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

[flyingbob]

The guy could be in for the time of his life. Sitting on top, challenging both companies to their very best. Giving them the resources and enjoying the show. All the while kicking dirt in the Japanese faces!

 

[Coffee]

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.

Your side discussion, could you start a new thread or start a Conversation/PM?

 

[Grandia]

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

Makes sense to me, given Pierer's explanation. As mentioned before, new TE449/511 have already seen a significant price drop in Europe recently.

 

[silver_fox]

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!

That's the best news I've heard about Husky in a long time!

 

[SHY UK]

"... example is, Volkswagen and Audi. They are not in the same space, Audi is one step above Volkswagen." Rajiv Bajaj
I don't believe there exist any practical or mechanical differences between like for like VW and Audi machines, I believe the same is true for the relationship between Husaberg and KTM.
The European Commission should be considering whether Husqvarna's independence can really be assured, it should also be considering where the funding for the purchase is coming from.

 

[Kartwheel68]

I've been waiting for this from the Vintage Forum. I still own and ride my Swedish Huskys, so I get a response.... That's pure BS. Cagiva improved the breed and won more than 2/3rds of Husky's World Championships. When Husky had it's 100th Anniversary of Motorcycle Production... Husqvarna AB and Cagiva celebrated together in Sweden. You want to hold a grudge... Tell the wife to throw out all her Electrolux appliances, as they decided that Motorcycles didn't fit their product line.

Thats fine, you are entitled to think its BS. I dont hold any grudges, A grudge would imply I care about Cagiva, which I dont. The fact remains, *I* dont care what happens to Cagiva.

 

[Kartwheel68]

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?

KTM probably sold more 350s than Husqagiva sold total bikes (10k). That by definition is a niche manufacturer.

 

[Coffee]

Why don't we welcome Stefan Pierer on board. We should be welcoming his acquisition.

Think we would gain more ground with some positive imput to get the brand back.

How about we create a new index on front page of Cafe Husky? Pierre AG/HVA?

Then have sections that we can place ideas in to request things/ideas to build the brands:

2 stroke ( minis, 200, DI, electric start, map switches, etc....) just ideas.

4 stroke

Dual sport

Supermoto

Racing

Accessories

Contingency

Just some thoughts.

I saw your request...

Thing is Stefan Pierer bought Husqvarna - all of it. There already is a place for all of those things: http://www.cafehusky.com/forums/husqvarna-motorcycles-corporation.51/

Feel free to start a thread welcoming him.

 

[Husky Relic]

Dear Everyone,

I think everyone should take a deep breath and think of only positive outcomes. This could be a very good thing for the Husqvarna brand. BMW was not in a position to sustain the mounting losses and did the marque a great service by selling it to someone who really knows and understands how to build great offroad motorcycles. Pierer as much as stated that with BMW that Husqvarna had lost its way. Now its time to get back to the roots. Without this move BMW would have closed it down at some point as their losses started to approach almost $1Billion, yes with a "B". Everything will work out. My only hope is that the US team in Corona is not affected by this and that they continue on with the brand. Kris Odwarka and the team were really starting to get somewhere. I hope this does not impact them. In any case, Husky has life and a chance to really become itself again. This is a very good moment in the history of the company. Mr. Pierer doesn't suffer long for fools. He will whip the brand into shape. Wait and see!!

Scot Harden

 

[Coffee]

Thank you very much for posting Scot, much appreciated. I fully realize how busy of a person you are.

Dean

 

[boisedave]

Thanks Scot. One thing puzzles me is that the new boss said Husky is going to its "roots" and mentioned SM and MX. SM I get, but MX puzzles me. What about off-road? I am a bit confused here.

I do agree though that this is a good thing. I just hate waiting though!

