Husqvarna Motorcycles

Husqvarna

Type	Subdivision
Founded	1903
Headquarters	Varese, Italy
Industry	Motorcycle
Parent	BMW
Website	www.husqvarna.it

This article is about Husqvarna Motorcycles. For other uses, see Husqvarna.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is a motorcycle manufacturer that produces motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company was founded in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden as a subsidiary of the Husqvarna munitions firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689. It now operates out of Varese, Italy.

History

Husqvarna Novolette moped.

Enduro. Husqvarna 250WR from 1996

As with many motorcycle manufacturers, Husqvarna first began producing bicycles 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 bikes obsolete. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s they were a force to be reckoned with in the motocross world, winning 14 Motocross World Championships in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc divisions and 24 Enduro World Championships.

The Husqvarna motorcycle division was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva in 1987 and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. The motorcycles (affectionately known as a "Husky") are now produced in Varese Italy. Husqvarna produces a diverse range of motocross, enduro and supermoto machines using their own two-stroke or four-stroke engines, ranging in capacity from 125cc to 576cc. Racing continues to be important to Husqvarna, competing in World Enduro and World Supermoto championships. Gerald Delepine, riding a Husqvarna SMR660, became World Supermoto Champion in 2005.

In July 2007 Husqvarna was purchased by BMW for an undisclosed amount. BMW Motorrad plans to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the current workforce, will remain in place at its present location in the region of Varese in northern Italy.^[1]

Motorcycle Championships

Motocross

1959 - Rolf Tibblin, European Motocross Champion, 250cc class.
1960 - Bill Nilsson, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
1962 - Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
1962 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
1963 - Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
1963 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
1966 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
1967 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
1969 - Bengt Åberg, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
1970 - Bengt Åberg, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
1974 - Heikki Mikkola, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
1976 - Heikki Mikkola, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
1979 - Håkan Carlqvist, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
1993 - Jacky Martens, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
1998 - Alessio Chiodi, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class
1999 - Alessio Chiodi, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class

Enduro

1990 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
1991 - 250cc World Enduro Championship
1992 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
1993 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
1993 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
1994 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
1994 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
1995 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
1995 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
1996 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
1998 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
1999 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
2000 - 250cc World Enduro Championship
2001 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
2001 - 400cc World Enduro Championship
2001 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
2002 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
2002 - 250cc World Enduro Championship
2002 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
2003 - 400cc World Enduro Championship

Automobile manufacturing

Toward the end of World War II, the company started thinking about making a small, simple, inexpensive car. A team consisting of Bengt Magnusson (head of R&D), Stig Tham (engineer), Calle Heimdal (engine designer) and Birger Johansson. The design came to look somewhat like the Saab 92, but with three wheels (two front, one back), and a strange split rear window. According to some sources the similarities with the Saab 92 may have something to do with that Sixten Sason worked as designer at Husqvarna. A prototype was built in 1943, powered by a 20 hp two cylinder 500cc 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 in the end of the 1950s.

Models

Enduro

WR 125
WR 250
TE 250
TE 450
TE 510

Motocross

CR 125
TC 250
TC 450
TC 510

Supermoto

SM 125
SM 450R
SM 450RR
SM 510R
SM 610IE

Dual Purpose

WRE 125
TE610IE

External links

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