FE/FC KTM has nearly doubled the price of a Husky

[bikesparky]

From a mechanically minded and not very fast off roader my 2 cents.
The Italian engine was a gem, some oil and a spark plug and it's almost indestructible. Suspension OK and all up easy to fix or tune. needed the fueling sorted as we all know and some work on the suspension was a good idea.
Very good back up here in Australia with awesome warranty (needed it twice for the fuel pump) but now a lost child as the old importer lost interest, which is understandable.
Easy to ride and ergonomics worked very well for me.
The Austrian is a racing machine out of the box, fueling is marvelous. Suspension depends on who you ask and how you ride it. Not an expert on that and so far on the 501 it works for me.
Lack of maintenance will result in costly repairs! As long as it is done it'll be all fine and very fast out of the box.
Needs to be ridden while moving around to make it work. All the way to front for turning and to the rear for straight line stability, sounds logic but it needs this more than other bikes.
I personally don't have a problem with the ergonomics.

Is it worth the extra $, not if you can buy the old one cheap and you're not riding competitively probably. Is it better, in my opinion yes!

I am hate love with KTM. I had a 990 superduke and now a 1290. The warranty and quality control issues with the 1290 have been irritating and demanding. KTM's response and customer service has been shocking in some occasions.
(read up on rear wheel wobble on 1290 superdukes, broken rear lights, engine cases leaking... etc.)
Then I ask myself while contemplating life's issues late at night (LOL) what else is there....? Not another Jap bike...
They do make nice bikes, if only they (KTM) would up their customer service and warranty it is all good!
In Australia the back up on the dirt bike side is very good, they worked on the road bike side and improved. Don't know about the US but heard some serious negative stories on the road bike department.

 

[ridemore]

I will ride any bike with 2 wheels and have.... I usually try to be different its just me..... I desert raced a Honda CR125.... Ive raced White huskys, yellow huskys and most likely white ones again..... I dont care that KTM owns Husky the same way I kinda care cagiva or bwm did.... but as they become main stream I will drift to gas gas beta sherco or something.... lol

When it comes down to it, I'm with you. Our #1 passion is two wheels. Even though I have had a hard time getting past the change after change of ownership we have seen. My mentality of being fiercely loyal to a brand makes any changes very "personal". Ridiculous, perhaps. But I always had a passion and pride of ownership before. I think it's natural to resist change. Especially when we liked it they way it was. But I will just have to face the fact that things change and that being passionate about RIDING and not a particular brand is most important. I'm still trying to tell myself this!

Every post here, no matter if I liked it or not, has taught me something. It's good to be loyal, but also good to know when to let go and stop being pissed off about it. Especially when there is little to nothing you can do about it. You will just drive yourself crazy. Which I did to myself.

This should be my last post on this subject because I finally am beginning to understand. In closing, Yes, I know I will end up buying a "NEW" Husky regardless of price, even though I thinks it's too high. Why, because I do think KTM will do great things for Husky. Husky will eventually get their own new personal identity once again and most of all, I am addicted to Husqvarna and there is no cure. I love the Italian Huskys and hope for the best on parts support in the future, but I have to face the fact, that boat has sailed and it's time for me to stop being pissed off and just go ride.

Thanks to everyone for all the comments and I hope I didn't stir the pot too much or anger anyone too much. I Have heard enough good things about the new bike to make up my mind. So, I thank you and as for me, I'm done talking about it, at least for a long while ;-) Be safe and have fun on whatever you ride.

 

[troy deck]

tinken said MY16 Husqvarnas will not be white KTMs but thats all he said

 

[racemx904]

I still believe Husky will always be some sort of a KTM.... just makes since money wise.... but hopefully they have some totally different bikes....

 

[reveille]

More likely a testing platform for future KTM bikes IMHO... Stepchild

 

[rancher1]

Bikesparky, The old Australian importer did not lose interest, rather they were shown the door out.

 

[rancher1]

I don't know if any of the new bikes are worth what they ask for them?

For what it's worth - I bought my new FC250 for about $1000 less (OTD) then the Yamaha YZ250fx that I was originally wanting to buy...

You do know you can always find smokin deals on left over motocross models, especially European ones.

 

[mnb]

The old huskies were underpriced and they were loosing money giving them away. The 7-10K is standard for bikes these days.