 

[oregonsage]

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/asp/museum/exhibits/mx/people.asp?id=383​

​

Heikki Mikkola, the “Flyin’ Finn” was one of the most popular and feared motocross racers of the 1970s. During his illustrious career, Mikkola collected four World Grand Prix Motocross Championship titles.​

​

............​

Husqvarna asked Mikkola to return to the Grand Prix 500cc class in 1974, and he eagerly accepted. After a season-long battle with Roger DeCoster, Mikkola won the World Grand Prix 500cc Championship.​

​

And I might add, Bengt Aberg, Brad Lackey, Chuck Sun....all Husqvarna MX racers

 

[boisedave]

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/asp/museum/exhibits/mx/people.asp?id=383​

​

Heikki Mikkola, the “Flyin’ Finn” was one of the most popular and feared motocross racers of the 1970s. During his illustrious career, Mikkola collected four World Grand Prix Motocross Championship titles.​

​

............​

Husqvarna asked Mikkola to return to the Grand Prix 500cc class in 1974, and he eagerly accepted. After a season-long battle with Roger DeCoster, Mikkola won the World Grand Prix 500cc Championship.​

​

And I might add, Bengt Aberg, Brad Lackey, Chuck Sun....all Husqvarna MX racers

True enough... I grew up in the 80's so I remember TC, Scot, Mike Melton, Ed Lojak, Dan A. and Dan S., Dick Burleson etc.. That's what Husky means to me...

I also realize that the off-road dominance of US racing in the 80's might not be what the CEO is referring to. I, selfishly, would love to see the days when Husky dominates off-road. That was what I was hoping anyway. In the end, its too early to tell, but I still think this is an excellent development.

 

[MattR]

Nieuwsmotor: How do you integrate Husqvarna and KTM?
Stefan Pierer: “The brands will remain self sufficient in terms of brand perception, models and sales networks, but as I mentioned earlier, there will be a lot of behind the scenes cooperation in the field of R&D, purchasing, components and more. We’re not sure if production will remain in Varese, Italy or move to Mattinghofen, Austria.”
“Initially, Husqvarna was bought by my private company, Pierer Industry, but in the future this may change and possibly involve our Indian partner Bajaj.”

To me, these tidbits move Husky closer to a KTM-like design and manufacturing.

 

[oregonsage]

I grew up in the 80's so I remember TC, Scot, Mike Melton, Ed Lojak, Dan A. and Dan S., Dick Burleson etc.. That's what Husky means to

Dang kids....

Well at least they still had air cooling in the 80s...nothing sounds quite like the hum emanating from a set of Maico fins.

 

[ray_ray]

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!

This is what I'm expecting from SP ... Maybe a showing first in EU in the MX stuff ... Then maybe the USA ...

Current bikes are sitting right there as proven with the current crop of EU enduro riders ... Currrent MX 250 bike is a top 5 machine in EU with a top rider and team support ..

---
Not sure what will develop an appropriate motorcycle with the specifications and character that belongs to a Husqvarna. means but I'm OK with it.

---

This is a racing company president ...Get ready for a glorious ride to podiums across the world's stage ...

 

[ray_ray]

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.

Husqvarna dominated SM racing in EU for the last decade almost, before and after the last owner was in charge, AND in the last yr of racing, the 449 bike was a world champion ...



I'm happy to say, SP is an APS (Atomic pumkin Smasher) ... (In the business sense of the word)

And I like how he keeps pointing at the japan bikes saying he'll take market share ... Yea baby, the Husqarna ship has come in with SP as the captain ...


PS -- Its OK to forget about the previous owners ..SP has got them under control I'd guess and is gonna quickly more away from whatever that saga was about ...

 

[fran...k.]

From all of this it doesn't look like anything with a husky logo is going to be stepping into zero electric rechargable territory.

No for all this root business and a 100 year plus old company best I can come up with is sassafrass which sends out latteral roots and pops up new trees. Or willow that can make new tres from a piece of branch or trunk.

fran

 

[Norman Foley]

Thats fine, you are entitled to think its BS. I dont hold any grudges, A grudge would imply I care about Cagiva, which I dont. The fact remains, *I* dont care what happens to Cagiva.

It bugged you enough to post your first post..... Enjoy those Swedish Huskys, I sure do.

 

[Huskynoobee]

Wow, this thread must have broken some sort of #of posts in the shortest period record! It deserves it's own trophy!