Will a DS be important for the new KTM based huskys?

Discussion in 'General (Main)' started by Motosportz, Nov 13, 2013.

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Should KTM/Husky offer plated models?

Yes 48 vote(s) 57.1%
Yes this will make me a customer 25 vote(s) 29.8%
Dont care 7 vote(s) 8.3%
No keep it a dirtbike only brand 4 vote(s) 4.8%
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  1. LandofMotards Moderator

    Location:
    Colorado
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2014 TC250
    They build great dual sports that are low maintenance, get great fuel mileage, and priced well. They aren't race bikes with a plate but that isn't what a dual sport should be. They are care free, ride as much as you want bikes.
    LandofMotards, Nov 15, 2013
    #21
    bigjon likes this.

  2. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many
    WTF? 2 polls in many years does not sound like I am over doing it just trying to get a feel for the customers of the new huskys. Taking part in the thread is completely voluntary. Sorry if i somehow offended.
    Motosportz, Nov 15, 2013
    #22

  3. TROFFER88 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Camas Wa
    ^^^^ HEHEHE^^^^
    TROFFER88, Nov 15, 2013
    #23
    Boogie likes this.

  4. reveille Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Northern Illinois
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2014 FE501
    Other Motorcycles:
    2015 300 XC W
    +1 Like the DR650 or DRZ400. Both are freaking porky pigs but are good for actual dual sporting.
    reveille, Nov 15, 2013
    #24

  5. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many
    Yes there are 2 kinds of "dualsports" One is actually a DS like the DRZ and one is a plated race bike. Both have uses and fill needs.
    Motosportz, Nov 15, 2013
    #25

  6. ScottyR Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Mitchell, ON
    I have it on good authority that the 501 will be street legal in MY15 but thats the only model that will be. I have a friend who worked for KTM and he says that KTM actually makes about half the profit on the street legal EXCs as they do on XCWs by the time that the extra expense of homologation and obligations that come with selling street legal bikes.
    ScottyR, Nov 15, 2013
    #26

  7. oregonsage 4st Clerk

    Location:
    Dry Washington
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    FX450
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha DT400 x 2, BMW G310R

    One way to offset that expense is to sell more plated bikes; trimming the models and selling under both brands could help bring the per unit cost down. And if I were only going to do 1 model then the big boy would be the one...more streetable than the smaller models.....add in a street legal SM version and you might get the volume to a economical level. The 690s and 990s are by definition streetable, so they could solve the problem by giving Husky a variation on one or both of those instead/in-addition.
    oregonsage, Nov 15, 2013
    #27
    duggoey likes this.

  8. ptkatoomer Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    San Diego area
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None
    Other Motorcycles:
    2020 ktm 300 xc-w, 2020 ktm 500exc
    California + off-road riding = dual-sport. Here it's definitely a BIG asset having that plate. Especially if you don't have a lot of time to plan/spend just getting to a place you can ride:cry:
    ptkatoomer, Nov 15, 2013
    #28
    J-train likes this.

  9. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many

    Well you make zero profit on bikes you don't sell. And guess what, they make a bunch more money when you start buying things to convert it back to a good running bike but still with a plate as well as all the doodads they sell from the massive aftermarket hard parts catalog.
    Motosportz, Nov 15, 2013
    #29
    LandofMotards, reveille and Ken Hynes like this.

  10. Dirtdame Administrator

    Location:
    Rock Springs Wy
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    11 WR300,13 WR125,18 FE501
    Other Motorcycles:
    17 Beta Xtrainer
    But a lot of their sales come from cruisers, sport bikes and touring machines, also watercraft.
    Dirtdame, Nov 15, 2013
    #30

  11. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many

    Yep almost all of it. Honda, suzuki also build cars and Kawasaki and yamaha build gobs of other stuff from trains to pianos. Dirtbikes are probably almost more effort than they are worth for companies like Honda where the overall profit from those much be tiny in the big picture.
    Motosportz, Nov 15, 2013
    #31

  12. Rockchucker22 Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    Bishop
    At least in kalifornia we need viable DS bikes. Unfortunately it very tough to legally get a non plated bike plated. Where I live there is thousands of miles of dirt roads that connect lots of fun trails. Technicaly you must be plated on certain forest service roads,and some of BLM roads, many riders get tickets. I know it's ridiculous but I for one love out of the box DS, provides a whole world of worry free riding.
    Rockchucker22, Nov 15, 2013
    #32
    J-train likes this.

  13. Indorider Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Bojonegoro, East Java Indonesia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2010 TE 250
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha TZM, Suzuki RGR (2 smokers)
    As I mentioned in another thread, on the Husky Indonesia website almost every question they had about the 2014's was "Can it be plated"?
    At the price they're asking I think they must already be plated. With Platinum!:banghead:
    Indorider, Nov 15, 2013
    #33
    reveille likes this.

  14. Johnnytruetorch Husqvarna
    C Class

    Location:
    Irvine Calif
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2012 TE310
    Other Motorcycles:
    Gs 1200 Vespa 250 BMX and Mountain
    I kept looking to see if the new bikes had a DS Bummed to see it didnt make it to production. I hope it happens in 2015
    Johnnytruetorch, Nov 15, 2013
    #34

  15. rancher1 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    WA
    To be fair you forgot about the riding in bad weather poll. Just giving you a little static.
    rancher1, Nov 15, 2013
    #35

  16. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many
    "Taking part in the thread is completely voluntary"
    Motosportz, Nov 16, 2013
    #36
    LandofMotards likes this.

  17. duggoey Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2010 TE 310
    Other Motorcycles:
    KTM 690, Yamaha WR200, FGS650(800cc)
    I was only joking :P
    duggoey, Nov 16, 2013
    #37
    LandofMotards and Motosportz like this.

  18. JonDirt Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    London and NYC
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TE610 2008
    Agreed. And Husqvarna used to make a rocking DS. I hope they don't forget that segment.
    JonDirt, Nov 16, 2013
    #38

  19. Boogie Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Red head
    Boogie, Nov 16, 2013
    #39
    duggoey likes this.

  20. ghte Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Bright, Victoria Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2 x 310's, 2016 Beta 480, SWM RS650
    Other Motorcycles:
    2016 Multi ,Griso1100, Monster695
    I believe that Husky got it right with the 610 (for that time) the 630 was a plus and minus improvement. It was heavier, however both are not low maintenance machines. The 650 was imho not a real DS in the vein of the 610/630. The Japanese offerings are dated, heavy and uninspiring albeit they go forever. KTM's 690 is the best of the bunch and as Duggoey said, slight improvements to the stock seat, slighlty softer suspension and stock carry racks and it is exactly what Husky should produce.
    ghte, Nov 16, 2013
    #40
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