BETA BIKE OF THE YEAR

[Motosportz]

Sounding a little sensitive Kelly....................If there is anything that gets out of hand I'm sure Coffee will deal with it. I personally want to hear the good and the bad experiences people have with the brand. It's dishonest to paint a rosy picture of all things Husky.

Totally agree.

But I am not feeling overly sensitive about this just don't want to see CH become a crapfest like the other forum and drive everyone way. If you don't like a brand thats 100% fine. I don't go to the Honda forums to tell them all how crappy the heads are on there CRF's. Don't go to the KTM forums to let everyone know how stupid they are for buying a 150 hangranad. I see some guys who flew the flag for husky for years and now their deal has changed so husky is crap and the new brand is awesome. I understand getting a raw deal in biz, it is what it is. I feel for some of these guys. I'm not saying these people are not right but to bring that hate to a forum where 99% are just customers who want to learn more about their brand and have no dealings with nor care about all the back room deals, corporate level or even dealer level crap, they just want to upgrade, solve an issue, talk about rides etc with like minded people. The other site is now a useless ghost town because of all the rampant hate, I for one don't want that here and left with 4 angry people hating away. Thats all I am saying. I for one will no longer come to a site like that, it is not fun, it is not helpful, it does not move forward, it is not useful. IMHO.

Like you said, I also don't want some homogenized "husky is wonderful and everything is all flowers and kittens" ether. I spoke up loudly for a solution when my brand new 09 WR125 ran like udder CRAP because the factory powervelves were wrong. I think the Keihn EFI and carbs are borderline crap. But do I endlessly bash the brand and tell everyone to buy something else in a husky forum or look for a solution? Thats the difference.

 

[Motosportz]

And BTW I am far from a "hey let me jump on this Beta" bandwagon also guy. This is a 07 I rode in 07 on a 120 mile dez race after building a stabilizer for it. Was an OK bike, bet the new ones are a lot better (the 2011 450 i rode was). Local dealer was one of the first in the country to get them back on 06 and had a hard go with it (tough sell back then).

 

[Norman Foley]

Kelly,
I know how you feel.... I was feeling pretty tweaked, when Gas Gas fever swept Café Husky a few years back. Take deep breath, take it all in and respond when someone crosses the line. I'm riding the Husaberg that may be the next Husky. It's a good bike, but the Italians do it a little better, that's why I'm excited by Beta.

All the strife about BMW and Husky is over and the Varese plant is closing (the Husky R&D Staff is already furloughed). Pierer plans to re-launch the Husky Brand at Milan Show in November. Those bikes will be built in Austria and designed there. The age of Italian Huskys is over... Cagiva or BMW. Our job is to keep what we have running and spread the word on how great they are as bikes, just like we've done for 25 years with our Swedish Huskys. What Austrian Huskys are is to be seen, like some riders who couldn't transition from Swedish to Italian Huskys, some wont take the next step and some will. I'm riding Austrian right now, but long for the Italian influence again.
Be of good cheer, as a new day dawns..... one door closes and another opens.

 

[Motosportz]

Kelly,
I know how you feel.... I was feeling pretty tweaked, when Gas Gas fever swept Café Husky a few years back. Take deep breath, take it all in and respond when someone crosses the line. I'm riding the Husaberg that may be the next Husky. It's a good bike, but the Italians do it a little better, that's why I'm excited by Beta.

I understand but don't remember slighted dealers coming here just to bash husky and tell us GG was the next big thing and everything was perfect on that side of the fence. Beta, GG, TM, Fantic, whatever, I like them all. Would love to own several of each. thats not the point, the point is husky bashing just to hate on husky in a husky forum. Drove everyone away from the other forum, don't want to see that here. Someone has a bad experience, no problem, bring it on, lets help resolve it. Had a husky, hated it, it blew up whatever, fine lets hear it, we all learn from that. But to just come here, especially as a dealer of the "other" brand and only to bash husky, no thanks.

 

[hammer]

Just picked my 300 rr factory this morning. After putting it together and taking it for a small 5 km ride I will say this, if you are on the fence about this bike don't be. It's getting great reviews for a reason. Well put together, great looking, handling was prefect for me and I have not even touched a clicker yet. The engine in this thing is by far the best 2 stroke engine I have ever tried and I don't think there is to many I haven't tried. Great electric power and very little vibration.
I still have my wr 165 but I have a feeling it's not going to get much love, at least for a while.

