https://vimeo.com/user5621937/making-dakar-part-one Looks like Husky will be well represented at the Dakar.
we love Husky pron No matter how you spell it!!! No joke, nice post great viddy! FYI Title sponsor, Plastics company http://www.delta-kunststoffe.de/en/company
Is the 449 a stock bike with Dakar bodywork , tanks etc or a full on factory based M/c. I used to have one and went to a 310. both great bikes only bad thing was 449=heavy for wet welsh enduros and the 310= wont start ! and unreliable. what do you think Simon?
Not sure on the bike and nothing official but that frame \ SA might be ~unique ... It looks like the Husky frame but the bike has the linkage sitting under the SA when the usa released models have the linkage on top of the SA ... EDIt: Not sure if that frame mimics the Husky frame or not .. That bike also has WP forks where the released 449s had KYBs(?) ... I'd guess ... it ain't a stocker ...
It is a standard 2012 TE449 with the linkage on top of swing arm but with Ohlins forks and shock fitted instead of the KYBs. The kit to transform the bike to 'rallye spec' is complete bolt on, no welding needed at all so the bike can be converted back to standard if required. It carries 25l of fuel which in testing has given over 300 miles range. More info on www.simonpavey.com Dave
I was referring to the bike ridden by the speedbrain team ... Thanks for the 'rallye spec' clarification ...
Ah yes Speedbrain bikes are indeed very different. They are still using the G450X developed chassis without the lower frame rails of the 449 and as you spotted their own linkage under the swing arm. Dave
Interesting and thanks for the details ... Does or will the speedteam share what they might be doing to the internals of the engine? Their riders keep saying the engine is doing very well for them this year ...
Currently have no confirmed info but I did hear they were using the Husqvarna version of the engine now rather than the BMW version (hydraulic clutch and six speed gearbox). There is due to be a pre Dakar press conference at the factory so there may be more info available then. Dave
Getting to be a real crossbreed machine for that team .... And stepping off the bmw engine to the Husky bred horses? Sweet! Why not use the KYB forks that come with the bike instead of the Ohlins? Just can't get the performance you want from the KYBs at the speeds you are traveling at?
Ohlins is listed as one of Simons team sponsors so I assume he's not only getting product but technical support from them too which is almost as important as the product itself. Next time I speak to him I'll ask if he had any issues with the KYBs - he's not mentioned it before so it's more than likely a result of sponsorship. To clarify, although Husqvarna via us as HVUK is sponsoring the team, the development is all being done by Simon and his team down in Wales. Dave
That makes sense ... sitting here on the couch its easy to see this all as racing but the business side that must be there for all this to happen, is sometimes out of scope ... Seeing the videos of how fast these guy are going over the dunes and roads, trails ESP, they gotta have a a good suspension that is well beyond anything we might need ...
