elevation on the new plant, but I'm pretty sure when the Castiglioni's built the new one it would be a little higher and drier!
http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com...code_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQ8gEwAA MV Agusta plant is in Schiranna (was Husky/Cagiva plant) (like Norm said)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...45.820426,8.773956&spn=0.113412,0.219383&z=12 New Husqvarna factory/headquarters is northwest across the Lago Varese in Cassinetta di Biandronno