 

[MOTORHEAD]

BETA is short for, "Beta bring a tow rope".

 

[pvduke]

i seen Gerhard i think it was WAIL on the bone stock Beta above for days at Romanics....good god it was brutal. it had green handguards. it got hammered to paste. it never missed a beat and was quiet! dayum!

there's so many good stone reliable bikes out there now. its awesome. they just keep getting better reagrdless of the headbadge. dont bash, embrace.

 

[Dirtdame]

I rode a little Beta trials bike back in the mid 80s. Was a 240 cc Beta TR33. Great bike, never let me down.

 

[firecrotch]

Didnt this 300 only have a 2 gallon tank with no current options? If so that would absolutely kill it for me

 

[glangston]

Didnt this 300 only have a 2 gallon tank with no current options? If so that would absolutely kill it for me

I believe there is a large tank for this but it may not be available yet. Racers like Cody Webb have had them. IIRC IMS is the one. Clarke made them for the 4 strokes, don't know how much different they need to be for the 2 strokes or if Clarke is actually going to be the one.

See pic on this news release.

http://www.americanbeta.com/node/1605

Looks a lot like the Clarke with the graphics but ...

ETA I put in a request to clarify if that tank was for sale retail or a pro to/one off design. Or if the listed 3.8 DOES fit the 2 stroke.

 

[fletchman45]

Yes yes yes and the drama goes on and on! Yes for anyone out there. Coming on a specific Husqvarna site that is enjoyed by Husqvarna enthusiast from all around the world and specifically designed to help them (us) with informative tips and tricks and this and that and bash Husqvarna will get you KNOW WHERE**************************************** As far as other NON mainstream bikes I have no problems with talk about them. If your about orange there are sights for that. Beta. Sure I may try one, but for all of you and any of you that believe anything a magizine posts BEWARE!! KTM has sent ringers to magazine tests for years and he with a big checkbook usually wins. Is it not Cody Webb riding one???? To me the 2013 Gas Gas is more innovative or just as good and deserving more then a one page test. But that's the way it rolls and we spend our hard earned money on what we find most appealing at the time of purchase. Until someone comes out with a replacement tank for the ridiculous factory sized 2.0 US gallon tank I will not even look at one. Are they sexy and Italian. YOU BET!!! I have heard comments like oh well he rides a Gas Gas anyways. Sure I do for the moment, but my love for the brand Husqvarna should never be in question and if I get a trophy on the Gasser I will post a photo of me getting it with a Husqvarna jersey on!!! And I am not kidding. Building a new house or I would most certainly grab a new Husky at these current prices!! I do not always agree with Motosportz, but in this case his post is right on track. All brands have problems or this or that. Hec in 2004 I drove 700 miles to pick up the truck of the year Nissan Titan. For myself my new truck was simply the biggest pile I had ever owned. For someone else it may have been a great truck. Those who try to save a $100.00 and buy from a non reputable or established dealer are taking a risk. I guarantee if you buy from Halls for example and have legitimate problems that they would get it taken care of. Hey I like the prices at a local dealer but when I buy from them I don't expect miracles if something goes wrong. If you are a Husky basher and have had bad luck, I feel sorry for you and you may have got a bad bike from the start somehow. I can say after over 25 years of thrash testing countless Husqvarna'a they ALL have proven VERY VERY reliable .Dare I say bullet proof! You should sell it for a loss and jump onto a new bandwagon if you simply can not work it out and be happy. Most of the time when I see whiners with engine problems I assume they are pathetic at maintenance and take what they say with a grain of salt. The hillbilly's where I live more then likely do not even clean their air filter or change the engine/transmission fluid etc.... ANY brand could fail. But yes for any Husky BASHING, send your someone close a nasty email that will allow you to vent and feel better****************************************!REALITY CHECK BASHERS-- HUSQVARNA RULES****************************************!!!

 

[fletchman45]

Didnt this 300 only have a 2 gallon tank with no current options? If so that would absolutely kill it for me

Exactly what I was thinking. Bike of the year with a 2 gall tank! Ha Ha. Ok so a fast A pilot with slightly fat jetting to reduce chance of meltdown equal OH crap I think I am out of gas****************************************! Sure does look sweet! I will give it that!!

 

[MOTORHEAD]

i seen Gerhard i think it was WAIL on the bone stock Beta above for days at Romanics....good god it was brutal. it had green handguards. it got hammered to paste. it never missed a beat and was quiet! dayum!

there's so many good stone reliable bikes out there now. its awesome. they just keep getting better reagrdless of the headbadge. dont bash, embrace.

