#Husqvarna

GasGas is preparing to introduce a new __________ for 2024, which we expect to be very similar to the KTM __________ and the Husqvarna __________. Oops, I forgot to fill in the blanks there, but I think you get the gist. It's no secret that GasGas, following its acquisition by Pierer Mobility, has been introducing motorcycles that are essentially reskinned versions of KTM models. The same goes for Husqvarna too, which gets a similar treatment, only with their frames powder-coated blue instead of KTM orange and GasGas red.

Alan Cathcart’s conversation with Stefan Pierer continues, as the PIERER Mobility president and chief executive officer discusses electrification and other future technologies. —ED.

Interview with KTM’s Stefan Pierer – Part 1
Interview with KTM’s Stefan Pierer – Part 2

Alan Cathcart’s conversation with Stefan Pierer continues, as the PIERER Mobility president and chief executive officer discusses his motorcycle brands (namely, KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas), and some of their competition. This includes MV Agusta, of which PIERER gained a stake in 2022. —ED.

Interview with KTM’s Stefan Pierer – Part 1
Interview with KTM’s Stefan Pierer – Part 3

Alan Cathcart: Let’s talk about MV Agusta, where last November you purchased 25.1% of the equity from its present owner, Timur Sardarov. What is your future strategy for your involvement in the brand?

Stefan Pierer: As part of that 25.1%, it’s taking the first step of working together very closely on current production models. So we’ll take care of the whole supply chain, we’ll buy all the parts needed for MV Agusta’s production for the coming year, and then, after finalizing that, we’ll take over worldwide distribution of the finished product. This is the first step to help them make their entire operation profitable as a company.

As the Coronavirus pandemic gradually disappears in the rear view mirror of history, in its aftermath the global motorcycle industry continues to experience rapid and sustained growth. Leading this charge among European companies is the KTM Group, whose parent company PIERER Mobility AG finished 2022 on a continued high, after a 12th successive record year which saw sales of its three current brands KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS continue spiralling upwards to 375,452 motorcycles in 2022, an increase of 13% compared with the previous year’s 332,881 units. Of those, 268,575 of these motorcycles carried the KTM badge, 75,266 were Husqvarnas and 31,651 were GASGAS motorcycles, a sales volume of 375,492 motorcycles. Add to that the 118,465 pedal cycles and E-bicycles sold in the same period under its Husqvarna, GASGAS, Felt and R Raymon labels (up 15% compared to 2022’s 102,753 bikes), and the company’s overall revenues increased to EUR 2.437 billion in 2022, up 19% year-on-year.

As we expected, Husqvarna announced a new Norden 901 Expedition, adding a more adventure-capable model to its lineup. Equipped with longer-travel suspension and coming standard with a number of accessories such as waterproof luggage, the Norden 901 Expedition carries an MSRP of $15,799, a $1,300 premium over the regular Norden 901.

When the Husqvarna Norden 901 entered the market for 2022, one of the first things we asked was when we would see a more adventure-focused version. That is, after all, the modus operandi for Husqvarna’s sister brand, KTM, which gave the 890 Adventure an upscaled R version.

We don’t have much longer to wait, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has certified the 2023 Norden 901 alongside a new Norden 901 Expedition model.

While we haven’t heard any official word yet, the Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition has been anything but a secret, with photos and even video of the bike popping up around the internet since Husqvarna’s dealer summit last July. We’ve embedded one video below, and members NordenForums.com have shared photos from the dealer meeting.

Continental Tire is recalling 68,770 motorcycle tires because they may develop cracks that can result in tread separation. The recall includes the popular TKC 80 dual sport tires, ContiGo! tires for lightweight motorcycles, plus K62 and LB scooter tires. The recall may also include tires that were installed as stock equipment on certain BMW, KTM and Husqvarna models. The recall affects tires manufactured between Jan. 6, 2019 and April 30, 2022. The full list of tires and specific sizes affected is posted at the bottom of this article.

According to the recall report released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the problem was first noticed in February after a separate recall on ContiScoot scooter tires for potential tread groove cracking. That initial recall led Continental to conduct endurance testing on other tires. From February to April, testing revealed the TKC 80, ContiGo!, K62 and LB tires may be prone to develop groove cracks.

GasGas is preparing to introduce its first street legal motorcycles with a new ES 700 enduro and a SM 700 supermoto. Motorcycle.com can confirm those two models will be coming to the U.S.

[UPDATE: We’ve gotten our hands on a price list from two separate GasGas dealers in Spain confirming the SM 700 and ES 700. Prices in euros added below.]

The confirmation comes from vehicle identification number (VIN) decoder information submitted to the U.S. by KTM. The VIN decoder was recently amended on Feb. 16, with a cover letter noting the only changes were to add the “GG ES 700” and “GG SM 700” for 2022 and 2023, with both models marked specifically as being street legal. The decoder includes the two new bikes with models dating back several years from KTM, and its sister brands GasGas (labeled in the document as “GG”), Husqvarna (“HQV”) and the shuttered Husaberg (HSB).

