KTM/Husqvarna... now how will this play out?

e-bikes .......urban bikes.........I knew BMW didn't like or have plans for a new 2-stroke Husky . Good to read Mr. Pierer will be the owner I feel a little better now .

Got to love this quote
"The focus of the realignment will be on urban mobility to factor things such as megacities and traffic density, as well as environmental issues."
German engineering, urban mobility,(which I am sure was the buzz phrase around the wasser kooler that day) and Strategic vision. Got one word to counter all that "philosophy and wishful thinking".......Stalingrad

I read that whole thing as "WE NEVER CARED FOR ANYTHING SMALLER THAN 650 NOR ANYTHING THAT SPENDS MOST OF THE TIME IN THE DIRT.......SO.........CYA"

If I understand this article correctly (my German is not perfect), Pierer is still interested in a cooperation between KTM and Husqvarna.

(web translation)
Vienna / Eid. Stefan Pierer is always good for a surprise coup. As the Indian automobile and two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj got in 2007, KTM, KTM boss made the headlines. Now has Pierer, with KTM also holds the majority, turned the tables: About his Pierer Industrie AG buys Husqvarna competitors. To the purchase price, he says the "press", "The Pierer has never bought expensive." The previous owner, BMW, paid around 93 million euros in 2007, when he took over Husqvarna of the Italian MV Agusta.

The two companies have formally separate ownership, as "brothers", they offer a lot of synergies. Listed company KTM is 51 percent of Cross Industries, which in turn is 25 percent of the Pierer industry and 50 percent of Pierer Invest. "The motorcycle industry follows the trend in the auto industry - "several brands under one roof, said Pierer. Mainly engaged in research & development as well as in purchasing and production of components He aspires between KTM and Husqvarna in close cooperation. The distribution and brands remain separate.

Whether the Husqvarna factory will remain in the long term Cassinetta in Varese (Lombardy), Pierer answered as follows: ". Austria will benefit more in the long term"

Pierer Industrie AG, a stand alone company set-up and owned by Mr Stefan Pierer, has, with immediate effect, acquired and taken over in full Husqvarna Motorcycles. The company, the recently modernised factory in Varese, all parts, stock and staffing are now owned/controlled by Pierer Industrie AG.

Don’t expect Pierer Industrie AG to be able to make much in the way of serious progress in the coming weeks and months due to EU rules and regulations. In this case most likely the EU Anti Trust Authorities.

Mr Pierer – CEO of KTM Sportmotorcycle AG, took KTM from bankruptcy to be the off-road powerhouse it is today, – he has a successful business track record that is second to none. He’ll have a definitive plan of attack. What that plan of attack is remains to be seen… the most likely place for this is the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, November 7-10. That gives Pierer Industrie AG time, but not a lot of time, to get their house in order and to implement their master plan. Thats Strategic vision....Urban Mobility is not Strategic Vision.

So, help me understand.
BMW was bad for Husky.
KTM ownership could spell the end of the husqvarna brand.
Stefan Pierer will be good for husqvarna.
Pierer owns a controlling stake in KTM.

Somehow I'm still lost. I'm sure as the weeks and months go on the details will become clear.
I kind of like how BMW changed a few things at husky; the 449/511 looked to be a great bike (but seems it will now be axed).
The new 'Redhead' motors seemed to be the powerhouse answer to the other MX machines. Not sure if that was a BMW influence.
The TR650; what will happen to it? (Seems VERY BMW based design and marketing).
What about the Nuda? (again another BMW based power plant and design influence).
Looks like the only bright spot would be 2 stroke development.

My brain is too small to comprehend BIG business (corporate) ideology.

I was going to buy the Strada, but Canadian dealerships here didn't seem at all interested in standing up for the consumer. Back in September I decided I'd keep my TC250 (but put in my modded estart 6 sp TC450 motor).
After the disgust of CDN pricing and lack of info back in Nov I'm pursuing my roadracing goal of twins racing and bought a Ducati 1198S. (There is no longer a class for the SMR).
I'm shocked more than anything about the Husky / BMW sale. Not sure how it will affect me other than parts availability. I would buy another husky in the future, so I'll watch and see how this unfolds.

I thnk it means we may not be on red pumpkins after all . At least that's my hope and understanding at this point.

I would be happy with a little KTM tech integrated into my Huskies. They can keep their WP forks, PDS and steep steering angles, though.

What kind of things are you thinking that Husqvarna will benefit from KTM tech?
Sure I don't want PDS and WP suspension. The frames and reliability from KTM aren't particular there strongest point (literally and metaphorically).

