Husqvarna Motorcycles: Difference between revisions

Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH
	Husqvarna logo
Company type	Private
Industry	Manufacturing; Distribution;
Founded	Huskvarna, Sweden (1903)
Headquarters	Mattighofen, Austria
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Stefan Pierer, Oliver Göhring, Reinhold Zens
Parent	KTM AG
Website	husqvarna-motorcycles.com

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Revision as of 16:17, 16 March 2018

Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH designs, engineers, manufactures and distributes motocross, enduro, supermoto and street motorcycles.

The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a subsidiary of the Husqvarna armament firm.^[1] Today, Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH is owned by KTM AG.

History

Prior to 1987

Husqvarna was founded near the town of Huskvarna in Sweden in 1689. The company started out as a maker of muskets, and the Husqvarna logo still depicts a gun sight viewed from the end of the barrel.^[2]

As with many motorcycle manufacturers, Husqvarna first began producing bicycles in the late 19th century. In 1903, they made the jump to motorcycle manufacturing. The first "Husky" motorcycles used imported engines, and it wasn't until 1918 that Husqvarna began producing machines built entirely in-house. Around that time they secured a contract with the Swedish Army and began entering cross-country and long-distance motorcycle racing events.^[1] In 1920, Husqvarna established its own engine factory and the first engine to be designed was a 550 cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin engine, similar to those made by companies like Harley-Davidson and Indian.

Husqvarna competed in Grand Prix road racing in the 350cc and 500cc classes during the 1930s and was Sweden's largest motorcycle manufacturer by 1939. All of the racing bikes were based on a 50-degree V-twin prototype built by Folke Mannerstedt in 1931. The company team beat the Norton Works team at the Swedish GP in 1931 with a 1–2 finish by Ragnar Sundqvist and Gunnar Kalen. This and the next year's success led to a full commitment to the GP tracks with Stanley Woods and Ernie Nott joining the Husqvarna riding team. That year, Nott finished 3rd in the 350cc Junior TT and Woods ran out of gas 8 miles before the finish of the Senior TT. In 1935 the company withdrew racing support, but new bikes were still produced and raced privately,^[3] while the company focused on producing a new 2-stroke, 2-speed commuter bike.^[1] That year, Stanley Woods won the Swedish GP (marking the fourth year in a row that a "Husky" had won) on a 500cc Husqvarna motorcycle that weighted 279 pounds (127 kilograms).^[4]

In the 1960s, their lightweight, two-stroke engined off-road bikes helped make the once dominant British four-stroke motorcycles obsolete. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Husqvarna was a dominant force in the motocross world, winning 14 Motocross world championships in the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc divisions, 24 enduro world championships and 11 Baja 1000 victories.

Historical models produced by Husqvarna

Moto-Reve model 1910 that belonged to Romanian aviation pioneer Aurel Vlaicu
Engine detail Moto-Reve model 1910
Husqvarna Moto-Reve
Husqvarna Novolette moped

Automobile manufacturing

Toward the end of World War II, a team comprising Bengt Magnusson (head of R&D), Stig Tham (engineer), Calle Heimdal (engine designer) and Birger Johansson investigated manufacture of a small, simple, inexpensive car. The design looked similar to the Saab 92, but with three wheels (two front, one back), and an unusual split rear window. According to some sources the similarities with the Saab 92 may have had something to do with Sixten Sason working as designer at Husqvarna. A prototype was built in 1943, powered by a 20 hp (15 kW) two-cylinder 500 cc DKW motorcycle engine with chain drive to the rear wheel. The wheels came from a Fiat 500. The project was cancelled in 1944, and the prototype was scrapped at the end of the 1950s.

