MV Agusta owner Claudio Castiglioni, who subsequently owns Husqvarna through MV, signed a contract on July 19, 2007, selling Husqvarna to BMW.
We predicted it a long time ago, but recently
BMW Motorrad has now formally announced the acquisition of Husqvarna Motorcycles, although no price was given in the written announcement. Dr. Herbert Diess (General Director of BMW Motorrad) and Italian industrialist Claudio Castiglioni (the owner of Husqvarna through MV) signed the contract on July 19, 2007 in Italy.
Despite some previous denials about the proposed deal from both sides, BMW's acquisition of Husqvarna is a logical step in increasing the company's range of smaller and single-cylinder machines, like the new BMW G650X series. Husqvarna's sporty competition image will also attract younger customers as well as the entire off-road and Supermoto market sector, opening them up to the BMW brand.
Despite this aim, at present BMW plans to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a completely separate enterprise and not move the production facility to Germany. Therefore, all development, sales and production activities, as well as the current workforce, will remain in place at its present location in the Varese region in northern Italy. (Originally of course Husqvarna were produced in Sweden beginning in 1903 before moving to Italy in 1986 when the company was bought out. During its history, Husqvarna has won numerous international off-road racing events and has claimed both European and World Championship titles.)
The really good news is that now the Massimo Tamburini-designed STR may well come to fruition in the format it was originally intended. The idea was to buy BMW F800 engines for the bike, but when the deal fell through, the prototype appeared with a single-cylinder motor in it. Now it could reappear with an 800 parallel Twin in as its creator intended. Watch this space for more information.
The 450cc 'Sportenduro' by BMW edges closer to production. Expect to see its official launch at the Paris Motorcycle Show in the fall.
Back to its own developments, it appears that BMW has created a bike that rises on its suspension at high speed and drops down at low speed - active suspension. However, this would be working the opposite way to what most people understand active suspension to do, i.e. to drop down at speed for more grip! If we find out what it is all about we will let you know!
Surprisingly, the factory has dropped plans for MotoGP and instead wants to go all-out for a World Superbike title with a brand new bike. They will use the information gained in the development of the former between 2003 and 2006 for the new bike, which will use a conventional suspension set-up and chain drive. The bike is likely to be powered by an in-line four-cylinder engine, although thanks to their close links with Aprilia, a V-4 may be a possibility.
Yet another machine that has featured prominently in this section, the 450cc Single enduro machine called the 'Sportenduro', is likely to be launched at the forthcoming Paris Show. Now undergoing final testing in the German Championship, the chain-driven bike will no doubt be helped along in the final stages by technicians and know-how from Husqvarna!
It took 12 years to complete, but Germany's Christoph Madaus has finished his dragbike, the Twintrax, powered by two H-D V-Twins with a claimed 160 hp.
A German furniture designer has just completed 12 years work on building a motorcycle. The double-engined Harley-powered bike, called Twintrax, has been built by 47-year-old Christoph Madaus in his spare time. The 160-hp monster is in the style of a dragbike thanks to the long wheelbase necessary to house the in-line motors. Despite many off the shelf components like WP suspension, there are no plans to market the bike!
Italy
Aprilia's Mana, its commuter machine with a twist and go gearbox, has recently been seen testing at a racetrack with some pretty impressive times being posted. The bike will be aimed at the commuter market, but Aprilia wants it to be fun as well, like a conventional motorcycle. Fitted with an 839cc 90-degree V-Twin motor, it is the largest CVT ever produced and produces 75 hp. Three different engine maps will be available for the rider to select. In addition to semi-automatic mode, the rider will be able to select one of the seven gears by means of a conventional foot gear change lever, or do it by handlebar mounted buttons.
The '08 Aprilia Mana will have an 839cc 90-degree V-Twin and is claimed to be the largest CVT ever produced. It will come with three different engine maps.
Unlike scooter based CVT machines, the engine is not part of the swingarm and uses a conventional arm mounted to the engine/gearbox unit with a single shock absorber controlling its movement.
Petrol is housed under the rider's seat, while the normal 'petrol' tank is used as a storage area for luggage and is claimed that it will take a helmet. The bike is believed to be nearing its final testing stages as the company is running a competition in Italy to decide on the paint schemes. Expect to see this one too at Milan in November.
One bike that should be there too is the much mentioned Aprilia RS-V4. However, less than four months away from the show, the bike is still testing in very much prototype form, with only the engine and frame being new, the rest of the bike borrowing from the current RSV along with crudely fashioned panels. The 65-degree V-Four motor is incredibly short and just as narrow as the 1000cc V- Twin and is progressing well in tests. However, unless there is something already set in the way of styling and running gear, the bike shown at Milan is likely to be more a styling exercise to judge reaction, rather than a finished running bike.
The
Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 (named after the famous Alpine pass so beloved by bikers) has only up to now been seen as a prototype. Originally shown at a dealers meeting, leaked pictures got out to the European press without Guzzi's approval. Now, thanks to an eagle-eyed Guzzi fan, video footage shows the bike up and running on the roads in the vicinity of the factory at Lake Como. The pictures clearly show an advanced state of readiness and inside sources admit that it could well be launched at this year's Milan show in November!
MV could well be showing a brand new 600cc middleweight sportbike at Milan along with a new 1000cc Brutale, which may have a 750 smaller sibling keeping it company. Given the money they now have from the sale of Husqvarna, projects that have been on the back-burner might well hot up and become production machines!
If gas prices continue to climb like they have been, it won't be long before we're all riding Vespas. Especially if it's a hybrid that gets a claimed 140 mpg.
