Husqvarna Preps New Adventure Touring Streetbike for EICMA 2011

Not long ago, we were reporting on some rumors indicating that BMW’s subsidiary Husqvarna is planning to treat us with three new road bike models due for launch in 2012.

The latest news coming from the company confirms that at least one model is revving its way to the roads, namely a new adventure touring streetbike that is set to make its world public debut at this year’s EICMA show in Milan.

The news was announced by Hermann Bohrer, BMW’s vice-president at a launch event in South Africa. The same man confirmed the new machine will combine German technology with Italian design, as former Aprilia designer Raffaele Zaccagnini has been designated to oversee the project.

The new adventure bike use a two-cylinder engine, likely based on the BMW F800GS but with a displacement near 900cc. However, the new model will not come as a direct competitor of the F800GS, but of KTM’s 990 Adventure instead.

In terms of design, the new machine will borrow styling cues from the Mille 3 concept revealed at the 2010 EICMA show in Milan last November.

As a fresh reminder, the 933cc engine in the Mille 3 used three cylinders from the company’s single-cylinder off-road range arranged on a common crankcase. In fact, thanks to the unusual layout of separate cooling systems (one in two cylinders, one vertical cylinder), the engine gives the impression of being a single cylinder.

The bodywork draws clear inspiration from Husqvarna's off-roaders, the wheels and brakes from a supermoto, but with cruiser-sized fat tires.