Husqvarna Motorcycles
Encyclopedia
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW
, is a company manufacturing motocross
, enduro
and supermoto
motorcycle
s. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna
, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna
armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.
As with many motorcycle
manufacturers, Husqvarna first began producing bicycle
s in the late 19th century. In 1903, they made the jump to motorcycle manufacturing. In 1920, Husqvarna established its own engine factory and the first engine to be designed was a 550 cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin engine, similar to those made by companies like Harley-Davidson
and Indian
. Although they once made motorcycles for street use, and raced at road circuits such as the Isle of Man TT
prior to World War II
, they are more well known for producing world championship winning motocross
and enduro
bikes. In the 1960s, their lightweight, two-stroke engined off-road bikes helped make the once dominant British four-stroke motorcycles obsolete. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Husqvarna was a dominant force in the motocross world, winning 14 Motocross
world championships in the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc divisions, 24 enduro world championships
and 11 Baja 1000
victories.
In 1987, the Husqvarna motorcycle division (not the other arms of the brand such as chainsaw production) was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva
and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.
The motorcycles, widely known as "Huskies"/ "Husky", are now produced in Varese. Husqvarna produces a diverse range of motocross, enduro and supermoto machines using their own two-stroke or four-stroke engines, ranging in capacity from 125 cc to 576 cc. Racing continues to be important to Husqvarna, competing in world enduro and world supermoto championships. Gerald Delepine, riding a Husqvarna SMR660, became supermoto world champion in 2005. In 2008, Adrien Chareyre took the title, riding an SM530RR.
In July 2007, Husqvarna motorcycles was purchased by BMW for a reported 93 million euros. BMW Motorrad plans to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the current workforce, have remained in place at its present location at Varese. BMW intends to position Husqvarna as "the two-wheeled version of what Mini is to the BMW's car division".
, but with three wheels (two front, one back), and an unusual split rear window. According to some sources the similarities with the Saab 92 may have had something to do with Sixten Sason
working as designer at Husqvarna. A prototype was built in 1943, powered by a 20 hp two-cylinder 500 cc DKW
motorcycle engine with chain drive to the rear wheel. The wheels came from a Fiat 500
. The project was cancelled in 1944, and the prototype was scrapped at the end of the 1950s.
Husqvarna is also prominent in Swedish bicycle history. They have been one of the Swedish military bicycle
manufacturers. Husqvarna's Novo hub competed well with imports, but bicycle manufacturing was discontinued in the early 1960s.
Motocross
Supermoto
Dual Purpose
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, is a company manufacturing motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
, enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
and supermoto
Supermoto
Supermoto is motorcycle racing on a circuit that alternates between three types of track: flat track, motocross and road racing, using motorcycles designed for that purpose...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna
Huskvarna
Huskvarna constitutes the eastern part of Jönköping, the municipal seat of Jönköping Municipality, Sweden and has a population of about 21,500. The distance to central Jönköping is about 5 km....
, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna
Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag
Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag was a Swedish firearms manufacturing company in the town of Huskvarna by lake Vättern.-History:...
armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.
History
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturers, Husqvarna first began producing bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s in the late 19th century. In 1903, they made the jump to motorcycle manufacturing. In 1920, Husqvarna established its own engine factory and the first engine to be designed was a 550 cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin engine, similar to those made by companies like Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
and Indian
Indian (motorcycle)
Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
. Although they once made motorcycles for street use, and raced at road circuits such as the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, they are more well known for producing world championship winning motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
and enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
bikes. In the 1960s, their lightweight, two-stroke engined off-road bikes helped make the once dominant British four-stroke motorcycles obsolete. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Husqvarna was a dominant force in the motocross world, winning 14 Motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
world championships in the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc divisions, 24 enduro world championships
World Enduro Championship
The FIM World Enduro Championship is the world championship series for enduro, a popular form of off-road motorcycle sport. The championship currently features three classes , along with separate categories for junior and female riders. The WEC was first organized in 1990, and currently consists...
and 11 Baja 1000
Baja 1000
SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...
victories.
In 1987, the Husqvarna motorcycle division (not the other arms of the brand such as chainsaw production) was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva
Cagiva
Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni...
and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.
MV Agusta
MV Agusta is a motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1945 near Milan in Cascina Costa, Italy. The company began as an offshoot of the Agusta aviation company formed by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. The Count died in 1927, leaving the company in the hands of his wife and sons, Domenico, Vincenzo,...
The motorcycles, widely known as "Huskies"/ "Husky", are now produced in Varese. Husqvarna produces a diverse range of motocross, enduro and supermoto machines using their own two-stroke or four-stroke engines, ranging in capacity from 125 cc to 576 cc. Racing continues to be important to Husqvarna, competing in world enduro and world supermoto championships. Gerald Delepine, riding a Husqvarna SMR660, became supermoto world champion in 2005. In 2008, Adrien Chareyre took the title, riding an SM530RR.
