KTM/Husqvarna... now how will this play out?

[dartyppyt]

Japan Var Tillbaka!

Or is it Japan sind wir zuruk!

 

[krieg]

I'm glad I bought a Harley.

 

[Coffee]

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2013/02/stefan-pierer-on-purchasing-husqvarna/


Nieuwsmotor: Why Husqvarna when, with Husaberg, you already have a similar marque?
Stefan Pierer: “We think that with Husqvarna, there’s a specific niche to tackle. With this brand, we want to focus on competing with Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. We’d like to move the brand to selling 10,000 units per year, then continue watching. For that, Husqvarna needs to go back to it’s roots, it’s strayed too far.”
“The brand has a wonderful history, but a completely wrong model lineup and is on completely the wrong track. The dealer network was not ready to sell two-cylinder street models.”
“We will work with Husqvarna to go back to its origins. We’ll soon be back in motocross and then in supermoto, both sports in which Husqvarna previously dominated. Within the next year, we will make an appropriate motorcycle developed with the specifications and character Husqvarna needs.”

Here is my current theory:
Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki: Seem to be in the $7k-$8.5k as per their US websites
KTM, and presumably Husaberg & Beta: Seem to be in the $8.5-$10k range

Husqvarna seems like a good fit if they want lower price set of bikes to sell, which would obviously impact future designs.

Currently Husqvarna msrp is between $7k-$9k, or $8.4k-$9k if you do not include the TR650's

 

[Coffee]

There will be no issues with parts. Guaranteed, the new owners bought the entire inventory of parts in Husqvarna's warehouses. Most parts are sourced from outside vendors so KTM will have no issues calling up a supplier and buying more Husqvarna spec parts.

There is no question that BMW will not be supplying any of their proprietory engines to the new owners of Husq once the deal closes....

Both of those statements are diametrically opposed, unless Kymco can supply the Husqvarna speced engines & parts.

 

[mnb]

The new owner will be responsible for the service of the sold Husqvarna's. At the moment he takes over the brand will immediately cease all involvement of BMW, which also applies to supply engines and parts for current models. All "expat" employees from Germany at BMW are still on the payroll and will therefore return to BMW. The employees of Husqvarna'll just stay in service.

That is not a quote from BMW. That's website speculation. "Husqvarna'll just stay in service?"

Either way, BMW will no longer supply parts. That is obvious. Pierer Industries will. And BMW will have supplied them with the parts as part of the deal because it's legally required.

Don't panic over this stuff. Don't expect a flood of parts available 10 years from now for some models, but in the reasonable term, parts will be available.

But then, it's not like my TE310 has needed anythign beyond an oil filter so far...


I'm... cautiously optimistic about the changes. It has the potential to be great. At least it's not an obvious bummer, so I'll take that and be happy with it for now.

 

[glangston]

Both of those statements are diametrically opposed, unless Kymco can supply the Husqvarna speced engines & parts.

He may be speculating that the engines will not be put in new models....

 

[mnb]

Notice that Pierer doesn't mention Honda? Just Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki? Interesting.

So it sounds like he's not resigning... Bummer. I thought that seemed too good to be true. He seems to see value for the brand, so it doesn't appear they're going to rape them for the good parts and junk the rest, mothballing the brandname. I remain cautiously optimistic...

 

[Farmer John]

What I find interesting is how fast Pierer expects to have new models out.

 

[oregonsage]

What I find interesting is how fast Pierer expects to have new models out.

I guess we span the KTM range to see what fits...however a new 450 was already known to be on the way from Husky, so that may be what he is speaking of.

 

[Lime]

Stefan Pierer is talking about taking back Husqvarna to the race scene in MX and supermoto, places where KTM already rules. And he is talking about Husqvarna as a niche marke. Husaberg was a niche marke, Husqvarna is not.

Can anyone explain what he is talking about?

I think 2013 is going to be the last year for Husaberg and Husqvarna will be KTM:s test platform for the future. I don’t believe that they will be just rebadged KTM:s but they will share much DNA. Howe much? Time will tell. And remember where you read it first!

