Anybody knows if SWM is racing in the enduro or MX championship with their 340 and 250 racing bikes, at least in Italy? Ampelio Macchi, the former Husqvarna leader engineer, is also leading SWM, and I’m sure he misses races because for sure he's got race blood in his veins…. and he would be delighted to win races in the near future... especially against KTM group
I dont think thats gonna happen. It is simply too soon and will cost way too much money. Maybe in two-three years.
Plated DS machines are the smart biz move with that segment of growth (like the Italian Husky TE 4 strokes). Makes perfect sense to cert for plates the initial run of machines, that dang 500 looks like a piece for piece build up of the last 450/510 family that already did get certed for 50 state street legal use. That goes for the 650 model as well. Heck as for the 500.....and minor strip down of street gear to covert to "race" bike and you have one of these again. http://www.dirtrider.com/tests/off-road-bikes/141_0904_torture_test_zipty_racing_husqvarna_txc450 one of these wrapped in slightly different clothes.
The axle/chain adjuster block looks all funky on the swm. Like they're not runnin parallel with swingarm or not welded correctly? Look close
Shawbagga, they have always been that way with slight changes in the series (there is optical when look from different angles) but yes the they have lug level while the swingarm slopes down. There were swingarm changes in later models- I remember they actually shortened the swingarm so that is most likely the slight angle difference you can spot. If you grab a straight edge you can see its the same going 9into the last of the twin cam 450/510 models- it really is the same die/machining as the last TC/TXC/TE. All the tooling appears to be the exact same as the big block twin cammers including the chassis. Smart marketing no need to reinvent the wheel all the r&d and tooling was just sitting there. re badge new shapes and colors on the plastic, get into production.
I gotta say I haven't had a whole lot of interest in the whole SWM thing so far. Maybe a bit of interest in the superdual. That was until last night. I checked out the 340 again and found myself getting the gigglies for some reason. Made me remember how much I loved the TXC 310. That 340 just might be a step up from the 310? http://www.swm-motorcycles.it/en/models/sport-racing/rs-340-s/
that's a changed machine, that 340 looks it has a WP chassis to me. The other thing easily spotted with the blank off is the no external oil line going upstairs. PS heard plans, are only for the 2 big DS models 500 and 650. good news in thinking these things were already certed as their Husky fathers. So they should go through with only the correct amount of $$$ to pay the EPA crooks. Speedy Working Motors.....
May be worth a trip to Europe to go riding on a new 340. A hut to hut tour out of Italy to Switzerland etc.... Then ship the bike back. Who's in?
That "RS 340 S" shown certainly is a nice piece for sure "Clay". I like it too. Must be a Pre-Production Prototype in the photo's though. Look at the CNC machining on the right side case. That can't be a production piece. If it is, these things are damned trick right out of the box.
My missus needs a DS bike some day. I think it's great to have the pasta option again. Especially if it's about 3k less than the Austrian equivalent. Might be time for 7602 and ZipTy to dust off some parts and sell to a new batch of customers if it works out.
Fly to Milan, get to Varese, ride 340's around the test track and go for a trail ride. Borrow some 650's to ride around lake Como to Innsbruck via Stelvio pass. Return to SWM hq to give 650's back and check on the nicely crated 340's ready for shipment... I'd like to do that.
I would bet they simply contracted WP to build their frames. because it sure looks like a KTM/Husky chassis on the little 4 stroker. WP is chasssis builder among their other divisions.
For sure possible but I don't think the 340's are in production yet, so I assume the prototype chassis was likely hand built. Who was the frame builder for the Italian Huskys?
3/14/16 The US SWM importer is officially........Pete Vetrano........Moto Man...Oak Hills, CA. Pete is spending this week at the factory getting a first hand view and up to date info and news direct from the SWM HQ. A RS500R and a RS650R are ready to ship to the USA as soon as the US-DOT import certificates are in place (now almost 3 weeks late delayed by "red tape"). I will post shared info from Pete as this week goes on. A SWM Motorcycles USA facebook page is up and running. A website is under development and should be up within 60 days. Interested dealers are encouraged to contact us at Pete's current e-address...info@motomandist.com, but please wait until after March 22, 2016 when Pete returns to do so. First SWM models to be available for sale should arrive in August 2016. BTW, I guess SWM is officially the surviving Husky cousin brand and we should probably move further SWM discussions to that forum section to be CH forum correct.