In July 2007, Husqvarna motorcycles was purchased by BMW for a reported 93 million euros. BMW Motorrad plans to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the current workforce, have remained in place at its present location at Varese. BMW intends to position Husqvarna as "the two-wheeled version of what Mini is to the BMW's car division".
Motocross
- 1959 - Rolf TibblinRolf TibblinRolf Tibblin is a former world champion motocross racer. He was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the 1960s...
, European Motocross Champion, 250 cc class. - 1960 - Bill NilssonBill NilssonBill Nilsson was a Swedish motocross racer. He won the first ever F.I.M. 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1957 riding an AJS motorcycle. In 1955, 1958 and 1961, he was a member of the Swedish teams that won the Motocross des Nations. He repeated as world champion in 1960 riding a Husqvarna...
, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class. - 1962 - Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
- 1962 - Torsten HallmanTorsten HallmanTorsten Hallman was a four-time motocross World Champion. He was one of the men responsible for introducing motocross to the United States in the late 1960s....
, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class. - 1963 - Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
- 1963 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
- 1966 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
- 1967 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
- 1969 - Bengt AbergBengt ÅbergBengt Åberg is a former Swedish motocross racer. He was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1968 he was part of the Swedish team that won the Trophée des Nations. He was the F.I.M. 500cc Motocross World Champion in 1969...
, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class. - 1970 - Bengt Aberg, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class.
- 1974 - Heikki MikkolaHeikki MikkolaHeikki Antero Mikkola was a four-time World Champion motocross racer. Known as the "Flying Finn", and characterized by a fierce, determined style, he was the first Finn to win a motocross world championship....
, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class. - 1976 - Heikki Mikkola, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class.
- 1979 - Håkan CarlquistHåkan CarlquistHåkan Carlqvist is a retired Swedish motocross racer. He won the F.I.M. 250cc Motocross World Championship in 1979 as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team.In 1980, he switched to Yamaha to contest the 500cc motocross world championship. He finished 3rd in 1981 and 1982...
, Motocross World Champion, 250 cc class. - 1993 - Jacky MartensJacky MartensJacky Martens is a former professional motocross rider and F.I.M. 500cc Motocross World Champion.-Racing career:...
, Motocross World Champion, 500 cc class. - 1998 - Alessio ChiodiAlessio ChiodiAlessio Chiodi is an Italian former three-time Grand Prix motocross world champion.He was the 1997 F.I.M. world champion in the 125cc class on a Yamaha. The following year he switched to the Husqvarna factory racing team and repeated as 125cc world champion. In 1999, Chiodi won his third...
, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class - 1999 - Alessio Chiodi, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class
Baja 1000
- 1967 - J.N. RobertsJ.N. RobertsJames Nelson "J. N." Roberts is a semi-retired off road and enduro motorcycle racer from Southern California. In the 1960s and 1970s he was a top desert racer on two wheels in the United States....
, Malcolm Smith - 1969 - Gunnar Nilsson, J.N. Roberts
- 1971 - Malcolm Smith, Gunnar Nilsson
- 1972 - Gunnar Nilsson, Rolf TibblinRolf TibblinRolf Tibblin is a former world champion motocross racer. He was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the 1960s...
- 1973 - Mitch Mayes, A.C. Bakken
- 1976 - Larry RoeselerLarry RoeselerLarry Roeseler is a professional off-road racer in motorcycle and Trophy Truck classes. He is a 10-time overall winner of the Baja 1000, 12-time overall winner of the Baja 500 and a 10-time gold medalist in the International Six Days Enduro. He has spent the past 25 years racing in numerous...
, Mitch Mayes - 1977 - Brent Wallingsford, Scot Harden
- 1978 - Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson
- 1979 - Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson
- 1981 - Scot Harden, Brent Wallingsford
- 1983 - Dan Smith, Dan Ashcraft
Enduro
- 1990 - 350 cc World Enduro ChampionshipWorld Enduro ChampionshipThe FIM World Enduro Championship is the world championship series for enduro, a popular form of off-road motorcycle sport. The championship currently features three classes , along with separate categories for junior and female riders. The WEC was first organized in 1990, and currently consists...