Bicycle manufacturing

Husqvarna is also prominent in Swedish bicycle history.^[5] They have been one of the Swedish military bicycle manufacturers. Husqvarna's Novo hub competed well with imports, but bicycle manufacturing was discontinued in the early 1960s.^[6]

Ownership changes and acquisition by KTM

In 1987, the Husqvarna motorcycle division (not the other arms of the brand such as chainsaw production) was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. A group of the company's managers and engineers were not willing to move to Italy and therefore founded Husaberg AB – which was acquired by KTM AG in 1995.^[7] Husqvarna motorcycles were then produced in Varese, Italy.

In July 2007, Husqvarna motorcycles was purchased by BMW for a reported €93.000.000. BMW Motorrad planned to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the workforce, remained at the Varese location.^[8] BMW intended to position Husqvarna as "the two-wheeled version of what Mini is to the BMW's car division".^[9]

On 31 January 2013 BMW Group announced that Pierer Industrie AG has bought full stake in Husqvarna AG for an undisclosed amount.^[10] Pierer Industrie AG CEO Stefan Pierer^[11] was also the CEO of Cross Industries AG, then the main shareholder of KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG parent KTM AG, and the CEO of KTM AG.^[12] Later in 2013, direct ownership of the Husqvarna company was transferred and license rights were sold from Pierer Industrie AG to KTM AG, making the newly established Husqvarna Motorcycle GmbH part of the KTM Group.^[12]^[13] Husqvarna motorcycle production at Mattighofen in Austria started on 7 October 2013.^[14] At the same time, Husqvarna-spin-off Husaberg was re-united with Husqvarna, terminating the existence of the Husaberg brand.^[15]

Recent developments

Husqvarna Motorcycles produces a diverse range of motocross, enduro and supermoto machines using their own two-stroke or four-stroke engines, ranging in capacity from 125 cc to 576 693 cc.^[16] Racing continues to be important to Husqvarna, with factory teams participating regularly in World Enduro, Motocross, Supercross and Supermoto championships.

Recently, Husqvarna Motorcycles has been preparing its re-entry into the street motorcycle market. In 2014, the company presented prototypes of the newly developed 401 VITPILEN and 401 SVARTPILEN at the EICMA in Milan, Italy – the first street motorcycles of the brand since the 1960s.^[17] Production ready versions were shown in 2016.^[18] Together with the 701 VITPILEN, which was first revealed in 2015,^[19] these motorcycles are scheduled to be publicly available in 2018.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

In 2017, Husqvarna Motorcycles introduced a new range of enduro motorcycles with a self-developed two-stroke fuel injection system (Transfer Port Injection, TPI).^[20] The new fuel efficient, sensor-controlled technology conforms with the Euro 4 regulations for emission management.

Current Models

Enduro^[21]

Two-stroke machines:
- TX 125
- TE 150
- TE 250
- TE250i (with TPI system)
- TE 300
- TE 300i (with TPI system)
- TX 300
Four-stroke machines:
- FE 250
- FE 350
- FE 450
- FE 501
- 701 Enduro

Motocross^[22]

Two-stroke machines:
- TC 50 Mini
- TC 50
- TC 65
- TC 85 TC 85 17/14
- TC 85 19/16
- TC 125
- TC 250
Four-Stroke machines:
- FC 250
- FC 350
- FC 450

Supermoto^[23]

FS 450
701 Supermoto

Street

(currently in development, launch 2018)

401 Vitpilen^[24]
401 Svartpilen^[25]
701 Vitpilen

Vitpilen 401
Svartpilen 401
Vitpilen 701

Racing

Husqvarna has been a regular and successful presence at international off-road racing events since the 1930s. By 2008, riders on Husqvarna machines had secured more than 70 Motocross, Enduro and Supermoto world titles^[26] as well as numerous victories at important rally races like the Baja 1000.

Since 2015, the energy drink manufacturer Rockstar is the title sponsor of Husqvarna's off-road factory team.^[27] The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team competes in all off-road classes, participating in every event of the AMA Supercross and Motocross series.^[28] So far, it has scored titles in the 2016 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, the 2015/2016 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship and in the 2016 AMA EnduroCross Championship.

