...After the rumors...is this the new project for a TE650?

[XLEnduroMan]

Well the new pic of the "Baja" looks better then the "Moab", but still what the ....?

Reminds me when Honda had a good DS bike with the XL and then they killed it off and replaced it with the NX.

 

[alanB]

From the concept bikes I've seen BMW just seem to be trying to re-package their X series bikes in Husky colours.

Perhaps what is needed is a web based appeal to them not throw out the baby with bath water. If we start a thread where everybody states what THEY WANT rather than just accepting what BMW is intent on feeding up, maybe we can get them to understand.

Their are two factors contributing to this problem:

1) BMW have been very succesful selling GS class bikes which are basically road bikes that have been slightly modified for off road. So they think they know more about this market than anyone else. But the problem is the Husky DS/Adventure market is completely different to the GS market.
2) BMW have very little embedded off road bike racing experience, so they simply dont understand what it takes to build a high performance off road DS bike. When they bought Husky they SHOULD have imported that knowledge but it seems that point 1) is clouding their thinking and they are trying to just serve more of same to to a different market.

I think their approach is fundamentally flawed because their traditional GS market want big heavy bikes that are road orientated for long distance touring mostly on tar and for "camelman posing" (ie I'm a big he man and I ride a big he-man bike) and are not that interested in riding gnarly terrain off road so they arent going to buy something like the Baja in big numbers - the X Challenge etc range proved that.

On the other hand no existing Husky rider is going to be happy with a a fat road bike derived 650 Husky that weighs 180kg, has crappy suspension and a Chinese engine.

 

[7point62]

BMW's end of year figures will be released at the start of February or thereabouts and I suspect it will show that Husky sales will be less than 50% factory capacity and very likely to be 15% down on last year's numbers. I think these road based bikes are an attempt to shift some units to a demographic that may have a little more money to spend (I wonder how many off-road riders have held off buying a new bike because of current financial times).

It does suck though and I'm not sure how well a range of no-compromise dirt bikes sits next to yuppy Steve Mcqueen wannabe roadbikes. We'll see, I guess. There are a couple of Nudas in my local dealership and they look like a wicked town and country weapon, but no-one will be buying one on looks alone...

Thanks to Joisey.Janet for the report from the front.

 

[johngil]

I'll take one of these.

 

[BiG DoM]

Mutton dressed up as retro lamb ... or maybe that should be LAME!!

 

[organ donor]

Just seen the German news report here ... Beemers have rid themselves of their chief bike designer (the man who last year introduced the new generation of BMW .... s c o o t e r s!). As Lenin said: Something Needs to be DONE! (and these are the people who are telling Husky how to make bikes!)

 

[BiG DoM]

Yes indeed - but should not be not be all doom and gloom if he applies his talents to retaining the Husky "popular, fDISTINCTormidable

David Robb has left after 18 years of overseeing Motorrad designs for BMW. His replacement is Edgar Heinrich (53) who started his career with BMW Motorrad in 1986 and was head of vehicle design for the motorcycle division from 2007 to 2009. He was responsible for the 1st 4 Valve Boxer models. His later work involved the K1200 S & R, HP 2 and Mega Moto model.

He has been credited with transforming BMW Motorrad into a more"popular, distinct and formidable brand" ... unfortunately I have my doubts as to how the tail will be wagging the Husky dog

 

[duca99]

Forgive me but it's to long for my English:

Ciao! Si la apriamo per 2 persone... LOL Io sinceramente sono molto sfiduciato. Ho comprato l'Husky 610 quest'estate (vengo da un CRF 450 motard solo pista) e devo dire che è un ottima moto, meccanica a parte ovviamente. L'ho presa perché è l'unica moto sul mercato dopo il 690 ad essere sportiva e abbastanza affidabile. Una moto con cui puoi fare tutto anche se con un po' di sofferenza. Mi sono anche accorto però che tutte le husky che ho visto (per comprarle) erano TUTTE in mano a ragazzi con meno di 25 anni, che non avevano la minima idea ne della manutenzione, ne delle potenzialità della moto. La usavano come fun bike o moto da bar e basta. In più non ne ho trovata nessuna sopra i 20000km, segno che la gente la usa poco.

Io l'ho presa perché credo che su strada una moto da motard leggera sia la perfezione come divertimento, perché ci metti il 21-18 e ti fai del bell'enduro, perché è leggerissima e reattiva rispetto alle altre moto. Però ci faccio cmq un sacco di km, perché prima della pista e di tutto a me piace viaggiare. L'ho comprata conscio di essere l'unico sulla terra che avrebbe messo un parabrezza, una sella maggiorata o un portapacchi. Non mi sono nemmeno adoperato a cercare queste cose Aftermarket... Magari in italia sarò anche solo, ma "qua" in USA... no!!! E' pieno di questi pazzi furiosi come me. Sono rimasto schoccato e contento. Immagino che per te valga una cosa simile.

Cmq si può provare a fare un forum qua in Italia, ma se si trasforma in qualcosa come l'Husky street club, beh francamente lo chiudo! Bisogna sperare nell'enduro, però di persona qua a Trieste non ho mai visto nemmeno un TE 610 o 630. D'altronde ci sono forum anche per moto molto limitate di taratura o forse c'è tanta gente come noi che aspetta una cosa simile e non si espone. Bisognerebbe dare un impronta decisamente adventure al forum. Forse è un rischio che nemmeno Husqvarna si è voluta assumere.

Ciao Mastro,

sorry for the late reply, I was abroad for business. I've been 5 days in California, and I've seen more Huskyes there in 5 days that in my entire life in Italy. That confirmed my impression; Husky is more known and appreciated there than in Europe.
I'm very sorry to confirm that the after sales support and the feed-backs from Husqvarna motorbikes are nothing...I do agree with you: no way and no reason to open an italian or european forum for husky riders: no interested riders or bike manufacturers (!) are present here; only people who want to push, push and push until the bike will explode...

Concerning the new concept bike, the Baja, it's a little bit better than the Moab, but still not a bike with a reason to be produced....the picture posted by johnjil is more, more interesting; this confirms that everybody could design a bike better that a BMW designer....I'm sure this is a product by germans 'cause otherwise italians had based it on their own frames and engine....
What to say...I do have a good bike in my hands, I can do something to make it lighter and a little bit more comfortable for medium-range trips (I'm wondering how to build an higher capacity carbon fiber tank).
Dakar-style front side are quite interesting for me; I think a lot of people is looking for it..

speak you soon

 

[XLEnduroMan]

I'll take one of these.

I like the looks of this, lots. We can dream.

 

[KLOC]

Some folks are putting together their own pseudo-vintage machines.

 

[organ donor]

Now that Berlusconi´s out of a job, he might be persuaded to advise BMW on the question of Motorrad design

 

[johngil]

 

[RDTCU]

Ooook then...

 

[XLEnduroMan]

Just because MS is smiling on the outside...I wonder what he realy thinks of the bike?

 

[johngil]

Malcolm is always smiling.

That will be a great bike for lots of folks I'm sure.

 

[proeasy]

Malcolm is always smiling.

That will be a great bike for lots of folks I'm sure.

I like it, I think if McQueen had he would have made it into Switzerland

Paul O
TE-630
TE-510