I guess many things are still possible the way this deal is structured. Competition regulators might not have approved the deal if KTM would have made the purchase, maybe they do now. Their disapproval might also be a forcing Pierer to sell his KTM stake and focus solely on Husqvarna.
Maybe that was the plan from the beginning. Pierer is a racer (as far as I can tell), so he might be more interested in a pure dirt competition brand than in a company that is producing volumes of commuter bikes for the Indian and south-American market.

Time will tell, but I'm fairly sure Pierer did not buy Husqvarna to kill it or turn it into red-and-white KTMs.

Interview Manfred Grunert BMW Motorrad about Husqvarna
Thursday, January 31, 2013

(web translation)
Today Nieuwsmotor.nl talked with Manfred Grunert, Head of Product Communications BMW Motorrad. "I can now announce that BMW Group indeed will sell Husqvarna Motorcycles to Pierer Industrie AG for an undisclosed sum. This is subject to approval by the competition authorities, we expect that within a month can be completed. Due of the enormous drop in the offroad market, BMW has decided to focus purely on BMW Motorrad, so onroadmodellen of over 600cc. never say never, but in the short term, BMW will therefore not return in the offroad segment.

The new owner will be responsible for the service of the sold Husqvarna's. At the moment he takes over the brand will immediately cease all involvement of BMW, which also applies to supply engines and parts for current models. All "expat" employees from Germany at BMW are still on the payroll and will therefore return to BMW. The employees of Husqvarna'll just stay in service.

We do not feel this as a loss of face but as a logical decision after the collapse of the offroad market. I know the circumstances under which other major engine manufacturers withdrew from an Italian company, but for us this is not an issue. Your remark that this is very costly for BMW I can not answer, as you know we do not talk about the sums of money. "

What I am waiting for now is a press release from the new ownership group... for some idea of the direction of the brand, etc.. This deal could be structured any number of ways. I am hoping that the "cooperation" between Husky and KTM is more Husaberg focused than KTM focused. Where the cooperation likely will come is to combine R&D and certain manufacturing processes. This makes some sense I think.

What I just don't know is why Husky and KTM would directly compete for the same buyer if there is a formal relationship? Look at the Husaberg/KTM dynamic -- what that did as allow the owners of KTM to sell some more bikes through existing Husaberg dealers and, in the end they sold more bikes. Are the the same -- pretty close. But they sold more bikes. Is this what we can expect from cooperation? Perhaps, but I don't really think so. I expect something more like the Suzuki/Kawasaki thing. Where Husky doesn't have to develop certain models, but rebadge them to sell as its own and pay KTM a royalty [think mini bikes maybe?]. This is my hunch but who knows.

If it turns out the relationship between the ownership group at KTM and Husky are not totally unified, then I would expect each brand to continue on and try and carve out somewhat seperate niches. Like the auto industry. This sort of deal makes sense from the back end perspective [R&D or manufacturing]. The real question is -- what is in store from Husky, what is the "strategic vision."

This is particularly important for me -- because I will be buying a new bike in the fall. I was holding out for a new 250 2-stroke. Now I will wait and see again.

Last thing -- I get that people don't like KTMs. I have an emotional attachement to Huskys because I rode them when I was in high school. I had an 86 250WR that I loved and am dying to be another Husky and be a real part of this forum. For me though -- KTMs are WELL established and reliable. If you don't think KTM makes a quality product you should look at the number of orange bikes at off-road races and on the trails around here. Personal preferences aside -- its hard to argue that KTMs are "inferior to Husky." From my perspective again -- Husky -- not KTM -- has issues in getting bikes to work. The evidence is in this forum. I am here and on KTMtalk -- trust me when I tell you there are lemon KTMs too but Husky has its own issues. My point here is not to slam anything or anyone but just to encourage folks to think a little broader. All these bikes are good -- Kelly harps on this and I am 100% in the same boat. In the end -- I think this could be a really good thing.

I'd guess true on the Bajaj angle of selling bikes to the masses of a country and someone at ktm likes to races dirt bikes ... ... He now owns a dirt bike company that was a long history of dirt bike races just waiting for the right riders to mount up ... This guy is gonna kick ktm into the 3rd row if possible ... And help them along at the same time he's helping Husky lower the boom on whoever is next ...

---

bmw did ok and got out of way as needed for this dirt bike racing owner stud to purchase the company ... I take back 12% of the crap I said about them on this thread ... Now, the rear view mirror that has bmw in it, is now officially broken off the car and tossed in the back seat ..

-- Time for that drink to the New Improved Husqvarna Company

That's what I meant to say!

As an ex KTM owner I can say their 2t motors are awesome and at the moment having the most r and d and I wouldn't mind having one in an xlite frame250/300 of course.