Husqvarna is an concept that’s been round for a very long time. As you are most likely conscious, it began out making weapons (for heaven’s sake, the brand is a rifle sight), even supplying the Swedish army throughout a part of its historical past.
Over time, like many corporations do, it received acquired by different corporations and shifted focus. After being round for properly over a century, you will discover the Husqvarna title on bikes, stitching machines, and chainsaws. While they are not all the identical firm in 2023 (or owned by the identical dad or mum firm, as is the case with Yamaha), they’re all totally different twisty branches off of the identical authentic Husqvarna tree.
After intervals of possession by Electrolux (sure, the identical one that also makes vacuum cleaners and washing machines) and Cagiva, Husqvarna Motorcycles ultimately ended up below KTM possession in 2013. It nonetheless stays below that umbrella in 2023.
Notably, a few of Husqvarna’s staff objected to transferring to Italy when Cagiva took over, in order that they shaped Husaberg in response. As KTM notes in its official timeline, its buy of Husqvarna from Cagiva introduced Husqvarna and Husaberg (which KTM already owned) again collectively once more.
This 1984 Husqvarna 500 AE, Though
Before KTM and Cagiva, although, there was Husqvarna’s automatic enduro bike project. Originally initiated to assist first-time riders who joined the Swedish military to extra simply be taught to journey, Husqvarna quickly began experimenting with utilizing its computerized drivetrain in motocross bikes.
As British dirtbike YouTube channel 999Lazer delves into with a useful historic timeline, the experiment proved to be fairly profitable in competitors, each in Europe and within the AMA. Thanks to its competitors success, Husky determined to strive providing a buyer model in showrooms, which is why this 1984 Husqvarna 500 AE got here into being.
It was supplied on the market at the latest Iconic Auctioneers basic motorbike public sale within the UK, the place it offered for a cool £4,963 (or about $6,257). While 999Lazer attended the public sale and bid on the bike as a result of it is bizarre and so they wished to strive it out, they sadly did not find yourself successful the day.
The Rise Of Electric Bikes Brings The Circle Back Around
While it is a distinctive piece of Husqvarna and dirtbike historical past, it is also attention-grabbing to notice how the arrival of electrical bikes (and electrical grime bikes specifically) has introduced the notion of computerized motorcycling again into play.
Several years in the past, in case you have been the kind of particular person to go to classic bike reveals, you would possibly see the odd Hondamatic right here and there. They have been, with out fail, offered as relics of the previous, of an experiment in motorcycling that hadn’t gone over in addition to the corporate hoped, and had thus been left behind.
Although some electrics have opted for gears and clutches, most have forgone the additional complexity. Why? Very merely, as a result of it isn’t crucial. From the standpoint of simplicity, why add additional stuff that may break in case you do not want it?
Having ridden some electrics now (and all with out clutches), I can say from expertise that it takes somewhat getting used to. However, the massive distinction with an electrical bike versus an computerized combustion bike is that there is not any lag time in energy supply. It’s simply there on the electrical, and also you’re able to go.
With that exact electrical benefit, has the time come for computerized grime (and different) bikes? Let us know within the feedback.