Trail Blazers
By TMX Archives on 8th Nov 13
Unless as an off-roader you have been living in a darkened room or a cave for the past six months you will know that the iconic Husqvarna brand has been purchased by previous arch-rivals KTM.The Austrian giant promised a brand-new 2014 MY (model year) Husky range before the end of the year.
And, true to their word, KTM duly launched a mighty, all-inclusive range of two-stroke and four-stroke racers, encompassing both motocross and enduro.
Obviously heavily KTM influenced, with KTM-style steel tube frames and KTM-derived state-of-the-art engines, plus a nod to the soon to be phased-out Husabergs
(the unique but practical polyamide rear sub-frames and WP suspenders) the Husky range has been enthusiastically received.
Last week in TMX we brought you our globe-trotting tester Martin Craven's first impressions of the all-new Husqvarna range of MXers.
This week Martin brings you his views on the enduro models, having also sampled the tasty range at the Husky launch in Uddevalla, Sweden.
The 2014 test launch venue was a nice touch by KTM to recognise the Husqvarna brand's Swedish roots.
By Martin Craven
Along with Husqvarna announcing their 2014 model line-up, complete with fanfare of trumpets, came the opportunity for me to swing a leg over each of these new machines at the recent world press launch in Sweden.
It was certainly a hectic schedule, with both MX and enduro models to crack in a short space of time and it's a good job that I'm super fit and being able to jump off one model straight onto the next!
Having covered the MXers in last week's paper, in a nutshell, here we give you the enduro rundown with five bikes – a pair of two-strokes and three four-strokes.
There are obvious ties to KTM and Husaberg, with the only major difference outside of the snazzy and fresh Husky colour scheme and graphics being the polyamide rear subframe, made famous by Husaberg.
This three-piece, glass-fibre-reinforced design offers what Husqvarna feels is the best balance of rigidity and flex on the enduro range.
And its inclusion on the TC line marks the first time that a composite subframe has ever been offered on a production motocross bike.
The model range starts with a hot man-size 250cc stroker and extends all the way up to the big 501cc thumper for the Supermen!
The 2014 Husqvarnas all sport WP suspension at both ends, a linkage rear suspension system, single-piece aluminium cast swingarms, cool black DID rims,
CNC machined triple clamps with four different handlebar mount positions and, of course, enduro hand guards.
