• Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

    When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.

    Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.

    Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.

    Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.

    Thanks for your patience and support!

Open letter to Husqvarna NA

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Huskynoobee

Huskynoobee

CH Sponsor ZipTy Racing
Staff member
I know it's probably a waste but thought I would share some thoughts with our friends in Corona as they surely have some way to relay them to Mr Pierer.

Feel free to add your name.


Dear Husky NA.

Be careful what you wish for. We are a tight knit group of enthusiasts that care deeply for the future of the Husqvarna brand. Perhaps you wrongly assumed that the few owners who were cherry picked for your survey would quietly and dare I say secretly fill it out.

It should not surprise you that it was shared amongst the many owners who were not invited. Perhaps your consultants, focus groups should indeed be expanded to include more actual owners.

In fact I think it's high time you guys put an end to the endless rumors and conjecture being generated by the recent sale of the company by giving us some facts. While it is somewhat comforting to know that you are seeking input from a few, the many are patiently waiting for you to share details.

I'm quite sure that like many big business icons, Mr Pierer is surely enjoying all this free attention, press, and stroking of his ego. In the meantime, his customer base which comes along with his new toy is tired of spinning in the breeze as dealers and insiders can't even help to make any sense of what is to come of current and future models.

Frankly you owe it to us, YOUR CUSTOMERS, to start talking, and the sooner the better. Thousands of future sales could be in the balance, that is of course, if you care.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Howard
Husqvarna Owner
 
Not trying to fan the flames or anything, but if they did not care enough about your opinion to send you a survey, do you think they are going to care about a rant posted on an internet website?

Seriously though, I imagine the sample for the survey was chosen based on geography and stratified by model and likely consisted of customers who had purchased within a defined time frame. I doubt anyone at Husqvarna NA said "hey, make sure we don't send one to Jeremy Howard."
 
I am wondering where my survey is as well? I've bought 2 new Huskys in the past 5 years(4 in total) and lots of parts as well and did not receive any survey. I should state all of these purchases were made while putting myself through university. I now have a well paying career and will likely buy 1-2 new motorcycles every year or two. The way things are headed, I am growing less and less likely to purchase a Husqvarna. Husqvarna is a brand I continue to love, but that love is fading...
 
surfer1100 said:
The way things are headed, I am growing less and less likely to purchase a Husqvarna.
Click to expand...

Why? Did KTM send you a survey?

If any of the bikes you bought were within the last year, I'm willing to bet the reason you didn't get a Husqvarna NA survey is because your dealer didn't bother to mail in the registration card with your e-mail on it after your purchase. If you have not bought a bike within the last year, that also would likely explain why you did not get a survey.
 
Mike-AK said:
Not trying to fan the flames or anything, but if they did not care enough about your opinion to send you a survey, do you think they are going to care about a rant posted on an internet website?

Seriously though, I imagine the sample for the survey was chosen based on geography and stratified by model and likely consisted of customers who had purchased within a defined time frame. I doubt anyone at Husqvarna NA said "hey, make sure we don't send one to Jeremy Howard."
Click to expand...


I'm not butt hurt about it, rather I thought it was interesting that they got am overwhelming response from a bunch of people who did not get the survey. Dude I work in the same building with a bunch of suits who could care less what the employees who keep them in a 6 figure salary.

These types usually surround themselves with ” yes” people who will gladly stroke their egos all day long.
 
Mike-AK said:
Why? Did KTM send you a survey?

If any of the bikes you bought were within the last year, I'm willing to bet the reason you didn't get a Husqvarna NA survey is because your dealer didn't bother to mail in the registration card with your e-mail on it after your purchase. If you have not bought a bike within the last year, that also would likely explain why you did not get a survey.
Click to expand...

Last new bike I bought was within 2 years. Yes, I realize the possible reasons for no survey, but I do still receive mailers from HNA and the Ride More Journals.

I am likely to move on if they ditch the Italian factory and designers. Biggest reason I bought Husqvarna in the first place was for the Italian style and performance. Without the Italian connection that has been present for the past 25 years,I'll move on to another Italian brand. I will not ride a bike built by the company whose patrons(99% of them) have given me nothing but grief out on the trail (Read as calling Husky a POS, etc, FYI most Jap riders have showed me the same courtesies). Currently on a TM and was about to purchase another CR125 and a TC 250. Still want to, but wish I had purchased prior to this buyout. I have no desire to compensate a company who is set on killing the Italian connection that I and so many of us have grown so fond of.
 
My response would be "Yes, the same POS that is currently dominating National Enduro and GNCC."
 
It could be like and audit! Who knows. With what the BMW idiots were doing could of been used to start a fire. I would not sweat it. If SP has a brain. And he obviously does he knows these two brands will have to stay distinctly separate of one another. At this point no panic. Lets see what happens down the road!!!
 