Personally I am going to keep my WR 125 for 2 more seasons, then it will have about 150-200 hours on the clock and I know I am going to feel it is time for a upgrade. If Husqvarna exist as a separate mark and not rebadged KTM:s, then I am going to stay loyal to Husqvarna. If they just are rebadged KTM:s I am going to buy the a standard KTM bike. I really REALLY hate “badge engineering”!

 

[Coffee]

There will be no issues with parts. Guaranteed, the new owners bought the entire inventory of parts in Husqvarna's warehouses. Most parts are sourced from outside vendors so KTM will have no issues calling up a supplier and buying more Husqvarna spec parts.

There is no question that BMW will not be supplying any of their proprietory engines to the new owners of Husq once the deal closes. No more 650s or 449s is what I read. I am really interested in how they are going to handle the service/parts issues for the Terra and Strada. It takes a BMW tool to do anything with the bike. I can see the new Husqvarna saying take your Terra to your local BMW dealer for warranty work once the deal closes. Kind of like taking your Saab to a GM dealer for warranty work.

Coffee your the man!Taken care of the members.

I did some poking around, and parts will be available for the 650s and other bikes that were 'BMWd'. I would assume the MOSS and warranty issues would fall into the same category.

 

[SHY UK]

To play along a bit more....
http://www.audi.co.uk/

http://www.audi.com

http://www.vw.com

In the US the 'lowest' Audi model is the A3 with 2.0 DSI engine (we consider the diesel an'upgrade', in the UK there are several models and equipment levels 'below' that and most of those overlap with VW models. The US also starts with a 2.5 Golf and tops out with the Passat (our own version) or the R32 if you go the sporting route. Aint nothing in our VW range that competes with an R8 or A8 or even A6.

We could spend all day talking about the definition of 'higher' 'better' etc, but it definitely isn't a caste system that one is born into and cannot escape.

So, where is the diesel Bentley?!

 

[Kyle Tarry]

Both of those statements are diametrically opposed, unless Kymco can supply the Husqvarna speced engines & parts.

Nope, they're not. BMW will not provide their R&D/technology/engines for use in future motorcycles from Husqvarna; and why should they?

However, whether or not parts for those engines already existing will be available is a completely different story. Whoever is currently making the engine parts for BMW is, presumably, going to continue to make those parts for Husqvarna.

I wonder how many more of the BMW/Kymco/Rotax/whatever engines will be put into Huskies. Obviously there are engines in various stages of manufacturing and assembly in various places in the world, engines that have already been ordered. I assume that these orders will be fulfilled, and perhaps then some. Again, it's not like the assembly line that cranks out 449s and 511s is going to go dark at midnight tonight, with a fully assembled bike sitting inside the door, and shelves full of enough parts to build 100 more. That factory will keep running, and probably is now owned by Pierer, along with all of the parts therein.

 

[Coffee]

He may be speculating that the engines will not be put in new models....

Understood, but as a new 650 owner you may understand that my primary concern would be parts availability.

Personally, it would seem to make sense to build the 650's at least 1 more year, because it is selling so well.

 

[Kyle Tarry]

"... example is, Volkswagen and Audi. They are not in the same space, Audi is one step above Volkswagen." Rajiv Bajaj
Clearly not - VW own Audi.

Dude, what the heck is your point? Are you trying to say that Audi doesn't play in a higher "market space" than VW, because they are owned by VW?

Audi DEFINITELY plays in a higher market space than VW. Period. Same with Lexus and Toyota. Yes, the "lesser" brands in both cases have some "higher end" vehicles; that doesn't make the statement, as a whole, untrue. In general, on average, Audi competes in a higher market than VW. PERIOD! This is a fact!

Tata (India) owns Land Rover; are you going to argue that because of this, Land Rover isn't a premium product, compared to the world's cheapest car?

Why don't you try summarizing what you are trying to say, instead of just posting nebulous little quips.

 

[flyingbob]

Dude, what the heck is your point? Are you trying to say that Audi doesn't play in a higher "market space" than VW, because they are owned by VW?

Audi DEFINITELY plays in a higher market space than VW. Period. Same with Lexus and Toyota. Yes, the "lesser" brands in both cases have some "higher end" vehicles; that doesn't make the statement, as a whole, untrue. In general, on average, Audi competes in a higher market than VW. PERIOD! This is a fact!