Exemplary Championships

Motocross

1959 – Rolf Tibblin, European Motocross Champion, 250 cc class.
1960 – Bill Nilsson, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
1962 – Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
1962 – Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
1963 – Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
1963 – Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
1966 – Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
1967 – Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
1969 – Bengt Åberg, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
1970 – Bengt Åberg, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
1974 – Heikki Mikkola, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
1976 – Heikki Mikkola, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
1979 – Håkan Carlqvist, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
1993 – Jacky Martens, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
1998 – Alessio Chiodi, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class
1999 – Alessio Chiodi, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class
2014 – Ben Adriaenssen & Ben van den Bogaart, Sidecarcross World Championship
2014 – Tony Saunders, UK GT Cup, Youth Lites Class.
2014 – Nathan Watson, UK Mx National, MX1 Class.
2016 – Jan Hendrickx & Ben van den Bogaart, Sidecarcross World Championship

Baja 1000

1967 – J.N. Roberts, Malcolm Smith
1969 – Gunnar Nilsson, J.N. Roberts
1971 – Malcolm Smith, Gunnar Nilsson
1972 – Gunnar Nilsson, Rolf Tibblin
1973 – Mitch Mayes, A.C. Bakken
1976 – Larry Roeseler, Mitch Mayes
1977 – Brent Wallingsford, Scot Harden
1978 – Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson
1979 – Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson
1981 – Scot Harden, Brent Wallingsford
1983 – Dan Smith, Dan Ashcraft

Enduro

1990 – 350 cc World Enduro Championship
1991 – 250 cc World Enduro Championship
1992 – 350 cc World Enduro Championship
1993 – 125 cc World Enduro Championship
1993 – 350 cc World Enduro Championship
1994 – 125 cc World Enduro Championship
1994 – 500 cc World Enduro Championship
1995 – 125 cc World Enduro Championship
1995 – 500 cc World Enduro Championship
1996 – 350 cc World Enduro Championship
1998 – 500 cc World Enduro Championship
1999 – 500 cc World Enduro Championship
2000 – 250 cc World Enduro Championship
2001 – 125 cc World Enduro Championship
2001 – 400 cc World Enduro Championship
2001 – 500 cc World Enduro Championship
2002 – 125 cc World Enduro Championship
2002 – 250 cc World Enduro Championship
2002 – 500 cc World Enduro Championship
2003 – 400 cc World Enduro Championship
2010 – E1 World Enduro Championship with Antoine Méo
2011 – E1 World Enduro Championship with Juha Salminen
2011 – E2 World Enduro Championship with Antoine Méo
2014 – E2 World Enduro Championship with Pela Renet
2015 – E3 World Enduro Championship with Mathias Bellino

Supermoto

2005 – Gérald Delepine, SM1 World Supermoto Championship
2007 – Adrien Chareyre, SM1 World Supermoto Championship
2007 – Gérald Delepine, SM2 World Supermoto Championship
2008 – Adrien Chareyre, SM2 World Supermoto Championship
2009 – Adrien Chareyre, SM2 World Supermoto Championship

Moto3 results

Year	Rider	QAT	AME	ARG	ESP	FRA	ITA	CAT	NED	GER	IND	CZE	GBR	RSM	ARA	JPN	AUS	MAL	VAL	Pts	Position	Cons
2014	Danny Kent	13	8	9	11	13	15	17	8	5	12	3	9	12	3	6	20	4	4	129	8th	4th
2014	Niklas Ajo	26	14	8	10	Ret	5	8	Ret		Ret	12	10	Ret	25	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	52	15th	4th
2015	Isaac Viñales	6	9	3	11	7	8	7	Ret	18										115	9th	4th
	Lorenzo Dalla Porta										28	19	8	11	24	24	Ret	16	22	13	25th
	María Herrera	22	17	Ret	Ret	19	21	15	Ret	Ret	24	23	Ret	24	13	26	11	18	21	9	29th