Not for KTMs, they're 10-13k

 

[Huskynoobee]

Thanks to everyone for all the comments and I hope I didn't stir the pot too much or anger anyone too much. I Have heard enough good things about the new bike to make up my mind. So, I thank you and as for me, I'm done talking about it, at least for a long while ;-) Be safe and have fun on whatever you ride.

Every good machine needs a good spark plug. Sometimes the horse needs to be checked in case it's just in a coma vs. actual brain death. I for one think that with 2 years of KTM Husky's and nothing more than rumors about the future of the brand it's healthy to bring the discussion up for a refresher.

 

[Johnrg]

LOL Husqvarna is tracking Specialized http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/epic/sworks-epic-29

Both companies know their demographics and it's sad. Sad that it's all about getting the cash before we die. I don't see the youth buying the bikes. Maybe the parents or maybe the sponsors but this is hardly a sport that wants to be inclusive. When we are too old and feeble, what will they be charging? 15k, 16k? Crazy and not sustainable especially when the company makes components as cheap as they can and the big bucks go into the CEOs pocket with the rest covering marketing. Bad forks, overheating, not a good starter. Don't care if you paid more as your gonna pay more next year. Suck it up

Some of us can afford the bikes and will buy them but I have to root for the underdog company that will build under that high price point and field a good competitive bike. Americans like competition right? We don't like monopoly right? Well, maybe time for a company like Polaris to develop or buy and sell an American dirt bike. Call it Indian maybe (license some engines). What does a 4 wheel Razr cost... Less than that Specialized

 

[racemx904]

I like how everybody seems to think there is a ton of margin in m/c's.....

 

[Johnrg]

I paid my dealer margin, like full MSRP, so I paid off my dealer and then bought $740 dollars of accessories. Even then was less expensive than the KTM. So really comes down to different issues. Running a motorcycle shop and setting goals as a manufacturer. Who knows what the bikes real costs are but as customers we have every right to notice and wonder how and why a price is all of a sudden 2k more. I did try and point out how Specialized with a whole lot less engineering can market a bicycle at motorcycle prices. Floors me but they do and much is to do with shipping, packaging, marketing, etc... All those sponsorships and magazine ads add up as well. So I can see margins being squeezed as the manufacturers need that coverage/eyeballs and a top crew of racers... Then the bikes can sell.

 

[flyingbob]

I like how everybody seems to think there is a ton of margin in m/c's.....

That's a fairly large assumption.

 

[letitsnow]

You do know you can always find smokin deals on left over motocross models, especially European ones.

Yes. When I bought my FC250, the same dealer had several left over '14 YZ250f's that they were willing to sell for the same price as the FC250.

 

[racemx904]

What bike went up $2000 all of a sudden? If your talking red to white husky that's because very few red huskys sold for retail... most had to be highly discounted and the dealer taking a hit on it.... the margin on new bikes is sad... sherco is $900 then dealer has to pay $475 delivery and $250 set up... ok so if the dealer gets full pop and charges the extra $725 plus tax.... u pay over 10 grand and he makes 9% and hopefully he sold it the first day so he didn't have 9600 sitting on the floor for months.. husky and ktm are more but not much.... so help that dealer out and buy your accessories for your bike with them...

 

[Johnrg]

Not that complicated and the point is valid. Read what I wrote... MSRP. the KTM was I believe 10k or real close and the Husky 8K+ in late 12. So the consumer loses that 1500-2k price point is the point. Has value been added? Maybe. Has choice been added? Maybe. Are there holes in pricing for competing companies to fill? You bet!

 

[rancher1]

I hope that companies like AJP can grab a share of the US market and open the eyes of the KTMs of the world and start offering reasonable perfromance for a reasonable price. Of course the consumer probably needs to educated that they really do not need 50HP and a bunch of other crap and they are probably faster on something they can actually control and use more of the machines potential.

 

[racemx904]

I would ride a AJP and might look into being a dealer....

ya its about $1500.... for some obviously its not worth the extra... but to be honest the WR300 was an outdated machine... hey still one of my favorite but it needed some serious love....

for $1500 hopefully the parts supply will be better along with the brand staying around.

 

[robertaccio]

title response welcome to a profitable company and its profit margin prices. and this company is still in business the other was hurting, then sold off then completely disappeared.

 

[rancher1]

title response welcome to a profitable company and its profit margin prices. and this company is still in business the other was hurting, then sold off then completely disappeared.

Rob, are you talking about Husaberg ?