It seems
Piaggio is looking at electric two-wheelers. Nothing new there you might think. However, by using electric motors in each wheel, they get a 2WD system that will give more traction than a conventional scooter. This would end up as a good marketing tool under the guise of road safety and 'environmentally friendly'. More on this system as it develops.
One that is well on its way is the HyS, a hybrid electric-petrol scooter. Already running in both their two- and three-wheeler products, the combined power unit is showing great promise. The petrol engine with its twist-and-go gearbox is pretty conventional, but housed within the gearbox casing is an electric motor. This is used to give the machine extra power if the throttle is snapped open and sources suggest that it can give as much as 85% extra. Controlled by the inevitable electronics, the electric power allows a range of over 140 miles from one gallon of petrol. It can also totally run the bike, although the range is then just 12 miles. Machines fitted with these engines could soon be launched according to factory insiders!
Dainese, best known for its stylish leathers and motorcycle clothing, have just bought
AGV helmets to now offer the full range of riding kit. The helmet company was of course originally Italian, but for the past few years has been owned by the Belgian Imag Group.
AGV Helmets, best known for being the lid of choice for MotoGP star Valentino Rossi, has been bought by Dainese. Now the company has a cool line of helmets to offer with its leathers and motorcycling clothing.
If Quads are your thing, then
GG Technik is likely to have something to interest you. The new GG 'Quadster' uses an over-bored Yamaha R1 engine that pumps out 167 hp with 88 lb-ft of torque as a power source. Using a similar design layout to their BMW 1150 GS-powered 'Quad', this new bike is slightly wider and longer for increased safety and stability to match the increase in performance. However, this all comes at a price of $50,000, which makes this very much an enthusiast's machine!
United Kingdom
We have mentioned it more than once or twice and now it seems the smaller version of the Triumph Rocket III is just weeks rather than months away from a public launch.
Triumph realizes the 1500cc (approx.) variant will be directly up against the massively popular 1450 Harley range and they want to get it right first time around!
The new motor will be minus one cylinder and will be mounted across the frame as opposed to longitudinally. However, it will maintain its shaftdrive for maintenance-free riding, like Harley's belt drive system.
Triumph is shrinking the Rocket III down a size with a version in the 1500cc range. The new motor will have one less cylinder than the current 2294cc mill and will be mounted across the frame instead of longitudinally.
Power details are still sketchy at this time, but as long as it has the torque at low revs, it will easily better any Harley. But in this sector, figures are largely irrelevant!
Style is expected to be similar to the current Speedmaster, a bike that has general acceptance in the U.S. Expect to see three headlights up front in true Harley style, unless things radically change from prototypes spotted testing near the Hinckley factory. In general terms it will take most of the Rocket III's running gear to give confidence to the buying public. It should sit between the Rocket and the Speedmaster in terms of price, rather than being too close to either and possibly affecting sales of either model. At around $18,000 it will also be on a par with a Harley or two, so sale figures will be interesting to watch on both sides of the fence!
The Paris Show in early October looks like the favorite for its debut! Expect also to see the new fuel-injected version of the Bonneville alongside it. Spotted undergoing testing recently, this bike still has not too far to go before being unveiled as a 2008 model. (The current model is unlikely to meet the very tough Euro 3 emission tests as it stands with carbs fitted!)
And lastly, we mentioned the Tiger Cub name in past columns; well it now seems that this may well be applied to an adventure sport machine using a Triple 675 as the basis, complete with taller bars, etc. Given the past information we have had, this seems like a safe bet for 2009 at least!
Concerns about frame cracks in the right side engine mounting brackets on 2006 Kawasaki ER-6 frames are growing in the UK.
But, if your interest harks back to the days of the original Triumph motorcycle concern, then a new range of BSA clothing should be on your radar screens. The clothing range may not be suitable for actually riding in, but if looking cool when away from the bike is equally important, then take a look at
BSA Clothing for their leather jackets and cool T-shirts!
Worry continues to grow in the UK about frame cracks on the Kawasaki ER-6 frame. The apparent problem lies with the engine mounting bracket on the right side of the engine on 2006 models. Kawasaki have dismissed the problem that they say is caused by the incorrect fitting of after-market crash bungs, although a leaked internal document acknowledges it happens with genuine Kawasaki bungs. It also now appears that later frames have been beefed up around this area, so draw your own conclusions!
Rest of the World
China
Zongshen, A Chinese manufacturer who produces 250cc sportbikes, is working on a bigger twin-cylinder sportbike after large V-Twins it produced in the past failed to make it into production.
is set to launch a twin-cylinder sportbike into Europe after several large-engined prototypes shown in the past have failed to make it to production. The previous machines have all used V-Twins, but now it seems that the leading Chinese manufacturer has decided to keep things simple and therefore keep costs down. By using a Twin, there would be fewer parts and therefore they could sell the bike cheaper, which would be a prime aim if they want to capture some of the market from the established Japanese manufacturers. No exact details are known at present, although a clay model seen has inverted forks and banana swing arm. Apparently, a Ducati style trellis frame and under seat exhaust are the only other notable features in the very conservative styling design exercise! No time scales are known or any other technical details, although judging by their rate of progress of late, it is unlikely to be long before we see a public launch at a major European show!
Japan
Power limits have been scrapped in Japan, meaning that home factories can now sell their full-power versions to the home market. For a decade they have been limited to 100 hp, with different restrictions on smaller models. This move could see bikes like 400's getting a new lease of life and produced with high output engines, which of course would make them attractive to buyers elsewhere in the world!
And Finally
An Australian stunt rider has been jailed for 10 months after being caught on camera speeding while performing tricks. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to four charges of reckless driving and two of riding whilst having a suspended license. Moral of the story being, not all publicity is good publicity, despite what they may say!
Let us know what you think about this article in the MCUSA Forum.
Click Here