Just joking around. Don't take it serious.

 

[fletchman45]

And BTW I am far from a "hey let me jump on this Beta" bandwagon also guy. This is a 07 I rode in 07 on a 120 mile dez race after building a stabilizer for it. Was an OK bike, bet the new ones are a lot better (the 2011 450 i rode was). Local dealer was one of the first in the country to get them back on 06 and had a hard go with it (tough sell back then).
Hey does that have a KTM engine? Thought I may have seen a puddle of oil underneath it along with antifreeze????LOL

 

[fletchman45]

Kelly,
I know how you feel.... I was feeling pretty tweaked, when Gas Gas fever swept Café Husky a few years back. Take deep breath, take it all in and respond when someone crosses the line. I'm riding the Husaberg that may be the next Husky. It's a good bike, but the Italians do it a little better, that's why I'm excited by Beta.

All the strife about BMW and Husky is over and the Varese plant is closing (the Husky R&D Staff is already furloughed). Pierer plans to re-launch the Husky Brand at Milan Show in November. Those bikes will be built in Austria and designed there. The age of Italian Huskys is over... Cagiva or BMW. Our job is to keep what we have running and spread the word on how great they are as bikes, just like we've done for 25 years with our Swedish Huskys. What Austrian Huskys are is to be seen, like some riders who couldn't transition from Swedish to Italian Huskys, some wont take the next step and some will. I'm riding Austrian right now, but long for the Italian influence again.
Be of good cheer, as a new day dawns..... one door closes and another opens.

Norm. I think you may have to rethink the Husaberg. My take in all this speculation if Husaberg does survive you will have to buy and Italian Husqvarna to get one**************************************** At least you can put KTM plastic and decals on your bike to resell it!!!HA HA. OK so who is right? It is still my understanding Husqvarna's will STILL BE BUILT IN ITALY****************************************! This heard from 2 bigger dealers.Wish they would figure this stuff out so we can all quit guessing.................

 

[Norman Foley]

Norm. I think you may have to rethink the Husaberg. My take in all this speculation if Husaberg does survive you will have to buy and Italian Husqvarna to get one At least you can put KTM plastic and decals on your bike to resell it!!!HA HA. OK so who is right? It is still my understanding Husqvarna's will STILL BE BUILT IN ITALY ! This heard from 2 bigger dealers.Wish they would figure this stuff out so we can all quit guessing.................

Fletch,
I'll be glad If they do still build a unique Husky in Italy, but in spite of us, Jay Hall and some other big dealer willing it.... it's not looking good. The entire staff of the Factory is being given a year's furlough pay.... do you know what that means? They stay home and don't work at the Husky factory! The R&D Staff is already furloughed, not August 1st, as stated. I'm guessing staff will be sent home by departments, until just the janitor is there to turn out the lights. This is just the polite Italian way of starting a severance package up.....

Jon Erik Burleson runs Husky US now, not some Husky guy in Corona. I doubt he really cares what Husky Dealers think about this, but I'm pretty sure he's concerned what Stephan Pierer thinks!

 

[pvduke]

Just joking around. Don't take it serious.

wasnt towards ya or anyone in particular. that pic did remind me of the floggin i saw that bike take though, and it was quiet too!

 

[ajaxauto]

I am now happy with both my 165 and 300 and the 125 and 250 i still have as back up bikes have alot of parts that fit them So it will take something really special to make me look at a new bike the cost of the bike and all the spares
and I really dount it could be better then what I have now
That being said I am looking foward to the future and cant wait to see what a new Husky will look like Until that day I am staying put

 

[fletchman45]

Fletch,
I'll be glad If they do still build a unique Husky in Italy, but in spite of us, Jay Hall and some other big dealer willing it.... it's not looking good. The entire staff of the Factory is being given a year's furlough pay.... do you know what that means? They stay home and don't work at the Husky factory! The R&D Staff is already furloughed, not August 1st, as stated. I'm guessing staff will be sent home by departments, until just the janitor is there to turn out the lights. This is just the polite Italian way of starting a severance package up.....

Jon Erik Burleson runs Husky US now, not some Husky guy in Corona. I doubt he really cares what Husky Dealers think about this, but I'm pretty sure he's concerned what Stephan Pierer thinks!

