Husqvarna Nuda 900 2012 Review

This Is the first love child of German and Swedish/Italian parents. Former Swedish off-road bike manufacturer Husqvarna - now built in Italy and owned by BMW - has produced its first road bikes for more than 50 years.

The Nuda 900 and 900 R are based on the BMW F 800 engine and layout, but powered up and stripped back. After all, Nuda stands for nude in Italian.

VALUE

This is a cross between a naked bike and a super motard, so it competes with the likes of the BMW F 800 R ($13,900), KTM 990 Supermoto T ($18,990) and Ducati Hypermotard ($15,990-$20,990). 

At $13,995 for the Nuda and $15,995 for the R with fully adjustable Ohlins suspension, carbon fibre extras, stronger brakes and smaller front sprocket, it is a strong competitor. 

Luggage and other accessories are available, but cheaper if bought in packages such as touring ($1596-$2031), racing ($1305-$2176) or urban ($1015).

Importer Paul Feeney, of the Paul Feeney Group on the Gold Coast, says Husqvarna is "heading for a premium brand in off and on road" and declares the first three containers (90 bikes) are already sold. Only 30 of the 52 Husky dealers nationwide have qualified to stock the new road bikes.

TECHNOLOGY

The BMW parallel twin has been bored out from 798cc to 898cc to lift power from 64kW to 77kW and torque from 84Nm to 100Nm. It also gets new pistons, conrods, cam shafts, cylinder heads, valves and a balancer for less vibration and a totally different feel to the BMW bikes that use this engine.

Husky has developed a comprehensive instrument pod with a lot of useful information, rather than the basic cycle-like instruments we have come to expect from their dirt bikes. Even the base model gets Sachs shocks and Brembo brakes with braided lines.

DESIGN

It looks like a stick insect and retains a lot of Husky's off-road character with sharp angles, narrow girth, red cylinder heads and a high and hard seat. You can distinguish the R from the standard by the flash of racing red down its side.

These bikes are 50mm shorter than the BMW with a steeper fork rake, combining for a sharp-steering machine and at 174kg it's also 3kg lighter, further adding to its nimble nature. Its big air intakes and F1-styled front fender and "tank" area make it stand out from other naked bikes.

The base model gets a slightly stepped seat which is pure torture, while the flatter and higher R seat is surprisingly more comfortable ... but only just.

SAFETY

BMW's obsession with safety hasn't yet filtered through as the Husky does not get ABS. However, it's only a matter of time. It could also do with a slipper clutch to avoid back-wheel lock-ups caused by the high engine compression ratio of 13:1, although some may enjoy the effect of "backing" it into corners.

The Brembo brakes are strong with the R a little too touchy and powerful. Riders can also switch to a rain mode which softens the power delivery.

RIDING

Only tall people need apply. Nuda sits 870m high at the seat, but a low-seat option drops that 16mm, while the R is 875mm-895mm depending on rear shock adjustment. However, it's a comfortable upright position with wide bars and familiar controls. Peak power is exciting, although not scintillating.

Most riders will enjoy the rush of speed from the brutish torque that lofts the front wheel with ease from low speeds and in the first three gears. You rush through the slick close-ratio box and just ride that wave of torque. Neutral is easy to find.

It steers quickly, yet the wide bars provide high-speed stability. The stiff suspension of the standard finds it chattering sideways across high-frequency bumps. Somehow the stiffer, yet faster-acting Ohlins suspension works much better.

Feeney backed the clickers off a couple of settings, but it could have done with more over the rough northern NSW roads on the national press launch. Like the BMW, it has an underseat fuel tank to centralise the weight for better balance. 

It only takes 13 litres of fuel for a claimed range of 250km, but one bike ran out of fuel on the launch at the 200km mark and the rest were running on vapours. When it's fueled up and running there is no better exhaust noise - like a growling wolf. It's surprising it passes the noise tests.

VERDICT

Great fun for short blasts, but only if you are tall. I can't see too many riders fitting it with luggage and venturing too far.

Husqvarna Nuda 900

Prices: $13,995 ($15,995, R)
Warranty: 2 yrs, unlimited km
Service interval: 10,000km
Engine: 898cc parallel twin, 77kW/100Nm
Transmission: 6-speed, chain drive
Fuel: 13L tank
Economy: 3.9L/100km (@ 90km/h), 95 RON
Dimensions: 2190mm (L), 895mm (W), 1220mm (H), 860-895mm (Seat), 1495mm (WB)
Dry weight: 174kg