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

That's at least a 100% better starting point for the 450 racers than the previous owner ever did for racing this size machine ...

EDIT: Other than letting the SM guys win one more championship before stopping that parade ..

http://motocrossone.blogspot.de/2013/02/volkswagens-business-model-for-ktm.html#more

Not sure if this has been posted in the preceding pages.

Another Gilded Cynic -

Nice article and the person writing it understands that bajaj is the major player here ... Husky's future looks good to me here at this time as I have saw nothing but crying and whining that points to pinkim smearing on the Husqvarna brand ... There will be some cross breeding here but nothing like is being boo-oohed about at this opening stage ... Its Husky that has the potential for growth here ...

SP (Not ktm -- not bajaj -- Because they do not own the Husqvarna Company) says he gonna make a 450 racer ... <-- Read that again ... --> A 450 dirt bike racer ... Makes bmw pathetic ownership time look like a little school boy that had no clue or plan on what to do with a dirt bike company. They actually did about 180 degrees opposite of building a 450 racer ...

--

Here is your daily pimkin reality check.

In fact, the ball has also begun rolling with the KTM Duke 200 and the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS both sharing many engine parts. Also, both domestic and export versions of the Pulsar 200 NS and the Duke 200 are built at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant in India. In the next 12 months, a similar story will play out with the KTM Duke 390 and the Bajaj Pulsar 375, motorcycles that share plenty of parts.

I can't help feeling that the whole industry needs to consider whether 450 racers are even that relevent any more. Motocross isn't F1 - not in terms of tech at - all - costs, not in terms of media exposure and certainly not in terms of prize money. Sure, everybody wants a four - fiddy, but the number of people who actually buy a new one every year won't make any volume manufacturer rich, or even gain them much publicity. Pierer may as well sell Varese and set up a production line in his summer house. The bikes may steal a few sales from other Euro manufacturers (including KTM), but I don't see that racers who traditionally buy Japanese will be convinced.

All of this assumes that everything that has been said about "taking Husky back to it's roots" isn't just b.s.

The bean counters will tell ya if a 450 is relevant or not ...

What's the date of the "approval" supposed to be? I'm itchin' for a press release from the new owner(s). March 2nd?

That's why I ride a 2000 RM 125 and am building a 1999 Husky WB 165. I'll have two bikes for around $5,000 total investment. I could build another one and still be under the price of a new 450. Just love my old 2 strokes.

Well this site is made up of mostly woods riders so I can see where we may think a new competive 450 is not a big deal but I think thats mostly due to the fact Husky doesn't have a competive 450MX bike and many of us have no need for one. I'm in a small trail/mx club in VA with about 50-60 members. Most of the members have 450MX bikes and get one every year or two. Small numbers yes but I think the 450Mx bikes are the flagship for a bike company that wants sell MX bikes. If the new owner is serious about getting into MX he needs to build and sell 450MX bikes that can not only compete with but beat the Jap bikes. Can Husky or should Husky do it.....I think so. Having the baddest 450 MX bike makes the rest of the line up look bad too. Bad in a good way . I just want Husky to step up their 250/450 mx bikes and their 200/250/300 2-strokes. BTW leave the 125/144 alone with the exception of their carbs.

as long as the 450 is the premier bike here and abroad, it will be a necessity if the mission is to be accomplished per interpreted words of the new owner. MX/SX still rules the world publicity wise in dirt bikes and the buying public often wants what the pro's have to live out there fantasies on weekends... I am reserving judgement until something official comes out....

However you want to look at it. We all are entitled to our opinions and sometimes the truth hurts. None of this would even be possible if things were done ALOT different............... Yes we will see where all this goes and I hope for Husqvarna in the right direction.......... The fact I hate KTM will never change. And that for sure is a fact and my right EOD..................

Nothing personal - I meant it the same way you did - and actually agree with you.

Lost amongst the Pumpkin's

Without trying to start a fight, may I ask why you hate KTM?

I love my KTM just as I love my Husky..... But hey, I like motorcycle & have never seen one I didn't like. But you know what they say about opinions & assholes.

Every-one has one and some stink!

No ... it´s no use asking. I just do. Always have done. And most likely always will. Everything they do or make is just WRONG (that dicky, useless little Crossbow, their leccy bike, all those bikes that aren´t moto, aren´t cross, aren´t enduro. And certainly aren´t reliable). And then, I don´t like the colour either.

Hey, I'm just saying...... I would not let someone just bash the heck out of a Husqvarna without defending it a little bit. These days there are a lot of great motorcycles out there, I think a lot of what people don't like about this bike or that bike has to do with setup.
I'm not crazy about the orange color either, but I do like white.
The PDS takes some time to get used to, the Factory Connection setup makes mine great for Hare Scrambles & Enduros.
And finally, I hope HVA gets to keep its Identity, it has such a great history in the sport & it would be a shame to see all of that get tossed to the wayside.