Motorcycles

Husqvarna's 900cc adventure touring project

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Yamaha's Super Tenere
The Husqvarna 900 parallel twin motor
BMW and Husqvarna engineers discuss the Husqvarna 900 parallel twin motor
Husqvarna's Mille3 concept
The forthcoming Husqvarna 900 parallel twin motor
BMW and Husqvarna engineers discuss the Husqvarna 900 parallel twin motor
Husqvarna's Mille3 concept
Yamaha's XTZ Super Tenere
Husqvarna's Mille3 concept
Husqvarna's Mille3 concept
KTM's 990 Adventure
KTM's 990 Adventure
Ducati's Multistrada
KTM's 990 Adventure
KTM's 990 Adventure
KTM's 990 Adventure
KTM's 990 Adventure
KTM's 990 Adventure
KTM's 990 Adventure
Ducati's Multistrada
Ducati's Multistrada
Ducati's Multistrada
Ducati's Multistrada
Ducati's Multistrada
BMW's R1200GS
Yamaha's Super Tenere
Yamaha's Super Tenere
View gallery - 28 images

Faced with ever-increasing adventure touring competition from KTM and Ducati, BMW is ramping up new model development at subsidiary Husqvarna with a view to developing more dirt-orientated large capacity off-road and semi-off-road models that will not be in direct competition with its class-leading R1200GS.

Several new models will be unveiled at EICMA in November, all based on the Rotax 800cc parallel twin engine used in the BMW F800R. The Rotax engine, for those not familiar with it is a pearler, with throttle response so acutely calibrated that it can be ridden like this, so the newly developed 900cc variant can be expected to be even better.

The target for the big Husqy vertical twin is the adventure touring market share dedicated to lighter weight and more precise handling in the dirt.

BMW's R1200GS

Husqvarna's owner, BMW, originally defined the marketplace with the 1200 GS and holds the lion's share still, but with new machinery from Honda, (Crossrunner), Yamaha (XTZ1200 Super Tenere), KTM (990 Adventure), Ducati (Multistrada) et al., the adventure marketplace is now one of micro-niches and by developing the extraordinary Rotax vertical twin, it aims to take on KTM and Ducati with more focused models.

KTM's 990 Adventure

Speculation is already rife as to the expected performance of the new engine with figures being bandied around in the vicinity of 95 bhp and 70 ft-lb torque.

The new Husqvarna 900 will shown at EICMA in both soft and hard enduro models, with a tarmac street-fighter and supermoto versions to come in 2012.

The new 900 is claimed by BMW/Husqvarna to be remarkable in terms of engine characteristics, with a power delivery both linear and smooth at low rpm, but robust at high rpm.

The new bikes will be designed by Raffaele Zaccagnini, who was responsible for the design of Aprilia motocross bikes and the latest Husqvarna motocross range, not to mention the prototype Mille3 three cylinder bike which surfaced at EICMA 2010.

Husqvarna's Mille3 concept

One thing is certain - the bikes will be going head-to-head with KTM's range, with pricing directly aimed at the Austrian ready-to-race manufacturer.

View gallery - 28 images
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2 comments
James Ng
It looks identical to the BMW R1200GS.
Knutars
Attitude, baby. It\'s all about attitude, and this Husky has plenty of it :-)