Someone on the internet said it, so it must be true!

 

Parent company (Indian) has held a controlling stake in KTM for many years, nothing new there.

Rumors abound, but Berg are working on some "unconventional" machines for 2011. Perfect smaller bespoke company for the owners to test the waters with some new machinery rather than sacrifice any sales from the already popular KTM 2 stroke and 4 stroke bikes.

You didn't hear it here!

 

BTW, the new Husky will have the BMW 450 "masterpiece" as its method of propulsion for 2011. The radically framed 450 enduro BMW has now ceased production. Short career in all RIP.

 

I'm a bit disappointed in the hodgepodge bike that the Husky has become. I thought it was very well developed before BMW, who has very little experience in this class of machines, took it over. BMW should be assimilating the Husqvarna engine and chassis, not the other way around by forcing theirs on the Husky. If the G450X was so great, it would survive on its own merits. BMW is a pompous ***.

You are right - KTM uses Husaberg much smarter than BMW is using Husqvarna. I've kind of thought of Husaberg as the R&D arm of KTM. Husaberg is more innovative, so take their good ideas and integrate upward after they get proven out on a smaller scale. BMW seems to be taking the opposite approach.

 

BMW probable spent more $$$ R&D on the G450X than Husky has spent R&D in the last 10 years on its whole range. Unfortunately the timing of the 450 release couldn't have been worse (WFC!)

The BMW 450 engine is a modern marvel and better than anything Husky has developed in the last 10 years or more, certainly a diamond in the class. It will be our gain when the new husky is released with the BMW lump.

IMO it will be a more than worthy substitute for the new 45o thumper and much better on all accounts then Husky fitting another 'tweaked' version of its long standing 4 stroke big bore engine.

The new 250 4 stroke fitted to the 250 enduro model is rumored to have taken nearly 5 years to production. IMO this is unacceptable in the sport at this time as is is moving so fast. The partnership with BMW will improve the brand in these regards. That's a good thing for everyone.

See the news here>>>> http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...sser-spie.html

Boing!




More innovation too.

 

Except that the two arguably best enduro riders in the world had trouble cracking the top 5 on it in the WEC last year when normally they would be walking away with the championship. And BMW engineers refused to listen to to make the platform better.

Just because BMW throws a lot of money at it, doesn't make it better.

 

I agree, somewhat. Knighter said the chassis was "difficult," but loved the engine. I'm keen to see how the new Frankenbike will accomplish itself against the usual competition. I'm not sure who are the pilots this year. Any ideas?

 

No, I haven't followed the WEC that close. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see it do well. I have heard good and bad things about the engine. The bad mainly centered around the clutch being directly attached to the crank. As such its spinning about three times as fast as normal. I think at least one (of several) of Knight's DNFs was a burnt up clutch. Likely related.