Photo: derestricted.com
The most recent press release arriving from Husqvarna will definitely have some of you cheering in joy, as it mentions about the “return to the streets”. That’s right, Husky has not abandoned the street bike idea as most of us feared after the company was sold by BMW to KTM. Back then the Austrians were rather reserved as to the future of road Huskies, with a focus on off-road competition machines being envisaged over the near future. However, things have changed, and we’re in for great news at EICMA in early November.
We’re beginning to get used to KTM saying one thing and more or less secretly working in the very direction they said they were not that much interested in, but so far this has only produced nice results. So what will Husqvarna bring over at the EICMA?
Still, in the absence of any official confirmation, the fact that Husqvarna’s new street-legal bike is inspired by the 701 Concept remains in the rumor territory. On the other hand, we cannot overlook Husqvarna’s “very modern concept models,” and “lightweight construction and functionality, premium quality hardware and uncompromised design” mentions in relation to the upcoming machines. Factoring the “new large displacement single-cylinder model” does indeed seem to indicate that we might expect a bike at least inspired, if not derived from the 701.
While the road bikes have really come a long way in the last two decades, off-road machinery has pretty much remained unchanged. If Husky makes such a move with its new real bikes, then we might very well say we are witnessing the dawn of a new era in the business.
And looking once more at the 701 Concept we really hope the new Husqvarna bikes are somewhere close to it. The Nuda 900R and Terra 650 were great steps towards an all-new generation of Huskies and seeing the heritage transformed in new machines with both great looks and solid performance would definitely be glorious. We’ll get back with fresh info from EICMA, so stay tuned.
Is it going to be the 701?
Things have been on the move over at Husky, as the guys have been quite busy with the Husqvarna 701 Concept in late 2013. Back then, no one mentioned that is could represent the early stage in the development of a real, upcoming bike, but this prospect now seems a tad more credible.Still, in the absence of any official confirmation, the fact that Husqvarna’s new street-legal bike is inspired by the 701 Concept remains in the rumor territory. On the other hand, we cannot overlook Husqvarna’s “very modern concept models,” and “lightweight construction and functionality, premium quality hardware and uncompromised design” mentions in relation to the upcoming machines. Factoring the “new large displacement single-cylinder model” does indeed seem to indicate that we might expect a bike at least inspired, if not derived from the 701.
A road bike and two more concepts
Husqvarna graciously avoids making any reference to the two new concepts which will be unveiled at the EICMA alongside the street bike, so it’s really hard to guess whether they will be on or off. Either way, in case Husqvarna plans to follow the design path of the 701, we might be looking at one of the biggest changes in the segment in the past years.While the road bikes have really come a long way in the last two decades, off-road machinery has pretty much remained unchanged. If Husky makes such a move with its new real bikes, then we might very well say we are witnessing the dawn of a new era in the business.
And looking once more at the 701 Concept we really hope the new Husqvarna bikes are somewhere close to it. The Nuda 900R and Terra 650 were great steps towards an all-new generation of Huskies and seeing the heritage transformed in new machines with both great looks and solid performance would definitely be glorious. We’ll get back with fresh info from EICMA, so stay tuned.
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