51% controlling owner of KTM (Pierer Industries AG) buying Husqvarna.

[Clutch]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/N...ary/jan2913-husqvarna-for-sale/_/R-EPI-139228


From another source.

“It’s not KTM that is buying Husqvarna, but KTM’s CEO and part-owner Stefan Pierer. He bought it with his ‘other’ company Pierer Industries AG. This is not connected to Cross AG, the owner company in which both Pierer and Bajaj hold shares. The next six months will be spent looking how Husqvarna can cooperate with KTM but a new model is already promised to revealed at the 2013 EICMA in november.”

I think this is good news for Husky, seems like BMW was running it into the ground.

 

[NothingClever]

This is fantastic news.

 

[Stumpalump]

It's a signed deal now. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...bmws-husqvarna-brand/articleshow/18276284.cms

 

[Stroverlander]

Yes, I agree. I said at the time when BMW purchased Husqvarna from Cagiva/MV that it wouldn't be long before they took what they wanted and pitched Husqvarna aside.

I don't believe BMW, in their quest to become a larger and broader based motorcycle company made many good decisions with Husqvarna, nor really ever grasped the the Italian way of doing things.

My hope for Husqvarna is that it isn't merged with KTM to the point of shared models/engines, etc and they keep an in independent identity, more so than current Husaberg.

 

[grizzlyj]

I hadn't followed what BMW have done with Husqvarna, but had high hopes.

BMW didn't make anything to compete themselves, and have every reason to meet KTM head on.

I don't see how KTM buying up their competition will help anyone but KTM?

Shame I reckon

 

[Stumpalump]

There has been a lot of speculation over the past years and even thru this buyout but what we actually know is...Not much. What we do know is that Husky put some time and money into street bike development. They flat out had nothing to compete in Motocross, they made some cool upgrades to the dual sport dirt bikes like the red head motors with cool Italian style and ergos but drop the ball in other areas like gearing and battery and light mounts busting up. The two stroke was is a great bike with 20 year old proven motor but it came with jets that made it seize unless you lived in the mountains. My neighbors are heavily into enduro and endurocross and they jumped me when I told them I was considering a new 310. The list of breakdowns and guys never finishing races because of breakdowns was endless. TV coverage of the Dakar Rally even mentioned the frequent major breakdowns a few times. As far as speculation goes....I think Husky will now be an Indian company to sell bikes to the millions in the 3rd world that's coming up and that's why the investors bought them. Did BMW hit a $$ home run or get the patens or manufacturing they wanted and just dump A bad deal? We will never know but I do know that Husky has been a cluster fk since the 70's and the saga continues.

 

[Clutch]

The rumor is that Stefan Pierer is going to sell the rest of his KTM stock to Bajaj, and build Husky up like he did with KTM, (which would be awesome) remember KTM was born from the ashes of Husqvarna, the early RFS motors were derived from a Husaberg design which was created from the old Swedish Husqvarna engineers, when Husky moved to Italy.


Sounds like a fricken soap opera, eh?

 

[RHINO]

so we have an orange KTM, a blue KTM, and a red headed KTM stepchild (Beta). so will we be seeing a legit red KTM or something else entirely? time will tell. the TE 610/630 platform was pretty nice, would be neat if they went back to that with some KTM tweaks.

 

[NothingClever]

.....nor really ever grasped the the Italian way of doing things.

I think Germans have a pretty good understanding of how the Italians do things but simply choose not to do things the Italian way.

 

[Clutch]

and the Blue Headed KTM step child (Sherco)

Time will tell what will happen with the big H, I am guessing it will be good.

 

[Stroverlander]

The rumor is that Stefan Pierer is going to sell the rest of his KTM stock to Bajaj, and build Husky up like he did with KTM, (which would be awesome) remember KTM was born from the ashes of Husqvarna, the early RFS motors were derived from a Husaberg design which was created from the old Swedish Husqvarna engineers, when Husky moved to Italy.


Sounds like a fricken soap opera, eh?

That would certainly be the ideal scenario.

It seems everything involving the Italians and motorcycles is a soap opera.

 

[RHINO]

ahh thats right, forgot about sherco.

 

[Stroverlander]

I think Germans have a pretty good understanding of how the Italians do things but simply choose not to do things the Italian way.

Lol, good point though I believe that is/was an impediment to a productive relationship. I never saw it as a good fit and even have similar concerns with VW/Audi and Ducati. Although with Ducati being the singular motorcycle brand in the stable and profitable in difficult economy, the odds are better.

 

[Clutch]

ahh thats right, forgot about sherco.

the '13's look good. Eerily similar to KTM's...have their own motors now though.

However, after owning a dirt bike with no kicker starter back-up (KTM 505XC) the no kicker on the Shercos is a deal killer for me.





even have an electric prototype that looks like a "real" dirt bike, unlike a Zero.

 

[shortbus4x4]

so we have an orange KTM, a blue KTM, and a red headed KTM stepchild (Beta). so will we be seeing a legit red KTM or something else entirely? time will tell. the TE 610/630 platform was pretty nice, would be neat if they went back to that with some KTM tweaks.

I loved my old '92 610. I replaced it with a KTM 525 but my old Husky was just a good all around bike. It went to Glamis, Baja, and lots of single track in N CA.