Tata (India) owns Land Rover; are you going to argue that because of this, Land Rover isn't a premium product, compared to the world's cheapest car?

Why don't you try summarizing what you are trying to say, instead of just posting nebulous little quips.

How about taking it outside?

 

[Coffee]

...Whoever is currently making the engine parts for BMW is, presumably, going to continue to make those parts for Husqvarna.

Correct. Not sure it means anything else, it makes no sense to simply stop assembling them in mid-stream and send the workers home.

I cannot think of any reason those supply contracts could not continue for a while.

 

[flyingbob]

Sure would be nice to watch a Husqvarna out front on TV!

Stefan Pierer: "We think that with Husqvarna we can be active in another niche and take more of the market especially from the Japanese brands. We will with this brand's products focus primarily on brands such as Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. We would like the niche brand to go to a sale of 10,000 units per year and then go on from there. For that Husqvarna must go back to his roots, it was much too far astray. The brand has a wonderful history but because of a wrong model policy it was completely on the wrong track. it was in terms of dealer network not ready to sell two cylinders for the street. We will work with Husqvarna go back to its origins. We will therefore soon be back in motocross and then in supermoto, both sports which Husqvarna previously been dominant. Within the next year we will develop an appropriate motorcycle with the specifications and character that belongs to a Husqvarna. "

Hell YES!

 

[flyingbob]

Ajaxauto, I think you got your wish.

 

[ghte]

I have already posted (last night Sydney time ) and have thought about the following:
In the last few years KTM have served up a lot of revised models and new ones including the free rider and the 350.
On paper they are well designed and should be brilliant bikes. However the execution of these bikes especially since they dropped that wonderful long stroke 450 motor in 2006/07 for a revised SXC racing motor, the deliver has been pretty appauling.
They suffer from a multitude of problems around crank seals, front sprocket seals, still have the head shake, the 2T's have massive issues with their starter motors (sprag) spinning but not engaging.
I recently rode the new 500, apart from the ergs not suiting me it was an incredibly rough and vibey experience. It was very powerful but not an enjoyable ride. On ST I would have the bejesus belted out of me inside an hour.
I understand their issues stem from costs associated around the Duke, the add on costs required staff redeployment which caused a severe drop in reliabilty/ Quality. The Duke and its budget blow out saw equity arrive from India. I think this is the route of their issues.
As previously stated I love the concept of their 690 (always was better than our 630 but way more expensive) the 950 SE and the 2 and soon to be 3 adventures being the 950, 990 and the 1200. That said the fuelling on the FI 990 is pretty poor at low speed and has not been properly fixed since they arrived back in 06, just slightly improved each model but still below par. The cost and frequency of service is too regular, workshop hours are expensive and taking off the cowlings on these beasts adds a lot of billable time.
To be frank their SXC models are better than the TC's, however this superiority has not transalted to the EXC's. The later ones are just not as good as ours. Next time you get a chance ride an EXC, they feel loose and soft, the ergs encouage sitting rather than standing. Factor in the reliability issues one must ask what value add is the KTM acquisition for Husqvarna. I feel sorry for Husky, it has been a corporate pawn and yet has maintained a decent product. Take for example the 449 and 511, by rights it should be a dog, the BMW 450 was horrid, (I have ridden one on many occasion) it felt like the previos model Bergs in that it seemed butt high front end low and did not feel right, especially in the tight. Husky gets the motor and improves it, comes out with a brilliant fix for the rear swing arm/sprocket, The Ergs are vastly superior and what about the concept of the linkage on top-brilliant.
I still laugh when I do work on my 09 and 10 TE 310's. The clutch case has MV Augusta stamped on it and behind the strater motor is stamped Ducati. So apart from being a parts bin bike they are none the less bullet proof in comparison. I have stated on may occasions in this forum that my 05 511, 06 450. 08 450 and my 2 310's have never had a mechanical. I keep these bikes for 4 to 5000 Kms and sell. In this time they are servied to schedule and a tad overservied re oil change and greasing up swing arms etc. I am just blown away at how bullet proof they are. Oh, by the way I have had one flat and one battery die in that time and never had a bearing replaced. What say you to that Mr KTM Muckergee