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

CTS was done long before BMW dreamed it up and going to the patent office with an idea that someone else has already had will get you laughed out of the building, so BMW / Markus Theobald's patent looks pretty specific in it's specification regarding the coaxial pivot and the transmission:

http://www.google.com/patents/EP1743832B1?cl=en

Even without the wriggle room that keeps patent lawyers in hookers and coke I think it's worth considering that this technology is now probably not that relevant to Munich and their future output, so I imagine they'd licence it to anyone who was willing to pay.

FWIW I think CTS might well have merit in certain applications and is certainly worth developing further.

Is there any chance the CTS system was part of the deal? Personally if I was getting out of a certain market segment, I'd sell all related products & technology, unless there was something secret no one knew about that I'd want to keep for a future Ace up my sleeve.

DeCoster extends his contract with KTM till 2016. Maybe sharing resources?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ktm-owner-buys-husqvarna-motorcycle-203608065.html

CTS might have been part of the deal since as of right now, only a Husky bike uses it. But who knows... time will tell.

CTS was on it's second generation. Husky changed it a bit to make it easier to change the front sprocket. It was a royal PITA on the BMW G450X.

Even without the wriggle room that keeps patent lawyers in hookers and coke I think it's worth considering that this technology is now probably not that relevant to Munich and their future output, so I imagine they'd licence it to anyone who was willing to pay.


LOL

So do we know for certain if production of new Huskys stopped when the deal was signed. I would think Husky is still producing/shipping bikes so the dealers have something to sell for the next 9-12 months. No product would seem a hardship for them bear. I know the press release says BMW will no longer supply parts but do we know what the definition of "BMW supplied" is?


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Probably see a lot of "Huskie Massaged Ktm motors and WP forks/shocks in Husky frames and colors at the brand launch in November. (Larger tanks, Wide ratio tranny's in the WR's/TE's/TXC's, dual ignition switches, and a button option for all but the 125's.) Very similar to what Husky did to the BMW 450X. I could be wrong but the only motor that I think Husky "should" continue to make is the 125. It is a simpler, cheaper, equally performing and bullet proof design compared to the KTM 125/150. You can argue the rest of the engine line-up but it is the one motor/bike that even the rags like better. This isn't me bemoaning the loss of a big bore motor because they will be offering the WR/CR 200, with Husky tuning the WR for ultimate trailee performance characteristics that I want. JMO

why would an astute business man want to lose earnings on his newly acquired factory
if you stop work what do you do for trained employees in the future
I see him letting it roll till he remodels the existing line of models

WR/CR 200 you say? Sign me up, I don't care what name is on the engine cases.

I think once the initial shock wears off most will see this as a pretty nice opportunity for Husqvarna. Things are going to be different but that isn't always for the worst. Having better distribution, an owner who wants to develop the brand, a solid engineering department that understands off-road as well as MX are great things in my book.

I talked to Steve at Halls Cycle - They have two WR300 (One is taken >Me) and a Demo WR250 with 5 Hrs on it.

P.s. I was thinking about our little Series here in AR - only 3 Huskies in the whole series, every one, won there class championship!

B-open, +50 Super Senior, and Novice Vet 30+. All in a sea of orange. (some other colors mixed in, too)