Husaberg goes to enduro roots

While parent company KTM ventured into road bikes a few years ago and BMW-owned Husqvarna is planning its first all-road bike, Husaberg is concentrating on its core product.

The 2012 model year will therefore be 100 per cent enduro with an extra entry level two-stroke TE125, but deleting the FX450 motocross and FS570 supermoto from the range. 

Husaberg Australia marketing coordinator Greg Chambers says the 125 is not yet confirmed for Australia. "We are currently gauging public interest," he says.

"The high-performance 125cc off-road market isn't very large in Australia. "Junior enduro riders suit this model but a lot of riders opt for the four-stroke 250 machines these days. 

"That's a shame as the two-stroke 125 machines are extremely light, nimble and make for a really exciting ride. "One day we'll get past that `bigger is better' mentality and ride bikes for their fun factor." 

The confirmed two-stroke enduro line-up is TE 250 and 350, while the four-stroke line-up of FE 390, 450 and 570 remains. Chambers says prices are yet to be announced. 

"We aren't expecting a price rise," he says. The 2012 two-stroke range comes with engine protection (except the TE125), frame protection and handguards as standard. 

The four-stroke models now have engine and frame protection, MX handguards and new graphics and colours. Chambers says they sell more four-strokes, although the two-stroke is enjoying "a real resurgence". 

He does not expect a drop business from deleting the motocross and supermoto models. "These models are very niche," he says "We had run outs on these models and there are only a couple left around Australia." Husaberg is dropping $3000 on the FS 570 and $2000 on the FX 450. 

The decision to drop the supermoto bikes from the line-up is reflected in sales performance with sales almost halved to just 11 in the first quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, Husaberg's off-road sales are up 10.2 per cent to 519. Husaberg Australia competes in the E3 class of the Australian Off-Road Championship with Geoff Braico on an FE 570 and is about to compete in the famous Finke Desert race with past champion Ryan Branford also riding an FE 570. 

The company started in Sweden in 1988 and was bought by Austrian company KTM in 1995. Husaberg motorcycles have since been developed and produced at the KTM factory in Mattighofen, Austria, but the motorsport department remains in Sweden.