• Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

    When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.

    Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.

    Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.

    Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.

    Thanks for your patience and support!

Poll - BMW / Husky

How do you feel about the BMW owned husky direction and products as of today?

  • Total voters
    90
Motosportz

Motosportz

CH Sponsor
Staff member
Just thought I would start a poll to see where people are at with the BMW buyout of Husky now that it has been a while. Should be interesting to see the feelings and thoughts.

I for one don't like that the WR250/300 have been ignored for so long and have hopes the 2 stroke is not dead in BMW's eyes. Other than that feel the level of build quality is up, the new models like the 449/511 and TR650 even though versions of updated BMW bikes are impressive and hit the mark.

Lets not make this a pissing match but more a reflective feeling for the brand as of today.

Thanks
 
Regardless of how I feel about it I think that it was neccessary that someone with the finacial backing (preferably with existing motorcycle experience) step in. Husky has always made a nice product and during certain eras was the top dog in the pound. In order for them to remain competitive in the global market they needed to piggy back on things that BMW already had in their court.
 
I didn't own a husky when there was issue getting parts, but from what I hear, they have fixed this issue for the most part. That coupled with Bill's right down the road, It has been VERY VERY easy to get parts up to this point. I also like the Husky Contingency program (even tho I don't race), and they seem to be doing a good job of marketing.
 
I'm with bmw \ Husky companies and not really on the fence but not really in love with what bmw is doing ... No reason for any luv for a mechanical device ...

I'll vote for the top notch though ...
 
I didn't really know how to vote on this. I really like what they have done with the new 250/310 4strokes. LOVE the 125 with 150 kit idea. The 650 looks fun and good looking too. Not to warm on looks of the 449/511's or their weight. Hate that they haven't put anything into the 250/300 2strokes. Wanted them to build me a 200 but Walt beat them to that LOL. So...overall OK but like most things and people can use some improvements. I do appreciate them investing in Husky.
 
I've ridden the 250, 310, and 449 so far and loved every one of them! I really like the crazy thinking with the 449/511 and hope they stay in the "odd" route. The new terra and strada are offerings that Husqvarna would have never offered. It will be great because it will turn a lot of people to a brand they never considered before. Afterall, I only know of Husky because they were one of the few factory Supermoto's worth dreaming about! I really love this brand, the only real dilema is figuring out which one I want! Be practical with a Terra or a just have the time of my life with a 449?!?! Of course after riding the 310 it made it even more difficult lol
 
LandofMotards said:
I've ridden the 250, 310, and 449 so far and loved every one of them! I really like the crazy thinking with the 449/511 and hope they stay in the "odd" route. The new terra and strada are offerings that Husqvarna would have never offered. It will be great because it will turn a lot of people to a brand they never considered before. Afterall, I only know of Husky because they were one of the few factory Supermoto's worth dreaming about! I really love this brand, the only real dilema is figuring out which one I want! Be practical with a Terra or a just have the time of my life with a 449?!?! Of course after riding the 310 it made it even more difficult lol
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In regards to the two strokes, atleast they still have them. They are one of the few brands to atleast hang onto them. I also think that BMW will pull through with them. If the rumors are correct, they should be with us next year!
 
BMW doesn't have the experience in the off road industry Husqvarna has, nor did they have the trademark which is what they really needed. But the engineers at Husqvarna need to step it up to compare with those at BMW, especially those at F1. The BMW engine tolerances and quality far exceed that of the Italians, but no one is all knowing and the two complement each other. From an engineers stand point, I am happy to see BMW "taking over", but I won't be buying Grandpa's BMW, so they better make me a fire-breathing-Husky or they won't be keeping me as a customer! ;)
 
Put me down for a 'much more positive than negative' - which really was not one of the options - from the "10,00 foot viewpoint" (high level).
 
I like the mark and its more than just brand loyalty, however they have the ability to really make a big statement across the board. Instead we get piecemeal outcomes such as a 630 for 2 years only, no updates in the smokers for yonks. 449 and 511 not well positioned in the market place. A 310 rather than a more logical 350.
 
You have the bad way of doing things, you have the good way of doing things and you have the BMW way of doing things. (is same as good but a totally different approach to the mater).

from a technical point of view I really like the BMW approach yet it is not always the sexy package and that also has some importance (emotion)

the marriage is for me a great combination of esthetically Italian passion that they put on a off road product platform (husky) and a deep hardcore technical approach of getting it perfect with at least as possible compromises.

win win situation for both parties in my opinion.

Robert-Jan
 
I voted for the top notch although would put my feelings somewhere between 1 and 2. I think together they are doing good things but it is a little too soon to see where they will wind up. I like all the new models and I realize they were a few laps down so to speak and you can not make that up in a year or two. I know people are frustrated with the 250/300 2t, but if they spend their time and money on band aids it will only delay or compromise an all new design.
One thing I would like to see is to clean up their reputation on how they have dealt with dealers and racers. I would have to believe the problems have come from a transitioning management. Surely BMW does everything by the book.
 
water racer said:
...One thing I would like to see is to clean up their reputation on how they have dealt with dealers and racers....
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It would only take an incredibly tiny amount of bmws assets/profits to clean up the Canadian mess... Not even try to make those people whole, but give them something.

I've no idea what is next for me vehicle wise, but the Canadian mess is weighing heavy on my decision.
 
Coffee said:
It would only take an incredibly tiny amount of bmws assets/profits to clean up the Canadian mess... Not even try to make those people whole, but give them something.

I've no idea what is next for me vehicle wise, but the Canadian mess is weighing heavy on my decision.
Click to expand...

I'm not eligible in any sense of contingency as Husky didn't have a SM program here. The Husky / BMW distributor decision was low class, and very disappointing. I hear it from my past dealer (in Ont) and from my local dealer.
At my local level, the dealer has had lots of enquiries about the new TR models, yet nothing replied from corporate office. That's the very frustrating part. If BMW doesn't do something extreme here they will not have anyone showing the brand and no customers to buy them.
 
I will add on an optimistic note; we are beginning our long winter and showrooms switch to snowmobiles, BMW is an image conscious brand and may pull magic out of their hat before spring rolls around. Every major city has their annual bike show in the new year, and we'll see how Husky is represented there.
 
I like the direction that they're headed. I don't think you'll see them ignore the 2 strokes for much longer. There are a few guys in Corona that really like riding the power band up high and they'll get their agenda pushed through eventually. The fact that the Husky engineers took the 47hp GS650 motor and turned it into a 58hp is a great thing. That tells me that they're listening to what is needed or wanted from the US. That kind of cooperation is what is needed to keep Husky going in the right direction.
 
i voted for the love it but im more in between that and the on the fence option. all i have is a 4 stroke but i would like to see them hook up the 2smoker lineup over the next couple of years with some of the things people have been shouting about on here. got to love options. other than that, husky rules!!
 
Im not happy with it. I have owned 2 BMW's and 3 Husky's over the last 10 years. I still have a BMW street bike and a Husky in the garage.

My BMW is made in Germany and my Husky made in Italy. I dont like the whole chinese made engine and outsourcing thing.

I belive if your paying a premium price you should get a premium product.
 
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