- 1991 - 250 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1992 - 350 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1993 - 125 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1993 - 350 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1994 - 125 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1994 - 500 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1995 - 125 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1995 - 500 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1996 - 350 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1998 - 500 cc World Enduro Championship
- 1999 - 500 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2000 - 250 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2001 - 125 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2001 - 400 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2001 - 500 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2002 - 125 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2002 - 250 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2002 - 500 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2003 - 400 cc World Enduro Championship
- 2010 - E1 World Enduro Championship with Antoine MéoAntoine MéoAntoine Méo is a French enduro rider and two-time world champion. A former motocross rider, he debuted in the World Enduro Championship in 2008 and placed fifth. In the following year, Méo finished second to Mika Ahola in the E1 category. Continuing with Husqvarna, he won the world title in 2010...
- 2011 - E1 World Enduro Championship with Juha SalminenJuha SalminenJuha Salminen is a Finnish enduro rider. He is a 13-time World Enduro Champion and has also won the German championship and the Spanish championship . In motocross, he won the Finnish championship in 2002...
- 2011 - E2 World Enduro Championship with Antoine MéoAntoine MéoAntoine Méo is a French enduro rider and two-time world champion. A former motocross rider, he debuted in the World Enduro Championship in 2008 and placed fifth. In the following year, Méo finished second to Mika Ahola in the E1 category. Continuing with Husqvarna, he won the world title in 2010...
Supermoto
- 2005 - Gérald Delepine, SM1 World Supermoto Championship
- 2007 - Adrien Chareyre, SM1 World Supermoto Championship
- 2007 - Gérald Delepine, SM2 World Supermoto Championship
- 2008 - Adrien Chareyre, SM2 World Supermoto Championship
- 2009 - Adrien Chareyre, SM2 World Supermoto Championship
Automobile manufacturing
Toward the end of World War II, a team comprising Bengt Magnusson (head of R&D), Stig Tham (engineer), Calle Heimdal (engine designer) and Birger Johansson investigated manufacture of a small, simple, inexpensive car. The design looked similar to the Saab 92Saab 92
Saab 92 is an automobile from Saab. The design was very aerodynamic for its time, and the cW value was 0.30 . The entire body was stamped out of one piece of sheet metal and then cut to accommodate doors and windows. Full-scale production started December 12, 1949, based on the prototype Saab 92001...
, but with three wheels (two front, one back), and an unusual split rear window. According to some sources the similarities with the Saab 92 may have had something to do with Sixten Sason
Sixten Sason
Sixten Sason was a Swedish industrial designer.Sason started working for Saab, designing aircraft throughout World War II. Following the war, he was asked to contribute to Project 92, the result of which would be the first Saab automobile, the Saab 92 which began production in 1949...
working as designer at Husqvarna. A prototype was built in 1943, powered by a 20 hp two-cylinder 500 cc DKW
DKW
DKW is a historic German car and motorcycle marque. The name derives from Dampf-Kraft-Wagen .In 1916, the Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen founded a factory in Zschopau, Saxony, Germany, to produce steam fittings. In the same year, he attempted to produce a steam-driven car, called the DKW...
motorcycle engine with chain drive to the rear wheel. The wheels came from a Fiat 500
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa....
. The project was cancelled in 1944, and the prototype was scrapped at the end of the 1950s.
Bicycle manufacturing
Swedish military bicycle
Swedish military bicycles , or Swedish army bicycles, have been used in the Swedish military for over a century.-History:The first bicycles in the Swedish military were privately owned or bought for testing purposes. Bicycle infantry were first introduced in 1901, when a Gotlandic infantry...
manufacturers. Husqvarna's Novo hub competed well with imports, but bicycle manufacturing was discontinued in the early 1960s.
Models
EnduroEnduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
- WR 125
- WR 150
- WR 250
- WR 300
- TE 250
- TE 310
- TE 350
- WR 360
- WR 390
- WR 430
- TE 410
- TE 450
- TE 449
- TE 510
- TE 511
- TE 570
- TE 610
- XC 500
Motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
- CR 125
- CR 150
- CR 250
- TC 250
- CR 390
- CR 400
- TC 449
- TC 450
- CR 500
- TC 510
- TC 570
- TC 610
Supermoto
Supermoto
Supermoto is motorcycle racing on a circuit that alternates between three types of track: flat track, motocross and road racing, using motorcycles designed for that purpose...
- SMS 125
- SMS 4 125
- SM 450R
- SM 450RR
- SM 510R
- SMR 511
- SM 530RR
- SMR 570
- SM 610IE
- SM 610R
- SM 610S
- SMR 630
- Nuda 900
Dual Purpose
- WRE 125
- TE 125
- TE 410E
- TE 610E
- TE 630
External links
- Husqvarna Motorcycles
- Husqvarna at the Open Directory ProjectOpen Directory ProjectThe Open Directory Project , also known as Dmoz , is a multilingual open content directory of World Wide Web links. It is owned by Netscape but it is constructed and maintained by a community of volunteer editors.ODP uses a hierarchical ontology scheme for organizing site listings...