Well said Fletch. We're all in "wait and see" mode pretty much. I'm thinking the new head cheese is going into this with good intentions.
That's what I'm hoping anyway. Hope we get some news soon. I think he should become a member of this forum and address us directly.....:applause:
 
The people at Husky most likely have no idea what is going to happen yet. KTM bought it and is now probably going through manufacturing, parts, distribution etc etc to see where they can find synergies to help boost margins. All of it takes a while and we want them to implement a good strategy that will keep the brand going and profitable for them. KTM has been very good at marketing and I do not think they will waste an opportunity to push product once they have figured it out.
 
If I cared who owned Husky, I would have quit liking them when they got sold to the Italians back in the '80s. I didn't. I still like the old Swedish bikes, and my Huscagiva TE310 is a great bike, but I'll bet the Austrian ones are going to be nice also.
 
How many Italians does it take to create an Italian Husqvarna? 80. Eighty people couldn't even come up with the current 310R, they had to run to BMW engineers to add larger valves and flow tech the head. 80 engineers couldn't fix the current starter issues. 80 engineers couldn't add a silly breather vent to a valve cover to save hundreds of race titles. If I was Mr. Pierer, I'd be upset too. This is why they will be changing out the current designers. I wish I had 80 engineers, I'd be manufacturing the most bad-ass 2 strokes on the planet.
 
Tinken said:
How many Italians does it take to create an Italian Husqvarna? 80. Eighty people couldn't even come up with the current 310R, they had to run to BMW engineers to add larger valves and flow tech the head. 80 engineers couldn't fix the current starter issues. 80 engineers couldn't add a silly breather vent to a valve cover to save hundreds of race titles. If I was Mr. Pierer, I'd be upset too. This is why they will be changing out the current designers. I wish I had 80 engineers, I'd be manufacturing the most bad-ass 2 strokes on the planet.
Click to expand...

Yeah great group of idiots. Must say just a couple of my favorite things about my 08 are the reliable and user friendly EFI system and clutch slave cylinder/piston:lol: Sad part is they probably went to some of the best schools and graduated with honors.:excuseme:
 
Tinken said:
How many Italians does it take to create an Italian Husqvarna? 80. Eighty people couldn't even come up with the current 310R, they had to run to BMW engineers to add larger valves and flow tech the head. 80 engineers couldn't fix the current starter issues. 80 engineers couldn't add a silly breather vent to a valve cover to save hundreds of race titles. If I was Mr. Pierer, I'd be upset too. This is why they will be changing out the current designers. I wish I had 80 engineers, I'd be manufacturing the most bad-ass 2 strokes on the planet.
Click to expand...


You Have Mr Ty himself What else do you need You know the same guy who help make the 450/510 run only to have it replaced by the 449/511 Then after he made that bike work and the Zip Ty Riders were the only riders in the world who tryied to race it at the pro lever ,he was fired Never tell a BMW company they do not know what they are doing .Also the same guy who work on the Wr 300 to help it win the 2 stroke Nationals Yes Pro circuit got credit for that motor in the magazines but really who worked on and installed and tuned that bike
Bottom line BMW had money like a rich kid but knew NOTHING about DIRT BIKES BMW wanted to build fu fu bikes with steel suit cases on the side aka Adventure bikes Husky is a Dirt Bike Race company who is now owned by a Dirt Bike Race Company Say what you want about KTM they have a marking plan,and a race plan that seems to work I still beleive my current Husky 2 strokes are better then a KTM
The Italians might have a passion to built race bikes BUT they were owned buy a company who did not share the same passion and that company took husky down the wrong road Now KTM a race bike company ownes Husky.Lets hope where ever the new Husky is built the BOSS in charge will show a passion to built a race bike
Enough said I am going ridding
 
I bet Adam would loan you the old 2005 YZ250 ZipTy race bike for some Frankenstein ZipTy mods. He bought the bike from ZipTy then eventually sold it to Todd who sold it to me who sold it back to Adam just before he left for Afganistan. He's back and riding it a lot - but I'll loan him my old bike while you work on his. ;)
 
The reality of it all is Husky doesn't own Husky anymore. They've got maybe, 6 original employees left at Husky NA. KTM is beginning to realign and structure Husky the way it needs to to try to make it a successful company. You'll have to stand by and be patient.

BTW...it's just a silly little survey.
 
Lets get one thing straight. Yes a KTM motorcycle costs more then a Husky. Is it a better motorcycle. A matter of opinion. It costs more and will use and wear out more parts for sure then a Husqvarna and in my opinion is not as good of a motorcycle as a Husky. And no more then likely just because a Husky dealer sells Husky or a KTM dealer has Ktm does that mean they will be forced to sell both. No it is not a simple fact. If you have ridden bikes for a long time and checked out both brands you may find that the Husky was already a better deal and a better engineered product then the orange crush that everyone is so brainwashed. Had Husqvarna had a proper game plan a long time ago the fact is this would probably be in reverse of what is happening. BMW messed this up and down the road we will probably find out more. You are right about one thing. It is a good time to buy a high end piece of Italian machinery! Husky has had there trouble over the years. Yes. But they were progressing and have very good product available. Sadly somehow and for some reason it didn't work out...........................
 
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