Pierer Mobility confirmed it is working on an electric KTM streetbike as part of its push towards electro mobility. The news comes from a presentation of preliminary revenues and earnings for the 2021 business year, confirming that an E-Duke is in development.

While this is the first official confirmation of an E-Duke, its development comes as no surprise, especially after KTM’s sister brand Husqvarna revealed an E-Pilen concept last April. A PDF provided to investors confirms that the E-Duke will share the same 5.5 kWh fixed battery as the E-Pilen, and delivering a claimed nominal power output of 10 kW (13.4 hp).

The PDF lists the E-Duke alongside the E-Pilen, as well as a KTM E10 youth dirtbike and a new Freeride E LV model as projects currently under development. The image of the E-Duke was intentionally pixelated to hide it’s appearance, but we managed to get our hands on an earlier draft of the file which shows a clearer glimpse of the E-Duke.

Dear Ryan Adams,

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks that your vacation plans totally shat on your chance to compare Husqvarna‘s all-new entry into the Middleweight Adventure Touring category, the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901. I know how you were looking forward to traveling to the Azores to sample what might be a game-changer for the Swedish-turned-Austrian brand, which has experienced a remarkable renaissance under the wing of PIERER Mobility AG.

Frankly, dude, other than not having to endure pissing-down rain on the first day, you missed out.

Two years after it debuted at EICMA as a concept model, the Husqvarna Norden 901 adventure-tourer is now ready for production, arriving in U.S. dealerships this month with a $13,999 base price.

The 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 shares much in common with its corporate cousin, the KTM 890 Adventure, including a similar chromium-molybdenum steel frame, steel trellis subframe, saddle-shaped fuel tank design and liquid-cooled 889cc DOHC Parallel-Twin.

Where the Norden differs is its rally-inspired bodywork compared to the KTM’s more dirtbike-inspired styling. The front fairing integrates the circular LED headlight and fog lights while keeping a slim profile for aerodynamic efficiency.

You know what they say: It’s more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast than a fast motorcycle slow. Yet another example of conventional wisdom baloney. It’s actually more fun to ride a fast bike fast, or even a medium-fast one. I’m pretty sure that’s why they keep building faster motorcycles all the time. Heck, you could argue faster bikes are also safer, because power can get you out of trouble just as easily as it can get you into it (once you’ve learned to ride, that is). And power can launch you out of corners, instead of incentivizing you to cling to every mph when you’re diving into them the way slow bikes do when ridden in packs of MOrons. Have you seen a Moto3 race? They’re faster mid-corner than the Moto2 or MotoGP bikes.

Battle Royale: 7-Way Heavyweight Naked Bike Shootout – Street

2021 Six-Way, 900(Ish)Cc Naked Bike Shootout!

2021 MO Middleweight Naked Bike Shootout – Six Bikes!

Then again, you can probably trust that front tire since all these bikes weigh well under 400 pounds. And you’re definitely not braking into those corners from triple-digit speeds, so how bad could it be? Well. It takes a certain lack of imagination, like the famous race car driver said, to ride these quickly on the street.

But these aren’t just motorcycles for sport riding. Little bikes are a blast in urban areas where space is at a premium, and with what you save in gas and tires, they probably pencil out not bad against public transportation.

A mere 10 days after revealing its E-Pilen Concept, Husqvarna announced a second electric concept, this time an e-scooter it calls the Vektorr.

Designed for urban commuting duty, the Vektorr Concept claims a top speed of 45 kph (28 mph) and a range of up to 95 km (59 miles). Beyond that, Husqvarna provided very little technical detail. We do know, however, that the Vektorr was co-developed with Bajaj, which owns a stake in Pierer Mobility, Husqvarna’s a parent company.

Interestingly, there is no mention of a swappable battery, a feature found on the E-Pilen. Pierer Mobility, through its subsidiary, KTM, is part a consortium for developing a swappable battery pack standard with Piaggio, Yamaha, and Honda. Development of the Vektorr likely began long before Pierer Mobility decided to work with the consortium.

Husqvarna revealed its new electric E-Pilen Concept, offering a taste of what the company promises will be a range of zero-emissions products.

Like many motorcycle brands, KTM had a challenging 2020, with sales shrinking in the face of COVID-19 and the economic toll it exacted. The Austrian brand sold 212,713 motorcycles through the year, a 9.3% decrease from the pre-pandemic world of 2019.

Despite the decrease in orange bikes, not to mention a two-month interruption in motorcycle production, parent company Pierer Mobility actually saw an increase in market share, thanks in large part to its other two motorcycle brands: Husqvarna and GasGas. Husqvarna sales increased from 45,650 units in 2019 to 49,046 units in 2020, while GasGas sold 8,648 motorcycles in its first full year as part of Pierer Mobility. That wasn’t quite enough to make up the 21,736 decrease in KTM sales, but it did help cushion the blow.