KTM REVEALS SOME PLANS FOR HUSQVARNA

[Micahdogg]

It looks to me that KTM is trying to be the motorcycle version of GM or Ford. Buy up the competition and profit off the different brands eventuall narrowing the differences until the only thing left is the name plate. Don't get me wrong, it is good new that KTM bought Husqvarna from BMW - and that BMW bought from Cagiva (et al). It is also good to join the Husqvarna and Husaberg brands again in one family. I guess I am just depressed with all this vanilla motorcycle market and miss the innovation and manufacturer differences of the '70's.

Husky seems to have largely survived by not being a better alternative, but for NOT being KTM.  The Husky vs. KTM partisanship is almost thicker than those brands going head to head with the Japs.  So yeah, I don't see a lot of enthusiasm on either side about this decision.

At least Beta is starting to take off so the circle is complete.

[Jeram]

Well, they just closed down the Husky factory and sacked 200 of their staff.


not looking good for huskies future.

[SwapperMX]

Well, they just closed down the Husky factory and sacked 200 of their staff.


not looking good for huskies future.

That was likely always going to happen. They were looking at, and i dare say will be, moving the factory to India.

[factoryX]

Unions have made things expensive, not surprised really.

[Micahdogg]

It's all in the perspective.  China < India.  What do they call it...a race to the bottom?  Regardless, to compete in today's global market its a necessary evil.  Doing the right thing is often just met with bankruptsy and a bunch of "Told ya so's."

[Jeram]

yes but to me it just seems like a step towards having KTM's rebadged as Huskies.

If they shared chassis thats ok, but aslong as the plastics are a different design and the engines have some differences I will be happy.

A husky engine slotted into a KTM frame with Husky plastics would be OK in my books.

[2STROKEREVOLUTION]

Wait a minute. I remember hearing that KTM does NOT own Husky. It is just Stefan Peirer that owns it. So there shouldn't be any KTM sharing going on.

[tom.erik.brauer]

Thats correct! KTM does not own Husqvarna.

[SwapperMX]

Wait a minute. I remember hearing that KTM does NOT own Husky. It is just Stefan Peirer that owns it. So there shouldn't be any KTM sharing going on.

Yeah, but look at Husaberg, and what happened there. Fair indication of future prospects for Husky.

[VintageBlueSmoke]

I like the red and silver color scheme as well and I would expect the Marketing folks to let it remain since you have Orange/Black with KTM and Blue/Yellow 'Bergs. I also would think many models will eventually overlap with minor differences (i.e. 'Berg 2-strokes). It is a shame, but that is what modern life is coming too, I guess.

That said, the factory in Italy, if it every comes back on line, was supposed to be state of the art.  In addition, there was a lot of R&D info that would have come with the company. If you remember, 'Berg had just completed a big R&D project when KTM scooped them up. Husky had a thing going when BMW took over and BMW had a lot of info poured into Husky too.

This is just one of those things where we will have to wait and see. Keep moving, nothing to look at here...

[evo550]

What did KTM do to Husaberg that was bad ?

[gpnewhouse7]

I think everyone needs to remember that Husaberg was 4 stroke only until KTM took over.
KTM will have just resprayed their bike and called it a Berg because that was all they could do.

And seen as its the owner of KTM that has bought Husqy and not KTM itself then I would think he must be planning to run them as seperate companies.

Either way the KTM is hardly a turd so the KTM engine in the Husqy frame would probably still be a great bike.

[evo550]

Bingo..
The original Husaberg line up (4t's) remained uniquely Husaberg.
KTM gave Husaberg buyers a 2t option, that is different enough to not be just a "rebadged" KTM.
I strongely doubt you will see a rebadged KTM in the Husky line up, unless it's a bike that's not already in the Husky lineup, and they pretty much have the market covered.

[SwapperMX]

What did KTM do to Husaberg that was bad ?

Nothing bad, but used that as an avenue for a testing ground, on bikes with very close bloodlines to the KTM range. Plenty of "sharing" going on.

[SwapperMX]

I think everyone needs to remember that Husaberg was 4 stroke only until KTM took over.
KTM will have just resprayed their bike and called it a Berg because that was all they could do.

And seen as its the owner of KTM that has bought Husqy and not KTM itself then I would think he must be planning to run them as seperate companies.

Either way the KTM is hardly a turd so the KTM engine in the Husqy frame would probably still be a great bike.

Also, Pierer doesn't own KTM, he is their CEO. KTM now has an Indian shareholder, Bajaj, with 49% I think.