They build great dual sports that are low maintenance, get great fuel mileage, and priced well. They aren't race bikes with a plate but that isn't what a dual sport should be. They are care free, ride as much as you want bikes.
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Will a DS be important for the new KTM based huskys?
- Thread starter Motosportz
- Start date
WTF? 2 polls in many years does not sound like I am over doing it just trying to get a feel for the customers of the new huskys. Taking part in the thread is completely voluntary. Sorry if i somehow offended.
reveille
Husqvarna
Pro Class
+1 Like the DR650 or DRZ400. Both are freaking porky pigs but are good for actual dual sporting.
Yes there are 2 kinds of "dualsports" One is actually a DS like the DRZ and one is a plated race bike. Both have uses and fill needs.
ScottyR
Husqvarna
AA Class
I have it on good authority that the 501 will be street legal in MY15 but thats the only model that will be. I have a friend who worked for KTM and he says that KTM actually makes about half the profit on the street legal EXCs as they do on XCWs by the time that the extra expense of homologation and obligations that come with selling street legal bikes.
One way to offset that expense is to sell more plated bikes; trimming the models and selling under both brands could help bring the per unit cost down. And if I were only going to do 1 model then the big boy would be the one...more streetable than the smaller models.....add in a street legal SM version and you might get the volume to a economical level. The 690s and 990s are by definition streetable, so they could solve the problem by giving Husky a variation on one or both of those instead/in-addition.
ptkatoomer
Husqvarna
Pro Class
California + off-road riding = dual-sport. Here it's definitely a BIG asset having that plate. Especially if you don't have a lot of time to plan/spend just getting to a place you can ride
Well you make zero profit on bikes you don't sell. And guess what, they make a bunch more money when you start buying things to convert it back to a good running bike but still with a plate as well as all the doodads they sell from the massive aftermarket hard parts catalog.
But a lot of their sales come from cruisers, sport bikes and touring machines, also watercraft.
Yep almost all of it. Honda, suzuki also build cars and Kawasaki and yamaha build gobs of other stuff from trains to pianos. Dirtbikes are probably almost more effort than they are worth for companies like Honda where the overall profit from those much be tiny in the big picture.
Rockchucker22
Husqvarna
A Class
At least in kalifornia we need viable DS bikes. Unfortunately it very tough to legally get a non plated bike plated. Where I live there is thousands of miles of dirt roads that connect lots of fun trails. Technicaly you must be plated on certain forest service roads,and some of BLM roads, many riders get tickets. I know it's ridiculous but I for one love out of the box DS, provides a whole world of worry free riding.
Johnnytruetorch
Husqvarna
C Class
I kept looking to see if the new bikes had a DS Bummed to see it didnt make it to production. I hope it happens in 2015
To be fair you forgot about the riding in bad weather poll. Just giving you a little static.
"Taking part in the thread is completely voluntary"
duggoey
Husqvarna
Pro Class
I was only joking :P
JonDirt
Husqvarna
AA Class
Agreed. And Husqvarna used to make a rocking DS. I hope they don't forget that segment.
Boogie
Husqvarna
Pro Class
Lucky you can blame your misunderstood sense of humour on our convict past.
.gov.au says so... Lol
http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-humour
ghte
Husqvarna
Pro Class
I believe that Husky got it right with the 610 (for that time) the 630 was a plus and minus improvement. It was heavier, however both are not low maintenance machines. The 650 was imho not a real DS in the vein of the 610/630. The Japanese offerings are dated, heavy and uninspiring albeit they go forever. KTM's 690 is the best of the bunch and as Duggoey said, slight improvements to the stock seat, slighlty softer suspension and stock carry racks and it is exactly what Husky should produce.