Again this is ALL speculation in the final outcome of what really happens. I am certainly not sure but neither is anyone else! I agree with you the rebadged 2-stroke KTM/Husabergs for sure look better then the KTM stepchild brother and if I had to ride one or the other (lets hope I'm never stuck on Gilligan's island, but in that event for sure the Husaberg gets the nod just because it is blue and of course the blue wheels to!!! But if SP is smart and I assume he is he already knows the rebadge thing does not work very well. At least with Husaberg. Let me keep my wild dream and potential result in my mind that everything will be OK and they will still be made in Italy and live will be good........ However............From a business standpoint as I hate or shall I say in a nicer tone DISLIKE Artic Cat very much, If I were Ski Doo and bought them out, I would in a sense Kill them or make a clone to save money and I certainly would do it from my factory that I thought were better (not the case with KTM, well I am sure parts wise it is MUCH BETTER!!) None of us are sure what is happening.......You are making statements that NONE of us are completely even sure about! Hec old orange SP himself may be winging it a bit, who knows...............................If a KTM and Husqvarna share the same engine and rake and trail etc.... What really would be the point in buying a Husqvarna???? At least to me anyway. It would be a total embarrassment for me and knowing in the back of my head I was riding a cloned arch rival brand.That I strongly feel is inferior. WOW! I can only think there are at least a few who feel similar and would decide to not carry on the torch. Of course there are die hards who will look past it and carry on. I have respect for them to. Just will not work for me. Let's let the cookie crumble and see what plays out. As much as I did not like the BMW/Husky marriage( I knew it would end in a nasty divorce) they were slowly heading the right direction. But after years of poor marketing strategy and messing up they have dug thereselves somewhat of a hole. Do I think with PROPER marketing they can remain a different brand then KTM and come back and be about as mainstrean as a KTM> You bet. But it will take time and there are other players as there are alot of fine bikes to choose from. This marrige certainly can work BUT and I say BUT it will take proper and I mean proper execution to do so. Otherwise the brand may be killed completely. Which could possibly be happening to Husaberg.................................

 

[Norman Foley]

Again this is ALL speculation in the final outcome of what really happens. I am certainly not sure but neither is anyone else! I agree with you the rebadged 2-stroke KTM/Husabergs for sure look better then the KTM stepchild brother and if I had to ride one or the other (lets hope I'm never stuck on Gilligan's island, but in that event for sure the Husaberg gets the nod just because it is blue and of course the blue wheels to!!! But if SP is smart and I assume he is he already knows the rebadge thing does not work very well. At least with Husaberg. Let me keep my wild dream and potential result in my mind that everything will be OK and they will still be made in Italy and live will be good........ However............From a business standpoint as I hate or shall I say in a nicer tone DISLIKE Artic Cat very much, If I were Ski Doo and bought them out, I would in a sense Kill them or make a clone to save money and I certainly would do it from my factory that I thought were better (not the case with KTM, well I am sure parts wise it is MUCH BETTER!!) None of us are sure what is happening.......You are making statements that NONE of us are completely even sure about! Hec old orange SP himself may be winging it a bit, who knows...............................If a KTM and Husqvarna share the same engine and rake and trail etc.... What really would be the point in buying a Husqvarna???? At least to me anyway. It would be a total embarrassment for me and knowing in the back of my head I was riding a cloned arch rival brand.That I strongly feel is inferior. WOW! I can only think there are at least a few who feel similar and would decide to not carry on the torch. Of course there are die hards who will look past it and carry on. I have respect for them to. Just will not work for me. Let's let the cookie crumble and see what plays out. As much as I did not like the BMW/Husky marriage( I knew it would end in a nasty divorce) they were slowly heading the right direction. But after years of poor marketing strategy and messing up they have dug thereselves somewhat of a hole. Do I think with PROPER marketing they can remain a different brand then KTM and come back and be about as mainstrean as a KTM> You bet. But it will take time and there are other players as there are alot of fine bikes to choose from. This marrige certainly can work BUT and I say BUT it will take proper and I mean proper execution to do so. Otherwise the brand may be killed completely. Which could possibly be happening to Husaberg.................................

Funny that you hate Arctic Cat so much, since they are run a lot more like Husky was.... much smaller factory, with much more of a family feel and very cool race department. BRP on the other hand seems like KTM to me, much bigger and a little faceless.

On the clone thing... There are still some Husky guys who won't ride an Italian Husky after 25+ years. I know, because we still ride together. They missed some great bikes and you might miss some too.