Just saw this and it made me sad. That bike is gone as is the x-light Cory and Andrew do so well on. Going to miss this platform. This is not a KTM bitch thread but more an Italian praise thread. Lots of us will continue to ride these fine bikes and locally there are piles of 125/144/165's running around the NW woods. I'll even miss the much hated 449/511 platform. Well miss in that it does not continue and get further development. I'll still own mine for quite a while I'm sure. Andrew
that foto of DeLongs 310 has the OEM pipe guard swiss cheesed without over doing it. I ve been thinking about doing that on my 2013 everytime at look at that thing. Now I have a good model to copy. To lighten it?? not really just for trickness, the thing is just thin plate SS anyway weight savings will be in grams!!
Yes, I find it very sad. It's like finding out an old friend only has six month to live and watching him die, for the second time.
While I think the future of the brand looks much brighter than it did under BMW, I agree with you and am feeling the weight of the loss. I really wish I was in a position to buy a second CR144. This fabulous little bike has brought my lost mojo back. I am enjoying the sport again like I haven't in 10 years. I am enjoying a renewed confidence and with it the race wins are coming. I have doubts that any other bike could have done this for me. I've been super busy this summer and haven't had time, but as things slow down to winter I plan to edit a video that highlights this great machine and summarizes my very successful racing season on it. Viva la Husqvarna Italiano!!!
There is a great article on Fabrizio Azzalin in TBM (trail bike magazine UK) and Juha. You can buy the issue on Itunes, I think the issue has death of Husaberg on the cover. Fabrizio in my eyes is the reason there was something for KTM to purchase. He had the passion for the brand and even discusses the no money years when he and the racers were not getting paid. Choosing between which used piston to run and still winning.
I have to say I'm going to miss the 449/511's the most. It's like they designed that bike for me. It look like nothing else, it's pretty, it has enough space for a taller guy to move around on, and the seat is perfect. The first time I rented the 449 I was pretty nervous lol. Figured it was a bad choice to get reacquainted with riding dirt but I loved that thing. I've also spent a ton of time on the 310 and can see the appeal, the power is perfect. The power never gets overbearing and you feel like a pro riding it. The perfect bike to me would be a 310 motor in the 449 I started paying attention to husky right before the 449 came out. The only great Supermotos were aprilia and husky. The funny thing is that I missed the 510smr by 2 weeks and then settled on a wr250x. When I first saw the ugly 449 I was in love lol. It always appealed to me in the triumph's and Ducati sport bikes did. The cool part was that it was just plain different. Every time I think of other bikes I just can't get the 449 out of my head. I actually wish BMW took it back with them
2010 TC250cc, Italian breed ... You guys have got all this stuff defined down to the bottom terms ;0) -- I hope Delong stays on board with the Huskies for the next ~decade ...
"That bike is gone as is the x-light Cory and Andrew do so well on. Going to miss this platform. This is not a KTM bitch thread but more an Italian praise thread. Lots of us will continue to ride these fine bikes" Shoot, yeah! I just got my 310 and I'm having a blast!
Ill never sell my 300. I still am trying to figure out how to afford a close out 449/511. Anyone who says these things are "boat anchors" as I have heard will be eating their words when the new $10 husky's come out and everyone's reaction is meh.
Me 2 but I'm not too worried ... These bikes are gonna be around several more yrs in good condition I'm thinking... Sounds like a good idea and a plan for some of us to implement ...
