History [ edit ]
1912 Moto-Reve advertisement of G. Magnani in Bucharest
As with many motorcycle manufacturers, Husqvarna first began producing bicycles in the late 19th century. In 1903, they made the jump to motorcycle manufacturing. The first Husky motorcycles used imported engines, and it wasn’t until 1918 that Husqvarna began producing machines built entirely in-house.
Around that time they secured a contract with the Swedish Army and began entering cross-country and long-distance motorcycle racing events. [ 1 ] In 1920, Husqvarna established its own engine factory and the first engine to be designed was a 550cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin engine, similar to those made by companies like Harley-Davidson and Indian. Although they once made motorcycles for street use, and raced at road circuits such as the Isle of Man TT prior to World War II. they are better known for producing world championship winning motocross and enduro bikes.
Husqvarna competed in Grand Prix road racing in the 350cc and 500cc classes during the 1930s and was Sweden’s largest motorcycle manufacturer by 1939. All of the racing bikes were based on a 50-degree V-twin prototype built by Folke Mannerstedt in 1931. The company team beat the Norton Works team at the Swedish GP in 1931 with a 1-2 finish by Ragnar Sundqvist and Gunnar Kalen.
This and the next year’s success led to a full commitment to the GP tracks with Stanley Woods and Ernie Nott joining the Husqvarna riding team. That year, Nott finished 3rd in the 350cc Junior TT and Woods ran out of gas 8 miles before the finish of the Senior TT. In 1935 the company withdrew racing support, but new bikes were still produced and raced privately, [ 2 ] while the company focused on producing a new 2-stroke, 2-speed commuter bike. [ 1 ] That year, Stanley Woods won the Swedish GP (marking the fourth year in a row that a Husky had won) on a 500cc Huqvarna motorcycle that weighted 279 pounds. [ 2 ]
In the 1960s, their lightweight, two-stroke engined off-road bikes helped make the once dominant British four-stroke motorcycles obsolete. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Husqvarna was a dominant force in the motocross world, winning 14 Motocross world championships in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc divisions, 24 enduro world championships and 11 Baja 1000 victories.
In 1987, the Husqvarna motorcycle division (not the other arms of the brand such as chainsaw production) was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. The motorcycles, widely known as Huskies/ Husky, are now produced in Varese. Husqvarna produces a diverse range of motocross, enduro and supermoto machines using their own two-stroke or four-stroke engines, ranging in capacity from 125cc to 576cc.
Racing continues to be important to Husqvarna, competing in world enduro and world supermoto championships. Gerald Delepine, riding a Husqvarna SMR660, became supermoto world champion in 2005. In 2008, Adrien Chareyre took the title, riding an SM530RR.
In July 2007, Husqvarna motorcycles was purchased by BMW for a reported 93 million euros. BMW Motorrad planned to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the current workforce, remained at its present location at Varese. in Italy. [ 3 ] BMW intended to position Husqvarna as the two-wheeled version of what Mini is to the BMW’s car division. [ 4 ] [ dated info ]
Historical models produced by Husqvarna
- Husqvarna – Motard Concept
- 2010 Husqvarna TXC 450 – Used 2010 TXC 450 at Motorcyclist Magazine
- 1984 WR 400 Cafe Husky
- 2013 Husqvarna CR125 – Reviews, Comparisons, Specs – Motocross / Dirt…
- 2012 Husqvarna WR 250 Preview – Ultimate MotorCycling
